MovieChat Forums > The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961) Discussion > I hated Sally- What a selfish character!

I hated Sally- What a selfish character!

posted 6 years ago by jasonmovieguy (182)
4 replies | jump to latest

The Dick Van Dyke Show was ahead of it's time in many respects, including situation comedy that was a step above I Love Lucy in terms of script writing and acting.

But one character always bothered me: Sally Rogers. Seen as "one of the guys", her tomboyish nature and gruff exterior made her come off extremely unlikable. Sally was a very selfish character. Especially in the dating scene. She never gave any man a chance. There was always something wrong with them. Even the ones who showed her genuine affection (like the grocery owner earlier on). She seemed to always have some lame joke to throw in the way of actual happiness. She lived with her cat and was pretty much an insecure bore.

Perhaps this was the creator's fault. Carl Reiner might have had his eyes set on having one lone, possibly lesbian, and feminist character that had to be the opposite of Laura Petrie. Still, Sally came off intimidating and brash. Not all TV characters should end up with a man, but for someone like Sally who was ALWAYS talking about wanting one- she sure seemed picky. Especially considering the fact that she was not beautiful, was uncompromising, and was already knocking on 50.

Anyone else agree that this character deserved the loneliness she came home to every night?

[–] [email protected] (38) 6 years ago

I agree, she was definitely not the nicest character on the show. Always complaining about being alone, but no one ever seemed to be good enough for her. The way she treated the man that owned the deli who had a crush on her really turned me off to her character. On the plus side, I hear that Rose Marie was quite a nice lady.

[–] RainyNightinGA (6) 6 years ago

Interesting discussion. Personally, watching her episodes over and over I think she had the right to be picky— most of the men put in her path were either clearly the wrong fit or plain lousy. I thought the delicatessen owner (played by Sid Melton in Season 4) was a little too pushy with all the flowers and attention, and basically wanting Sally to “trip into love” with him. He was sweet but basically pitying Sally into dating him. Not exactly romantic.

I don’t think a dominating force like Sally would have survived a marriage with Herman Glimscher. He brought a lot of comedy as a mama’s boy, but I don’t think he was “the one” for Sally.

Personally I think Sally was only compatible with Buddy; they understood each other’s humor and quirks and could keep each other in line. Yet, Buddy stayed married to Pickles...

[–] liscarkat (18388) 3 years ago

I would like Sally as a work pal, but as a potential romantic interest I think she's a bit overbearing.

[–] avortac4 (3743) 2 years ago

Sally is the modern woman - post-wall, ugly hag, thinking she's a princess deserving the most optimal, high-status prince in all existence, while being surrounded by simps that would give their lives for her, if ONLY she could even see them at all.

Modern Sallies go to 5 dating apps and 800 dinner dates, get 20 000 followers per app, then make a Tiktok-video complaining how they can't find a man.

Sally is exactly like this.. same mentality, same, self-created 'victim-status', and we're supposed to pity these women that have SO MANY OPTIONS BUT DECIDE NOT TO USE THEM BECAUSE THEY WANT THE 0.01% MEN THAT ALL OTHER WOMEN ALSO LUST FOR!

Nothing new, even sixty years ago, things were the same, just on a different scale. Lauralike good wives probably never existed, but at least in the sixties, they could play the role a bit more convincingly and possibly ACTUALLY cook something other than "Let's order a pizza".