The Official Dick Van Dyke Show Book (Applause Books) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "ANY GOOD SHOW THAT YOU see on television is going to reflect one person's reality," says Carl Reiner, whose work as writer, producer, and creative..." (more)
Key Phrases: wardrobe furnished, pilot film, opening title sequence, Van Dyke, Carl Reiner, Sheldon Leonard (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Definitive is a much-abused word, especially in subtitles, but this time it's used properly. The author of Classic Sitcoms (1987), Waldron combines nostalgia with substance, offering not only the expected stills, plot summaries, and backstage anecdotes, but also some fascinating commentary on what made the Dick Van Dyke Show unique in television history. Drawing extensively on the recollections of the show's creator, principal writer, and producer, Carl Reiner, Waldron argues that the saga of Rob, Laura, Buddy, and Sally took the sitcom genre in a new direction, away from complete reliance on I Love Lucy-like slapstick and toward a more reality-based version of comedy. Reiner, in fact, was famous for his obsession with "realies," carefully observed snippets of reality: "How do you use that rubber thing on the end of a toothbrush?" he once asked. "Put that in the show." Put it in the show they did--and with enough frequency to create a timelessness rare in television of any kind. The show's fans already span multiple generations, and there's no end in sight as long as the reruns keep coming, and Rob keeps tripping over (or sidestepping) that confounded ottoman. Definitive show, definitive book. Ilene Cooper --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

Featuring a foreword by Dick Van Dyke, The Official Dick Van Dyke Show Book is the first and only complete, fully authorized "biography" of one of TVÕs most beloved sitcoms, including the first complete viewerÕs guide to all 158 episodes, as well as special behind-the-scenes trivia and a full chapter concordance. 50 black and white photos.

Product Details

• Paperback: 401 pages
• Publisher: Applause Books; illustrated edition edition (October 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557834539
• ISBN-13: 978-1557834539
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #270,642 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "DEFINITIVE" Is Right! A Fascinatingly-Detailed Volume!, July 21, 2003

By	David Von Pein (Mooresville, Indiana; USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

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This book features an amazing amount of insight into one of the very best television programs to ever grace the airwaves, "The Dick Van Dyke Show".

If you're an avid fan of this 1961-1966 CBS-TV program, trust me, you will NOT be able to stop turning pages until you've read the whole thing!

In each chapter, we learn new tidbits of behind-the-scenes information. There's info (including some brief biographical data) about every single member of the show's stellar cast.

For example: Did You Know .... that the audience laughter went on so long when Greg Morris & his on-screen spouse entered the Petrie home at the end of the episode "That's My Boy??" that the editor actually had to cut out some of the audience hysterics in order to fit the episode into the allowable timeframe? (Too bad, too. I'd love to have heard the WHOLE thing. A great episode indeed.)

The book also reveals the fact that Mary Tyler Moore stormed off the set in a huff one time, while doing the ultimately-classic episode, "Never Bathe On Saturday". She was upset because she was off-camera and talking through a door for most of the show. But, after seeing how funny the show worked as written, MTM felt bad about her tirade.

"Never Bathe On Saturday" features Dick's great line, after finding that the hotel bathroom door is locked: "Don't toy with me, you saucy wench." :) LOL!!!!

Plus there's a complete episode guide, with still more tidbits written within most of the episode descriptions.

I cannot imagine a more thorough and detailed Dick Van Dyke Show volume than this one. This book is a MUST for any fan of this highly-intelligent and magnificently-written TV program.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ENTERTAINING AND WELL WRITTEN, February 7, 2001

By	J. Hanahan (SC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Official Dick Van Dyke Show Book: The Definitive History and Ultimate Viewer's Guide to Television's Most Enduring Comedy (Paperback)

I read this book in one night---it was that good. I must confess that I usually buy books about TV series for the episode guide and I usually don't get around to reading the entire book. I'm glad I read this one. It was very entertaining and very well written. I really enjoyed it. I'd love to see Vince Waldron use his talent to bring other books about other classic TV series to fans. I say to him, "You write 'em, and we'll read 'em." If you are a Dick Van Dyke Show fan, you'll want this book!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very good and well written book on the classic series!, October 10, 2001

By	Rosella Ann Myles (Wheeling, West Virginia United States) - See all my reviews

I really enjoyed this book, and would highly recommend it to any fan of "The Dick Van Dyke Show." It was very entertaining to read and informative as well. It was also very well written. I would give it more stars if I could.