"The Dick Van Dyke Show" (1961) TV series 1961-1966

Creator:

Carl Reiner

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

3 October 1961 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family

Plot:

The misadventures of a TV writer both at work and at home.

Plot Keywords:

Writer | New York City New York | New Rochelle New York | Army | Producer

Awards:

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 20 wins & 15 nominations

Cast

Dick Van Dyke	...	Robert 'Rob' Petrie (158 episodes, 1961-1966)
Mary Tyler Moore	...	Laura Petrie (153 episodes, 1961-1966)
Rose Marie	...	Sally Rogers (131 episodes, 1961-1966)
Morey Amsterdam	...	Maurice B. 'Buddy' Sorrell (131 episodes, 1961-1966)
Richard Deacon	...	Melvin 'Mel' Cooley (108 episodes, 1961-1966)
Larry Mathews	...	Richard Rosebud 'Ritchie' Petrie (70 episodes, 1961-1966)

Also Known As:

All in a Day's Work (USA) (working title)
Double Trouble (USA) (working title)
Full House (USA) (working title)
Head of the Family (USA) (working title)
The Dick Van Dyke Daytime Show (USA) (rerun title)

Runtime:

30 min (158 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | USA:TV-G

Filming Locations:

Desilu Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Calvada Productions

Trivia:

The running gag about Alan Brady's toupee was based on Max Liebman, the producer of "Your Show of Shows" (1950), who also wore a toupee.

Quotes:

Melvin (Mel) Cooley: It was the sketch. I knew Alan wouldn't like it. And when it comes to comedy, I have an unerring instinct.
Maurice (Buddy) Sorrell: That's right, you got the instinct of a herring.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Influences: From Yesterday to Today (1999) (TV)

Going Nuts!!! Walnuts!!!

This is one of the all time classic sitcoms in the history of television!!! "The Dick Van Dyke Show" was pioneer as a sitcom revelation which implemented many different forms of comedic conversation!! Because "The Dick Van Dyke Show" used so many dead pan dialog techniques, and one liner diatribes of amusement, it left a positively impressionable trademark on the television audience!! For an extended period in prime-time during this era , it effortlessly became the most popular T.V. Show on television!!! The talent was there, on and off the screen!! Dick Van Dyke, RoseMarie, Morey Amsterdam, Jerry Paris, Richard Deacon, and of course, MTM Productions mogul, Mary Tyler Moore!! Off the screen, you had Bill Persky, Sam Denoff, John Rich, and the creator of the show, Carl Reiner!! This show exuded a plethora of talent!! Comical situations persistently amused the small screen viewer by illustrating predicaments of precarious identifiability, and aspects of utterly human quirkiness that were never depicted on television shows before!! "The Dick Van Dyke Show" was the inventor of the triple!! What is the triple? When two statements follow a pattern, and the third statement breaks the pattern which sparks a laughter!!! Examples of the triple are:

Does this restaurant serve anything flaming?

1) Saganaki

2) Bananas Foster

3) Richard Simmons?

Another one: You need something that breathes a lot:

1) A Full Bodied Bordeaux

2) A Summer Linen

3) A Raunchy Pervert

Another one: Did something go down the wrong way?

1) Something You Ate

2) Something You Drank

3) Your Last Property Tax Bill!!

Suffice it to say, the element of the triple is a lot of fun, not to mention, very effective!! The above triples are mere examples, "The Dick Van Dyke Show" had their own, and popularized the use of the triple tremendously!! The triple has been a sitcom staple ever since!! This show discusses a lot of real life experiences with the characters on the show, as well as many typical proclivities which are indicative of many New Yorkers!! This show was an excellent portrayal of a polite comedy writer who displays his latent tendencies through a lot of physical humor (Dick Van Dyke)!! Razor sharp sarcasm was replaced with succinct accuracy!! The Madison Ave boys who are writing the show can be the ones who are acrimonious, they are better at it anyway!!! When the show went off the air in '1966, it left an indelible mark on small screen entertainment!! The episode with Laura falling out of the hallway closet with a bunch of walnuts is considered THE!! classic episode of all time!! My favorite episode is the one with the Spanish dancer who was auditioning for a benefit show that Rob was in charge of!! Her dancing redefined sensuality for suburban Connecticut (New Rochelle). Her sex appeal was the genuine article, as opposed to someone like Laura, who just looks sophisticated in worsted wool!! A lot a people may recognize this episode in which I am talking about!! This series, in my opinion, is one of the best sitcoms ever!! Many critics rank it third, putting it only behind "The Honeymooners" and "M*A*S*H". This series was totally outstanding!! The "Dick Van Dyke Show" was a definite diamond in the rough!!