Hi everybody,
I have been a big fan of "The Dick Van Dyke Show" since the 1960s. It's always been one of my all-time favorite shows -- so original, well-written, expertly-directed and superbly well-performed!

But . . . don't you think somebody involved should've been playing a little closer attention to some of the little details?

Laura's maiden name was mentioned in one episode as Meeker and in about three or four other episodes as Meehan.

Alan Brady's wife's name was Barb in one show and Margaret in another.

In one episode, it was Mel who was married to Alan's sister, but in several other episodes, it was Alan who was married to Mel's sister.

In an early episode, Rob's brother Stacey was said to be married. In a later episode, he was engaged. Then, in a much later episode, he was about to *become engaged*.

These things have not kept "The Dick Van Dyke Show" from being one of the finest sitcoms in television history. It's just that I am a little surprised at such carelessness in such an otherwise remarkably well-polished production. Anyone else feel that way?

Later,
Art

[This message has been edited by Artfiore1 (edited 03-28-2001).]

Originally posted by Artfiore1:
Hi everybody,
I have been a big fan of "The Dick Van Dyke Show" since the 1960s. It's always been one one of my all-time favorite shows -- so original, well-written, expertly-directed and superbly well-performed!

But . . . don't you think somebody involved should've been playing a little closer attention to some of the little details?

Laura's maiden name was mentioned in one episode as Meeker and in about three or four other episodes as Meehan.

Alan Brady's wife's name was Barb in one show and Margaret in another.

In one episode, it was Mel who was married to Alan's sister, but in several other episodes, it was Alan who was married to Mel's sister.

In an early episode, Rob's brother Stacey was said to be married. In a later episode, he was engaged. Then, in a much later episode, he was about to *become engaged*.

These things have not kept "The Dick Van Dyke Show" from being one of the finest sitcoms in television history. It's just that I am a little surprised at such carelessness in such an otherwise remarkably well-polished production. Anyone else feel that way?

Later,
Art
The bit about Laura's maiden name was not a mistake. At the beginning of the series, Mary Tyler Moore was married to Richard Meeker, which is were Laura got her name Laura Meeker Petrie, but then Mary got a divorce from him while the show was still running, so her maiden name on the show was quietly changed to Meehan. Just a correction!

Kristen

Kristen,
Thanks for the info! That's one I should've figured out.

------------------
Later,
Art

Has anyone realized that Mary's real son(now dead)was named Richie?Coincidence or not?

------------------
Richard Ranke

If I remember correctly,I think her autobiography said that wasn't a coincidence.

------------------
CCRYDER1968
http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/youngandrestlessfans

BULLETIN: THREAD RESURRECTION AFTER A 38-MONTH LAYOFF :)..............

These things have not kept "The Dick Van Dyke Show" from being one of the finest sitcoms in television history. It's just that I am a little surprised at such carelessness in such an otherwise remarkably well-polished production.
I agree.
But I think these small continuity errors, etc., probably only stand out to the more devoted fans (who have seen every episode 101 times -- like us here). :)

I, over time, have noticed many rather goofy flubs and errors that should have been corrected before the shows were ever filmed.

Such as (and feel free to add any others) ...............

> In "The Two Faces Of Rob", in the scene where Rob (aka: Dr. Bonelli) agrees to meet Laura for a date at 4:30, there's an error in the script -- because Buddy and Sally repeat the time to Rob. But neither could possibly have heard Laura say she could meet Bonelli "at 4:30". This blunder could, of course, have easily been avoided if the script had called for Rob to say to Laura: "4:30 will be fine" -- instead of the line we hear: "That will be fine".

> In "It's A Shame She Married Me", there's a major writing error. ..... Rob has just hours earlier told Sally that he's "not gonna tell her [Laura] about it" (a party with an old flame of Laura's -- Jim Darling [Robert Vaughn]). But in the next scene, what happens? Sally, out of sheer spite it would seem from the way it's written, calls up Laura and asks her what she's going to wear to the Jim Darling party. Ultra-silly. Sally, KNOWING of Rob's not wanting Laura to know of this affair, would never have made that call. It should have been Mel, or someone other than Sally, to have spilled the beans over the telephone. Having Sally make that call only makes her look stupid and just plain mean.

> In the episode "The Cat Burglar", we've got a couple of errors (IMO) -- Can anyone explain the logic of these burglars? They go to the trouble of breaking silently and undetected into the Petrie house on Bonnie Meadow Road, and are able to get out of the house unnoticed with the dining room set. So, what do these bonehead burglars decide to do? -- Do they take their loot & run for the batcave? No. Instead, they decide to LEAVE THE MERCHANDISE BEHIND (when they obviously could have just taken it off the premises at the time of the middle-of-the-night theft). They leave the dining set in the toolshed on the Petrie property so they can run the further risk of getting caught and come back later to pick it up. :lol:

Why not just steal it and take it with them? Makes no sense to me. Another odd thing about these very "neat" and orderly thieves (besides their placing cushioning, protective packing papers all around the table & chairs in the cartons they hide in the toolshed) is the fact they neatly place the dining table's tablecloth and china and silver in perfect arrangement after their crime. Can you imagine a thief taking the time to physically arrange every spoon & knife & cup/saucer perfectly on the tablecloth ON THE FLOOR after pilfering a dining table? :lol:

Then there's the somewhat odd statement made by the police detective at the end of the episode --- when he says to Rob: "The next time you lock a crook in your bedroom, make sure all the windows are locked."

