He won't need that bullet anymore

When I first heard that Don Knotts had died, I was prepared to write that by leaving "The Andy Griffith Show", he had started an ignomious tradition of leaving a successful television show in its prime, to be followed by the likes of McLean Stevenson, Shelley Long and David Caruso, to name a few.

But the Internet Movie Database tells me that when the show started, Knotts and Andy Griffith each agreed they would only do it for five years. By the time Griffith changed his mind and asked Knotts to stay on, the bug-eyed actor was already under contract with another studio. Therefore, I'm letting him off the hook.

So rest in peace, Mr. Furley.