Barney Fife or Mr. Furley.

[It's...Baylariat!]

We all know Don Knots as two characters when it comes to television. Barney Fife from the Andy Griffith Show or Mr. Ralph Furley from Three's Company. Both characters were funny for way different reasons. Fife was a bumbling cop in a small town. Furley was a tenant to a California apartment complex and had odd fashion. Both were funny, but which is better?

To me, Mr. Furley is funnier. I am partial to Three's Company, and in living in the Appalachians for years, have been force fed Andy Griffith Show reruns for years and years thanks to my local CBS affiliate and TBS back in the 90's. But Furley was way cool, had a great sense of humor, and managed to deal with some kooky tenants in Jack, Chrissy, and Janet.

 

[HEEL Blazy]

Gotta be Barney for me.

I love watching Andy and it just wasn't the same after he was off the show.

I never really liked Three's Company that much also so that might play some part it to this.

But man was Barney the coolest deputy ever on tv. Him and Andy were an awesome duo and they worked magic together on that show.

So I'll say Don Knots best role was Barney Fife

 

[8thwotwATG]

I sincerely believe that it was the appearance of Don Knotts on Three's Company that kept the show on the air and out of cancellation for quite some time. That being said, I still believe that it was his iconic role of Barney Fife that MADE his career as an accomplished comic actor. Six seasons and five emmy awards pretty much nailed this question for me, not to mention his spot on portrayal of the inept,childlike, yet totally loveable Deptuty Fife. His honest and believable take on this character combined with his excellent chemistry with Andy Griffith made Don Knotts a star, and Barney Fife one of televisions most memorable characters.

 

[Monkey_Mania]

Don Knotts as Mr. Furley was outstanding. I've always felt as if the Andy Griffith show was too wishy washy, Three's Company however was done extremely well and was a very witty show. Furley was just in a realm all his own, and in many cases was the shows constant flow of laughter. His mannerisms, and facial expressions were off the chart. I also believe that John Ritter learned alot about comedy from Don Knotts.

Seriously though, Barney Fife was ok, but Furley was just simply better.

 

[Kenny Powers]

I'm in the same boat with you Lariat since you can't anywhere in Eastern Kentucky without Andy Griffith playing at someone's house or at a restaurant. I was force fed not only Andy Griffith, but Little House on the Prairie and The Waltons. Not to mention Gilligan's Island and Bewitched, but that's another story.

I can't say that I have watched much Three's Company, but I always found Don Knotts to be odd and out of character as an aging hipster/ playboy. He was typecasted in those roles in the 70s and 80s. I just enjoyed his over the top stumbling deputy character in the Andy Griffith Show even though I'm tired of watching it. He was one of the main characters that made that show so enjoyable. After he left the show was never the same.

 

[Whatsinaname696]

Deputy Fife without a doubt, was never that much into three's company, although I saw a good bit of it, something bout him and Andy was just.... they were a great pair, I grew up on it, and sooo many years later me and dad would drink and watch Andy Griffith till he ate and passed out till the day he died, so I guess it got more memories for me, side note, ain't on the poll but that wasn't the only show I remember him on (Benjamin Matlock Bitches, RESPECT! =)

 

[Dagger Dias]

I liked Mr Furley better than Barney Fife. Having seen nearly every episode of both shows, it's a tougher call than one might think. However, my vote for the better character goes to Furley because he was a little funnier than Barney and he also had a better legacy. Furley is THE stereotypical landlord character, the weird guy downstairs, the one every secret had to be hidden from, and then there were all the akward moments when he tried to be all macho and a ladies man. Barney was just a goofy cop. Both are great characters, but Ralph Furley was Knots' best.