Review(s): DVD The Best of The Dick Van Dyke Show, Vol. 1
Includes the first episode and the classic "Coast-to-Coast Big Mouth"
When you think of all the situation comedies that combine comedy in the work place with the domestic humor of the home life, "The Dick Van Dyke Show" has to be considered the prototype. The show was created by Carl Reiner, who had honed his skills after nine seasons in the cast of "Your Show of Shows" and whatever else Sid Caesar want to do. Originally Reiner had intended to be the star of the show rather than a writer, and indeed there is a pilot episode in which he played Rob Petrie with Barbara Birton as Laura, Gary Morgan as Ritchie, and Morty Gunty and Sylvia Miles as Buddy and Sally. Of course, by the time the show aired on CBS it had Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Larry Mathews, Morey Amsterdam and Rose Marie in the key roles, with Reiner showing up from time to time as Alan Brady, who had the show on which Rob, Buddy and Sally worked as comedy writers. "The Best of 'The Dick Van Dyke Show, Volume 1" offers up four episodes from the show's five year run, two of which are definitely in the must have category, which is why I end up rounding up when I split the difference on this DVD.
Episode 1, "The Sick Boy and the Sitter" (Written by Carl Reiner, First aired October 3, 1961) is the first episode of "The Dick Van Dyke Show," The situation is quite simple. Rob wants to take Laura to a party at Alan Brady's penthouse apartment, but she wants to stay home and look after Ritchie, who is not feeling well. The important thing here is that by the end of the episode you have to love Mary Tyler Moore as much as Rob loves Laura. You have to be impressed that Reiner would start this series with an episode that is about something as ordinary and everyday as taking care of a sick kid.
Episode 71, "Big Max Calvada" (Written by Bill Persky and Sam Denoff, First aired on November 20, 1963) stars executive producer Sheldon Leonard, who directed the show's first episode, as the title character, a mobster who talks like he walked out of a Damon Runyon story. Big Max wants Rob, Buddy and Sally to write a comedy routine for his nephew, Kenny. The problem is that Kenny has not comedic talent whatsoever, which makes the gang worried about how Big Max is going to take the news that Kenny is a flop. There is also an in-joke with his last name since Calvada Productions owned "The Dick van Dyke Show." An okay episode, with Leonard stealing his scenes from the rest of the cast.
Episode 127, "Coast-to-Coast Big Mouth" (Written by Bill Persky and Sam Denoff, First aired September 15, 1965) is an absolute classic episode. Laura is on a game show and the talk gets her to admit that Alan Brady wears a toupee. Worried that Rob is going to be fired, Laura goes to Alan to try and apologize. This episode deservedly won the 1966 Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series, helped by the hysterical confrontation between the apologetic Laura and the really angry Alan. Besides, Laura has a point about there being needy bald people who could use Alan's toupees.
Episode 147, "Dear Sally Rogers" (Written by Ronald Axe, First aired February 23, 1966) finds Sally on "The Stevie Parsons Show," a late night talk show, where he routine about desperately wanting a husband goes over really well. When letters start coming in Parsons wants to pick one and see what happens, and to Sally's surprise she gets a letter from a guy who could be the man of her dreams. Who could be the mystery man in Box 7030? Does the name Herman Glimscher ring a bell? For that matter, notice that the name "Stevie Parsons" used for the host of the faux-"Tonight Show" is a combination of the names of Steve Allen, Jack Parr and Johnny Carson, the three hosts of the real "Tonight Show" up to that point. No wonder this is a classic television situation comedy. An above average entry and one of my favorite Sally Rogers episodes.
a fantastic budget disc for Dick Van Dyke fans!
Image has released a series of specially-priced discs of THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW featuring some of the all-time classic episodes plus great extra features.
Volume 1 includes:
"The Sick Boy and the Sitter" - Rob convinces Laura to leave sick Ritchie at home with a sitter while they attend a large party.
