Satire!

[JSngry]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwonVUPr8-M

Probably my third time through the Duck Van Dick show (fourth if you count original views, which I don't becuase it was not my choice to watch, it was what was on in the house), and OMG LOL, I think I appreciate it more now than ever, so many serious skills coming at you all at once in every episode. I know it's funnier than ever, at least to me.

Lavender Lollipops or Point Me To The Moon!

Gotta love Doris Packer.

[Jazzmoose]

I started watching these on Amazon a few months ago, and for me it was the first time since the original viewing (how old was I; four or five?), so yeah, much better. And it was hilarious then, with nothing sinking into my head but the slapstick. At least I thought that was all that was sinking in; Dick Van Dyke seems to have had more influence on my idea of humor than I would have ever suspected.

[Scott Dolan]

I started watching these on Amazon a few months ago, and for me it was the first time since the original viewing (how old was I; four or five?), so yeah, much better. And it was hilarious then, with nothing sinking into my head but the slapstick. At least I thought that was all that was sinking in; Dick Van Dyke seems to have had more influence on my idea of humor than I would have ever suspected.

I had the same experience when I revisited the show about a decade ago. I couldn't believe just how incredibly funny it was. Very well written and acted.

Some of the very best episodes was when brother Jerry had his recurring role.

[medjuck]

Carl Reiner is da man!

[Jim R]

Loved the Van Dyke show, always. MTM was looking quite nice there. Watching that first clip featuring Reiner makes me wish I was born a bit earlier, to have seen Your Show Of Shows when it was happening. I never really even managed to see that in reruns (if there were any around here), and as far as I can remember have only come to appreciate it via the occasional clips on award shows and tv documentaries, in addition to more recently on Youtube. Having Reiner and Caesar on the same show was like having Mays and Aaron on the same team.

[JSngry]

In its earliest days, Comedy Central had "black and white sundays" and they would show Caesar reruns (not sure if all were Your Show Of Shows" or not). Do know that a theatrical release called "Ten From Your Show Of Shows" came out in 1973 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069663/ and caused a fair amount of critical buzz/re-appreciation. Don't know if it's been out on either VHS or DVD, though.

What I recall being discouraged by on the Comedy Central reruns was the degraded audio quality. I could follow along generally, but it took a lot of effort. In terms of my enjoyment, it didn't take away from it, it just limited it, if that makes any sense. I'd love to see those archives (such as they are?) cleaned up and comprehensively placed back into circulation.

[Jim R]

I'd love to see those archives (such as they are?) cleaned up and comprehensively placed back into circulation.

Probably long overdue.

Watching that first Reiner clip again, it strikes me as one of the best things I've ever seen from him. I'm in awe of that kind of verbal avalanche, complete with perfect timing and precision. The kind of thing that only a few people on the planet could even attempt. And how much of that was improv? This seemed to be at least partially pre-written, but you can't recite something like that exactly the same way twice, right?

[medjuck]

I was at a function with Reiner last year and I told him that I'd been a fan for 60 years. He was very sweet and acted as if no-one had ever said that to him before. (I presume it happens every day.) What's amazing is that he can also play straight man for Mel Brooks.

[Leeway]

I'd love to see those archives (such as they are?) cleaned up and comprehensively placed back into circulation.

Probably long overdue.

Watching that first Reiner clip again, it strikes me as one of the best things I've ever seen from him. I'm in awe of that kind of verbal avalanche, complete with perfect timing and precision. The kind of thing that only a few people on the planet could even attempt. And how much of that was improv? This seemed to be at least partially pre-written, but you can't recite something like that exactly the same way twice, right?

Had the same thought, but concluded that the basic idea of Reiner's part may heve been worked out ahead of time, established, but his actual monologue was pure improv. You can tell when he is done, and Dick Van Dyke is sort of caught by a momentary surprise, taken aback, Van Dyke starts laughing. Watch MTM, she just keeps smiling delightfully at DVD; she knows.

Even the 2nd clip shows some improv, especially around the gall bladder bit. Some of those royalty bits were probably improvised too. I used to watch this show on first-run as a kid, remember him always tripping off the footstool or something. Lots of slapstick. Great show.

[JSngry]

For me, the real "treat" in this bit is Doris Packer...carrying the lead for the royalty scene and damn, look at her set the tone, takes the looniness opportunity and runs with it, leading with her hands and her pitch. But they're all in the zone, really.

I'd expect Reiner to deliver, although this is a little above and beyond, even for him. But Doris Packer...geez, I never really paid attention to her on either Dobie Gillis or Leave It To Beaver. I don't think she was that looney there.

I'm, like, 2/3 of the way through Season 2, and so far, even the "lesser" episodes have been excellent. The better ones...wow, that's all I can say, really, just wow.

Found this a few months ago, Morey Amsterdam & Art Carney on Dumont, 1950. Found it to be revelatory in its own way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf12duyS4IM

[Jim R]

I used to watch this show on first-run as a kid, remember him always tripping off the footstool or something.

Or something!? Yeah, we watched it religiously when I was a kid. As I recall, he tripped over the ottoman upon entering his house in the first season or two, and then they had him smoothly dodging it when the opening title sequence was modified (I think they also hipped up the rhythm of the musical theme, as they did on many other shows at that time). There was also a rarer version of his entrance where he dodged the ottoman, but tripped on the carpet.

[JSngry]

However..

Midway through Season 1 the did this:

Which in turn was an audio redo of this:

That's the original on, and it's so..."show biz", nothing like the suburbia that was at the core of the premise of the Petries. Rob might have worked in the city, but the burbs was where home was.

[Mark Stryker]

More skills:

MTM WOW!(and dig Col. Hogan on congas)

Edited August 10, 2014 by Mark Stryker

[Mark Stryker]

Don't forget Sal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJQBql2K4R0

Nice chart on Mountain Greenery (really slick first 16 bars of the 2nd chorus).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYNjsGKx7Vs

Edited August 10, 2014 by Mark Stryker

[JSngry]

Rob & Laura as Jackie & Roy! TOTAL Suburbia, YES!

John Rich on directing the opening trip/not trip...it was a throwaway, really, but there was durability awaiting!

[Mark Stryker]

Another great scene with Carl Reiner -- Laura has accidentally told a national television audience that Alan Brady is actually bald.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGEOjxtQtWc