The Dick Van Dyke Show
| The Dick Van Dyke Show | |
|---|---|
| File:Dick van dyke show 3.jpg Mary Tyler Moore and Dick van Dyke | |
| Created by | Carl Reiner |
| Starring | Dick Van Dyke Mary Tyler Moore Rose Marie Morey Amsterdam Larry Mathews Richard Deacon Jerry Paris Ann Morgan Guilbert |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| No. of episodes | 158 + 1 reunion special |
| Production | |
| Running time | approx. 25 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | CBS |
| Release | October 3, 1961 – June 1, 1966 |
The Dick Van Dyke Show is an American television situation comedy which initially aired on CBS from October 3, 1961 to June 1, 1966, created by Carl Reiner and starring Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore.
Totalling 158 episodes and five seasons, the show was also produced by Reiner, who wrote many episodes and played the part of Alan Brady. Reiner based the main character on himself and the Brady character on his former boss Sid Caesar. Many of the show's plots were inspired by Reiner's experiences as a writer for Your Show of Shows (which starred Caesar).
Main Characters
- Robert "Rob" Petrie (Dick Van Dyke), the head comedy writer for a fictional New York TV variety series called The Alan Brady Show. The role of Rob Petrie was almost given to Johnny Carson, but Sheldon Leonard, the show's executive producer, suggested Van Dyke.
- Laura Meeker/Meehan Petrie (Mary Tyler Moore) played Rob's wife, Laura, a stay-at-home mom and former dancer in the U.S.O. (where she met Rob). The role of Laura proved to be the most difficult to cast. About 60 actresses auditioned for the part before Moore was signed, and she almost didn't go to the audition.
- Maurice "Buddy" Sorrell (Morey Amsterdam), an energetic "human joke machine," one of the comedy writers; he's constantly making fun of Mel Cooley (the show's producer) for being bald. Amsterdam was recommended by Rose Marie as soon as she had signed on.
- Sally Rogers (Rose Marie), another of the comedy writers (and the comedy trio's designated typist), who is always on the lookout for a husband.
Supporting Characters
- Richard "Ritchie" Petrie (Larry Mathews), Rob and Laura's son.
- Melvin "Mel" Cooley (Richard Deacon), the balding producer of the "Alan Brady Show" (and Brady's brother-in-law), who is constantly fighting with Buddy
- Jerry (Jerry Paris) and Mildred "Millie" Krumbermacher Helper (Ann Morgan Guilbert), the zany next-door neighbors.
Other less frequently seen characters include:
- Alan Brady (Carl Reiner), the toupee-wearing star of the "Alan Brady Show".
- Stacy Petrie (Jerry Van Dyke), Rob's brother, banjo player, and sleepwalker, played by Dick Van Dyke's real-life brother.
- Fiona "Pickles" Sorrell (Barbara Perry/Joan Shawlee), Buddy's slightly nutty wife.
- Herman Glimscher (Bill Idelson), Sally's occasional and "nerdy" boyfriend.
- Sam and Clara Petrie (Tom Tully/J. Pat O'Malley and Isabel Randolph), Rob's parents.
- Mr. and Mrs. Alan Meehan (Carl Benton Reid and Geraldine Wall), Laura's Parents.
- Freddie Helper (Peter Oliphant), Millie and Jerry Helper's son.
Storyline
Storylines deal with Rob and his two coworkers, Buddy and Sally, who write material for the TV show. Mel Cooley, a balding straight man (and recipient of numerous insulting one-liners from Buddy), is the show's producer and the brother-in-law of Alan Brady, the show's seldom-seen star. As Rob, Buddy and Sally write for a comedy show, the premise provides a built-in forum for them to "be funny". Other stories focus on the home life of Rob and Laura, who live in suburban New Rochelle, New York. Frequently seen is their young son, Ritchie, as well as their neighbors, Jerry and Millie Helper.
Famous catchphrases
- "Oh, Rob!" -- Laura to Rob
- "Yeech!" -- Mel's reaction to Buddy's insults
- "Shut up, Mel!" -- Alan Brady's usual reply to Mel
- "Oh yeah, I forgot." -- Ritchie Petrie (Rob and Laura's son)
Johnny Carson connection
According to The Dick Van Dyke Show, a history of the series by Ginny Weissman and Coyne Steven Sanders (St. Martin's Press, 1993, p.6) Johnny Carson was considered for the role of Rob Petrie (the series was still titled Head of the Family at this point) until Sheldon Leonard recommended Van Dyke.
Influence
The show was an excellent vehicle for Van Dyke's physical comedy and sight gags. The classic example is the scene in the opening titles, in which Van Dyke enters through the front door and trips over the ottoman. Producers filmed three versions: one in which Van Dyke trips over the ottoman, one in which he steps around it, and a rarely seen third variation in which Van Dyke avoids the ottoman and then trips on the carpet. Viewers were kept wondering which version would be used on any particular episode, as the show's editors were instructed to use them randomly.
