During a chat on Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend, Ron Howard fondly remembered how Andy Griffith’s comedic approach made The Andy Griffith Show stand out from its competitors. The classic TV show became famous for being both wholesome and hilarious in its unique way, and it grew to be one of television’s most iconic series for those same reasons. According to the Oscar-winning director, who began his career playing Opie Taylor in the series, Andy’s creative direction was responsible for the success. While shows like Petticoat Junction, Gilligan’s Island, and Green Acres relied on slapstick humor, The Andy Griffith Show earned laughs differently. “Andy used to kill jokes if they were too broad,” Ron shared. “He just kept saying, ‘The south is plenty funny on its own without having to reach for it.’ He didn’t like Petticoat Junction… and Beverly Hilbillies because they were doing sketch, basically.” Ron Howard pointed out that no series that followed was able to hone in on The Andy Griffith Show’s style aside from “maybe The Real McCoys, a little bit.” But that didn’t have a character like Don Knotts’  Barney Fife, so it wasn’t quite the same. “The Andy Griffith Show” Kept People Tuned In Without The Bait And Switch Conan O’Brien said The Andy Griffith Show was a character comedy that didn’t rely on heavy drama or bait and switches, which would never work for modern television. “I have this theory that comedy has been increasingly compressed to the point now that when any series starts, they have to start at the most dramatic moment, and then that turns out it’s a flashback because they can’t start slowly,” said Conan. “People can flip to another streaming platform too quickly.” “Just the idea that one of the most popular shows in television history could often consist of people playing things in that [slow] pace,” he added. Ron Howard noted that not only is that true, but it made the show “endure.” More than 55 years after it ended, The Andy Griffith Show is still wildly popular. “It’s actually on all the time,” he added. “And especially over Covid, I kept hearing from people that it was like a lifeline.” This story’s featured image is by Hulton Archive/Getty Images. The post Ron Howard Fondly Remembers How Andy Griffith’s Comedic Approach Made “The Andy Griffith Show” Iconic appeared first on InspireMore.

How many men have faced the crucible of a near-death experience and came out triumphant? America just watched Donald Trump’s great moment of testing and saw him prove his mettle. When we tell our children about the assassination attempt on Trump’s life in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024, we will remember the moment when a man, wounded and bloodied, raised his fist in the air and shouted, “Fight! Fight!” Trump could not have known—in that fateful moment—that there was only one shooter, that he would be safely escorted off that stage, to recover. After he heard shots fired and felt blood trickle down his face, he must have known that any moment might be his last. He could have cowered. He could have rushed off the stage. Instead, he risked making himself a target in order to deliver a message. Those two seconds spoke volumes. It was as if he said, “Don’t back down! Even if they kill me, stand firm. We must make America great again.” Trump’s opponents have been yelling that Trump would end democracy. They’ve been comparing him to the most evil tyrant in history. They’ve been bragging about a campaign of lawfare that has left a former president a “convicted felon” on trumped up charges. This display of courage cuts through that noise. Americans saw what Trump is all about in the moments when it mattered. They saw a man tested by fire and come out unscathed. We mourn with the family of the rallygoer who died in the shooting, and we pray that Americans would unite against political violence of all kinds. But if there’s one take-away from this horrific night, it is this: Donald Trump is a fighter, and I pray that my son will grow up to have one ounce of his courage. The post Tested by Fire: The 2 Seconds That Define Donald Trump appeared first on The Daily Signal.

“Fight!"

Tonight we heard, from NBC’s Lester Holt, the kind of papering over of a shocking act normally reserved for the initial outset of an Islamist terror attack: a declaration of ignorance over the motive that could’ve possibly possessed the individual to do such a thing, to wit: attempt to murder former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Watch as Holt lets that fly while speaking to a rally attendant: NBC NEWS SPECIAL REPORT 7/13/24 8:02 PM LESTER HOLT: But you bring up a point. I think we all will be talking about it and that is, of course, that we don't know what the motivation was for this, but it certainly comes at a time that we are all keenly aware of the deep divisions and the risk of political violence. Is it something you even thought about as you set out to attend this rally tonight? It is true that there isn’t a granular, specific, underlying idea as to why this shooter climbed up a ladder and onto a roof and attempted to assassinate the former President of the United States. But the motive was clearly to assassinate the former President of the United States. If an al-Qaeda or ISIS terrorist decides to drive a van through a pedestrian thoroughfare, we don’t ponder what may have possessed this “troubled youth” to undertake such a task.  The evil in men’s hearts is what possesses them to do these things, just as an evil man took a rifle to a baseball field and nearly killed Congressman Steve Scalise. And, as we did at the time, it will become necessary to examine the rhetoric that incited the Pennsylvania shooter into acting on the evil within him. Because if there is in place an ecosystem, in media and online, devoted to advancing the idea Trump is Literally Hitler and must be stopped at all costs, over and over again, then eventually someone is going to take it upon themselves to rid the world of Literally Hitler. That, Mr, Holt, is ultimately what the “motivation” was.  

