That's not true. I've seen black 'extras', so apparently there were some, but none were prominently featured on the show was until it was colorized (pun intended). There was an episode where Opie wanted to play football, but Andy wouldn't let him because he committed to piano lessons. (I know, right). Anyway, when Opie started missing practice, his coach who was black, went to investigate. In the end, they worked it out to where Opie could do both. But as mentioned, that was well after Barney left the show and it was in color.
I'm not dissing Griffith for a racist, there were prominent black characters on Matlock. But Griffith has stated that because of the southern desegregation trouble going on in the early 60's, he didn't want the show to be controversial in that way and left out black main characters. Later on it became controversial because of the absence of blacks in a southern town and some black extras were added to street scenes. "At that time, black people didn’t want to play subservient roles, to do maids and butlers and all that, and we were unable to make it so people would rush into a black doctor’s office. And I’m sorry about it, too.” -- Andy Griffith There were also no black people in Green Acres, Petticoat Junction, or Mr. Ed at the time, so its really no big deal. In retrospect it's kind of funny.
Borgnine was one of the best and what a long career. I have always respected actors like Borgnine and Richard Boone who have enjoyed movie success without having Hollywood good looks.
Wow. This sucks. I just learned that Lionel Batiste passed away yesterday. http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2012/07/uncle_lionel_batiste_treme_bra.html I met him at my girlfriend's Tulane graduation ceremony last year.
I loved Ernest Borgnine when I was a kid. He was in my favorite TV show, AirWolf. If you didn't like that show, then you clearly are not a connoisseur like me.
Borgnine also had some nice scenes opposite one of my favorites, Gene Hackman, in The Poseidon Adventure.
