First of I want to say that The Dick Van Dyke show is my all time favorite series, hands down. Every episode is great. This is the the ONLY episode where the writers and producers missed a golden opportunity--in terms of plot twist and story line arc.
This part 2 of a 2-episode story line where Rob Petrie runs for city council of New Rochelle.
It is really interesting to view this episode decades later in the very different political landscape of 2014. When watching this episode, I'm reminded of when Arnold Schwarzenegger ran for, and won, the office of Governor of state of California primarily on his celebrity. Rob Petrie wins the city council position, pretty much based on his celebrity, good looks and the fact that he is more charming than his opponent (Lincoln Goodheart). Goodheart is a geeky man of small stature that appears to know everything there is to know about the political process and the issues facing New Rochelle. Rob turns out to know very little about the city issues and the political process. Rob spends most of his meetings with his opponent, Lincoln Goodheart by saying "I didn't know that." It is certainly funny and sets up a potential situation later on where Rob can lose or bow out of the race in order to let the better man win and thus look more civic minded. So when Rob ultimately wins, it leads the audience to believe Rob won because he was more charismatic than Goodheart. The producers missed an opportunity with the character of Rob Petrie.
As a Dick Van Dyke Show episode, it is fun to watch. But every single time I view it, I still feel that it would have been far more interesting to have Rob admit that Lincoln Goodheart was more qualified to be on the city council, bow out of the race and offer his support for his opponent (but that's just my opinion).
This part 2 of a 2-episode story line where Rob Petrie runs for city council of New Rochelle.
It is really interesting to view this episode decades later in the very different political landscape of 2014. When watching this episode, I'm reminded of when Arnold Schwarzenegger ran for, and won, the office of Governor of state of California primarily on his celebrity. Rob Petrie wins the city council position, pretty much based on his celebrity, good looks and the fact that he is more charming than his opponent (Lincoln Goodheart). Goodheart is a geeky man of small stature that appears to know everything there is to know about the political process and the issues facing New Rochelle. Rob turns out to know very little about the city issues and the political process. Rob spends most of his meetings with his opponent, Lincoln Goodheart by saying "I didn't know that." It is certainly funny and sets up a potential situation later on where Rob can lose or bow out of the race in order to let the better man win and thus look more civic minded. So when Rob ultimately wins, it leads the audience to believe Rob won because he was more charismatic than Goodheart. The producers missed an opportunity with the character of Rob Petrie.
As a Dick Van Dyke Show episode, it is fun to watch. But every single time I view it, I still feel that it would have been far more interesting to have Rob admit that Lincoln Goodheart was more qualified to be on the city council, bow out of the race and offer his support for his opponent (but that's just my opinion).