I scratch my head when hearing this and say "Huh?". WHY would Rob's locking the bedroom window have prevented the crook from simply flipping the window lock and still opening the window to escape? Since when do windows lock ON THE OUTSIDE? :lol:

> One of my favorite episodes is "A Nice, Friendly Game Of Cards" (co-starring "Get Smart's" Edward Platt as the grouchy neighbor, "Lou Gregory"). But, after viewing this episode 9,413 times (approx. :)), a few minor "gaffes" come to the forefront. Eg: Why would ANYBODY who is playing poker want to announce to his fellow players (as Jerry Helper does here): "I just threw away a queen; if this is another queen, I'll shoot myself"? Poker certainly isn't a "verbal" game, with a player's intentions or cards being announced to the world.

There's also the fact that Rob apparently had enough time (and was able to SEE every single card in everyone's hand) after he discovered that his "magic deck" was in the card game. HOW could he possibly have read the back of EVERY card around the table? The "spokes" that reveal each card's identity would be covered up by other cards for all but the "front" card in each player's hand. Rob couldn't possibly have read each & every card around the table. And yet we're to believe he DID in this episode. (Well, perhaps Rob has X-ray vision as well as being a magician. :))

Plus -- There's also a goof with regards to Rob's last hand in the poker game. Rob admits to Jerry in the kitchen that he has "a full house, aces over kings". OK -- So WHY, then, does Rob announce "Should I keep this [ace], or throw it away?" (which, of course, alerts Rob to the "marked" deck being utilized, due to Ritchie's following remark).

WHY would any fool even consider for a second tossing an ace, when his hand is 3 Aces + 2 Kings?? Makes no logical sense at all. :lol:

Well, at least the "continuity" of this "Ace" in Rob's hand is accurate (from the poker table to the kitchen). We know he's got at least one ace when Ritchie blabs it to everyone; so that at least matches what Rob tells Jerry regarding his "Aces & Kings" Full House when they get to the kitchen.

While I'm seemingly griping about all these tiny little goofs/mistakes (which, of course, don't really amount to a small carton of Crummy Buttons in the larger scheme of these great episodes), I must also point out the GREAT writing within this "Cards" episode. And that is this (I wonder if anyone else appreciates the subtle slickness of writing like this?) .........

In order to allow Laura to accidentally place the marked deck of cards into the game, the writers have to find a way to get Rob out of the room for a minute. And they can't rely on the good old "Ritchie screaming for water" routine in this case, because Ritchie's being OUT OF BED is vital later in this episode. So, they have Rob casually excuse himself to the bedroom to put on his "lucky slippers" (because the shoes he's wearing are hurting his feet). Perfectly logical. Much better than any "Ritchie needing watered down" excuse.

> A number of episodes have other very minor goofs/errors/oddities. Such as the "Magic Piano", which only pops up as needed. And the pool table in the basement -- which can't possibly even be there in the first place, due to that huge rock prohibiting Rob from putting a pool table down there. ("Oh sure there's room! If we use chop sticks for cues!")

Plus Rob's "transportation" mystery. We know in several episodes that Rob does own a car (and sometimes TWO, including Laura's station wagon). So why then does Rob almost always have to take the train to work each day? Food (and Pontiacs) for thought.

> And the episode which is probably the most guilty of some silly boo-boos is "My Husband Is Not A Drunk". ...... First off, the whole business of a "qualified hypnotist" being the ONLY person in that room who could just say a few well-chosen words, snap his fingers, and have anyone under his power is something I don't believe for a second. But that's not the gaffe here. These are:

First off, WHY can't Ritchie get his own lazy 9-year-old body out of bed and get his own water? Other episodes have Ritchie getting up & acquiring his own beverages, without having to annoyingly bellow from the bedroom for his "servant parents" to deliver his liquids in bed. Silly on its face. However, the script here "needs" Ritchie to bellow for water, so Rob can slip out of the room.

Another thing that makes no sense (IMO) in this episode is --- WHY can't the hypnotism session be placed on "hold" for 1 minute so that Rob can get the kid water and still return to join in the full hypnotism encounter? Logically, it would seem the party could be held up for 60 seconds until Rob returned; but, the script forbids this party delay so Rob can intercept the spell in the kitchen.

Still more --- There are THREE separate cases of illogical writing regarding the actual "hypnotism" scenes themselves. ....

1.) After Millie comes out of her "spell", she (for some reason) has NO desire to learn about WHY she wakes up off the ground & in the arms of "Rock Hudson"/Jerry. It's only after Sally asks "Did Jerry really look like Rock Hudson?" does Millie even realize what she did. Illogical.

2.) Same with Jerry. After he emerges from his spell, he too doesn't ask "What happened?". He just declares he "feels great" and "feels like playing some basketball". But at no time does he even wonder what he did while "under Glenn Jameson's powers".

