What's in a Middle Name? (7 Nov. 1962)

Rob recalls how Ritchie got his middle name, Rosebud, when Ritchie brings up the subject.

Director:

John Rich

Writers:

Carl Reiner, Carl Reiner (created by)

Stars:

Dick Van Dyke, Rose Marie, Morey Amsterdam

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Dick Van Dyke	...	Rob Petrie
Rose Marie	...	Sally Rogers
Morey Amsterdam	...	Buddy Sorrell
Larry Mathews	...	Ritchie Petrie
Mary Tyler Moore	...	Laura Petrie
Richard Deacon	...	Mel Cooley
Carl Benton Reid	...	Mr. Meehan
Geraldine Wall	...	Mrs. Meehan
J. Pat O'Malley	...	Sam Petrie
Isabel Randolph	...	Clara Petrie
Cyril Delevanti	...	Grandpa Petrie

Storyline

Ritchie asks his parents if he has a middle name like most of his friends have. Rob and Laura seem somewhat reluctant to answer his question. When Ritchie asks if the other name listed on his birth certificate - which Ritchie found but which was supposed to be locked away in a safe box - is his middle name, Rob and Laura have to confess that "Rosebud" is indeed his middle name... sort of. Rob and Laura tell him that they will tell him the whole story about how he got his middle name after he comes home from school, which gives them time to recall the events. It all started the day that Laura told Rob that she was pregnant. The news not only excited Rob but also all their friends and especially their respective parents and Rob's paternal grandfather. Everyone had a specific name they wanted to call the baby, with no one willing to budge from their stance. Rob came up with Rosebud as an agreeable compromise name because...

---

Genres:

Comedy | Family

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 November 1962 (USA)

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Calvada Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title is based on a quote from William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet: "What's in a name? That which we call a rose, By any other name would smell as sweet."

---

Quotes

Laura Petrie: Well, do you remember that it was you who was responsible for Ritchie's ending up with a middle name, Rosebud?
Rob Petrie: No, all I can remember is that our parents were pretty unreasonable.
Laura Petrie: They certainly were. But you still didn't have to do what you did.
Rob Petrie: Honey, you forget something - your parents threatened to boycott the baby! I did the only thing I could possibly do to make them all happy.
Laura Petrie: Well, let's see if you can make Ritchie happy with Rosebud for a middle name.
Rob Petrie: Don't worry, I will.
Laura Petrie: Well, if you ...
[...]

---

Connections

References The Story of Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet (1940)

User Reviews