Customer Reviews

The Dick Van Dyke Show - The Complete Series

5 star:		(80)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you're looking for a super-sensational, tantalizingly-terrific, and spectacularly-massive DVD set containing some of the greatest comedy moments in TV history, then look no further than this colossal 25-Disc DVD set containing every last episode of "The Dick Van Dyke Show", the multiple Emmy Award-winning CBS-TV comedy series which ran from 1961 to 1966.

This Complete-Series mega DVD collection houses all five seasons of the very funny and perpetually-entertaining Van Dyke Show, encompassing 158 total episodes, all restored and remastered by Image Entertainment and Paul Brownstein Productions, with each episode exhibiting darn-near perfect video and audio quality. And every single episode is complete and unedited. Not a single second of any show has been cut out. Average running time per episode is a shade more than 25 minutes.

All 158 shows have been bundled together here to form one gigantic and money-saving 'Complete-Series' collection. Each of the twenty-five discs gets its own individual "ThinPak" (slimline) plastic case. Each case has unique and nicely-designed cover art (featuring a different publicity still photograph on every one of the 25 cases). Additional photos grace the back cover of each case, as well as more Van Dyke Show pictures (and a complete "Scene Selections" list for each of that platter's 6 or 7 episodes) on the inside of every case. (These plastic cases are the "clear" type, so you can read the "Scene" listing on the inside front covers right through the plastic.)

The back of each of these slim cases provides quick at-your-fingertips info about each show on that disc -- such as: Full episode titles; Film dates; Original CBS-TV air dates; Brief episode descriptions; Plus some crew credits ("Written by" and "Directed by" notations). The 158 episodes are arranged here by "Production" (or "Film Date") order, instead of an "Air Date" chronology.*

* = With one (very wise) exception being Episodes 157 and 158. "The Gunslinger" was actually the last (158th) Van Dyke episode to be filmed; with "The Last Chapter" being the final episode that was aired, in June 1966. So, for proper continuity sake, Image Entertainment has flipped the order of these two episodes on the last disc of Season #5 -- with "The Last Chapter" being presented as the final show of the series.

More Packaging Notes -- The 25 individually-cased discs in this Mega-Set are placed side-by-side inside a large outer "slipcase" box.

Image Entertainment distributed five separate season-by-season "Dick Van Dyke Show" DVD boxed sets in 2003 and 2004, with each of those five sets featuring a 5-Disc slipcase box. However, those individual seasonal slipcases from each of the previously-released Van Dyke seasons are NOT included in this Mega-Set.

Many, many supplemental bonus features are also included on these twenty-five Digital Discs, including: Audio Commentary tracks for many episodes, along with cast interviews, original TV commercials, Emmy Award snippets, documentaries, featurettes, photo galleries, behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage, Easter Eggs, trivia games, CBS-TV promos, and gobs of other little interesting extra tidbits besides! A 12-page booklet, packed with interesting info about the series, is also a part of this Dick Van Dyke Show bonanza too.

There are even full-length TV-show bonuses included on selected discs, including a complete episode of "The Danny Thomas Show" (which has Van Dyke Show character "Buddy Sorrell" popping up).

Other complete TV-show extras include the original "Pilot" episode for "The Dick Van Dyke Show" (called "Head Of The Family"); plus a full-length 46-minute CBS-TV documentary made in the mid-1990s ("The Dick Van Dyke Show Remembered"); and an absolutely-outstanding and ultra-fun-to-watch TV game show entitled "Stump The Stars" (aka: "Mike Stokey's Pantomime Quiz"), which has several Van Dyke Show cast members playing a lively charades game. Great, great fun!

If you want to know the full details regarding each and every little bonus extra you can expect to find on these 25 discs, you can seek out my extensive reviews for each of the separate Van Dyke Show boxed sets here at Amazon.com. If you type in "VAN DYKE SHOW SEASON" while searching under "DVDs" here at Amazon, you'll get a convenient and handy search result that places links to all five of the Van Dyke seasonal sets on just one webpage for easy reference.

Pull out any one of these 25 discs and you'll have some great shows, including all of Rob Petrie's inimitable physical comedy bits -- not to mention Dick Van Dyke's unsurpassed ability to act out a "one-way telephone conversation" (which always amazes me when I see him do this -- and there are many such "telephone" moments during the series). Then, too, via this amazing boxed set, you'll also get every one of Laura Petrie's (Mary Tyler Moore) "crying jags", plus all the standout "Rob & Laura dancing and singing" scenes. And don't forget about all those "Buddy insults Mel" gags (which must number in the hundreds over the course of the series).

Just suffice it to say that I love this television program. .... Its humor is timeless. The characters seem "real" and "non-phony". And the writing is remarkable. And you'll be able to see why when you pop in any of these wonderfully-restored Digital Versatile Discs.

"THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW: THE COMPLETE SERIES" DVD collection is, without fear of argument, a "complete treasure".

... what the Beatles were to pop music! Already available on DVD as separate seasons, this boxed set puts the entire 158 episodes under one roof. It's no exaggeration to state that THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW came as close to perfection as situation comedies could be. Any way that you want to look at it, this show was state-of-the-art! The cast was brilliant without exception, from the Petrie family (Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Larry Mathews) to Rob's co-workers (Morey Amsterdam, Rose Marie, Richard Deacon), their neighbors, and a who's-who of guest stars (Don Rickles, Greg Morris, Jerry Van Dyke, etc.) who contributed to the humor without upstaging the regulars.