3.) That brings me to Laura's "blunder" while under the hypnotic trance. Now, Laura DID ask "What did I do?", which of course is what ANYBODY would want to know in that situation (if you believe, that is, in that silly kind of immediately-went-to-sleep-just-because-somebody-told-me-to-relax-and-snapped-his-finger-at-me kind of spell).

However, there's still a problem with Laura's trance too. After Rob answers Laura's "what did I do?" with: "4 score and seven years ago...", Laura SHOULD have then logically been puzzled as to WHY she said that and why she was wearing Rob's jacket. Why? Because, she couldn't have possibly known that Glenn told her to "imitate the person you most admire". Why didn't she inquire as to WHY she was impersonating Abe Lincoln. Did she just *assume* Glenn was going to say "imitate someone" before she was put under? Makes no sense to me.

This means that the reactions to ALL 3 of these "spells" were poorly written.

Still more --- The phone ringing at weird & impossible intervals (sometimes long pauses between rings just to accomodate Rob's "drunkenness"). Whose phone rings like that? :lol:

These type of things in the "Drunk" episode are things that almost never occur throughout the DvD series -- that is: setting up a situation just for the sake of a laugh, or just because we NEED this illogical piece of dialogue, etc., to "fit the script".

This type of thing is outside Carl Reiner's #1 Rule to himself & his other talented writers -- that rule being the "Realie Rule". If it couldn't really happen to the writers (Denoff, Persky, Marshall, or whoever), then don't put it in the script! "Drunk" violates this basic rule multiple times, IMO.

Many truly classic sitcoms of the 1950's and 60's had continuity errors....

On shows like "I Love Lucy" and "The Honeymooners", maiden and middle names of regular characters would often change, as would the number of years couples had been married...also where, when and how they met, etc.

What I think we need to remember is that when these shows were first produced and aired, viewers didn't have the episodes shoved at them every day in reruns, so it was easier to be foggy on details of the characters' lives.

David,
Never let anyone tell you you're not good - and thorough!

Steve

~~~In an early episode, Rob's brother Stacey was said to be married.

When did they say Stacey was married? I don't remember it from the eps that Jerry Van Dyke appeared in. Maybe they made a fleeting reference to it in another episode?

~~~Plus Rob's "transportation" mystery. We know in several episodes that Rob does own a car (and sometimes TWO, including Laura's station wagon). So why then does Rob almost always have to take the train to work each day? Food (and Pontiacs) for thought.

When you live in the suburbs of a big city that has convenient public transportation, you use it to go downtown to work. Nobody in his right mind would want to drive into Manhattan. I live in the Chicago suburbs and I always use the train to commute to work even though I do own a car.

Other than that, I agree with all the "continuity errors."

Yes, this show has its errors, as every show does, but I must say that this was the best-written and possibly has the least amount of errors of any 1960s sitcom. Please remember that this show was penultimate for its time; a time that gave way to shows like Gilligan's Island, Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, Mister Ed, My Favorite Martian, etc. These shows were silly and had mistakes everywhere. I am a Gilligan's Island fanatic, myself, and could give you at least 20 goofs per episode. In one episode, the professor is allergic to alcohol, and in another he is drinking a Martini with Gilligan, a teenager! Also, a storm drives the castways' hut into the lagoon and they walk out of the door, right into the water. May I say that a hut does not have floors!

In any case, this show had its share of mistakes, but were certainly few and far between. (Carl Reiner took major concern when he realized that Rob took his wife to the hospital to have a baby after having lived in an apartment, yet brought her home to a house). Sherwood Schwartz, on the other hand, could care less about this literally thousands of errors. I mean, could anyone get punched in the mouth and turn into a radio. I give Carl Reiner and all those who were part of the behind-the-scenes an ovation for creating the best sitcom in American History. I would also like to applaud the cast, as none of it could have been possible without them.

Nobody in his right mind would want to drive into Manhattan.
Yes...good point.
I guess I failed to think that one through to its logical conclusion. :)

Thanks.

I give Carl Reiner and all those who were part of the behind-the-scenes an ovation for creating the best sitcom in American History. I would also like to applaud the cast, as none of it could have been possible without them.
Amen.
I totally concur. :)

David, never let anyone tell you you're not good - and thorough!
Thank you, thank you very much. :)

Originally posted by algebra74
Yes, this show has its errors, as every show does, but I must say that this was the best-written and possibly has the least amount of errors of any 1960s sitcom. Please remember that this show was penultimate for its time; a time that gave way to shows like Gilligan's Island, Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, Mister Ed, My Favorite Martian, etc. These shows were silly and had mistakes everywhere. I am a Gilligan's Island fanatic, myself, and could give you at least 20 goofs per episode. In one episode, the professor is allergic to alcohol, and in another he is drinking a Martini with Gilligan, a teenager! Also, a storm drives the castways' hut into the lagoon and they walk out of the door, right into the water. May I say that a hut does not have floors!

In any case, this show had its share of mistakes, but were certainly few and far between. (Carl Reiner took major concern when he realized that Rob took his wife to the hospital to have a baby after having lived in an apartment, yet brought her home to a house). Sherwood Schwartz, on the other hand, could care less about this literally thousands of errors. I mean, could anyone get punched in the mouth and turn into a radio. I give Carl Reiner and all those who were part of the behind-the-scenes an ovation for creating the best sitcom in American History. I would also like to applaud the cast, as none of it could have been possible without them.

