As a Carolina boy who grew up with Andy Griffith re-runs on TV every day, this really, really, really cuts deep.

I will miss Don Knotts. Like Lucille Ball before him, he was a true pioneer of TV comedy. If only the crap that is foisted on us now had a hint of the hysterical delivery of Don Knotts, be it Barney Fife or Ralph Furley. And to summarise it, here's a line from "The Mayberry Rap" which I'm quoting from memory after 20 or so years 'cause Google yeilds no hits.

I'm Deputy Fife
The Law is my life
And you can say it's in my blood
Whenever there's trouble
I'm there on the double
To NIP IT IN THE BUD!

Got a gun, never cock it
Got a bullet in my pocket
And a gal named Thelma Lou
There's Goober and Emmit
and Howard and Otis
And Floyd the Barber too (c'mon Floyd)

[recite it with me now if you know it]
Ooooo, oooooo, boy needs a haircut, oooooo
Ooooo, oooooo, boy needs a haircut, oooooo