The Dick Van Dyke Show

The Dick Van Dyke Show was an American television situation comedy which aired on CBS from October 3, 1961 to September 7, 1966. It starred Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore.

Influence

The show was an excellent vehicle for Van Dyke's physical comedy and sight gags. The classic example is the scene in the opening titles, in which Van Dyke enters through the front door and trips over the ottoman. Producers filmed three versions: one in which Van Dyke trips over the ottoman, one in which he steps around it, and a rarely seen third variation in which Van Dyke avoids the ottoman and then trips on the stairs. Viewers were kept wondering which would be used on any particular episode.

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The series was considered a trailblazer for its comparatively realistic portrayal of relationships — although the Petries slept in separate beds — and caused some mild controversy because of Mary Tyler Moore's decision to wear capri slacks in an era when most sitcom wives wore dresses and skirts.

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Carl Reiner originally planned to produce and star in the series, which was originally titled Head of the Family. A pilot episode was made, but it was unsuccessful.

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Reiner always maintained that he never intended for the series to run more than five seasons, making this one of the first successful American TV series to end of its own free will, rather than through cancellation. It has been highly successful in syndicated reruns, and as of 2005 airs on the cable network TV Land.

Related Topics:
Syndicated reruns - As of 2005 - TV Land

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The Dick Van Dyke Show was considered an inspiration for many later sitcoms, in particular the long-running Mad About You, which was in many ways a modern-day remake of the older show. Carl Reiner even reprised the role of Alan Brady for an episode. The relationship between Reiner as writer and Van Dyke as actor also can be compared to that between Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld.

Related Topics:
Mad About You - Larry David - Jerry Seinfeld

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Van Dyke returned in 1971 in an unrelated vehicle, The New Dick Van Dyke Show, which despite running for three years is no longer seen, in contrast with The Mary Tyler Moore Show, which became as successful as the original Dick Van Dyke Show.

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