On Gilligans Island, the goofs were part of the shows absurdity and humor. (There were bigger goofs than just mentioned, how come everyone brought so many clothes for a three hour tour, and there were so many visitors to the island and still they didn't get rescued). DVD was the best sitcom of its time, so GI style goofs would not be in order, but even the best sitcom can slip up now and then (in particular the flashbacks with the baby and the two houses)

Originally posted by David VP
BULLETIN: THREAD RESURRECTION AFTER A 38-MONTH LAYOFF :)..............

> A number of episodes have other very minor goofs/errors/oddities. Such as the "Magic Piano", which only pops up as needed. And the pool table in the basement -- which can't possibly even be there in the first place, due to that huge rock prohibiting Rob from putting a pool table down there. ("Oh sure there's room! If we use chop sticks for cues!")



I think that the "Magic Piano" is most likely the same piano as in the writers' office. It was probably rolled from the office set across the kitchen set to the living room set when it was needed.

The two episodes where the basement appears had totally different layouts as well. When they had the pool table down there, the stairs came down parallel to the room and turned at the bottom into the basement. When they found the rock in the basement, the stairs ended straight into the basement w/ no turn. Of course the rock made its only appearance then as well. If I had a house w/ a basement w/ a bar and pool table, I would've spent a lot more time down there than Rob and Laura did. :)

Also, the fact that Buddy's brother does not mention anything about the rock, or anythig unusual, for that matter, eludes to the fact that the rock was not in the room at the time. Maybe they found a way to blast it out without messing up the entire fault line. LOL. Or, after having remodled the room (building a new stair-way, of course), they could have built a large closet around the rock so no one would ever know that it was there.

Also, in one episode, Laura admits that she was only 15 when she married Rob. But, in the episodes that show them before they were married, there is aabsolutely NO FRIGGIN' WAY! that she's that age.

Also, in one episode, Laura admits that she was only 15 when she married Rob. But, in the episodes that show them before they were married, there is aabsolutely NO FRIGGIN' WAY! that she's that age.

She was 17 when they got married. Also, no way.

Has anyone realized that Mary's real son(now dead)was named Richie?Coincidence or not?

It is a coincidence, because in the pilot episode, "Head of the Family," which was made 2 years before "The Dick Van Dyke Show," the son's name is Richie and was carried over to TDVDS.


Lolac

:wave:

speaking of the episode where rob's playing po0l with buddy's brother, ever notice how he hits the eight ball in on the break? well they're playing eight-ball, which would require the eight ball be set up in the middle. however, the eight ball is on the back corner of the rack when rob breaks.

i love seeing/hearing about all these little imperfections. it's so co0l to know that there are so many others out there that catch them. these imperfections, of course, in no way take away from the fact that the dick van dyke show is the best sitcom ever. :D

yes, but how many people would know that?

Would someone please tell me whether or not I am correct? If you are playing 8 ball, I thought that you won if the 8 ball goes in on the break?

can't help you dude; I don't play pool.

FYI (re. 8-Ball) ...........

>> The opening 'break' is legal when neither the cue ball nor the 8-ball is pocketed, and either one of the numbered balls is pocketed or one of them is driven to the rail.

Therefore, you don't win 8-Ball when pocketing the 8-ball on the break.

Now, in "Nine-Ball", you DO win if the 9-Ball goes in on the break (providing your "break" touches the #1 Ball first).

:)

well; you learn something new every day!!

I have heard Carl Reiner mention that he didn't want his show to show "age" or be caught-up in the time. HE instructed his writers never to write about anything going on in the 1960s, even if it could cause a great plot or story. If this is true, thwn why are there several references to JFK. Not only that, there is one episode that completely revoloves around the 1960s music era: "The Redcoats are Coming". This greatly puts a "time" or "age" on the show. This being said, I still think that this episode is one of the best.

True, algebra...very true.

Although many people rank the "Redcoats" episode (along with "The Twizzle") as two of the weaker efforts in the series.

Although, after re-watching each of these eps. on the great DVD discs, I've gained a new appreciation for these eps.

The Twizzle has several good moments in it, not the least of which is getting to see Laura doing the Twist/Twizzle .... :grineyes:

Plus Buddy's funny line to Jack Albertson: "This guy sounds like my agent!" (You must watch the scene to gain full rib-tickling enjoyment from this line. :))

The Redcoats has redeeming value as well (of course). Mel's "Paul Revere" secret password is funny. And Rob's mocking Mel on this point. :lol:

Carl did indeed state he tried to keep TDVDS "timeless" in nature (well, most of the time he succeeded at any rate).

In addition to the JFK references (which only served in one ep. as a platform for "Danny Brewster" to perform his "act"; plus the reference made by Happy Spangler to the "35th President") -- there's also the ep. where Laura says: "It's the 1960s". Followed by Rob's: "And I'd like to be held over for the 70s".

But these "time" references are indeed few and far between.

