Early in his career, Carl Reiner decided to forego acting and channel his talents into writing and producing. In addition to producing the Dick Van Dyke Show, he also did much of the writing and was responsible for many of the story lines. Such was a full-time job, and when he did appear on the show, it was usually in a limited role. He did have a few fleshed-out roles: the eccentric painter Sergei Carpetna in "October Eve," the hard-to-understand writer Everett Sloane in "I'm No Henry Walden," and others. In this episode, he plays the role he played most often: Alan Brady. Without listing the details, the extended scene he has with Laura and Rob is one of the best sketches in the series. It's a must watch for fans of the show.
6 Reviews
Hair today gone tomorrow
kellielulu8 September 2022
Warning: Spoilers
A classic episode where the writing trio doesn't have the biggest laugh. It's actually Rob's wife Laura and boss Alan Brady that get the biggest laughs. I though generally find Rob and Millie the funniest characters.
Filling in for a nervous Millie on a game / interview show. Laura nervously navigates the questions the hosts throws at her particularly about her husband's job. But after announcing the prizes she won he sneaks in more questions and Laura slips up admitting Alan Brady is bald .
Rob and everyone at the office only see part of the show and miss it but everyone finds out .
Laura goes to plead for forgiveness and make sure Rob's job is safe. Alan has all his hair pieces out ( talks to and about them) finally asking Laura what he should do with all of them. Here Mary Tyler Moore ( Laura ) gives the classic line " there must be some needy bald people !" Perfect! Rob arrives and after venting a bit more Alan decides this has freed him and people around him including his wife, secretary, his doorman and Rob and Laura prefer him bald he's ok with it . Then Laura accidentally revealed she now knows about his nose job too! Time to get away while Rob still has his job.
Look for the very ending too as Rob helps Millie and Laura divide up the four gifts won on the show.
Filling in for a nervous Millie on a game / interview show. Laura nervously navigates the questions the hosts throws at her particularly about her husband's job. But after announcing the prizes she won he sneaks in more questions and Laura slips up admitting Alan Brady is bald .
Rob and everyone at the office only see part of the show and miss it but everyone finds out .
Laura goes to plead for forgiveness and make sure Rob's job is safe. Alan has all his hair pieces out ( talks to and about them) finally asking Laura what he should do with all of them. Here Mary Tyler Moore ( Laura ) gives the classic line " there must be some needy bald people !" Perfect! Rob arrives and after venting a bit more Alan decides this has freed him and people around him including his wife, secretary, his doorman and Rob and Laura prefer him bald he's ok with it . Then Laura accidentally revealed she now knows about his nose job too! Time to get away while Rob still has his job.
Look for the very ending too as Rob helps Millie and Laura divide up the four gifts won on the show.
Classic Episode!!
getfitforlife-5257631 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This episode has been deemed by critics as arguably the best Dick Van Dyke episode, which is saying a lot because there were so many quality episodes during the show's original 5 year run. The episode later won an Emmy that year and deservedly so. The funny and ironic thing about this episode is that Dick Van Dyke takes a backseat in it and it's still is laugh out loud funny. It's more of a tour de force for both Mary Tyler Moore and Carl Reiner. Most people know the premise of the episode anyway, but I'll recap.
Laura goes on a game show and the game host tricks her into revealing Alan Brady's biggest secret, that he is bald! Fearing the wrath that Rob might face with the egotistical Alan Brady, Laura tries to do damage control by coming to Rob's job to apologize to a ticked-off Brady, who is surrounded by his now useless wigs!
What makes this episode so great is that Laura and Alan hardly interacted before up until that point. To see the banter between them in the office scene is great. And of course the classic line Laura said about "There must be some needy bald people" as a suggestion of what to do with the wigs was classic. This scene we find out was important in MTM career, as she went on to star in The Mary Tyler Moore show and her character on that show had to interact with Lou Grant similar to how she interacted in this episode.
Not really talked about enough is the scene where Laura reveals to Rob what happened. Of course, Rob so is mad and fearful of what Alan might do to him, that he accidently reveals another secret about Alan, that he got a nose job! Sally and Buddy didn't really have any special moments in this episode. All in all, a classic episode!!
Laura goes on a game show and the game host tricks her into revealing Alan Brady's biggest secret, that he is bald! Fearing the wrath that Rob might face with the egotistical Alan Brady, Laura tries to do damage control by coming to Rob's job to apologize to a ticked-off Brady, who is surrounded by his now useless wigs!