The series was considered a trailblazer for its comparatively realistic portrayal of relationships — although the Petries slept in separate beds — and caused some mild controversy because of Mary Tyler Moore's decision to wear capri slacks in an era when most sitcom wives wore dresses and skirts, even though Lucille Ball had previously worn capri slacks on I Love Lucy. The show included humorous but intellegent portrayals of other subjects not previously seen on sitcoms, including religion, race, death, infidelity, and psychiatry. The show's storylines gave viewers an "inside look" at how a TV show was run and written. This was rare at a time when situation comedy was limited to occupations other than show business. It also gave the cast an opportunity to do "variety" episodes that included stand-up comedy, music, and other non-situation segments.
Carl Reiner originally planned to produce and star in the series, which was going to be titled Head of the Family. A pilot episode was made in July of 1960, but it was unsuccessful. He ended up playing the role of Alan Brady, the egotistical television star for whom Rob Petrie worked.
Reiner always maintained that he never intended for the series to run more than five seasons, making this one of the first successful American TV series to end on its own accord while still popular rather than through cancellation. It has done extremely well in syndicated reruns, most notably on Nick at Nite from 1991-2000, and on their sister cable network TV Land from 2000 - 2006. The absence of 1960s slang, which Reiner did not allow, is one of the main reasons the show has not become dated.
The Dick Van Dyke Show is considered to have been an inspiration for many later sitcoms, in particular the long-running Mad About You, which was in many ways a modern-day remake. Carl Reiner even reprised the role of Alan Brady for an episode. The relationship between Reiner as writer and Van Dyke as actor can be compared to that between Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld.
Van Dyke returned in 1971 in an unrelated vehicle, The New Dick Van Dyke Show, which despite running for three years is rarely shown in syndication and has been largely forgotten, in contrast with The Mary Tyler Moore Show, which became as successful as the original Dick Van Dyke Show.
The show was also bold enough to touch lightly on certain social issues not normally addressed at the time. One episode dealt with Ritchie Petrie's use of profanity; another involved his parents' explaining to him the "facts of life". The most notable episode to tackle such issues concerned Rob and Laura's attendance at a banquet hosted by an African-American society (most likely modeled after the NAACP) to accept an award. The plot was that Rob and Laura had accidentally dyed their hands black and had to cover them with gloves.
Reunion special
On May 11, 2004, CBS aired a reunion special, The Dick Van Dyke Show Revisited. Produced by Carl Reiner, who referred to the hour-long special as "The 159th Episode," the show reunited cast members Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Rose Marie, Larry Mathews, Ann Morgan Guilbert, and Jerry Van Dyke. Reiner reprised his role as Alan Brady. Deceased cast members Morey Amsterdam, Richard Deacon, and Jerry Paris were remembered in flashbacks.
The main plot of the special involves the relatively healthy Alan Brady asking Rob and Sally to write his eulogy so that he knows in advance what will be said about him after he dies. The Petries and Sally, along with Rob's brother Stacey and longtime friend Millie, discuss ideas that are illustrated by way of flashbacks to the old show. The special ends with Van Dyke and Moore, out of character, reminiscing about the series as more flashbacks are shown. Ray Romano hosts the special.
DVD releases
For reasons that are unclear, six episodes from the second season have lapsed into the public domain, and as a result are widely available on low-priced DVD and VHS issues.
Image Entertainment has released all 5 Seasons of The Dick Van Dyke Show on DVD in Region 1 for the very first time. Season sets were released between October 2003 - June 2004. Also, on May 24, 2005, Image Entertainment released a 25-disc boxset of the entire series.
| DVD Name | Ep # | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 31 | October 21 2003 |
| Season 2 | 33 | October 21 2003 |
| Season 3 | 31 | February 24 2004 |
| Season 4 | 32 | April 27 2004 |
| Season 5 | 31 | June 29 2004 |
References in modern media
- One episode of The Nanny had characters say a situation was "just like the Dick Van Dyke Show".
- In another episode of The Nanny, the characters are watching an episode of the show when Fran comments on how funny the character of Millie Helper is and wonders why she isn't shown more often. Yetta's response is "I heard she was difficult to work with." Yetta is portrayed by Ann Morgan Guilbert, who played Millie Helper on the Dick Van Dyke Show.
- The "ottoman trip" of the opening sequence featured in the closing credits of an episode of the 1990s sitcom Mad About You, in which Carl Reiner reprised the role of Alan Brady. The whole series features many subtle references to the show, such as an episode when Paul's parents arrive at the apartment and Paul's mom comments, "Where do they think they live, New Rochelle?"
- The children's program Elmo's World featured a TV on one episode that said the next program would be The Dick Van Bike Show.
- Punk parody band The Dead Milkmen featured a song aptly titled "I Tripped Over the Ottoman" on their album Metaphysical Graffiti.
- A modified, more violent version of the opening titles appears in an episode of Family Guy. After tripping over the ottoman, Van Dyke falls on a glass table, leaving shards embedded in his chest. As he stumbles backwards, he upsets the ironing board and the iron burns his face. He runs into the kitchen, slipping on the wet floor and going head first into the oven, which sets him on fire. He falls onto the table, breaking it in two, then reaches for a drawer - the knives and forks inside fall out and embed themselves in his face. A car then smashes through the wall and runs him over.
- In X-Files episode 6x15 "Arcadia", Mulder and Scully go undercover and pose as married couple Rob and Laura Petri.