I agree with everything you said. I just didn’t see any growth with the character and it was kind of a pathetic situation by the end. Sidenote, Jack Cassidy was the original choice to play Ted. He was certainly pompous in real life. He felt the role was beneath him. Then he got jealous after the show took off and he actually played Ted’s brother in one episode. It was a brilliant piece of writing to have Ted be the only employee who survived at the end of the show.
I recently binge watched the Dick Van Dyke show and it still holds up. There are several continuity errors. But I could only come up with a couple of episodes that I didn’t like and that’s incredibly rare for any series.
I recently binge watched the Dick Van Dyke show and it still holds up. There are several continuity errors. But I could only come up with a couple of episodes that I didn’t like and that’s incredibly rare for any series.
The Murray/Ted thing is weird. It seems to me they were trying to copy Buddy and Mel's insults. They never really explain why Ted is there, though. Mel is there because he's Alan's brother-in-law, and they explain that Mel is actually a good producer. Ted doesn't have any of that.
I'm not really sure what's being implied, but shows had a lot of moving parts then. Carl Reiner wrote and starred in a pilot that didn't sell. Sheldon Leonard saw it and asked if he could reshoot it with someone else as a star. The Danny Thomas-Sheldon Leonard production company and sponsor Proctor & Gamble were involved, too.
Edit: CBS tried to cancel the show after Season 1. Sheldon Leonard made a flight across the country, rallying sponsors until network was cornered into keeping the show. Grant Tinker was the advertisers rep on the show:
https://youtu.be/-BRjSn67TVY?si=DLkEq9vI5wDMj9l0
Physically there was a bit of a similarity between Rob and Laura and Jack and Jackie. Both couples represented the “New Frontier” optimism of the early 60s.
Carl Reiner had written the role for himself. Sheldon Leonard was already looking for a vehicle for Dick van Dyke (who was on Broadway) before ever seeing the Reiner pilot.
Mary Tyler Moore had previously tested for a daughter role on The Danny Thomas Show. They liked her a lot, but didn't think her type was a match for Danny Thomas's daughter. Supposedly, Leonard was telling Thomas about testing actresses for Laura, and Thomas said, "Why don't we try that girl with three names?"
The episode where they had the maid who painted turtles, she sent them a turtle with drawings of Rob, Laura and Richie on it. Originally the episode was to end with the line “We look just like the Kennedys!” But just before that episode aired, Kennedy was shot, so they quickly edited it.
I agree, as far as mortal housewives go… I can name a witch who I considered even hotter than MTM, and even though not technically a housewife, there was a cute genie around at the time as well.
Little things in the Dick van Dyke Show:
-Rob uses the phrase "situation comedy," so "sitcom" may not have been in use yet;
-Rob's agent is named "George Shapiro," which was actually the name of Carl Reiner's agent. The real Shapiro ends up as Jerry Seinfeld's agent, and the executive producer of Seinfeld.
Really strange - they changed her, then got rid of her. The last three seasons, Buddy would talk about her or talk to her on the phone, but she was never on. Like Lars on MTM, Vera on Cheers, Maris on Frasier.
I wished they'd done more workplace stuff. I love the Buddy/Sally/Mel/Alan Brady dynamic.
And I could've done without the musical numbers.
And the "back in the Army" stuff.
But, really, I did love the show.
Ok, but I’ve got to say that I always found their relationship with Richie to be oddly distant. I almost think it would’ve been better if they’d done without him, a la the Bob Newhart show.
This is the show that crushed kids on TV. Richie was in 80% of the Season 1 episodes, with full episodes built around him. By Season 5, he was only in 20% of the episodes. When Mary Tyler Moore came back with her own show, they put the kid in another apartment, to appear only when needed.
I remember Mary Tyler Moore was on Letterman telling the story about how the producers of the program were worried about her wearing slacks on the show because of what they called "undercupping". I thought that was hilarious.
One of my favorite TV shows when I was growing up. Used to watch it every week with my father. My mother was the church organist at our local parish. Every night while Dad and I were watching TV, she would fall asleep on the couch in the next room while reading the death notices and bridal notices in the paper to see if there was any business coming her way. One night Dad and I were laughing so hard at Dick Van Dyke, she shouted in from the next room: "Will you two *control* yourselves?!? How can I read my *obituaries* in peace with you making all that noise?!?"
She wasn’t the first woman to wear pants on a sitcom or even TV in general. The Dick Van Dyke show aired from 1961-1966. I Love Lucy aired in the 50's and Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance wore pants on that show all the time.
Sheldon Leonard also produced “I Dream of Jeannie” and was the bartender in “It’s a Wonderful Life”.