What makes this episode so great is that Laura and Alan hardly interacted before up until that point. To see the banter between them in the office scene is great. And of course the classic line Laura said about "There must be some needy bald people" as a suggestion of what to do with the wigs was classic. This scene we find out was important in MTM career, as she went on to star in The Mary Tyler Moore show and her character on that show had to interact with Lou Grant similar to how she interacted in this episode.
Not really talked about enough is the scene where Laura reveals to Rob what happened. Of course, Rob so is mad and fearful of what Alan might do to him, that he accidently reveals another secret about Alan, that he got a nose job! Sally and Buddy didn't really have any special moments in this episode. All in all, a classic episode!!
Laura spills the beans.
planktonrules16 December 2023
Laura and Millie attend the taping of "The Johnny Patrick Show", a quiz show with a host famous for making people accidentally say embarrassing things. Well, it turns out that Laura is able to keep her composure not matter how much the host tried to get her to say something bad about Alan Brady and his show....that is, until the very end of the show. Then, accidentally, she divulges that Alan is bald...and Laura is sure that Rob is going to be fired for letting the cat out of bag about Alan's baldness....something about which he is VERY sensitive.
This is a very funny episode of "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and it also helps to humanize Alan Brady just a bit.
This is a very funny episode of "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and it also helps to humanize Alan Brady just a bit.
YOUR BOSS IS BALD AND YOU MAY BE GET FIRED!
tcchelsey10 December 2023
Another Bill Persky gem, who wrote so many super episodes for the series, and at the time was also writing for THAT GIRL, which he created.
Some critics argue this may be one the very best episodes of the series, but there are just so darn many as runner ups. It's a tough call. That said, you have to admit, it's just outrageous, but in an embarrassing sort of way... which was a common theme on the show.
Lucky Laura gets selected to go on a high rated game show, hosted by slick Johnny Patrick (played well by popular actor Dick Curtis). Yes! Laura wins some fab prizes. And NO! Johnny tricks Laura into admitting that Rob's scowling boss, Alan Brady, wears a wig! How terrible... which may cost Rob his job.
There's a memorable "little talk" scene between Alan Brady (Carl Reiner at his best) and Laura -- with four hair pieces on model heads staring them in the face! Does not get any better than this! In real life, Reiner said he did not mind wearing a wig, and he had one, but often would appear in public without it! You have to admit, a hairpiece did make him look years younger. The same with Mel, played by Richard Deacon.
A gotsta' see, and one you'll want to see again, especially for Mary Tyler Moore at her frustrated best! Dick Curtis, by the way, passed in 2023, who was quite famous in Oregon, appearing in beer commercials for a local brewery!
SEASON 5 Premier episode #1 remastered dvd box set.
Some critics argue this may be one the very best episodes of the series, but there are just so darn many as runner ups. It's a tough call. That said, you have to admit, it's just outrageous, but in an embarrassing sort of way... which was a common theme on the show.
Lucky Laura gets selected to go on a high rated game show, hosted by slick Johnny Patrick (played well by popular actor Dick Curtis). Yes! Laura wins some fab prizes. And NO! Johnny tricks Laura into admitting that Rob's scowling boss, Alan Brady, wears a wig! How terrible... which may cost Rob his job.
There's a memorable "little talk" scene between Alan Brady (Carl Reiner at his best) and Laura -- with four hair pieces on model heads staring them in the face! Does not get any better than this! In real life, Reiner said he did not mind wearing a wig, and he had one, but often would appear in public without it! You have to admit, a hairpiece did make him look years younger. The same with Mel, played by Richard Deacon.
A gotsta' see, and one you'll want to see again, especially for Mary Tyler Moore at her frustrated best! Dick Curtis, by the way, passed in 2023, who was quite famous in Oregon, appearing in beer commercials for a local brewery!
SEASON 5 Premier episode #1 remastered dvd box set.
Coast to Coast Big Mouth
studioAT2 September 2020
An episode where actually Rob (Dick Van Dyke) isn't the funniest character, with Carl Reiner's Alan and Mary Tyler Moore's Laura stealing it from under him,
All these years later this remains a charming and funny show.
They don't make them like this any more, more's the pity.
All these years later this remains a charming and funny show.
They don't make them like this any more, more's the pity.
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