Not to mention Carl Reiner, who not only was effective on-screen but very creative behind-the-scenes. He merely invented the show, for one. In fact, another ingredient that places the show on a pedestal is the quality of the writing. Amazingly, there is a consistency over the thirty-plus episodes (multiplied by five years) that makes me hard-pressed to think of even one subpar show in this series ("The Twizzle," maybe?). Sure, some shows stand out: the walnut episode, Alan Brady's wig disclosure by Laura, the "wrong baby" episode, and so on. Yet every show is a delight to watch again and again. The humor is genuinely witty and most of the topics are still relevant even today. In fact, I sometimes think that watching the way Rob and Laura realistically dealt with a wide range of human emotions (jealousy, etc.) and marital situations (misunderstandings, etc.) was probably an effective early form of marital counseling for many viewers.

Yes, the show is of its time: you'll find yourself dropped right in the center of the early-1960s, right on the brink of changing attitudes regarding gender, race, marriage, etc. Rob and Laura slept in separate beds? Yeah, right. Not to mention Laura wore the capri pants in the family. Yet the show's overall vision elevated it to timeless status. The series' style may be dated to the era in which it was created, but the substance remains relevant and laugh-at-loud funny even four decades after their original broadcasts. Other reviewers have remarked on all of the DVD extras, great video quality, etc. All of that is important, but the bottom line is the greatness of the show itself. It seems as if every t.v. show that ever existed is being reissued on DVD, moreso than anyone could possibly have time to watch. You'll want to make time for THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW, though!

If you're looking for a spectacularly-massive DVD set featuring some of the greatest comedy moments in television history, search no further than "The Dick Van Dyke Show: The Complete Series", a colossal 25-Disc DVD collection which contains all 158 episodes of the Emmy Award-winning 1961-1966 CBS-TV sitcom.

This Complete-Series set, which was originally released on May 24, 2005, holds all five seasons of the perpetually-entertaining Van Dyke Show, with all episodes having been restored and remastered by Image Entertainment and Paul Brownstein Productions. Each episode exhibits excellent video and audio quality. And every single program is complete and unedited. The average running time is a shade more than 25 minutes per show.

Each of the twenty-five single-sided discs gets its own individual slim plastic case. Each case has unique cover art, featuring a different publicity still photo on the front.

The 25 discs in this Mega-Set are placed side-by-side inside a large outer "slipcase" box. Image Entertainment distributed five separate season-by-season "Dick Van Dyke Show" DVD boxed sets in 2003 and 2004, with each of those sets coming with a 5-Disc slipcase box. However, those separate seasonal slipcases are not included in this Mega-Set.

Gobs of supplemental bonus features are also included on these twenty-five DVDs, including: Audio Commentary Tracks on several episodes (sporting the voices of Dick Van Dyke, Carl Reiner, Rose Marie, and others), along with cast interviews, vintage 1960s TV commercials, documentaries, featurettes, Emmy Award video clips, photo galleries, behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage, trivia games, CBS-TV promos, some hidden Easter Eggs to seek out, and lots of other little interesting extra tidbits besides!

There are even full-length TV-show bonuses included on selected discs, including a complete episode of "The Danny Thomas Show" (which has Morey Amsterdam popping up as his Van Dyke Show character, "Buddy Sorrell").

Other complete TV-show extras include the original Pilot episode for the Van Dyke series; plus a full-length 46-minute CBS-TV Van Dyke Show documentary made in the mid-1990s; and an absolutely-outstanding and ultra-fun-to-watch episode of a 1962 television game show entitled "Stump The Stars" (aka: "Mike Stokey's Pantomime Quiz"), which has several Van Dyke Show cast members playing a lively charades game. Great, great fun!

A nicely-constructed 12-page booklet, packed with interesting info about the series, is also a part of this Dick Van Dyke Show DVD-Video bonanza too. The booklet also includes several photos of the cast and crew (with some of the pictures being printed in color).

Note Re. Bonus Features --- Rest assured that every bonus item that can be found on the five individual DVD season sets can also be located within this "All Five Seasons" monster set as well. The discs in this mega-collection are identical to those found in the individual sets.

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Additional info/specifications concerning this Mega-Set:

VIDEO -- Full Frame (Original TV Aspect Ratio; 1.33:1).
B&W/COLOR -- B&W.
AUDIO -- English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono.
SUBTITLES -- None.
"PLAY-ALL" INCLUDED? -- Yes.
CHAPTER BREAKS INCLUDED? -- Yes.

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Coming up next here at "Dick Van Dyke Central" is my Mega Episode List -- i.e., a look at all 158 Van Dyke programs (plus the Pilot) that can be found at your digital fingertips within this gigantic 5-Season DVD collection.

I've laid out this Program Guide in the same order in which the episodes are arranged on the 25 DVDs, which is a "Film Date" order (instead of the "Air Date" chronology). The original CBS-TV air dates have also been mentioned in my list below, plus I've added in some selected program descriptions, anecdotes, and funny dialogue for many of my favorite shows.

If you begin to suffer from a slight case of "Van Dyke Show Overload" before you're able to finish reading the following tome/guide, I can fully understand. In such a case, stop reading at once and then take two walnuts from Laura's egg carton and wash them down with a glass of fresh air. You should feel better shortly. ~sheepish grin~

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"Head Of The Family" (Pilot Episode) -- Starring Carl Reiner in the role of Rob Petrie. Featuring Barbara Britton as Laura, Morty Gunty as Buddy Sorrell, and Sylvia Miles as Sally Rogers.

"Head Of The Family" was filmed in early December of 1958, but it didn't get its one and only network television airing until more than a year-and-a-half later, when CBS aired it on Tuesday, July 19, 1960.

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"THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW" FULL-SERIES EPISODE LIST:

SEASON #1 (1961-1962):

1. The Sick Boy And The Sitter (First Aired: 10/3/61) .... The premiere episode of the series does a fine job of introducing America to Rob and Laura Petrie (and company). Young son Ritchie is a little under the weather, and Laura senses that something bad is about to happen at home when she reluctantly agrees to attend a party with Rob at Alan Brady's house.

