"The Dick Van Dyke Show" October Eve (TV Episode 1964) Poster

(TV Series)

(1964)

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9/10
Incredibly prudish...but fun.
planktonrules11 December 2023
"October Eve" is a great example of an older TV episode which is very prudish and morally old fashioned. This does not mean it's bad...in fact it's one of the better episodes of season three.

The story begins with Sally calling for Laura. Apparently, Sally is in some gallery downtown and there's a nude painting of Laura there on display. Laura is shocked to hear this, as she thought she'd destroyed the painting. There are some flashbacks where you learn how this painting came about...a painting for which Laura NEVER took her clothing off and which was supposed to be chaste.

The most interesting thing about this episode is that while it's clearly about a nude painting, the word 'nude' or any word like it is never used in the show! Yet, you know this is what is going on because of the way everyone overreacts to the picture.

So why do I still like this episode? Most of it is because Carl Reiner played the goofy artist...and he's quite fun in this role. In fact, it's my favorite Reiner appearance on the show. Well worth seeing and incredibly prudish in its sensibilities.
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9/10
Quaint but interesting
euhafshzs25 April 2023
I've watched a few episodes of the Dick Van Dyke show so far. It's a breath of fresh air to find an episode where the situational humor does not revolve around the protagonist couple constantly arguing or jeopardizing their relationship. In this episode, which plays very modern thanks to this deviation form the formula, they band together to solve a common problem, and the episode ends on a very positive win-win-win note. I'd like to extend a particular praise for an accurate and tasteful portrayal of a Soviet expat at the caliber of Ayn Rand and Vladimir Nabokov.

Overall, this is one of the better episodes definitely worth watching.
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10/10
Has My FAVORITE Moment in the Entire Series
poetcomic117 April 2017
When Rob reassures Laura that he's not upset about the nude painting of her being in a big art gallery and the moment she leaves the room grabs the irons on the burner and smashes a cup and goes insane for a moment. That bit of business, which was cooked up on the set by director Jerry Paris, is my FAVORITE moment in the entire series. Not to mention the wonderful Carl Reiner as the painter who is so in love with himself "I'm not even good enough for me.". Pleasures throughout.
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10/10
One of best DVD episdoes
philamax28 May 2021
I saw this episode a few months ago on DECADES TV and laughed heartily, remembering it from when it originally aired in 1964. I then saw again recently and laughed just as hard. The writers work magically to extend every bit of comedy such as having Rob deduce that Sally met the artist, the artist made the connection of the Alan Brady Show to him as writer and that he had painted Rob's wife in the past. But Laura brings him up short by saying Sally did not meet the painter, but she met the painting! The visual comedy is tops, especially when Rob visits the gallery. His expressions and actions alone make this a top episode.
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4/10
A rather weak pretense to run a whole episode on
ronnybee211212 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This episode is pretty lame indeed. Laura supposedly posed for a painted portrait of herself many years ago,for a nutty artist/painter. She was fully clothed,but the goofy artist painted her as a nude. The artist is now well-known,and the painting is now in an art gallery,for all to see.

Laura spends the whole episode whining and worrying about this painting,who might see it,etc.

Laura's main concern at first was how hubby Rob would handle this,and after some time-wasting hemming and hawing,(and whining) Laura tells Rob about it. Rob really doesn't care at first,but he goes to see the painting for the heck of it,and suddenly he is worried about it (?). We,the audience,never get to see the painting,and most of the laugh-track is used-up in response to the faces and expressions that Rob and others make while supposedly looking at the picture. While funny at first,it gets old fast.

The basic idea itself is somewhat funny,but it is nowhere near enough to base a whole episode on. Did anyone really have the time to worry themselves half to death over something like this,even in 1962? I doubt it.

Unfortunately this is a very weak story,stretched beyond the breaking-point. Don't take my word as gold, see this for yourself and tell us what you think about it !
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