Please pardon me, World & America, for I certainly must be out of step. You see, I've never been crazy about "THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW"(1961-66)nor a lot of his other roles. Certainly, this isn't an indictment of the Great Star's talents, for they are obvious and "right up front" for everybody to see. It's as obvious as the Nose on your, er ah, no, the Nose on 'My' Face! These different roles seem somehow to be sort of below him. They are okay, when there is nothing better, to you know, pay the bills. It's just that his Rob Petry character is a little shallow, and not convincing to my way of thinking.
Now take this "VAN DYKE AND COMPANY" (1976), that was a real showcase for the varied theatrical skills for Dick to display and exploit to best advantage. The domain of the Scripted half hour sit-com, with few exceptions, demands a conformity to a certain format. Such a genre usually pull in the reins on what should be categorized as being easily a better premise.
You don't thank so? Well think about this . Take that tremendous Theatrical Film and Box Office Block Buster of a few years back, MY BIG FAT Greek WEDDING (2002). Someone thought to try to transplant some of that audience enthusiasm to the TV World with a derivative spin-off, a sitcom with most of the cast called "MY BIG FAT Greek LIFE"(2003) It lasted 7 episodes.
With this "VAN DYKE AND COMPANY", Dick was striking out in a sort of different direction, for him anywho! He drew the perimeters of the new series, leaving them plenty wide. Making it a 'Variety' Show seemed to be bucking trends then; as they were basically a dying breed at that time.
Mr. Van Dyke was most generous with allocating time to others on the series; as he did a lot of introducing other acts a la Ed Sullivan.
Once again, this is not to be overly critical, nor to infer that Dick was not performing, for he was. Wearing several different hats, his individual roles and strong points were still in evidence, also.
And Dick obviously was not afraid to really go out n a limb, and be an innovator. This was strongly in evidence with some of the monologues and closings. For example, in one week's show, he seems to be having trouble closing the show. Time is called and the Show's "Director" came out to talk with him. The Director (Manager) motions off camera, and a Guy on a Golf Cart comes on, delivering Tommy Smuthers, replete with Baseball Cap. Van Dyke and "Director" depart, at which time Tommy 'delivers' the final pitch of the evening. "Good Night!" he says, getting the 'side' out. Game over. It has to be seen.
An awful lot of people seem to forget that "VAN DYKE AND COMPANY" featured an up and coming off beat comedian by the name of Andy Kauffman as a regular. This certainly was a bold move, rendering the show as being progressive, open-minded and innovative even.
And a lot of good it did for not enough of us watched it and it vanished with the new season.
And where are these "Variety" Shows now that we need them. They would usually close with a message like "Be sure to be kind to each other out there!"*, or "Make sure you get to your place of Worship this week end!" Lord, where are these folks now, when we really need them!
NOTE: * That was Garry Moore's sign-off Wish for Years!
Now take this "VAN DYKE AND COMPANY" (1976), that was a real showcase for the varied theatrical skills for Dick to display and exploit to best advantage. The domain of the Scripted half hour sit-com, with few exceptions, demands a conformity to a certain format. Such a genre usually pull in the reins on what should be categorized as being easily a better premise.
You don't thank so? Well think about this . Take that tremendous Theatrical Film and Box Office Block Buster of a few years back, MY BIG FAT Greek WEDDING (2002). Someone thought to try to transplant some of that audience enthusiasm to the TV World with a derivative spin-off, a sitcom with most of the cast called "MY BIG FAT Greek LIFE"(2003) It lasted 7 episodes.
With this "VAN DYKE AND COMPANY", Dick was striking out in a sort of different direction, for him anywho! He drew the perimeters of the new series, leaving them plenty wide. Making it a 'Variety' Show seemed to be bucking trends then; as they were basically a dying breed at that time.
Mr. Van Dyke was most generous with allocating time to others on the series; as he did a lot of introducing other acts a la Ed Sullivan.
Once again, this is not to be overly critical, nor to infer that Dick was not performing, for he was. Wearing several different hats, his individual roles and strong points were still in evidence, also.
And Dick obviously was not afraid to really go out n a limb, and be an innovator. This was strongly in evidence with some of the monologues and closings. For example, in one week's show, he seems to be having trouble closing the show. Time is called and the Show's "Director" came out to talk with him. The Director (Manager) motions off camera, and a Guy on a Golf Cart comes on, delivering Tommy Smuthers, replete with Baseball Cap. Van Dyke and "Director" depart, at which time Tommy 'delivers' the final pitch of the evening. "Good Night!" he says, getting the 'side' out. Game over. It has to be seen.
An awful lot of people seem to forget that "VAN DYKE AND COMPANY" featured an up and coming off beat comedian by the name of Andy Kauffman as a regular. This certainly was a bold move, rendering the show as being progressive, open-minded and innovative even.
And a lot of good it did for not enough of us watched it and it vanished with the new season.
And where are these "Variety" Shows now that we need them. They would usually close with a message like "Be sure to be kind to each other out there!"*, or "Make sure you get to your place of Worship this week end!" Lord, where are these folks now, when we really need them!
NOTE: * That was Garry Moore's sign-off Wish for Years!