The assorted talents of Dick Van Dyke, Morey Amsterdam, and Rose Marie are put on display during the "party" scene at Alan's house. Mary Tyler Moore's considerable dancing and comedic (and crying) talents, however, aren't fully realized in this debut show; but those MTM traits shine through nicely in the episodes soon to follow.

Ritchie Petrie (played by 5-year-old Larry Mathews) is given numerous funny lines in this pilot program, and he's never cuter than in this first episode of the series. .... "Do I feel hungry, mommy?"

2. The Meerschatz Pipe (11/28/61) .... "I sound this way because my wife thinks I've got a cold."

3. Jealousy! (11/7/61) .... A first-rate episode, highlighting Laura's insecurities when Rob has to work late at the office with a beautiful female, "Valerie Blake", who is guest-starring on "The Alan Brady Show". .... "You've been very busy blakely!"

4. Sally And The Lab Technician (10/17/61) .... "I can't remember when I laughed that much. I found myself laughing out loud -- right out loud!"

5. Washington vs. The Bunny (10/24/61)

6. Oh How We Met The Night That We Danced (10/31/61) .... A great flashback episode, the first of many such "Let's Go Back In Time" shows, detailing how Rob and Laura first met while Rob was in the Army.

7. The Unwelcome House Guest (11/21/61)

8. Harrison B. Harding Of Camp Crowder, Mo. (11/6/61) .... One of my all-time favorite episodes. When Harrison B. Harding drops by for a visit, Rob can't seem to remember who this guy is. To his later embarrassment, Rob calls the police on Mr. Harding after deciding Harrison might be some kind of shady character. .... "Give me a napkin, quick! -- Tomato juice in my ear."

Just after the hilarious "tomato juice in my ear" portion of this episode, watch carefully as Rob ever-so-gently places the glass back onto the exact same part of the wall where he had it previously. (It must have left a 'ring', and Rob didn't want to create a second such ring. LOL!)

9. My Blonde-Haired Brunette (10/10/61) .... This extremely-funny episode has Laura deciding to dye her hair blonde in order to spice up her marriage. But she soon regrets that decision. .... "I told you, I never dyed before!" .... "And the GRAY HAIR!!" :)

10. Forty-Four Tickets (12/5/61) .... Rob's faulty memory causes him some problems in this episode (44 problems to be precise). Watch for Rob's/Dick's outstanding (and seemingly-effortless) head-over-heels pratfall at the very beginning of this show.

11. To Tell Or Not To Tell (11/14/61) .... "Can I just say something? Va-va-va-voom!"

12. Sally Is A Girl (12/19/61)

13. Empress Carlotta's Necklace (12/12/61) .... This episode is a favorite of mine. It features just about everything that makes this TV series so fabulous and timeless and charming -- e.g., great "natural" humor brought out by life's ordinary occurrences, plus the genuinely-heartfelt tenderness and love that exists between the two main characters (Rob and Laura Petrie). We can really feel Laura's sincerity in the scene where she apologizes to Rob for having suggested giving the necklace to Rob's mom.

Gavin MacLeod puts in a very funny performance here as Mel Cooley's jewelry-selling cousin, "Maxwell", who (like Mel) is bald as a cue ball. .... "You see, Maxwell doesn't have any overhead." --> "Kind of runs in the family, don't it?"

14. Buddy, Can You Spare A Job? (12/26/61)

15. Who Owes Who What? (1/24/62)

16. Sol And The Sponsor (4/11/62) .... "You're both named Henry? That's crazy!"

17. The Curious Thing About Women (1/10/62) .... A classic. A first-class script, a curious female named Laura, and lots of very funny moments. .... "Honey, did a package come for me?"

18. Punch Thy Neighbor (1/17/62) .... Another fave, with Jerry Paris (as neighbor Jerry Helper) playing a major role here. Frank Adamo, frequently seen in small bit parts throughout the series, pops up again in this episode. He plays the "Singing-Telegram Messenger", and he gets to read (sing) a very funny rhyming message sent to Rob by the wisecracking Jerry. ....

"Robert Petrie wrote a show,
Supposed to be funny, ho-ho-ho;
Look how far this man has gotten,
Writing shows that are really rotten!"

~LOL!~

19. Where Did I Come From? (1/3/62) .... Rob's physical humor is a highlight of this flashback show. The "Perfectly-Placed Hat On The Bedboard" scene is always worth a big laugh, no matter how many times you've seen it. .... "Oh, I really need my pants today, Rob; I'm having lunch with the sponsor."

20. The Boarder Incident (2/14/62)

21. A Word A Day (2/7/62)

22. The Talented Neighborhood (1/31/62) .... Watch for Rob's nifty "tiger pajamas" in this show.

23. Father Of The Week (2/21/62)

24. The Twizzle (2/28/62)

25. One Angry Man (3/7/62) .... A proverbial "lone juror holdout" episode. Rob, naturally, is the only juror voting "not guilty". The scenes in the courtroom highlight this show. .... "What's the matter with the way I ogled her?"

26. Where You Been, Fassbinder? (3/14/62)

27. The Bad Old Days (4/4/62) .... "Why don't you wash your hair?! You disgust me!!"

28. I Am My Brother's Keeper (3/21/62) * .... Jerry Van Dyke makes his first of several funny appearances as Rob's brother "Stacey".

29. The Sleeping Brother (3/28/62) *

30. The Return Of Happy Spangler (4/18/62) .... Season One concludes with more first-rate physical humor from Dick Van Dyke. In lesser-talented hands, Rob's "lecture on comedy" would not have been nearly as funny. But Dick has that magic "something" that can turn a scene that might otherwise be "ordinary" into pure comic gold.

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SEASON #2 (1962-1963):

31. Never Name A Duck (9/26/62)

32. The Two Faces Of Rob (10/3/62) .... I love this particular episode. Rob's telephone gag aimed at Laura backfires on him, and large quantities of hilarity follow. .... "Like you said mommy, 'dolce far niente'!"

