My reaction to this series (which I've caught occasionally over the last 40-odd years) has always been the same:
Distant appreciation. I find the show somewhat cold, and bit "too inside." Perhaps its very sophistication is
what leaves me a bit removed. Oddly, I LOVE Mary Tyler Moore (Moore's own series) much, much more. It was
just as sophisticated, but Mary's apartment, her relationship with Rhoda, and even Mr. Grant is fireplace fuzzy. I
also think Mary Richards is a nicer character than Laura Petrie. Watching the Youtube eps more closely now, I'm actually
surprised at how prickly, judgmental, and whiny Laura is. She's quick-tempered, and not particularly accessible. She's
a good person generally, a good housekeeper, and a strong mother, but I find Rob constantly trying to placate her. In one
episode, she is giving Rob a hard time because he's writing late and can't get home in time for dinner to visit her aunt
and uncle. Give me a break!! He has a deadline, and he supports the nice home and lifestyle they have.
On the plus side, the chemistry between Moore and Van Dyke is so potent, you'd swear they were really married!
Amsterdam and Rose Marie are terrific, as is Richard Deacon. But Jerry is a JERK of a friend (so passive-aggressive),
and Millie can be very annoying. But again...the issue is me. I recognize this is a great show.
Fave episode: "It's All About Eavesdropping." Simply hilarious episode, with the totally offended Rob and Laura
attending Jerry and Millie's party and punishing them throughout because of their comments on the intercom.
Best line: BUDDY: "I haven't had this many laughs since the St. Valentine's Day Massacre!"
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[email protected] (5854)
8 years ago
Interesting that you cite "All about Eavesdropping" as a favorite. I love that one too! Anything that involves a universal human trait, in this case curiosity, always hits home.
There were so many great lines.
Laura- We've eavesdropped this long, we can eave a drop longer.
And Rob during the charades game, did you ever play a game of charades like that? LOL
Rob: Stomp, stomp all over people, stab in the back, two face, malice accusory!! I've got it! On the Street Where You Live!
I thought this show addressed human nature in so many ways. The characters were lovable but had big flaws. I've always wondered what happened the day AFTER the eavesdropping incident. I know Rob and Laura apologized to their friends. But they ruined Buddy and Sally's evening too.
Do you think that the next day at the office Rob's co-workers asked, "Okay what the %$%% was THAT all about last night?" lol
I think Rob would have come clean and admitted the truth and the three of them would have written a funny sketch about eavesdropping for Alan Brady.
Laura WAS a bit whiny and demanding. Her jealousy was a bit hard to take at times. Her husband was in show biz, hardly a 9 to 5 job. He had to work late and he was often working with glamorous and beautiful movie stars. You'd think Laura would have trusted him more since he was totally devoted to her.
Mary Tyler Moore mentions this on one of the DVD extras. She said that Laura would go so crazy if Rob was in a room with another woman. I'd like to think that Laura matured and got over her silly jealousies.
Also Dick van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore both admitted to having a big crushes on each other during the run of the show. But both were married and didn't act on them. Their attraction however, fairly jumped off the screen!
I loved their best friends Millie and Jerry. Jerry could be a jerk, true! In the first season episode when he teased Rob about writing a "bad show", Punch Thy Neighbor, he was so childish. But "The Ballad of the Betty Lou" is another of my favorites. Jerry also forgave Rob for seeing another dentist in "A Man's Teeth are Not His Own."
Millie just cracked me up, no matter what she said. I thought she was hilarious.
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[email protected] (1732)
8 years ago
"Forgave???" You've just mentioned ANOTHER episode I dislike. Jerry was out of town; why on EARTH would
Rob even blink about seeing another dentist in an emergency situation? And Jerry, while understanding, is
a bit taken aback. WHY?
Here's another point: Much of the comedy stems from Dick Van Dyke's brilliant physical genius. It's as if he
were made of rubber. But Van Dyke, unlike, say, Lucille Ball, a female counterpart, didn't convey EMOTIONAL
comedy. Ball did. Her reactions to everything are emotionally connected. Same with Bea Arthur. But
Van Dyke, while gifted with socially awkward scenes, lacks any depth, so much of his schtick starts to bore
me, even though I recognize it is superb timing coming from a superb clown.
