Lucy in any/all of her sitcoms had her moments, but the jokes were stale and often repeated. Friends was often funny, but more often just a habit. Taxi, Barney Miller and Mad About You were funny more often than not.
The Dick Van Dyke Show was guaranteed laughs from opening credits to final gag, and you had the bonus of perfect home chemistry between Rob and Laura coupled with the perfect work chemistry between Rob, Sally, Buddy and Mel-you believed that these characters cared about each other, but it never interfered with or overshadowed the humor.
Obligatory video link.
Don’t forget Alan Brady. IMO, the best episodes were the ones that featured him.
I don’t think there’s ever been another series with that many bald jokes…or another writer that could come up with that many…or a longer running gag for that matter.
Back then, Dick van Dyke was my secret celebrity crush. Yes, I have fond memories of that show.
If, by The Dick Van Dyke Show, you mean The Office (UK) or Curb Your Enthusiasm or All in the Family, then we are in complete and total agreement.
Certainly one of the top five. I’d give Arrested Development the nod at #1, but the fact that Van Dyke is still in the running after 40 years is impressive.
If, by “We are in complete and total agreement”, you mean “I wouldn’t recognize real comedy if it slipped on a banana peel right in front of me”, then we are in complete and total agreement.
We live in the town right next to New Rochelle. Always funny to say “you know where Rob and Laura Petrie lived - in New Rochelle? We live next to that.” and see folks’ eyes light up (well, folks past a certain age ;))
I was in love with Laura Petrie.
Yeah, that show is still very watchable.
The Dick Van Dyke show is mostly funny to me because the Dead Milkmen wrote a song about it. I wish I could link you to a clip of said song instead of the lyrics because it’s so…angry. And funny.
Czarcasm, since I know you were worried that you posted this without checking with me, the ultimate arbiter of sitcom funniness, first, be assured that you are correct. The Dick van Dyke Show is the funniest sitcom ever.
If I had any doubt, I would have asked you first, but I didn’t feel like I should bother you with the blindingly obvious.
Almost the funniest ever. Nothing will ever top Bilko.
I would say WKRP in Cincinnati is the funniest sitcom ever, but Dick Van Dyke is pretty hilarious, too, easily in the top 5 or 10.
BTW, did any of you Dick Van Dyke fans ever see the movie Cold Turkey? That was pretty hilarious, too.
Remember: The Dick Van Dyke Show was one of the first sitcoms. They had very little to go on, yet they all did a marvelous job. Later shows had them and others (Lucy, Gleason) to refer to.
P.S. I cannot understand how The Office is funny.
So what is everyone’s favorite episode? The Walnut one is the most famous, but there were so many good ones, I can hardly pick. Though the one with the inflatable boat comes to mind…
No love for The Odd Couple?
The One With Greg Morris VanDyke’s take is so funny, and it was extremely daring for the times.
The one where Laura gets stuck in the bathtub. The episode where they accidentally die their hands black is funny too.
Nailed it, first try. Good on ya, Annie.