33. Bank Book 6565696 (10/17/62) .... "A 378-dollar sports shirt?"

34. The Attempted Marriage (10/10/62)

35. Hustling The Hustler (10/24/62)

36. What's In A Middle Name? (11/7/62) .... Ritchie discovers why he's been saddled with the middle name of "Rosebud". .... "If it's a boy, 'Ulysses David'; if it's a girl, 'Ulyssia Davida'!"

37. My Husband Is Not A Drunk (10/31/62) .... "Oh, Doctor Zorba! Just because I disobeyed you, you didn't have to cut off all your hair!!"

38. Like A Sister (11/14/62)

39. The Night The Roof Fell In (11/21/62) .... Another flashback show, featuring different versions of a rare fight between Rob and Laura. .... "Why don't you fix yourself up?!"

40. The Secret Life Of Buddy And Sally (11/28/62) .... "I gotta no -- slike a ban -- anna." --> "Now say the whole thing." --> "I gotta nose like a banana."

41. A Bird In The Head Hurts (12/5/62)

42. Gesundheit, Darling (12/12/62) .... Another extremely funny show from the desk of creator Carl Reiner. Rob can't stop sneezing, and Laura thinks SHE is the cause. Keep the rewind button handy when Rob comes home after a sneeze-free day at the office, only to immediately start sneezing after one kiss to Laura's cheek. ~Huge LOL Moment!~

43. A Man's Teeth Are Not His Own (12/19/62) .... Rob busts a tooth and his dentist (Jerry Helper) is out of town. It's quite a dilemma for poor Rob. One of the top highlights here is when Mel gives Rob some ice water when Rob is in severe pain from his broken tooth. Rob's reaction is worth at least one replay.

44. Somebody Has To Play Cleopatra (12/26/62) .... Bob Crane puts in a humorous guest appearance. .... "Once I get the 'hemlet' on Rob." .... "Harry!! GET IN THE CAR!!!"

45. The Cat Burglar (1/2/63) .... This episode features one of the very best scenes in the whole series -- the scene where the musical jewelry box seems to be hooked up to the bedroom door, with Rob quickly closing the door as he looks around, wondering where in the world that music's coming from. It's a brilliant comedy moment that demands multiple instant replays every time this episode is cued up.

46. The Foul-Weather Girl (1/9/63)

47. Will You Two Be My Wife? (1/16/63)

48. Ray Murdock's X-Ray (1/23/63) .... This is one of my very favorite shows in the series. Rob is interviewed on TV and reveals some not-too-flattering details about wife Laura. .... "Rob, go to your room!"

49. I Was A Teenage Head Writer (1/30/63)

50. My Husband Is A Check-Grabber (2/13/63) .... Time for some more (funny) flashback sequences. This is yet another dandy episode that makes this TV series so immeasurably "re-watchable". And we also get a rare look at the Petrie's car.

51. It May Look Like A Walnut (2/6/63) .... A classic among classics here, with Danny Thomas popping up in Rob and Laura's dreams as "Kolac" from the planet "Twilo" (serving as a spoof and a tribute to the series "The Twilight Zone"). Keep an eye on your thumbs.

52. Don't Trip Over That Mountain (2/20/63) .... Despite Laura's warnings, "klutz" Rob goes skiing. Guess what happens?

53. Give Me Your Walls (2/27/63)

54. The Sam Pomerantz Scandals (3/6/63)

55. I'm No Henry Walden (3/27/63) .... Everett Sloane puts in a guest appearance here. And watch for Carl Reiner, not as "Alan Brady", but as "Yale Sampson", a mush-mouth intellectual who (as Rob puts it) has the ability to say things that "seem vague, but are in reality...meaningless". ~LOL~

56. The Square Triangle (3/20/63)

57. Racy Tracy Rattigan (4/3/63) .... Richard Dawson is "Racy Tracy", a skirt-chasing British playboy who gets "such a kick out of seeing irate husbands".

58. Divorce (4/10/63) .... Buddy's wife, "Pickles", takes center stage here. And she's a howl in this episode, too, as she tries to explain who "Floyd B. Barriscale" and "Barton Nelson" are.

59. It's A Shame She Married Me (4/17/63) .... Robert Vaughn guest stars as "Jim Darling", a former beau of Laura's. .... "Are you coming, Cooley?" --> "Yes, Darling. Er, uh, I mean Jim!" :)

60. A Surprise Surprise Is A Surprise (4/24/63) .... Laura tries her best to surprise Rob on his birthday -- and she does just that. Watch this fun episode and find out how she manages it.

61. Jilting The Jilter (5/1/63)

62. When A Bowling Pin Talks, Listen (5/8/63) .... "There aren't too many funny bits we can lift from 'The Telephone Hour'."

63. All About Eavesdropping (10/23/63) .... This episode actually aired during the third season, but was filmed as the "head start" ep. at the end of Season 2. "Eavesdropping" ranks as one of my all-time favorite shows in the 5-year history of the series. The hysterical "On The Street Where You Live" charades game is sure to put you on the floor. .... "It was perfectly clear to me Gerald." .... "You mean you didn't give 'em the house?" :)

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SEASON #3 (1963-1964):

64. That's My Boy?? (9/25/63) .... The third season begins in fine fashion, with another top-flight episode, which tells the story of what happens when new father Rob Petrie's imagination starts working overtime after bringing baby Ritchie home from a very hectic hospital.

65. The Masterpiece (10/2/63) .... This terrific episode features a chipped "Artanis", a funny auction, Howard Morris as a kooky-acting art expert, and "The Thing".

66. Laura's Little Lie (10/9/63) *

67. Very Old Shoes, Very Old Rice (10/16/63) * .... This two-parter ("Lie" and "Rice") serves as double the Van Dyke fun after we find out why it is that Laura seems to be avoiding the insurance man.

