
Revealing mistake: When Andy arrives at the studio for the publicity shots, while he's speaking to Mr. Michaels note that behind them we can see the Taylors' Mayberry kitchen cabinet/counter and a wall with their distinctive gold/silver design wallpaper. (00:03:50)
Answer: It was a joke. They were supposed to be dumb hillbillies.
Both. According to later interviews with both Andy and the Dillards band (the real name of the band that played the parts of the Darling children, of which Charlene (Maggie Peterson - Mancuso was also a member) the reason the Darling boys never had any lines was because they would've had to have been paid if they spoke. In return for appearing without lines or pay, Andy promised to get as much of their music onto the show as possible which, he did. This obviously gave them a lot of exposure.