In a way we’re fortunate to have TV Land around to televise classic shows from the past. There are some great ones out there that never lose their appeal. The most obvious example is ILove Lucy” which still seems funny 60 years later. It may be that the best shows are timeless, always entertaining no matter how many years have past.
Just think of some of the greatest movies of all time; “Gone with the Wind,” “Casablanca,” and “The Best Years of our Lives” are perfect examples of movies that are timeless. They are as intense and entertaining today as when they were made three generations ago.
Television is no different. If you had to pick one television show from the 1960s that defined comedy it would have to be “The Dick Van Dyke Show.” The program ran for five years, from 1961 through 1966, before it took itself off the air. The show’s creator, Carl Reiner, felt that a TV show gets stale after five years and pre-determined “Dick Van Dyke” would run no longer than that despite being at the top of the ratings.
Reiner was also astute enough to not make any references to current events or politics so that the show could remain timeless. It is one reason the show today is as hilarious as it was 50 years ago. Funny is funny.
The show comes alive (as well as a lot more) with the publication of Dick Van Dyke’s autobiography, “My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business.”
Van Dyke describes his upbringing in Illinois and how he became an entertainer. Like most successes in life his lucky breaks often had to do with being in the right place at the right time. He was not a nationally known commodity when Reiner chose him as the lead in his hit comedy series. The fact that the show skipped using a clever title and went with “Dick Van Dyke” only added to his celebrity.
As with many successful situation comedies, chemistry between the actors was a must.
Co-stars Morey Amsterdam and Rose Marie were already well known but Mary Tyler Moore was a young, relatively unknown 23-year-old actress who absolutely jelled with Van Dyke as husband and wife. Their rapport appeared so genuine that many viewersassumed they were married in real life.
In fact, in the 1970s when he was appearing in his “originally” named new situation comedy, “The New Dick Van Dyke Show,” one woman viewer apparently didn’t take kindly to his new on-screen wife, Hope Lange. She came storming up to Van Dyke in a grocery store and hit him with her purse screaming, “How dare you leave that sweet Laura!”
Between situation comedies and slaps in the face Van Dyke managed to star in some very successful movies such as “Mary Poppins,” “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” and “Divorce American Style.” Working with Julie Andrews on “Mary Poppins” was clearly one of the highlights of his life.
In real life (and not the make-believe that some lunatic viewers take for real) Van Dyke seemed to have the same success that he had on-screen. He married to his high school sweetheart and eventually had four kids.
But life wasn’t all peaches and cream. He eventually developed alcoholism and his marriage went south. Van Dyke does not shy away from describing these developments in detail.
Most of the book is sprinkled with wonderful stories that include his actor brother Jerry Van Dyke (Luther from the long-running series “Coach”), real-life incidents that inspired many episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show, and the time Jerry Lewis managed to deliberately embarrass him in front of Queen Elizabeth.
Other than having the usual celebrity pitfall of namedropping once too often, Van Dyke’s autobiography is a fascinating and fast-paced read. He may have had his share of depressing moments but he has been very lucky in life. We are fortunate he has been able to share much of it with us both on-screen and off.
Book Notes
Book Notes: Van Dyke autobiography ‘fascinating’
- Book Notes
-
-
Book Notes: Baseball book features local contributors
Baseball is part of the nation’s fabric. Most kids have a memory of the game either from playing Little League, attending a major league contest or meeting a favorite player. In Cooperstown that feeling is magnified since we are the official home of baseball. We get to see firsthand what has made the sport the national pastime.
-
Book Notes: Living the magic of ‘Hoosier’
A lot of people consider “Hoosiers” the best sports film of all time. The 1986 classic follows the exploits of a fictional small town Indiana high school basketball team in 1952 as it attempts to achieve the impossible dream of a state championship. The story is inspired by the true life achievement of the 1954 Milan team, who with an enrollment of only 161 students shocked big city power Muncie Central on a last second shot to win the state title. It’s the kind of sports story that represents something that is hard to grasp unless you live in a small town.