Another physically brilliant comedian who I cannot stand is Steve Martin. Since my family worships him, I've
seen most of his films. I just don't find him funny in the least. And it's curious that Carl Reiner is such a
mentor to both Van Dyke and Martin. Different strokes for different folks.
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MissMargoChanning (6630)
8 years ago
""Forgave???" You've just mentioned ANOTHER episode I dislike. Jerry was out of town; why on EARTH would
Rob even blink about seeing another dentist in an emergency situation? And Jerry, while understanding, is
a bit taken aback. WHY? "
I couldn't agree more! When it comes to the teeth? My dentist had better understand an emergency. If not? He is no longer my dentist! I thought that was one of the more ridiculous episodes.
"Here's another point: Much of the comedy stems from Dick Van Dyke's brilliant physical genius. It's as if he
were made of rubber. But Van Dyke, unlike, say, Lucille Ball, a female counterpart, didn't convey EMOTIONAL
comedy. Ball did. Her reactions to everything are emotionally connected. Same with Bea Arthur. But
Van Dyke, while gifted with socially awkward scenes, lacks any depth, so much of his schtick starts to bore
me, even though I recognize it is superb timing coming from a superb clown."
That is one thing I disagree with. While I enjoyed Lucy and her adventures, I found the mugging a bit of an exaggeration. i enjoyed Van Dyke's physical comedy because it mostly had to do with his line of work and not always to do with the character he played.....
Just my opinion......
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[email protected] (5854)
8 years ago
Yes, a doctor or dentist would understand an emergency. In a real life situation, Jerry would have had a dentist on call to handle any emergencies while he was away. That actually happened to me years ago. I had an emergency and called my dentist. He was on vacation and his receptionist gave me the number of the dentist who was taking care of his patients while he was away.
In the case of Rob's emergency, Jerry understood. He even said as much. He said that Rob had no choice, it was an emergency. But the reason Rob felt guilty was because he allowed the other dentist to work on ANOTHER tooth. That tooth wasn't an emergency situation. He said, "I was sitting there with my big mouth open, so I let him drill away."
The humor came from Rob's guilt. It was irrational guilt as a lot of guilt often is, but I thought Dick van Dyke played it so well.
Jerry understood. You folks need to go back and rewatch the episode and pay attention to the dialogue. LOL
gbennett- I always thought Dick van Dyke's comedy was rooted in emotion. Most good comedy is. He was a huge fan of Stan Laurel. He modeled a lot of his comedy on him. He even found Stan Laurel's number in the phone book when he moved to Hollywood and called him. The comic agreed to meet him and they became friends.
I tried watching some Laurel and Hardy films when I was a kid. I never found them the least bit amusing. I always thought their schtick was so tiresome. Laurel messing up and Hardy yelling at him. The Laurel would cry.
Same goes for much of Steve Martin too. My cousin and her dad thought he was hilarious. I only found him mildly funny.
Humor is so subjective. If you don't connect with a comedian on an emotional level, a lot of their stuff won't be funny to you.
Miss Margo- I always thought The Redcoats are Coming was hilarious! But from what I have read, a lot of fans didn't care for it. Don't know why. However it wa a bit of a departure from what Carl Reiner wanted for the show. He mostly stayed away from anything trendy or topical. He didn't want to give the show a 'dated' look. Maybe he was thinking of the fute and syndication. lol
"It May Look Like a Walnut" was also one of the few shows that drew from current events, namely The Twilight Zone. But Carl Reiner may have known that would become a classic!
Humor is so subjective. You can't force someone to think that something is funny.
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MissMargoChanning (6630)
8 years ago
"Fave episode: "It's All About Eavesdropping." Simply hilarious episode, with the totally offended Rob and Laura
attending Jerry and Millie's party and punishing them throughout because of their comments on the intercom."
That was one of the BEST!
I have a number of faves but one that stands out is the Chad and Jeremy ep. I believe it was titled, "The Redcoats Are Coming"
This came out around the time of the Beatles and the British music invasion here in the states.
It was such a funny episode because it was a sign of the times then.
The best scene was when Rob and Laura took home movies just to prove that the Redcoats had been in their home. They shoot them together, they shoot them with Laura, they shoot them with Rob....... then they end up being shot on camera by the guys and Rob suddenly realizes how stupid they are.
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