This amuses me: in 'Where Did I Come From?' Laura is about to give birth to Ritchie, and the Petries are in a smaller home. But in 'That's My Boy???' the are in their New Rochelle house! That was a quick move!:)

~~~This amuses me: in 'Where Did I Come From?' Laura is about to give birth to Ritchie, and the Petries are in a smaller home. But in 'That's My Boy???' the are in their New Rochelle house! That was a quick move!

In the audio commentary on "That's My Boy" Carl Reiner acknowledges this gaffe.

That's cool! I'm gonna listen to that commentary soon. I didn't know about this. Thanks!

yea, he says he didn't notice it all these years until they put the 2 episodes on DVD.

Gang,
Remember when Rob & Laura needed a maid so badly that Rob contacted an agency to find them one? We know that situation didn't work out - the maid they found turned out to be an immigrant who spoke no english and was recovering from a broken arm, so she took an artist job instead - but why didn't they ever need a maid again?
Hmmm...

Steve

Very good point, Steve. That's a "continuity" issue I hadn't thought of before. But you're right -- never again does the subject of needing a maid arise during the series. Obviously, that was just an "as needed to fit this week's script" situation (like the pool table in the basemant that we never see again in "Hustling The Hustler"). Those type scripts are rare.


Want still more Van Dyke Food For Thought? (aka: Completely meaningless stuff that only fanatics would ever think of.) OK. :) ..........

When watching a TV show or movie, have you ever wondered something about the program that's really totally meaningless in the large scheme of things -- but it just kind of bugs you, or you're curious about how they did some small part of the script.

One such moment for me from the Dick Van Dyke series occurred when I was watching the Season-Two episode "The Cat Burglar". ......

For some reason (after watching the ep. probably dozens of times over the decades) I started to wonder: Gee, I wonder if Dick Van Dyke is REALLY walking around the set with a LOADED rifle (after hearing a burglar in the house)?

In this funny episode, we can physically SEE Rob place the bullet into the rifle and work the bolt (after digging said bullet out of Laura's music case, which proved a tad problematic...and hysterical).

My guess would be that during one of the "cuts" to another camera angle, the producers/director probably instructed Dick/(Rob) to remove the bullet, so that he wasn't actually carrying a loaded weapon around the soundstage (and pointing it at people [potentially] through the closet keyhole at one point).

Don't ya figure that's the case?

Another "odd" thing in a Van Dyke episode ("A Man's Teeth Are Not His Own") that's always kinda "bugged" me a little -- Isn't it a TAD bit strange for Rob to suffer the kind of severe, I-can't-stand-it pain immediately after breaking a tooth on the bone in his chicken sandwich?

I've broken teeth, and it didn't cause such agonizing pain that I was jumping around the room in tears right afterward. That kind of pain (for me) has been reserved for teeth that have been ignored for years and require a root canal as a result. In fact, very little pain resulted immediately from teeth I have broken off.

What's your experience with this? Did the Van Dyke script "overdo" the "pain" part just a smidge? I'm inclined to say yes. (But, it was funny nonetheless.)

Sally -- "You broke your tooth on a bone?!"
Buddy -- "Well, I don't think he broke it on the mayonnaise." :lol:


Still MORE "oddities" ......................................

Note Dick's "ambidexterity" in the pool episode ("Hustling The Hustler"). He exhibits both his left-handedness and his right-handedness in this episode, as he plays pool left-handed but signs the check to Blackie Sorrell right-handed.

Via all the episodes of the series (as a whole), it appears to me that the ONLY thing Dick does right-handed is write. He throws, eats, plays pool, plays tennis, etc., all left-handed.

It seems as if Carl Reiner decided to load up all the odd inconsistencies and things that don't make sense into the "Cat Burglar" episode. (Plus several more in "My Husband Is Not A Drunk".)

I've recently noticed 4 more to add to the plethora of oddities previously posted regarding the "Cat Burglar" program ...............

>> The burglars are said in the episode to be "specialists", who ONLY steal paintings, silver, and TV sets. But, for some reason, they've changed their pattern at the Petries, taking only the dining set, and leaving behind the silver & TV (which BOTH were, btw, readily available to the crooks for the pilfering). We're *surely* not to assume there are TWO sets of cat burglars who just happened to strike the neighborhood in the same 5-day period, are we? Mason, your witness.

>> A very, very silly-looking goof is when Jerry comes through the glassless window, poking his head and rifle into the Petrie bedroom. There's NO glass in the window! Seems rather odd, doesn't it? :laugh: Now are you gonna sit there and try to tell me that Robert Simpson Petrie, who wants to protect his family and is already concerned about a potential burglar in the area, is going to sit still this night for going to sleep in a bedroom where a burglar could slip in easily through a window with NO GLASS in it, that's protected only by a CURTAIN?!! Come now. The O.J. jury wouldn't even buy that logic! LOL!

NEXT WEEK ON "UNSOLVED MYSTERIES": 'Why is there no glass in that Petrie window?'