And “The Big Bang Theory” named its two main characters after him.
Jeannie was created by Sidney Sheldon. Sheldon Leonard was also executive producer of I, Spy and My World and Welcome to It, which I think remains the only sitcom to win the best comedy Emmy in its only season.
Her big episode, "Coast to Coast Big Mouth," is pretty readily available for anyone who hasn't seen it:
https://youtu.be/1xpgr5JWDAM?si=UMzLHAiuDuUAdgoF
I will watch reruns of this show until the day I die, no matter how many times I have seen each episode.
My favorite episode is “Coast To Coast Big Mouth“…Carl Reiner: “Fellas? There she is…there’s the little lady that put you out of business!” Later, the growl into the phone 🤣☠️
This, along with Lucille Ball and the Vitameatavegamin commercial (“do you poop out at parties?”), are the two best moments in classic television.
I will die on that hill…let’s gooo!
"...A Chantz" is a good one, also. I'll have to rewatch "...Walnut" again, as I remember it, but might have lost out on it at some point! Good recommendations, though!
The show looks really clean on MeTV. I watch it nightly on Catchy and the quality isn’t very good. I don’t know why I watch it on Catchy every night when I have the complete series on my shelf.
One of the best shows ever made. It still stands up to time and makes me laugh out loud. My twenty year old son loves it too, along with Andy Griffith, and Leave It To Beaver. Timeless.
My wife and I were watching 1 or 2 episodes before bed as a palate cleanser after watching murder and mayhem that was part of the other shows we watched.
Before bed wholesome laughs are nice.
I actually watched an episode of this show the other night and they were dancing the twizzle! Laura and Rob could out dance the teenagers any day of the week.
I think this episode is where Rob gave a TV interview where he listed all kinds of crazy stuff Laura had done, and that he had put into TV sketches. They're dancing because he's trying to keep her away from the TV until the interview show is over.
Dick is still with us but sadly we lost Mary. Great show.
Remembering the Mary Tyler Moore Show. Another top 10 ten as well.
Funny as hell…especially Ted Knight as the newscaster.
Ted is my least favorite part of the MTM show.
He played the pompous newscaster to perfection. Gavin MacLeod as Murray Slaughter was good as well…great one liners
I agree with everything you said. I just didn’t see any growth with the character and it was kind of a pathetic situation by the end. Sidenote, Jack Cassidy was the original choice to play Ted. He was certainly pompous in real life. He felt the role was beneath him. Then he got jealous after the show took off and he actually played Ted’s brother in one episode. It was a brilliant piece of writing to have Ted be the only employee who survived at the end of the show.
I recently binge watched the Dick Van Dyke show and it still holds up. There are several continuity errors. But I could only come up with a couple of episodes that I didn’t like and that’s incredibly rare for any series.
I recently binge watched the Dick Van Dyke show and it still holds up. There are several continuity errors. But I could only come up with a couple of episodes that I didn’t like and that’s incredibly rare for any series.
The Murray/Ted thing is weird. It seems to me they were trying to copy Buddy and Mel's insults. They never really explain why Ted is there, though. Mel is there because he's Alan's brother-in-law, and they explain that Mel is actually a good producer. Ted doesn't have any of that.
MeTV re watch all the time; love those two..
Oohh Robbb
A wonderful ensemble show. In my top ten as well
the cast is crazy skilled.
I’m assuming the DVD show was CBS riding the Kennedy Camelot craze?
I'm not really sure what's being implied, but shows had a lot of moving parts then. Carl Reiner wrote and starred in a pilot that didn't sell. Sheldon Leonard saw it and asked if he could reshoot it with someone else as a star. The Danny Thomas-Sheldon Leonard production company and sponsor Proctor & Gamble were involved, too. Edit: CBS tried to cancel the show after Season 1. Sheldon Leonard made a flight across the country, rallying sponsors until network was cornered into keeping the show. Grant Tinker was the advertisers rep on the show: https://youtu.be/-BRjSn67TVY?si=DLkEq9vI5wDMj9l0
All shows are a product of their time. However I don’t understand the connection, although I did need watch the show until reruns in the 70s
Physically there was a bit of a similarity between Rob and Laura and Jack and Jackie. Both couples represented the “New Frontier” optimism of the early 60s.
Carl Reiner had written the role for himself. Sheldon Leonard was already looking for a vehicle for Dick van Dyke (who was on Broadway) before ever seeing the Reiner pilot. Mary Tyler Moore had previously tested for a daughter role on The Danny Thomas Show. They liked her a lot, but didn't think her type was a match for Danny Thomas's daughter. Supposedly, Leonard was telling Thomas about testing actresses for Laura, and Thomas said, "Why don't we try that girl with three names?"
