Go ahead and sound it out in your own head. That's the theme song of one of the best situation comedies in television history. And, yesterday was the 50th anniversary of its premiere.
Yes, the "Dick Van Dyke Show" is now one half-century old. And who isn't?
Clearly, watching this classic sitcom in reruns was a master class in learning how to be funny on paper. This show, along with "I Love Lucy" and "Mary Tyler Moore" did more to shape me as a creative human being than any class or workshop. They helped to make me what I am today. And, depending upon what day of the week it is, that's either good or bad. Please hold your comments until the end of this blog entry.
When I heard that the American Cinematheque, of which I am a proud member, was going to hold a gala tribute in honor of the DVD show's birthday at the legendary Egyptian Theater, I jumped over my ottoman quickly to buy tickets. So did about 600 other people, many of whom had worked for or with the production 50 years ago. Not only was this a fan lovefest, but it apparently served as a workplace reunion. Lots of the crew is still alive, which must mean they had a lot of healthy snacks at the craft services table five decades back.
Now, regular readers of this daily nonsense will recall that I had a brief dalliance several months ago with DVD creator Carl Reiner in the bathroom of the TV Academy after a "Hot in Cleveland" forum. Well, before last Saturday's event, I made a urinal pitstop to beat the crowds that were gathering.
Yep, you guessed it. Who walked in right behind me? Carl Reiner. What are the odds? Or perhaps maybe it's time for me to speed up my annual visit to the urologist. Apparently my bathroom habits are totally in sync with those of an 89-year-old.
With his bladder empty, Reiner addressed the crowd and told tales of how the show was created. Three episodes were screamed and one was my favorite of the series---the one where Laura accidentally tells the world that Alan Brady is bald. This script alone might be one of the top 10 best written sitcom episodes in television history.
Reiner, Van Dyke, and other special guests wound up in the front row to watch the episodes. As the lights dimmed to darkness and the first show started, there was a lone voice from the black around us. It was Carl Reiner.
"I just want everybody to know that we have the worst seats in the house."
Following the screening, some self-appointed DVD expert, whose big claim to fame is a trivia book he wrote about the show, introduced some of the other folks in the audience. And if you were even remotely connected to the DVD show in some fashion, you got your name mentioned for the requisite hand clapping.
"Remember the episode where there was an ice cream salesman who had two lines with Buddy and Sally, well, here he is..."
"This guy swept up the floor on the sound stage for Seasons 3 and 4..."
"The woman who ran the mimeograph machine in the writers room. Well, she has passed on, but her granddaughter is here..."
It went on and on and on.
Of the regular cast, Morey Amsterdam has, of course, gotten to that great one-liner in the sky. Ann Morgan Guilbert, who played Millie Halper, was reportedly under the weather but she sent about twenty people in her stead.
Surprisingly, Rose Marie, no longer a "baby" at 88, was there in the audience with the legendary bow in her hair. Previously used as an adornment, that bow might actually be what's holding her together these days.
"I'm here to introduce the seven people here who didn't get introduced yet."
Marshall is the Bronx personified and was absolutely hilarious as he solicited questions from the audience. One came from Rose Marie who wondered where the bathroom was.
To be honest, I didn't learn anything new about the show than I knew before. But, still, to sit there and just be in the same room with the folks responsible for so much entertainment that was important to me...well, that was reward enough. An ideal way to salute the best of the best.
When I got home, a friend who belongs to the TV Academy invited me to that organization's salute to Carl Reiner next week. I'm prepping for the event by drinking lots and lots of water.
Let's face it. How many people can say they've peed alongside Carl Reiner not once, not twice, but three times in their life?
Dinner last night: Grilled chicken sausage and salad.
1 comment:
Even TV Land condescended to put one DVD Show episodes on this morning.
One of the best written, best acted, smartest shows ever to hit television. Still holds up today, something you can't say about even some of the best shows of the 1960s and '70s.
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