# Not A Poll: The Dick Van Dyke Show IS the funniest sitcom ever! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 29, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-poll-the-dick-van-dyke-show-is-the-funniest-sitcom-ever/555484 "2010-09-29T16:30:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-poll-the-dick-van-dyke-show-is-the-funniest-sitcom-ever/555484/61 "2010-10-03T10:48:24Z")
> [@Jihi](#): > > Just to put this in context, I am only 29 and I was born in 1981. My recollections of The Dick Van Dyke show are from Nick at Nite in the early 90’s and further reruns on TVLand. And this show is still very funny and very watchable. I’m not sure I’d call it the “funniest ever”, (It’s duking it out with The Simpsons, The Office, and Cheers), but it’s right up there. I don’t know who deserves the credit not being familiar with its production, but that’s still quite an achievement since I can’t think of anything else started before the 70’s that I can still say that about. > > Yes, I’m a whippersnapper. Don’t whip me too harshly. 😃 > > ETA: On second thought, I still like Get Smart as well, so two programs… [Carl Reiner](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Reiner) created the series, & both wrote & directed many of the episodes, & was the producer, & not infrequently appeared as a bit player. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-poll-the-dick-van-dyke-show-is-the-funniest-sitcom-ever/555484/62 "2010-10-03T13:18:40Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > > [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > > > Buddy had a fight with Pickles and stayed with the Petries. He ended up annoying them, of course, with his gargling, his cello (not violin) playing, making a mess of the kitchen, etc. > > You’ve mixed up two episodes. The one I meant was [The Boarder Incident](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0769916/plotsummary). > > > [@](#): > > > > Buddy’s wife Pickles is away for 3 weeks to take care of her mother. Buddy can’t stay at home because he’s too lonely. Rob discovers that Buddy has been sleeping overnight at work and insists he move into his guest room. Sally warns against it. Either Buddy and his dog Larry are keeping Rob and Laura awake, or Rob and Laura aren’t letting Buddy stay up late. > > Yes, Buddy plays the cello to get his dog to sleep. > > The one you’re probably thinking of is [Divorce](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0559748/combined), where Buddy left Pickles (because he found checks she was writing to her first husband). But Buddy didn’t stay at the Petries’. > > Without consulting Laura, Rob brought Buddy’s dog home while the Sorrells were out of town in [The Unwelcome Houseguest](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0789010/plotsummary). That’s what I get for relying on my memory. Thanks for clearing it up. Dang, I wanna watch me some DVD on DVD now. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-poll-the-dick-van-dyke-show-is-the-funniest-sitcom-ever/555484/63 "2010-10-03T15:53:54Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Or . . . > [ol] > [li]Laura[/li][li]Toe[/li][/ol] I liked this one too. Carl Reiner says this is the only episode where a cast member gave him trouble. Mary Tyler Moore was so upset with the script she stormed off. Reiner says he had told Moore she was to be the center of a very funny episode and when Mary got the script and found out she was off screen for almost the entire thing she got mad and left. Reiner said he explained that while Moore wasn’t on screen, the way it was written people would be visualizing Laura naked in a tub. Mary Tyler Moore agreed and has said, that the real reason she got so upset was she tried to quit smoking for the few weeks prior and was extremely on edge during that period. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-poll-the-dick-van-dyke-show-is-the-funniest-sitcom-ever/555484/64 "2010-10-03T19:36:10Z")
I was a big fan of The Dick Van Dyke show when it first aired, and my opinion of it (unlike some other shows from my childhood) hasn’t changed. This thread reminded me that it was one of the shows I’ve been meaning to buy on DVD, and I checked it out on Amazon. I was a bit surprised to see the extra cost of the complete set compared to the individual season sets, until I saw all the extras that were included in the complete set. ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-poll-the-dick-van-dyke-show-is-the-funniest-sitcom-ever/555484/65 "2010-10-03T23:44:21Z")
Great show, and at least _one of_ the funniest ever, if not the absolute funniest (she’s got some haters on this board, but I gotta say “I Love Lucy” might top it for me). Favorite episode is probably the one in which Rob, Buddy, and Sally are up late working on a script, and to vent they mark up one with all sorts of nasty jokes about Alan…which, inevitably, they accidentally turn in to Mel. Their adventures retrieving the script are great. Favorite _line_, however, is from the Season 4 episode in which the Petries recall how they bought their house in New Rochelle. They get in a fight with Millie and Jerry, and when they’re making up, Rob, Laura and Millie are enjoying a group hug, and Millie says: “C’mon, Jerry, join in the friendship!” Not an obvious laugh line, but the wording and delivery just slay me. **N.B.: For anyone reading this thread and considering buying the DVDs, be advised that all five seasons are available on both Hulu and Netflix Instant Streaming! Of course you don’t get the bonus materials, but if you just want to watch the episodes, it could save you a couple bucks.** ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-poll-the-dick-van-dyke-show-is-the-funniest-sitcom-ever/555484/66 "2010-10-04T06:05:09Z")
