The Fun Girls

The Fun Girls (Skippy and Daphne) are fictional recurring characters on the 1960s American television sitcom, The Andy Griffith Show.

Overview

"The Fun Girls" (sardonically nicknamed by Thelma Lou) were a pair of fun-loving blonde bachelorettes: the giggly Skippy (played by Joyce Jameson) and the gravel-voiced Daphne (played by Jean Carson). The two hailed from Mount Pilot, the "big city" near the small town of Mayberry. They were flirtatious, they loved dancing, and their appearance in town almost always meant trouble for Sheriff Andy Taylor and Deputy Barney Fife (both of whom had steady girlfriends). Skippy was characterized by her high-pitched, grating laugh and was generally attracted to Barney (whom she incessantly called "Bernie"). Daphne was known for her throaty greeting, "Hello, Doll," and was generally attracted to Andy.

On one occasion, Andy and Barney had to cancel their dates with their girlfriends, Helen Crump and Thelma Lou (respectively) so they could work late at the courthouse, only to be interrupted by Skippy and Daphne. Andy and Barney innocently tried to escort the two back to Mt. Pilot so they could finish their work, but were spotted in the car with them by their girlfriends. To get back at them, Helen and Thelma Lou went out with cousins Gomer and Goober Pyle, and in turn, Andy and Barney went out with the Fun Girls. By the end of the evening, it was apparent that Gomer and Goober were better matches for the Fun Girls, as they genuinely seemed to enjoy each other's company.

The Fun Girls made three appearances on The Andy Griffith Show from 1962 to 1965:

no.        episode title                            director             writer              air date
69      "Barney Mends a Broken Heart"            Bob Sweeney         Aaron Ruben       November 5, 1962
122     "Fun Girls"                               Coby Ruskin        Aaron Ruben        April 13, 1964
155     "The Arrest of the Fun Girls"        Theodore J. Flicker   Richard M. Powell     April 5, 1965

Jean Carson also appeared in the episode Convicts at Large, playing a man-hating escaped prisoner convicted of spousal abuse.