What’s in a name — specifically ‘Andy Griffith Show’s’ Opie?
Q: As you know, Ron Howard’s character on “The Andy Griffith Show” was called Opie. I do not believe Opie is a real name but a nickname. If true, what was the real name?
A: According to everything I can find, the real name was indeed Opie. Two explanations for the name have been offered. One is it came from Opal Taft “Opie” Cates, a bandleader and radio star who was admired by both Sheldon Leonard, producer of Griffith’s show, and by Griffith himself. The online Encyclopedia of Arkansas says Leonard had worked on a radio show with Cates and “Cates’ son recalled that Leonard contacted his father to request permission to use his first name in the show.”
Another claim, though, is Opie Shelton, a childhood friend of Griffith and at one time the president of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, inspired the boy’s name.
Q: I liked the PBS series “Victoria.” It seemed to end rather abruptly. Are there plans to continue it?
A: A representative for “Masterpiece,” which has carried installments of the Queen Victoria drama, said recently that it “is on hiatus and we’ll confirm future plans as we learn them.”
The three seasons so far have left a great deal of Victoria’s story yet to tell (including the death of her husband, Albert). And writer Daisy
Goodwin said months ago she was working on scripts for a fourth season. But Jenna Coleman, who plays Victoria, reportedly said more recently that the series is taking a break. And there have been many questions about how it might proceed, including whether “Victoria” will have to recast as the characters age — like that other royals drama, “The Crown.”
Q: I know that this isn’t much to go on, but on a “Gunsmoke” episode called “Renegades” there was an actress who looks exactly like Bridget Moynahan from “Blue Bloods.” Could it have been her mother?
A: No. Moynahan’s mother was not an actress. As one obituary for her earlier this year says, she was a history teacher “before becoming a beautiful and caring mother.” Bridget Moynahan’s late father was also involved in education. And her “Blue Bloods” bio notes that the actress has “a strong interest in childhood education” and serves on the national board of “Jumpstart, a national early education organization that works with children in lowincome neighborhoods.”
Recently I mentioned the end of “Madam Secretary,” which prompted this letter:
Q: “Madam Secretary’s” ratings declined because it became TOO liberal. The same happened to the return of “Murphy Brown.” Most people want to be entertained. We don’t want to be lectured to by liberal Hollywood!
A: TV offers plenty of shows that don’t fit this notion, so you had choices other than “Madam Secretary.” And some of us like to think now and then while watching TV. There’s no question that “Madam Secretary” had a liberal bent; it also tried to get us to look closely at modern issues — and did it without the smugness that indeed marred “Murphy Brown” during both of its runs.
Write to Rich Heldenfels, P.O. Box 417, Mogadore, OH 44260, or brenfels@gmail.com.