>> How about this one Van Dyke fans -- We've got Rob & Laura being awakened by sounds from the living room, which Rob admits sound like "somebody trying to get out". So, we can naturally assume that the burglars had already been in the house before Rob got up to look. But when Rob investigates, rifle in tow, we can see that the dining set is STILL THERE! Therefore, the crooks had to RE-ENTER the house to steal the goods. Now tell me how likely it would be that neither Rob nor Laura would hear the crooks' activity in the next room, esp. given the couple's already highly-anxious state of mind after Rob nearly shoots Laura's lovely head off during his midnight romp with the .22? Highly unlikely the crooks' second attempt would go unnoticed under these stressful circumstances. Berger, your witness.

>> And how realistic is the scene the next morning when NEITHER Rob nor Laura notices the dining table missing? They walk right past the large empty space in the room multiple times and don't even notice. Highly unlikely. .... And yet, my friends, during the epilogue (or "Tag Scene" as its referred to on the Digital Versatile Disc boxed sets) to this Van Dyke episodic adventure, Rob immediately notices a missing piece of furniture (the 9-foot curved sofa that wife Laura Meeker-Meehan-Petrie has sent out to be cleaned on Rob's day off). Granted, the absence of a nine-foot couch *might* stick out a tad more like a sore thumb vs. the absence of the dining set. But the difference is negligible, IMHO.

Therefore, ladies and gentlemen of the jury -- I submit to you that this episode's writing cries out for justice! And begs to be revised in the "reality" department by Writer/Producer Carl Reiner! For, ladies & germs, isn't it Reiner himself who has said to his subsequent writing partners on numerous occasions when penning the various Van Dyke episodes: "If it couldn't happen to you (or Rob Petrie), then don't put it in the script!" ??

Thusly, Mr. Reiner himself must be found GUILTY as charged in this rare case of violating his very own "Realie" rule of episode writing!

And therefore, my friends, in this complicated case of "Reiner vs. The Cat Burglar", justice can only be served by your coming back into this Forum with a verdict of "Funny as hell; but just plain goofy in many respects". (Penalty to accused being having to consume 16 cartons of "crummy buttons" in a 17-hour period.)

But all these odd blunders still don't matter, because the episode is a classic, if for just the scene where Rob thinks the door is hooked up to the musical jewelry box. LOL! LOL!

Still more ........................

Are you "left-eared" or "right-eared"? How about the fact (in "The Bottom Of Mel Cooley's Heart") Rob tells Laura he's "left-eared" and has to have the phone put to his LEFT ear instead of his right ..... but later in that very same episode, we see him talking on the phone "right-eared"? Rob (Dick) seems to not only be multi-handed, but multi-eared as well.

While going through the episodes, I've noticed how often everybody seems to be on the telephone. The phone plays an integral part of Carl Reiner's and the other writer's scripts.

And there's not an actor, living or dead, who can/could hold a candle to Dick Van Dyke for "one-way phone conversations". You'd swear he was talking to someone on that phone. His talents seem to be limitless.

Digressing from TDvDS for two seconds, and speaking of good "telephone actors" -- While Van Dyke is the best on the phone I've ever seen, there IS one other actor who is close -- Hugh Beaumont (of "Leave It To Beaver" fame). He, too, was excellent at producing that "glazed-over"/"staring off into the distance" look while talking on the phone.

One particularly hilarious and perfectly-done one-way phone conversation with Beaumont on the "Beaver" series has Hugh talking to wife June (but we never see June in the scene). Ward (Hugh) finds out Beaver ditched school and is at a local supermarket snacking on the store's free food samples. June frantically phones Ward at the office to go and pick up the little truant. Ward is not at all pleased. The funny phone call ends with Ward barking at June: "June, you can pick up clothes pins anytime!" :lol:

Back to the Van Dyke Show -- I'm guessing there aren't more than a few episodes that don't feature at least one phone scene in it. Many ep. have multiple scenes featuring telephone conversations -- including scenes with many of the guest stars talking on the phone -- eg: the "lab technician" talking to Sally and Robert Vaughn ("Jim Darling") talking to Australia "from a house with a mortgage"

Off the top of my head, I can think of just one episode that doesn't have a "phone" scene (but there are probably a few more) -- "A Nice, Friendly Game Of Cards". (This probably mainly due to the fact that this whole show takes place over the course of just a single night, and there's no "office" scene at all -- which is very rare. Therefore, no "Rob to Laura" call from the office is required.)

"A nice, friendly game of marked cards! ... Cheating! ... In the suburbs!!" LOL!


You know what all this means, don't you kids??

Yes .... It means I've watched The Dick Van Dyke Show way, way too much! And men in white coats should burst in here any moment; and rightly so. I've turned into R.P. McMurphy. Somebody fetch Nurse Ratched. :)

YOU SAID IT!!!:lol: :lol: :lol:

Speaking of "The Cat Burglar" episode, has anyone ever noticed that the long pipe on the furnace was always straight with no dents, yet after this episode, the pipe always had that dent, created by Rob that one night? If they had enough money to fix the door, then one would think that they would fix the furnace too, right?

Man, David, you have WAY too much time on your hands!

Lolac

:happyface

David,
