Porthole on Porthole

[David Roper]

The Desilu prop department was something less than diligent when it came to keeping sets dressed consistantly, at least where things like TV sets, refrigerators etc. are concerned. ISTR Andy having what apeared to be a 17" rectangular tube console in his living room for a long, long time. An unremarkable, two-knobs-below-screen type. Then, in the sixth season, there was an episode in which Aunt Bee appeared on a game show and won a bunch of goodies, including a color TV set--and a roundie at that! For some reason they didn't keep that set, but neither did their old set reappear. From that episode on, the TV in Andy's living room is easily recognizable as a c. 1950 Admiral with a round tube and knobs to the right of the screen. After that switch, the old rectangular tube console that used to be in the Taylor living room appears in the window of the TV shop in at least one subsequent episode. In the eigth season Andy has a contemporary-model rectangular color TV.