Unfortunately, the liberal media seemed unable to reflect on how things got to the point where former President Trump was nearly assassinated. In the hours following the attempt on Trump’s life on Saturday, CNN Republican commentator Scott Jennings condemned the anti-Trump, doomsaying election rhetoric parroted by the likes of his network, the rest of the liberal media, and Democrats for leading to what happened. But host Wolf Blitzer wanted to play the “both sides” game and blame the victim. Jennings started out by calling out the “extreme” rhetoric they’ve been using that claimed the country would cease to exist if Trump was elected again; warning that “these things have consequences”: The rhetoric around him over the last few weeks that, “if he wins an election that our country will end, our democracy will end, it's the last election will ever have;” these things have consequences. Okay? I don't know what the motivations of the shooter are. I don't know any of the details, but I know the rhetoric around Trump has grown extreme. “But we have people in this country who are dedicated to telling half the country that if Donald Trump wins an election, the country will end, the constitution will go away, and so on and so forth,” he decried. “Yes, we’re all shocked and yes, political violence has no place. Where does it come from? It's got to stop.”     Blitzer proceeded to whine about Trump had made “very, very strong statements” again Biden and blamed “both sides.” Jennings had to remind him which of the two was in the hospital with a gunshot wound to the head: BLITZER: But we're also hearing from Trump very, very strong statements of condemnation of Biden, the worst president, the most dangerous president, and all of that. He's speaking very, very strongly against President Biden. JENNINGS: Who's in the hospital? BLITZER: Well, we do – this is an assassination attempt. JENNINGS: Look I agree with you. BLITZER: You say calm things down. I agree both sides should calm things down. “What other wakeup call could there be for everybody in this country right now?” Jennings lamented. But Blitzer was determined to play his game: BLITZER: Have to cool the rhetoric on both sides. JENNINGS: We have to change. BLITZER: Because it's really dangerous and foments what we've just seen over the past couple hours or so, and it's a really, really scary situation. “[I]t doesn't take a lot to dig and find that people take cues from not just leaders, but from people around them. And when, when violence happens, sometimes things are uncorked and it is important for leaders across the board – as we are seeing today – to tamp things down,” CNN’s Dana Bash clownishly agreed with her colleague. The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read: CNN Newsroom July 13, 2024 8:54:36 p.m. Eastern (…) SCOTT JENNINGS: The rhetoric around him [Donald Trump] over the last few weeks that, “if he wins an election that our country will end, our democracy will end, it's the last election will ever have;” these things have consequences. Okay? I don't know what the motivations of the shooter are. I don't know any of the details, but I know the rhetoric around Trump has grown extreme. You mentioned some other violence. You didn't mention the Supreme Court – attempted murder of a Supreme Court justice or the congressional baseball game, where Steve Scalise was nearly murdered. Wanted conservative. The other a Republican. But we have people in this country who are dedicated to telling half the country that if Donald Trump wins an election, the country will end, the constitution will go away, and so on and so forth. What I want to hear from all elected officials is, this kind of hyperbolic extremism has consequences and it must end! Yes, we’re all shocked and yes, political violence has no place. Where does it come from? It's got to stop. WOLD BLITZER: But we're also hearing from Trump very, very strong statements of condemnation of Biden, the worst president, the most dangerous president, and all of that. He's speaking very, very strongly against President Biden. JENNINGS: Who's in the hospital? BLITZER: Well, we do – this is an assassination attempt. JENNINGS: Look I agree with you. BLITZER: You say calm things down. I agree both sides should calm things down. JENNINGS: This – this moment is – if there was – if we – What other wakeup call could there be for everybody in this country right now? I am – I am mortified. I mean, this will live on forever. These pictures we're seeing today will be in the history books of our children and our grandchildren. I mean, were living through a historical moment. And we have to recognize it for what it is, and we have to change. BLITZER: Have to cool the rhetoric on both sides. JENNINGS: We have to change. BLITZER: Because it's really dangerous and foments what we've just seen over the past couple hours or so, and it's a really, really scary situation. You want to add a point, Dana? DANA BASH: You just said it, Wolf. Scott, your point is so well taken that the escalation of rhetoric is something that if you just look back in history, it doesn't take a lot to dig and find that people take cues from not just leaders, but from people around them. And when, when violence happens, sometimes things are uncorked and it is important for leaders across the board – as we are seeing today. To tamp things down. (…)

Former President Donald Trump made his first comments after the apparent assassination attempt during his campaign rally in Pennsylvania. As Blaze News previously reported, Trump was seen with blood on his face after apparent shots rang out during his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump defiantly raised a fist in the air after seemingly being shot.Trump posted to his Truth Social social media account: I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of Law Enforcement, for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania. Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured. It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country. Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead. I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung indicated that Trump was thankful to "law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act."Cheung indicated that Trump is "fine and is being checked out a local medical facility. More details will follow."Citing law enforcement sources, ABC News reported that the "shooter fired as many as eight rounds from an AR-style rifle while perched on a rooftop adjacent to the venue and was 200-300 yards away at the time of the shooting."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here

The FBI identified the man who tried to assassinate former President Donald Trump, according to sources who spoke to NBC News. Trump was shot while speaking at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, and he was quickly rushed away by the Secret Service. The campaign later said he was in fine condition and had received medical care. Late in the evening, reports said that the FBI had identified the attempted assassin, who was shot and killed at the scene. He was reportedly a Pennsylvania man who was 20 years old, but no other information was available, according to NBC News, which cited five senior U.S. law enforcement officials briefed on the matter. The former president confirmed that he had been shot in a statement in which he offered his condolences to the family of the person who was killed at the rally. "Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead. I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear," Trump said. "I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening."President Joe Biden issued a written statement and also addressed the nation about the incident. He called on people to condemn political violence. The shooter reportedly fired eight gunshots from an AR-15-style rifle from about 150 yards away from Trump. This is a developing story, and additional information may be added as it becomes available. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

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