-
Book Notes: Kennedy: a unique individual
It’s been almost 50 years since the Kennedy assassination shocked the nation. Since then much has been written about President John F. Kennedy and whether he would have achieved his destiny (whatever that may have been) if he had lived. It is said he inspired young people in a way that has never been equaled. And there is the notion of Camelot, espoused by his widow Jackie, that there will never be a time of hope and promise like that again.
-
Book Notes: Garner’s memoir: never a dull moment
It isn’t easy for an actor to have one successful television series, let alone two. And it’s even more difficult to combine those with a thriving movie career. Usually someone succeeds at one medium, but not the other. But, then, James Garner is not your typical actor.
-
Book Notes: Feinstein’s latest is sheer enjoyment
Most people who follow sports have probably heard of John Feinstein. As a nationally known author, sportswriter, pundit and broadcaster, he has brought a unique angle to sports journalism. His groundbreaking book on Bobby Knight’s 1986-87 Indiana University basketball team, “A Season on the Brink,” still resonates today as an all-time classic.
-
Book Notes: No Trekkie should miss Shatner’s books
It would be hard to find a television phenomenon as popular as “Star Trek.” Even though it was only on television for three seasons and 79 episodes (1966-69) it attracted viewers and devotees that still follow it passionately 45 years later. The fanatical supportspawned several movies and television spinoffs. Star Trek conventions continue to this day. There has never been anything like it.
-
Book Notes: Biography captures the real Stephen Colbert
It would be hard to find a comedian as unique as Stephen Colbert. As the host of “The Colbert Report” on Comedy Central he hasmanaged to leave his mark on the nation’s consciousness in both a serious and humorous sort of way. His unusual wit has allowed him to become American icon. It would be difficult to find another entertainer quite like him.
-
Book Notes: Grisham doesn’t disappoint
John Grisham is one of this country’s most popular authors. Every time he publishes a book it’s an instant best-seller. He appeared on the scene about 20 years ago with his tense legal thrillers, “A Time to Kill” and “The Firm,”and hasn’t stopped producing top-notch novels since.
-
Book Notes: Ebert biography worth experiencing
Roger Ebert is probably the best known film critic in the country. Back in the 1970s he appeared with fellow Chicago-based critic Gene Siskel in a syndicated television program called Sneak Previews that launched the duo into stardom. Their banter about upcoming movies proved extremely popular and they appeared everywhere from talk showsto conventions.
-
Book Notes: A tasty tale through culinary college
Anyone who is familiar with the Hudson Valley knows it is one of the most beautiful areas in the state. Among its most appealing attractions is Hyde Park, home of the Franklin D. Roosevelt home and museum. And even more appetizing than the FDR exhibits is a visit to the Culinary Institute of America, where you can wine and dine on delicacies from the next generation of great chefs.
- More Book Notes Headlines
-
Book Notes: Baseball book features local contributors
Defense Rests in John Edwards Trial
GM Says It Will Stop Paying for Ads on Facebook
911 Call: Confusion at Home Where Mom Shot Kids
Jury Convicts Steve Powell of Voyeurism Charges
Skechers to Pay $40 Million for Bogus Claims
Coffee May Be Key to Living Longer
Police to Groom of Slain Bride: Turn Yourself In
Laurie Fine: My Life Has Been Destroyed
FTC: Skechers Deceived Consumers With Shoe Ads
FBI Confirms Leak Probe on Al-Qaida Plot
Romney Calls Obama a 'Disappointment'
Honda Unveils New Robotics-powered Scooter
NJ Gov., Mayor Channel Seinfeld in Video Parody
Blood Drive for Woman With Flesh-Eating Disease
AG Race Tops Oregon Primary Interest
Obama Welcomes Beckham, Galaxy to White House
Raw Video: Mladic's Genocide Trial Under Way
Court Records Detail Zimmerman Injuries
Local Community Prepares for G8 Summit
New Guidelines for US Nuclear Plants