Uhny Uftz! ---
**Author:** ![FalconFinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@FalconFinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FalconFinder)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-poll-the-dick-van-dyke-show-is-the-funniest-sitcom-ever/555484/67 "2010-10-04T17:17:32Z")
> [@dwyr](#): > > Uhny Uftz! Thank you! I was waiting all thread to see if anyone would mention my favorite episode!! Dick Van Dyke has got to me one of my most favorite shows of all time!! There’s just so many great and funny moments with this show! I always loved the “I Am A Fine Musician” skit they did on one of the Christmas episodes of The Alan Brady Show. When I was a kid, I even wrote my own episode. I wish I still had it… ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-poll-the-dick-van-dyke-show-is-the-funniest-sitcom-ever/555484/68 "2010-10-04T19:05:25Z")
I love the episode which is a flashback to the time Laura meets Rob’s parents for the first time. She takes some tranquilizers and ends up high during dinner. It’s hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-poll-the-dick-van-dyke-show-is-the-funniest-sitcom-ever/555484/69 "2010-10-04T19:16:44Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > > [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > > > I’ve always thought this was the ultimate example of what can happen when you have the rare convergence of great writing and directing with the perfect cast. There is not a bad or dull episode to be found in this series. > > While I love the show, I don’t think I’d go this far. The one with Sally and the deli owner has some truly wretched moments. Whatever. I admit there are several episodes with maudlin, uncomfortable scenes but I still find those episodes have their redeeming moments. I realize I’m in the minority about that. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-poll-the-dick-van-dyke-show-is-the-funniest-sitcom-ever/555484/70 "2010-10-04T19:18:33Z")
> [@dwyr](#): > > I had such a crush on Dick Van Dyke when I was a kid. Me too. And I still do. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-poll-the-dick-van-dyke-show-is-the-funniest-sitcom-ever/555484/71 "2010-10-04T19:23:15Z")
> [@dwyr](#): > > Uhny Uftz! You just made me grin ear-to-ear! No one has mentioned one of my favorites - when Laura accidently ground up the hidous family broach in the garbage disposal. When the elder women thanked her for it, it was wonderful! ---
**Author:** ![Sycorax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@Sycorax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sycorax)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-poll-the-dick-van-dyke-show-is-the-funniest-sitcom-ever/555484/72 "2010-10-05T01:23:01Z")
Frasier is the funniest, wittiest, most adult, intelligent, sophisticated sitcom ever, and which didn’t promote 1950’s “me-Tarzan-you-Jane” cuteness (and twin bed bedrooms), or pander to raunchiness and slapstick to get laughs. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-poll-the-dick-van-dyke-show-is-the-funniest-sitcom-ever/555484/73 "2010-10-05T03:06:26Z")
> [@Sycorax](#): > > Frasier is the funniest, wittiest, most adult, intelligent, sophisticated sitcom ever, and which didn’t promote 1950’s “me-Tarzan-you-Jane” cuteness (and twin bed bedrooms), or pander to raunchiness and slapstick to get laughs. And this relates to this thread how exactly? Frasier certainly is a funny sitcom and would undoubtedly be near the top of my list but there is plenty of slapstick at times and definitely some mild rauchiness, usually involving Roz or Bulldog. Further, the “me-Tarzan-you-Jane” comment totally eludes me if it refers to anything about DVD. So does the 1950’s reference considering it is very much a \*\*\*1960’s sitcom \*\*\*in both tone and actual dates it was on the air. ---
**Author:** ![FalconFinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@FalconFinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FalconFinder)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-poll-the-dick-van-dyke-show-is-the-funniest-sitcom-ever/555484/74 "2010-10-05T20:09:30Z")
> [@Rebo](#): > > > [@dwyr](#): > > > > Uhny Uftz! > > You just made me grin ear-to-ear! > > No one has mentioned one of my favorites - when Laura accidently ground up the hidous family broach in the garbage disposal. > > When the elder women thanked her for it, it was wonderful! Oh, yes! That is another favorite!! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-a-poll-the-dick-van-dyke-show-is-the-funniest-sitcom-ever/555484.md?page=3)