Not the best episode, certainly. However, it's nothing terrible. It's good to see Sally getting a storyline that is upbeat. There are a couple Sally-centric episodes that really cast her as a bit of a sadsack. Here, she's having a great time.
Vic Damone is terrific as a highlighted guest character. There's nice singing to be heard alongside the office's magical piano. When Rob then Sally play it, it produces all sorts of different instrument sounds!
The writing is rather pedestrian for an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show. When, as a viewer, you start questioning, "Why such an elaborate plan/scheme", that tells you the writing is lacking.
There is a stand-out moment in this episode, but it's not a good one. It's the final line which is spoken by Buddy to Rob, "I think we ought to go home and beat up our wives." (The laughtrack thinks this is hysterical.) I'm writing this in 2024, but even by 1961 standards, this was a terrible line to put into a TV script as a (excuse the irony) punchline. Especially for a family-friendly and sophisticated TV show like this. Besides that, the line doesn't even make sense in context of response to what Rob had just said.
In further regarding this line; surprisingly, this episode was written by the show's Creator and Producer, Carl Reiner. That explains why the shows Producer (Reiner) allowed the scriptwriter (also Reiner) to keep this misfire of a line in. I'm surprised that no other member of the production or even Dick Van Dyke himself didn't insist on a more appropriate closing line. Also a line that was funny as well.
To finish this review on a positive, guest star Vic Damone seemed to enjoy his character and looks as though he's having a blast when his character fakes being drunk. The regular cast is, of course, their usual fantastic selves.
Vic Damone is terrific as a highlighted guest character. There's nice singing to be heard alongside the office's magical piano. When Rob then Sally play it, it produces all sorts of different instrument sounds!
The writing is rather pedestrian for an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show. When, as a viewer, you start questioning, "Why such an elaborate plan/scheme", that tells you the writing is lacking.
There is a stand-out moment in this episode, but it's not a good one. It's the final line which is spoken by Buddy to Rob, "I think we ought to go home and beat up our wives." (The laughtrack thinks this is hysterical.) I'm writing this in 2024, but even by 1961 standards, this was a terrible line to put into a TV script as a (excuse the irony) punchline. Especially for a family-friendly and sophisticated TV show like this. Besides that, the line doesn't even make sense in context of response to what Rob had just said.
In further regarding this line; surprisingly, this episode was written by the show's Creator and Producer, Carl Reiner. That explains why the shows Producer (Reiner) allowed the scriptwriter (also Reiner) to keep this misfire of a line in. I'm surprised that no other member of the production or even Dick Van Dyke himself didn't insist on a more appropriate closing line. Also a line that was funny as well.
To finish this review on a positive, guest star Vic Damone seemed to enjoy his character and looks as though he's having a blast when his character fakes being drunk. The regular cast is, of course, their usual fantastic selves.