68. Uncle George (11/13/63) .... Denver Pyle pops up as Rob's "Uncle George". The standout parts of this show are the scenes with Herman Glimsher's overbearing mother. .... "Rob's uncle wanted to meet some nice lady." --> "We couldn't find any, so we invited your mother." ~LOL!~

69. Too Many Stars (10/30/63)

70. Who And Where Was Antonio Stradivarius? (11/6/63) .... A crack over the head with a violin sends Rob to Red Hook (in New Jersey) with a case of amnesia. .... "I left my raisin cake in Red Hook!"

71. Big Max Calvada (11/20/63) .... A spoof on gangster movies is on tap in this fun episode. Sheldon Leonard pokes some fun at himself when he shows up in Rob's office as "Maxwell Calvada", a no-nonsense shady character who wants a big favor from Rob's writing staff -- or else! LOL. .... "Well, I'd call the police, but I don't know what to tell 'em."

72. The Ballad Of The Betty Lou (11/27/63) .... A day at sea for Rob and Jerry turns out to be no day at the beach. .... "I don't know how sheep stand each other in the rainy season."

73. Turtles, Ties And Toreadors (12/4/63) .... Rob hires a maid to help out an overworked Laura. But there are a few problems, not the least of which is the fact that one of her arms is in a sling! .... "Which arm?" --> "Well, maybe she's left-handed even." :)

74. The Sound Of The Trumpets Of Conscience Falls Deafly
On A Brain That Holds Its Ears... (12/11/63)

75. The Third One From The Left (1/1/64)

76. The Alan Brady Show Presents (12/18/63) .... The one and only Christmas-themed show in the entire series. .... "We all are fine musicians; we practice every day..."

77. My Husband Is The Best One (1/8/64)

78. Happy Birthday And Too Many More (2/5/64) .... One of the very few episodes that wasn't filmed in front of a live studio audience (the Christmas show, filmed just two weeks earlier, is another). Canned laughter is used here. The reason for that being: this "Happy Birthday" episode was filmed on November 26, 1963, just one day after America buried its assassinated President, John F. Kennedy.

79. The Lady And The Tiger And The Lawyer (1/15/64) .... "We always have a little coffee and cake before dinner."

80. The Life And Love Of Joe Coogan (1/22/64) .... Rob bumps into an old flame of Laura's on the golf course. It's another very solid entry in the life of this series, with the epilogue scene rising to the level of pure "brilliance", IMHO. The show's last line ("You lost him to a better man"), spoken just perfectly by Rob/Dick, wraps up this episode in impeccably-classy fashion.

81. A Nice, Friendly Game Of Cards (1/29/64) .... Yep, this is yet another classic episode. Edward Platt guests as "Lou Gregory", who accuses Rob of cheating during a "nice, friendly game of cards" at the Petrie house. Funny stuff here. This is a rare episode that features no "work" scenes filmed from the "writer's room". .... "That IS my new 'system' -- ante up, take two cards, and fold." ~grin~

82. The Brave And The Backache (2/12/64)

83. The Pen Is Mightier Than The Mouth (2/19/64) *

84. My Part-Time Wife (2/26/64) *

85. Honeymoons Are For The Lucky (3/4/64) .... Another flashback show, revealing the details of Rob's unorthodox honeymoon.

86. How To Spank A Star (3/11/64)

87. The Plots Thicken (3/18/64) .... Rob and Laura become a "two-plot family" in this delightful episode with an unusual "plot"-line (all about cemetery plots, golf courses, several angry parents, and Buddy's funny "Home Food Plan").

88. Scratch My Car And Die (3/25/64) .... Rob gets a new "Tarantula" (a car, not the other icky thing) and can't seem to ever get a chance to drive it himself. And when Laura scratches the "bug", Rob is fit to be tied. .... "Oh, honey, I meant to remind ya -- don't park that car under a tree, or a bird."

89. The Return Of Edwin Carp (4/1/64) .... "Oh, hot boiling drats, mother wants her cocoa!"

90. October Eve (4/8/64) .... Is it okay to use the word "classic" yet again? I hope so. Because it applies here. When an embarrassingly-"raw" painting of Laura shows up in a popular art gallery, it causes considerable grief for the painting's subject and her husband. .... "You're not gonna have another {baby}, are ya?" --> "Oh Rob! Would Sally call and tell ME that?!"

91. Dear Mrs. Petrie, Your Husband Is In Jail (4/15/64)

92. My Neighbor's Husband's Other Life (4/22/64) .... "Look, honey, when a man is out on the town he doesn't go around telling girls he's married -- forget what I said!"

93. I'd Rather Be Bald Than Have No Head At All (4/29/64) .... Rob finds 28 hairs in the wash basin one morning and is convinced he's going bald -- fast! .... "How did I get a head of lettuce?!" --> "Well, if you use salad dressing, you can't expect to grow meat loaf!" :)

94. Teacher's Petrie (5/13/64)

95. My Two Show-Offs And Me (12/16/64)

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SEASON #4 (1964-1965):

96. My Mother Can Beat Up My Father (9/23/64) .... The Season-Four opener has Rob tangling with a stuffed monkey -- and losing the battle.

97. The Ghost Of A. Chantz (9/30/64) .... This spooky and hilarious entry has Rob and the gang staying at a "haunted" cabin and having the collective daylights scared out of them. .... "All that's missing now is Vincent Price!"