Are you a lawyer? Cuz if you can pick out minute details like that, you should be!;)

Are you a lawyer?
No. But if I were, I'll tell you kids one thing --- that crooked pillow salesman wouldn't stand a chance! (Just like with barrister Robert Petrie.) :)

ROB -- "It took all of my legal skills to bring that man to justice, and you're dealing with him!"

http://images.channeladvisor.com/Sell/SSProfiles/20057585/Images/VanDyke.jpg

That dollar-bill (above) is for sale on E-Bay,
along with this cool color photo of MTM & DvD.

I'm not sure what the deal is regarding the leg casts;
but I assume this is from the 1969 Special,
"Dick Van Dyke And The Other Woman".

I'm wondering if it's a "dual" birthday celebration for
both Mary & Dick here. They were both born in
December (Dick on Dec. 13; MTM on Dec. 29, just
two days after my birthday. :)) .........

http://imagehost.vendio.com/bin/imageserver.x/00000000/moviestarphotos/56082.jpg

Guys,
some of us (live David VP) could run rings around the posts on this site! The Nitpickers Site (http://www.nitpickers.com/tv/repository.cgi?pg=s&sp=i&tt=70)

Steve

Originally posted by David VP
That dollar-bill (above) is for sale on E-Bay,
along with this cool color photo of MTM & DvD.

I'm not sure what the deal is regarding the leg casts;
but I assume this is from the 1969 Special,
"Dick Van Dyke And The Other Woman".

I'm wondering if it's a "dual" birthday celebration for
both Mary & Dick here. They were both born in
December (Dick on Dec. 13; MTM on Dec. 29, just
two days after my birthday. :)) .........

http://imagehost.vendio.com/bin/imageserver.x/00000000/moviestarphotos/56082.jpg yes, that picture is from that special. I remember they did a number dressed like that. I think they were guests at a ski lodge and they both had a broken leg.

Originally posted by SawgrassSteve
Guys,
some of us (live David VP) could run rings around the posts on this site! The Nitpickers Site (http://www.nitpickers.com/tv/repository.cgi?pg=s&sp=i&tt=70)

Steve

Steve, how do you find these web sites? I'm always amazed at the things you come up with! We all should go over there and add a few nitpicks of our own. That site doesn't even scratch the surface!

:clap

Lolac

Originally posted by SawgrassSteve
Guys,
some of us (live David VP) could run rings around the posts on this site! The Nitpickers Site (http://www.nitpickers.com/tv/repository.cgi?pg=s&sp=i&tt=70)

Steve


:lol: You are not kidding

Originally posted by Lolac
Steve, how do you find these web sites? I'm always amazed at the things you come up with...!

:clap

Lolac
I dunno, Lolac,
Just lucky I guess. Thanks, I'm glad (and flattered) you like them! :wave:
Here's a thought that may or may not be a continuity issue:
The rather large Petrie kitchen is loaded with modern conveniences; garbage disposal, cooktop range, built-in ovens and fridge, etc. So, why is Laura still washing dishes by hand???

Steve

probaly so they could advertise Joy dishwashing soap, which was made by Procter & Gamble, which was one of their sponsors!:D

In the 50s and 60s, cast members of programs had to do at least 1 commercial for the shows sponsor, to be shown during the show. They would ussauley show it at the end.

Some of us (live David VP) could run rings around the posts on The Nitpickers Site.
Thank you. Thank you very much. :)

Want another (minor) TDvDS nit-pick? .........

In "How To Spank A Star", after Rob becomes "producer" for 1 week, Buddy & Sally visit Rob in his "Producer's" office -- and Buddy looks around the room as he enters, as if he'd NEVER, ever been there before.

Are we to believe that the gang had NEVER seen Mel's office in the several years they'd worked there?

Surely, Rob wasn't given a BRAND-NEW office for just his interim one-week producer's job. :)

(NOTE -- I suppose it IS possible that Buddy & Sally had never seen Mel's office, similar to the gag in S.5 when Alan sees the Writer's Room for the first time ever. LOL.)

(However, we KNOW that Rob, at least, had seen Mel's office before "How To Spank A Star" -- as he goes there at the behest of Melvin Cooley in the Season-One episode, "Sally Is A Girl". Rob exclaimed -- "What's the matter with Mel? He took me all the way to his office to tell me what a wonderful writer I am.")

:)

In S.5, two eps were devoted to Rob's nomination to, running for, and winning the election as City Councilman, "I Do Not Choose To Run," and "The Making Of A Councilman." Not only have the Petries never been portrayed as being particularly politically astute or connected, but since those eps, not a single ep, scene, or line has reflected Rob's holding onto, or acting in that office.

Steve

Has anyone else noticed that in season two, Rob seems to have 2 birthdays?

Yeah, I always wondered why Rob seems to have birthdays every year and Laura had none.

At least Sally had one birthday!

:talk:

LOL

Yeah, I always wondered why Rob seems to have birthdays every year and Laura had none.
That's how she was able to stay 17 while going to college and having a fling with Joe Coogan. :) LOL.

In S.5, two eps were devoted to Rob's nomination to, running for, and winning the election as City Councilman, "I Do Not Choose To Run," and "The Making Of A Councilman." Not only have the Petries never been portrayed as being particularly politically astute or connected, but since those eps, not a single ep, scene, or line has reflected Rob's holding onto, or acting in that office.
Yes, I, too, have noted this.

HOWEVER -- We must also consider that this 2-parter WAS in S.5, the LAST season. Only 14 episodes remained in the whole series' run after the "Councilman" 2-parter. So I wouldn't call it a major gaffe.