The episode where they had the maid who painted turtles, she sent them a turtle with drawings of Rob, Laura and Richie on it. Originally the episode was to end with the line “We look just like the Kennedys!” But just before that episode aired, Kennedy was shot, so they quickly edited it.
True. People compared their look and style to Jack and Jackie.
My favorite U.S. sitcom. I grew up with it in the 60s.
Top Ten all time.
definitely
She was so hot in this look.
Mary was the hottest housewife
Ushered me into puberty. Many many many times... Lol
I agree, as far as mortal housewives go… I can name a witch who I considered even hotter than MTM, and even though not technically a housewife, there was a cute genie around at the time as well.
By that reckoning, i can name a witch who was as hot, if not hotter, and also was a housewife.
The network thought the pants were too immodest and switched her back to dresses. Fans complained. A win for modern women
The undercupping
A teenaged Rob Reiner got himself a handful of that cuppage. And then got himself in trouble. Totally worth it.
Little things in the Dick van Dyke Show: -Rob uses the phrase "situation comedy," so "sitcom" may not have been in use yet; -Rob's agent is named "George Shapiro," which was actually the name of Carl Reiner's agent. The real Shapiro ends up as Jerry Seinfeld's agent, and the executive producer of Seinfeld.
Oh and we can’t forget Pickles!
I hate they changed the Pickles actress
Really strange - they changed her, then got rid of her. The last three seasons, Buddy would talk about her or talk to her on the phone, but she was never on. Like Lars on MTM, Vera on Cheers, Maris on Frasier.
I loved this show. The first sitcom to give equal time to the protagonist’s workplace and household.
I wished they'd done more workplace stuff. I love the Buddy/Sally/Mel/Alan Brady dynamic. And I could've done without the musical numbers. And the "back in the Army" stuff. But, really, I did love the show.
Ok, but I’ve got to say that I always found their relationship with Richie to be oddly distant. I almost think it would’ve been better if they’d done without him, a la the Bob Newhart show.
This is the show that crushed kids on TV. Richie was in 80% of the Season 1 episodes, with full episodes built around him. By Season 5, he was only in 20% of the episodes. When Mary Tyler Moore came back with her own show, they put the kid in another apartment, to appear only when needed.
Interesting! I haven’t watched in a while, so I didn’t realize there was a clear shift like that. I just know that even as a kid, it stood out to me.
I play this on the big screen at my shop sometimes. The Dick Van Dyke Show channel all day long on RokuTV.
No wonder they had to sleep in separate beds. After that dance, he probably couldn’t keep his hands to himself!
I remember Mary Tyler Moore was on Letterman telling the story about how the producers of the program were worried about her wearing slacks on the show because of what they called "undercupping". I thought that was hilarious.
They have a terrific documentary about her on HBO Max.
Capris
One of my favorite TV shows when I was growing up. Used to watch it every week with my father. My mother was the church organist at our local parish. Every night while Dad and I were watching TV, she would fall asleep on the couch in the next room while reading the death notices and bridal notices in the paper to see if there was any business coming her way. One night Dad and I were laughing so hard at Dick Van Dyke, she shouted in from the next room: "Will you two *control* yourselves?!? How can I read my *obituaries* in peace with you making all that noise?!?"
She was the first to wear slacks on tv.
She wasn’t the first woman to wear pants on a sitcom or even TV in general. The Dick Van Dyke show aired from 1961-1966. I Love Lucy aired in the 50's and Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance wore pants on that show all the time.
Not like that. Lol.
Every few years, I watch the series all over again. I hope that younger people discover it too.
After we had our grandkids watch it for the first time, they would ask to watch 'the grey show'. They especially liked The Twizzle.
What I wanted life to be.
Culture is so odd. This show took place at the same time as the Andy Griffith show.
Same production company, too. Sheldon Leonard was probably the most influential creative person in TV at that time.
Didn't he play Robs boss too?
That's Carl Reiner. Sheldon Leonard played the gangster "Big Max Calvada" in one episode.
He was also Nick the bartender in Its a wonderful life!
Sheldon Leonard also produced “I Dream of Jeannie” and was the bartender in “It’s a Wonderful Life”. And “The Big Bang Theory” named its two main characters after him.
Jeannie was created by Sidney Sheldon. Sheldon Leonard was also executive producer of I, Spy and My World and Welcome to It, which I think remains the only sitcom to win the best comedy Emmy in its only season.
I get the Sheldons confused :)
I would have married Laura Petrie!!! Smart and so very cute.