"Big Max Calvada" - Rob, Buddy and Sally find themselves caught up with a shady underworld character.
"Coast-to-Coast Big Mouth" - Rob gets Laura and Millie tickets to a sweepstakes show, where on live television Laura lets slip that Alan Brady wears hair-pieces.
"Dear Sally Rogers" - Fed up with her boyfriend Herman Glimsher, Sally goes on national TV to advertise for a husband.
This disc also features the original pilot episode of the show called "Head of the Family" which has Carl Reiner in the Rob role. This also features the interesting casting of Barbara Britton (in the Mary Tyler Moore role) and Sylvia Miles (in the Rose Marie role).
With Dick Van Dyke as Rob, Mary Tyler Moore as Laura, Morey Amsterdam as Buddy, Rose Marie as Sally, Carl Reiner as Alan and Ann Guilbert as Millie.
This is What Classic TV is All About ! ! !
If you want to know why the Dick Van Dyke Show is a classic, watch the four episodes on this DVD. The scripts are clever, attention-getting, and hold your interest for the duration. Each character's role is cast in such a way that they "look the part." And the timing is paced in a cadence that flows naturally with the give and take of the sitcom format.
In "Never Name a Duck," Rob has to teach Richie about appropriate love. Like attracts like could be considered a theme. In "Bank Book 6565696" we learn how assumptions in marriage can lead to conflict. Buddy's uncouth brother Blackie makes an appearance in "Hustling the Hustler," and tries to convinced his older sibling that he has put his old ways behind him. Rob learns the price of overconifidence in the show also.
And finally in "The Night the Roof Fell In," marital miscommunication is comedically viewed. We literally "see" both sides of a story. The happy couple is reunited in the end and realize being right isn't nearly as important has having someone to love who loves you back.
This is feel good TV for myriad reasons. There's a clear sense of what is right, appropriate and acceptable. People care about each other. Strenthening positive relationships is reinforced continually. This is uplifting entertainment suitable for everyone.
Related DVD's The Best of The Dick Van Dyke Show, Vol. 1
Image has released a series of specially-priced discs showcasing some of the all-time classic episodes of THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW. Volume Four includes:
"Oh How We Met the Night We Danced" - Rob and Laura remember their courtship days, and how Laura ended up with a broken foot.
"My Blonde-Haired Brunette" - When she fears the spark is waning from her marriage, Laura decides a change in hair-colour just might be the ticket.
"Four and-a-Half" - Whilst on their way to visit the obstetrician, Rob and Laura are taken hostage in the elevator by a disgruntled ex-con (Don Rickles).
there's no question that The Dick Van Dyke Show will always be a landmark in Television Comedy. The stories and characters are as timeless today as when the show premiered 40 years ago. Our only complaint about this Canadian DVD is that the quality is not very good. It seems to be copied from 16mm prints, rather than the original film. It's also only 6 episodes. We have heard that the authorized anniversary edition of all 158 episodes is being released soon and it will be great to see DVD on DVD. More Info about this DVD Director(s): John Rich - James Niver - Carl Reiner - Peter Baldwin - Coby Ruskin DVD Release Date: Released the 20 March 2001 Special Order
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She finally made it after all... to DVD! Created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns, The Mary Tyler Moore Show is the very model of a tailor-made star vehicle. It transformed Moore from Dick Van Dyke's wacky housewife to empowered thirtysomething single woman determined to make it on her own. Moore was the anchor of a peerless ensemble who brought to life characters so indelible that three of them, Ed Asner's Lou Grant, Valerie Harper's Rhoda, and Cloris Leachman's Phyllis, would each get their own series. The 24 episodes that comprise the Emmy-winning first season (1970) hilariously set the stage for what would become one of television's most beloved sitcoms, ranked by TV Guide in 2002 as the 11th greatest of all time (it should have been higher!). The classic pilot episode... More Info about this DVD DVD Release Date: Released the 24 September 2002 Usually ships in 24 hours
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