What was the connection between Andy Taylor and Barney Fife that led to Barney becoming Andy's deputy?

In three of the first episodes of the show, there are references to Andy and Barney being cousins, which explains how someone as inept and bumbling as Barney would get to be deputy of the town. The idea of them being cousins was eventually not referenced anymore.

Asked by Tom Cohen · Last updated 5 years ago · 719.2K views