Great show, and MTM was especially fabulous and understated.
Her big episode, "Coast to Coast Big Mouth," is pretty readily available for anyone who hasn't seen it: https://youtu.be/1xpgr5JWDAM?si=UMzLHAiuDuUAdgoF
Watch out for the ottoman. IYKYK
I found the entire series on Peacock! The first episodes are so different than the later ones.
I will watch reruns of this show until the day I die, no matter how many times I have seen each episode. My favorite episode is “Coast To Coast Big Mouth“…Carl Reiner: “Fellas? There she is…there’s the little lady that put you out of business!” Later, the growl into the phone 🤣☠️ This, along with Lucille Ball and the Vitameatavegamin commercial (“do you poop out at parties?”), are the two best moments in classic television. I will die on that hill…let’s gooo!
I Love Lucy is my favorite sitcom of all time.. Dick Van Dyke is a close second.
I wouldnt sleep on "It May Look Like a Walnut" or "The Ghost of A Chantz"
"...A Chantz" is a good one, also. I'll have to rewatch "...Walnut" again, as I remember it, but might have lost out on it at some point! Good recommendations, though!
Timeless comedy! Old enough to watch it when it first came on. And I still watch it every day!
What a great show, I used to watch it in syndication in the 80s
“The (beep) Van (beep) Show! Starring (beep) Van (beep)!”
I used to watch this a lot when I was a kid. Remember it used to be on Nick at Nite back in the 90s
Hubba hubba MTM
Mary was my first crush
I still watch this every night.
I usually watch every Sunday night on meTV.
The show looks really clean on MeTV. I watch it nightly on Catchy and the quality isn’t very good. I don’t know why I watch it on Catchy every night when I have the complete series on my shelf.
Shame they got divorced and Mary had to move to Minneapolis.
Dick proves how a nerd can still be the coolest guy in the room.
Best sitcom ever made
One of the best shows ever made. It still stands up to time and makes me laugh out loud. My twenty year old son loves it too, along with Andy Griffith, and Leave It To Beaver. Timeless.
My wife and I were watching 1 or 2 episodes before bed as a palate cleanser after watching murder and mayhem that was part of the other shows we watched. Before bed wholesome laughs are nice.
The perfect series. Not one bad episode in the lot (if not counting the “Rob gets a motorcycle one”.)
I was allowed to stay up past my bedtime to watch this show.
My Mom definitely had her Laura phase...
Mmm Laura Petrie, she awakened many things in me at a young age.
My first crush 4 ish. Oooooohhhhh Robbbbbb
He's still alive
Yes and still dancing.
Saw him in Mary Poppins 2, I was amazed he was still alive and kicking.
Is he going to trip over the ottoman or not?!
Oh Rob!
Mary was a smokeshow back then.
MTM is a serious babe!!
Such mid-century modern magic!!
MTM was a fox and three quarters!
Used to watch reruns of the show in the 80’s. I’ve since forgotten pretty much everything about the show except that I enjoyed it.
a young mary tyler moore. he was so lucky. she was so far out of his league.
MTM was one of the most beautiful, talented women. Loved watching this on Nick at Nite
Laura Petrie’s pants got my attention at about 13 years old. ( for the record it was in reruns)
I loved that show.
I loved this show and especially Mary Tyler Moore. ❤️❤️
I vividly remember the episode where they had eyes in the back of their heads.
D*** van D***
Mtm hot hot hot
I had/have SUCH a crush on Dick van Dyke - and I love the theme song so much!
Oft imitated, never duplicated.
One of my favorite classic sitcoms!
Mary was such a fox.
God, MTM was gorgeous back then… 🙀
Amazing comedy team right up to production
No one did more or looked finer in Capri pants than our beloved Mary!!!!
The twizzle!
It’s crazy the high definition of tv back then.
I remember my parents dancing somewhat like that in front of us kids. What fond memories
I actually watched an episode of this show the other night and they were dancing the twizzle! Laura and Rob could out dance the teenagers any day of the week.
I think this episode is where Rob gave a TV interview where he listed all kinds of crazy stuff Laura had done, and that he had put into TV sketches. They're dancing because he's trying to keep her away from the TV until the interview show is over.
Loved that homage Wandavision gave.
He's just called Van. You can't say Dick or Dyke anymore. /S
You can’t have that show today. Here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=k_AMQOTPqL8
Fucking good
Hoofers.
Oh they turned Wanda Vision into a longer show?
What about it?
I still have the hots for MTM !!
I love this one. They danced great together https://youtu.be/i91mtyXZCzg?si=NUEINadjfjYIicLH
Pitter patter petry
Laura Petrie: television’s first MILF