98. The Lady And The Baby Sitter (10/7/64)

99. A Vigilante Ripped My Sports Coat (10/14/64)

100. The Man From 'Emperor' (10/21/64)

101. Romance, Roses And Rye Bread (10/28/64)

102. 4-And-A-Half (11/4/64) * .... Don Rickles puts in a very funny appearance as "Lyle Francis Delp", a rather inept crook. .... "You mean you've held up people in elevators before?" --> "No, I held 'em up in front of a police station, dum-dum!" ~LOL~

103. The Alan Brady Show Goes To Jail (11/11/64) * .... "Is this the underwear of a criminal?!!"

104. Three Letters From One Wife (11/18/64)

105. It Wouldn't Hurt Them To Give Us A Raise (12/2/64) .... "Did you know that Alan Brady's mother-in-law pays the band?"

106. Pink Pills And Purple Parents (11/25/64) .... One of the best shows from Season 4, as a few pink pills have Laura acting very strangely when she meets Rob's parents for the first time. MTM was never funnier. .... "One for moo-moo!" .... "Gonna have a little music, moo-moo, oh yes!"

107. The Death Of The Party (12/9/64) .... Rob tries his best to hide the fact he is sick the same night Laura is giving a dinner party. .... "Al Jolson, the Jazz Singer!!"

108. Stretch Petrie vs. Kid Schenk (12/30/64)

109. The Impractical Joke (1/13/65) .... Buddy enlists a friend to play a phone gag on Rob. In the days that follow, Buddy is worried sick that a whopper of a joke is about to come his way in retaliation. A great episode. .... "Now there may be a little dust on your 'loud-soft'."

110. Brother, Can You Spare $2500? (1/6/65) .... "Excuse me, is that the 'Louie Wexler' water fountain?" --> "I don't know; but ANYBODY can drink from it."

111. Stacey Petrie - Part 1 (1/20/65) *

112. Stacey Petrie - Part 2 (1/27/65) *

113. The Redcoats Are Coming (2/10/65) .... A very rare "time-stamped" type of episode, as the Van Dyke Show writers cash in on the '60s "Beatles" craze. .... This show also includes an odd line in the script for Buddy (Morey), when he claims to have been a teenager when Frank Sinatra was in his height of "teen idol" status. Only problem there is: Buddy/(Morey) is seven years OLDER than Mr. Sinatra. Oh, well. .... BTW, don't forget the password ("Paul Revere").

114. Boy #1, Boy #2 (2/3/65)

115. The Case Of The Pillow (2/17/65) .... Ed Begley appears as a court judge in this extremely-funny episode. Rob gets to play a variation of "Perry Mason" here, too, which adds to the hilarity. .... "It's not your fault, Mr. Petrie. It's television. You think you're a lawyer; I think I'm a doctor."

116. Young Man With A Shoehorn (2/24/65) .... "I'd like to try them a half-a-size smaller." --> "Smaller?" --> "Smaller."

117. Girls Will Be Boys (3/3/65)

118. Bupkis (3/10/65) .... Watch for the "phone book goof" made by Rob/Dick, when he dials a phone number BEFORE looking it up in the book. ;)

119. Your Home Sweet Home Is My Home (3/17/65) .... That great-big rock in Rob's basement is causing a few problems in this flashback program. .... "There's plenty of room for a pool table right over here" --> "Oh sure, if we use chopsticks for cues."

120. Anthony Stone (3/24/65) .... Sally's dating a mortician, and she's not exactly dying to tell any of her friends. .... "It was nice meeting you." --> "Of course." --> "Of course??"

121. Never Bathe On Saturday (3/31/65) .... This very memorable ep. centers around Laura's toe. Many moments in this program are worthy of multiple (and immediate) replays. .... "Don't toy with me, you saucy wench." .... "She gets stuck in the bathroom, he paints on mustaches; they're a great match."

122. One Hundred Terrible Hours (5/5/65)

123. Show Of Hands (4/14/65) .... "Nothing goes over worse at a formal dinner than the smell of sweaty bunny fur." ~LOL!~

124. Baby Fat (4/21/65)

125. Br-rooom, Br-rooom (5/12/65) .... "Robby Baby's" new "Geronimo" motorcycle causes nothing but trouble in this episode.

126. There's No Sale Like Wholesale (5/26/65) .... Rob wants to get Laura a mink coat. Buddy tries to help via one of his "wholesale bits". Things go downhill from there.

127. A Farewell To Writing (9/22/65)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SEASON #5 (1965-1966):

128. Coast-To-Coast Big Mouth (9/15/65) .... The final year of "The Dick Van Dyke Show" begins with "Big Mouth" (aka Laura Petrie). Laura tells a doozy of a secret about Alan Brady on a live TV game show. .... "If you want to see ruins, why don't you go to Greece!?" .... "Your place is on NETWORK TELEVISION!!"

129. Uhny Uftz (9/29/65) .... Rob says he saw a flying saucer while working late one night. Is he ready for the funny farm? .... "Just you and Hugo, huh?"

130. The Ugliest Dog In The World (10/6/65) .... "Has he been eating onions?"

131. No Rice At My Wedding (10/13/65) .... "If you're not back by the time the convicts grab the priest, you can forget about me." .... "Well, what's the difference? Rain? Rob? They're both big drips!"

132. Draw Me A Pear (10/20/65)

133. The Great Petrie Fortune (10/27/65)

134. Odd But True (11/3/65) .... Is Rob's back REALLY worth all of this fuss and freckle-connecting? Millie certainly thinks so. .... "I have dozens of freckled bells in my files. It was the 'crack' that was the interesting feature."

135. Viva Petrie (11/10/65)

136. Go Tell The Birds And The Bees (11/17/65) .... "Girls come in pink pumpkins."

137. Body And Sol (11/24/65)

138. See Rob Write, Write Rob Write (12/8/65)

139. You're Under Arrest (12/15/65) .... "You slept through 'The Guns Of Navarone'?"

140. Fifty-Two, Forty-Five Or Work (12/29/65)

141. Who Stole My Watch? (1/5/66) .... Rob's brand-new watch is missing. Was it stolen -- by a friend? .... "Why you vicious little beast!!"

