The Dick Van Dyke Show
Sitcom about a TV comedy writer's work and home life.
CBS Television · Public domain
The Dick Van Dyke Show is an American sitcom created and produced by Carl Reiner that aired on CBS from October 3, 1961, to June 1, 1966, with 158 half-hour episodes across five seasons. The series centered on the work and home life of television comedy writer Rob Petrie, head writer for the fictitious variety show The Alan Brady Show, and was produced by Calvada Productions in association with CBS, shot at Desilu Studios. It won 15 Emmy Awards and has been ranked among the greatest television series of all time by TV Guide and the Writers Guild of America.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Sitcom
- Runtime
- 22–24 minutes
- Creator
- Carl Reiner
- Executive Producer
- Sheldon Leonard, in association with Danny Thomas
- Producer
- Carl Reiner / Bill Persky (1965) / Sam Denoff (1965)
- Director
- Sheldon Leonard / John Rich / Jerry Paris / Howard Morris / Alan Rafkin
- Starring
- Dick Van Dyke / Mary Tyler Moore / Rose Marie / Morey Amsterdam / Larry Mathews / Richard Deacon
- Theme Music Composer
- Earle Hagen
- Company
- Calvada Productions / CBS Productions
- Country
- United States
- Network
- CBS
- First Aired
- 1961-10-03
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Dick Van Dyke Show starred Dick Van Dyke as Rob Petrie, Mary Tyler Moore as Laura Petrie, Rose Marie as Sally Rogers, Morey Amsterdam as Buddy Sorrell, and Larry Mathews as Ritchie Petrie. The show's two main settings were Rob's workplace at the fictional Alan Brady Show in Manhattan and his suburban home in New Rochelle, New York, with his wife Laura and son Ritchie. Many characters were based on real people: Carl Reiner created the show from his time as head writer for Your Show of Shows, with Van Dyke's character based on Reiner himself, and Alan Brady (played by Reiner) combining traits of Milton Berle and Jackie Gleason.
Reader's Guide
The Dick Van Dyke Show is significant for its innovative blend of workplace and domestic comedy, offering an inside look at television writing and production. It won 15 Emmy Awards and in 1997, two episodes—'Coast to Coast Big Mouth' and 'It May Look Like a Walnut'—were ranked among TV Guide's 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time. In 2002, the series was ranked 13th on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time, and in 2013 it placed 20th on their list of the 60 Best Series. That same year, the Writers Guild of America ranked it 14th on its list of the 101 Best Written TV Series. The show's legacy includes a failed 1960 pilot titled Head of the Family, with a different cast, which was reworked after producer Sheldon Leonard suggested recasting the lead role with Dick Van Dyke.
Did You Know?
- The show's theme music was written by Earle Hagen.
- At least four episodes were filmed without a live studio audience, including 'The Bad Old Days' and 'The Gunslinger'.
- In 2016, several episodes were colorized by West Wing Studios and aired on CBS.
- The pilot for the series, titled Head of the Family, aired in 1960 with Carl Reiner playing Robbie Petrie.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Dick Van Dyke Show?
It is a classic American sitcom that follows the professional and personal life of Rob Petrie, a comedy writer working on a fictional variety show. The series aired on CBS for five seasons between 1961 and 1966.
Who created and produced The Dick Van Dyke Show?
Carl Reiner both created and produced the series, which was made by Calvada Productions in partnership with CBS. Filming took place at Desilu Studios.
How many seasons and episodes does The Dick Van Dyke Show have?
The show ran for five seasons, totaling 158 half-hour episodes. It premiered on October 3, 1961, and wrapped its final episode on June 1, 1966.
Why is The Dick Van Dyke Show considered a landmark in television history?
The series collected 15 Emmy Awards during its run and has been ranked among the greatest television series ever by both TV Guide and the Writers Guild of America. Its sharp writing and workplace-comedy structure set a benchmark that influenced countless sitcoms that followed.
What role does The Alan Brady Show play within The Dick Van Dyke Show?
The Alan Brady Show is the fictional variety program that serves as the workplace setting for most of the series. Rob Petrie works as its head writer, and much of the show's humor and conflict unfolds around that job.
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