142. Bad Reception In Albany (3/9/66) .... "Oh, honey, I know you're upset." --> "I never could fool you, could I?"

143. I Do Not Choose To Run (1/19/66) *

144. The Making Of A Councilman (1/26/66) * .... "Well, with all due respect to your son's gingerbread house, there's an easterly low-pressure area leading a cold front over Ohio, and that should reach here by this afternoon." --> "What does that mean?" --> "Rain."

145. The Curse Of The Petrie People (2/2/66) .... An ugly brooch causes quite a bit of misery for the Petries after Laura accidentally grinds the thing up in the garbage disposal. .... "What's a 'Petrie'?"

146. The Bottom Of Mel Cooley's Heart (2/9/66)

147. Remember The Alimony (2/16/66)

148. Dear Sally Rogers (2/23/66)

149. Buddy Sorrell, Man And Boy (3/2/66)

150. Long Night's Journey Into Day (5/11/66) .... "Rob, I'm worried about you, up there all alone, with that hat."

151. Talk To The Snail (3/23/66)

152. A Day In The Life Of Alan Brady (4/6/66)

153. Obnoxious, Offensive Egomaniac Etc. (4/13/66)

154. The Man From My Uncle (4/20/66) .... Godfrey Cambridge guests as FBI agent "Harry Bond" (a "marksman"!). A highlight is when Rob starts to fiddle around with all of Bond's equipment. .... "Banana?" .... "They can see me from Denver!"

155. You Ought To Be In Pictures (4/27/66)

156. Love Thy Other Neighbor (5/4/66)

157. The Last Chapter (6/1/66) **

158. The Gunslinger (5/25/66) .... The last episode to be filmed, "The Gunslinger" offers up lots of fun within a "western spoof" script. .... "I was a singer, turned slinger, turned rancher, turned dancer, turned parson, turned sheriff."

* = Indicates a 2-part episode.

** = For continuity reasons, "The Last Chapter" is presented as the final episode on the last disc of this boxed set.

----------------------------------------------

Pull out any of these 25 discs and you'll have some great television entertainment. Via this amazing boxed set, a viewer has instant access to all of Rob Petrie's physical comedy bits, along with every one of Laura Petrie's "crying jags" (Mary Tyler Moore's sobbing routines are hard to top).

And don't forget about all those "Buddy insults Mel" gags (which must number in the hundreds over the course of the series) -- not to mention Dick Van Dyke's uncanny ability to act out a "one-way telephone conversation" (which always amazes me when I see him do this -- and there are many such "telephone" moments during the series).

Just suffice it to say that I love this television series. Its humor is timeless, the characters never seem phony, and the writing is remarkable. And you'll be able to see why when you pop in any of these Digital Discs.

To sum it all up -- "THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW: THE COMPLETE SERIES" DVD collection is, without fear of argument, a "complete treasure".

I'm done now. :)

Although I was too young to see the Dick Van Dyke Show when it aired originally, I've enjoyed the re-runs on satellite TV for years.

I bought a few of the "best of" DVD's from a department store and, much to my surprise, my 7 year old son loves the show, too! So when I saw the complete series out on DVD, I immediately put it on my Amazon WishList.

Once our tax refund came in, guess what I purchased?

My son and I LOVE this box set! There are 5 seasons, and each season has 5 discs which are in their own slim case (157 episodes in all). Each case features 6 or 7 episodes that are color coded. All the Disc 1's are blue/green, all of Disc 2's are red, all of Disc 3's are dark blue, etc. A black and white scene from one of the episodes are on the front of each case, as well. There's also a neat holographic insert that comes with the series.

I happened to see an episode on TV the other day, and what struck me was how much better the quality of the DVD's are! They really cleaned up the episodes for the DVD box set. I could tell a bit of fuzziness on the TV version.

Each episode is numbered and titled with original film/air dates and a brief synopsis...making it easy to find your favorite episodes. Although I haven't finished watching them all yet, my favorite is the one with Dick Van Dyke's real life brother...who plays Rob's brother Stacy in several episodes. The sleepwalking ones with the banjo are HILARIOUS. To this day, when I see them, I laugh so hard I cry!

Other great features are different vignettes, interviews and behind-the-scenes moments--such as Dick Van Dyke singing the theme song (you didn't know there were words to the song, did ya?), an interview with Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore about "the good ol' days", and other intersting show elements. (It was wild to see "Millie" as an older woman talking about the show...still having that whiny voice!)

Highly recommended if you're a fan of the show!

A classic, an absolute clssic ... it stands the test of time because it is a relevant 45 years later. A little dated in spots but who cares? Television of this calibre pratically doesn't exist anymore.
My husband and I, and our families, first watched Dick Van Dyke and company when it was on network television in the 60's. Believe me, my husband bears a striking resemblnce to Van Dyke with all the wonderful character traits of Robert Simpson Petrie included. (It took a while to find him, but I knew I was on the right track when he said he loved TDVDS, too. And he's a writer!!) We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Carl Reiner, his genius, and his beloved wife Estelle, for modelling a really good marriage. Forty years later we're still following the example. As we rewatch these gems we are amazed at how many of the mannerism and traits have become our own.
Catch phrases like "keys and parrots" and "I do? I don't?" and "He looked like Danny Thomas" and "Oh, Rob" were enough to start a giggle, then a full blown discussion of the show in question. We even had a dog who could have been "Horrible's" sister.
For an interesting read about "behind the scenes," reference "The Official Dick Van Dyke Show Book" by Vince Waldron. It's full of all sorts of goodies like the fact that Laura (MTM) really did make that pool shot in "Hustling the Hustler" and it was only through the cast's professionalism that they kept in character so the shot could be used.
I could write on forever about this set but if you surfing here, you must already be a fan. Go ahead and spend the money ... it'd worth every single penny! Now, bring on the entire "Frasier." We'll buy that, too

I have been and still am a huge fan of Dick Van Dyke. I was born in 1961 and have watched the reruns of The DVD Show all of my life and anyone who knows me, knows that I've been waiting for years for this to come out on VHS/DVD!! I have checked Amazon.com periodically to see if it was out yet and finally in January, my dream came true!!! I ordered it immediately. The series is as great as I remember it in the reruns!! I loved being able to watch the episodes in my own home and at my own convenience. And will continue to watch The DVD Show for years to come. And even though there are several/most episodes that I have literally memorized everyone's lines, I NEVER get tired of watching The DVD Show. The slap stick humor of Dick Van Dyke, and how well that Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke play off of each other. And not to mention the rest of the gang, Morey Amsterdam, Rose Marie, Richard Deacon, Jerry Paris, Ann Guilbert, and Larry Matthews. Now, I wish they would put Diagnosis Murder on DVD!! (HINT, HINT)

What can I possibly say about this cast and series that hasn't already been said? It is just excellent television entertainment. This is another one of those series I watch over and over. Currently, I am on my second round of the entire set. I LOVE Dick Van Dyke's talent with physical comedy! ALL of the cast is talented and wonderful. Some of the episodes include live singing and dancing that is really good. How refreshing! And how refreshing to escape back to a time when good neighbors came in through the back door and shared a cup of coffee. In The Dick Van Dyke Show world, dysfunctional just meant a tough day at the office, only to come home to find that Laura also had a rough day, so the evening wasn't so great. This show takes us back to rotary phones, record players and radios, kids who played outside with their own imagination and kind folks who dressed for dinner. The clothes are unbelievable. The show is top of the line, and so is the DVD set. It's very organized and easy to maneuver within the episode. I like that you click on the show title and can see all of the chapters on one page. That way, if you have to stop in the middle of a show, when you go back to that episode, you can see all of the chapters on one page without having to click through more pages to see the rest of the chapters. The special features' link is on the same page as the chapters, and they're awesome. They include clips from awards shows and individual interviews with the cast (including Morey Amsterdam) about the moments they remember from that particular episode. It's hard to review such an excellent series, because it's all good. The comedy is brilliant, still so funny today, and the actors do a fantastic job delivering it. I can't think of one negative thing to say about it. You just need to get it and enjoy it!

"The Dick Van Dyke Show" has got to be the best show EVER! I know not many 12-year-olds watch this show, or spend their days memorizing the scripts (I want to be an actress and dancer, so I love to memorize these scripts) but they should! I have grown up watching this show with my parents, because they grew up watching it. I have had THE biggest crush on Mr. Van Dyke since I was probably 2...maybe younger. Ms. Moore is probably the person whom I admire most, Laura Petrie is too. Nobody needs the bad stuff in television today. I find this MUCH funnier than any of the shows today. If more young people gave this classic a chance, they would too.
A MUST HAVE FOR ANY FAN OF THE SHOW[...]

If you want to relax at home, forgetting all stressors like economic issues, TV news, and world events, The Dick Van Dyke Show provides such an outlet.

These are shows recorded during the times when the simplicity of life transformed into great comedy. The show is simply: Best-In-Class!

Mary Tyler Moore plays the part of Laura Petrie, wife of Rob Petrie, a TV comedy writer played by non-other than Dick Van Dyke... and they do an excellent job as they share their married life, the work related trials and tribulations and the day to day struggle to balance parenthood, jobs and house work.

One of the benefits of these shows is the opportunity to see great talent of the time as invited guests and it is with great pleasure that we relive the experience.

Son Ritchie, played by Larry Matthews is adorable, Sally Rogers played by Rose Marie is excellent and the famous "human joke machine" Buddy Sorrell played by Morey Amsterdam will keep you laughing the entire episode. As for the mean boss; Alan Brady played by Reiner, he opens the door to such fun that we look forward to his appearance, especially when Buddy takes shots at him.

There is much to be learned thanks to the extra features and the digitally re-mastered episodes are in mint condition, if you want to enjoy true comedy, this acquisition is for you!

There are not enough stars in the heavens to give "The Dick Van Dyke Show" the rating it deserves! I am just old enough to have watched and enjoyed this show as a child when it originally aired on the network and I remember how sad I was when it ended. Of course, I have watched it in reruns ever since, to the point where I have every episode almost completely memorized! I now own the DVD set of the complete series, which I received as a birthday gift just a couple of months ago, and I am already playing through it a second time. It's wonderful to be able to watch "The Dick Van Dyke Show" any time I want and the speacial features are great, too - interviews with cast and producers, commentary, clips from Emmy Awards shows and some other very interesting and entertaining footage.

This show never loses its interest for me, rather it seems to get better and better with each viewing and it still has me smiling wide and laughing out loud. Several episodes stand out as classics and some have always been particular favorites of mine, two or three episodes lack the usual originality and sparkle, but in all five seasons there isn't one episode that doesn't offer something to make it worth watching. The writing, the direction, the entire cast - with their many talents, their singing and dancing, their comedic skills and timing, and the chemistry among them - are all way off the charts! Carl Reiner - in creating and writing this series based on his own life experience as a comedy writer, husband and father - has imbued his characters with incomparable warmth, human frailty and emotional honesty, making them all nearly as believable and lovable as they are hilariously funny. I have to say that the "The Dick Van Dyke" show touches my heart as much as it makes me laugh and it NEVER insults my intelligence or sensibility in any way. That is why I can watch it over and over and over again...year after year after year...

There have been many great television sitcoms, but as far as I'm concerned "The Dick Van Dyke Show" tops them all in every respect! I only wish there were more episodes to enjoy, but I applaud the decision to quit when they did rather than risk growing stale. It was five glorious seasons of the best situation comedy ever made, and now, with the complete series on DVD, I can continue to enjoy it through every season of my life!