:)

I have another nit-pick, this one has bothered me for years. Yesterday, I was watching "A Ghost of A. Chantz." As the four of them are preparing to go to bed in the cabin, Rob and Laura start describing to Buddy and Sally some of their sleep habits, eg. Laura steals the pillow, if Rob talks in his sleep, just give him a shot with the elbow, etc. How can Laura steal the pillow and give Rob a shot with her elbow WHEN THEY SLEEP IN SEPERATE BEDS? This has always bugged me.

Lolac
:eyes2:

Lolac,
I had to really Laugh Out Loud on that one! You're so right, and I never thought of that before. It's impossible that they could have done the things they claim about each other!
:rofl:

Steve

In the "Anthony Stone" episode, notice how the restaurant scene is done in Rob and Laura's bedroom. Notice the curtains and bureau in front of their bathroom. This is especially obvious in a photo from this episode in the "Photo Gallery" from the extras section.

which one was "Anthony Stone"?

Treky,
It's episode #120, "Anthony Stone."

Steve

yes; I know; but what's it about?

It's the one where Sally dates a motician, but tries to hide it. Here's a handy episode guide. (http://www.tvtome.com/DickVanDykeShow/guide.html)

Steve

thanx!

Now that you mention it, I do see the similarities between the restaurant and the bedroom in the photo gallery picture in "Anthony Stone." I never would have noticed it from the scene in the episode itself.

We're all familar with the big mistake when the house changes between "Where did I Come From?" and "That's my Boy??". But in "52, 45, or Work," Laura is only a few months pregnant and they are living in their New Rochelle house on Bonnie Meadow Road! Boy, those Petries like to move around a lot--especially when Laura's pregnant!:crazy:

Kurt

Has anyone ever noticed the many, many offices in which Rob, Buddy, and Sally worked during the many flashback episodes? It seems more than coincidence that they would move to half a dozen different offices within a matter of a few years, to not move at all during the five yeard the show was on the air.

Also, has anyone noticed that in the episode "I Was A Teenage Head Writer", the office is the same as in the "What's In A Middle Name?" episode? Yet, the episode "Fifty-Two, Forty-Five, or Work" was supposed to take place in the middle of the two episodes listed above, yet they were in the same office as in the present. Are we supposed to believe that they switch from the office that they had when Rob became head-writer, to the current office, then switched back into the old one when Laura announces that she is going to have a baby, then again moves into a different office at the time of the baby's birth, and then moves into the office that they had before and stays for five years?

In Laura and Rob's bedroom, for the first few seasons, the bathroom is behind the closet and drawers. Then, suddenly they do a remodeling and the bathroom is in front of the closet and doors.
It is redundant to say that Richie's room changes throughout the years. But in the episode (I cannot remember the title) where government agents are watching a house accross the street, they go back to the living room, and Rob says that it is left from the door. Now, according to how the house is mapped out, the living room had to have been on the right, because the left would have to have been the kitchen. Unless, of course, the bedroom was located on the opposite side of the hall (opposite the guest room). This would be the only possible location that would make the statement "The living room is on the left" correct. This of course, simply does not make sense due to the house's floor-plan. It is obvious, just by looking at the living room, that the brick wall (in the hallway) is the only thing that separates the hall from the dining room and kitchen. This leaves no room for a room, especially one as large as Richie's, to be in that spot.:lol:

In "A Day In the Life of Alan Brady" it is mentioned that Alan Brady did not own a yacht. Yet in the Betty Lou episode, Rob and Laura go own Alan's yacht every year!

Originally posted by algebra74
In "A Day In the Life of Alan Brady" it is mentioned that Alan Brady did not own a yacht. Yet in the Betty Lou episode, Rob and Laura go own Alan's yacht every year!

And in "Coast-to-Coast Big Mouth" Laura says she saw Alan toupee-less when Alan tripped over Rob on his boat.

Kurt

In the Joan Delroy episode, I alway thought it was strange that nobody on the staff knew who Ernie Murphy was even though he danced on the show, but Laura knew who he was.

season two: in the episode cat burglar, rob locks
the chain lock on the front do0r.

season five: there is no chain lock on the do0r
when laura's frightened to be alone all nite in
long night's journey into day.

rather trivial, i guess. just realized it though last nite.

Hello,
I'm new to this message board, but I'm not new to the Dick Van Dyke Show. I love it and watch it constantly. But, I noticed everyone was talking about the continuity problems with the show's storylines, but I noticed a set continuity problem that should be the most obvious of all time. Similar to the "magic" piano that rolls in when needed...where's the famous ottoman that Rob trips over during the show's opening, during the episodes? I'm sure most of you may have noticed. The ottoman is nowhere in sight during most of the shows. Yes, granted, it's in a couple episodes: The Night the Roof Fell in" (however, it's a totally different ottoman in a different location in the Petrie's living room) and the last episode "The Final Chapter" (it appears in front of the chair by the front door and Rob falls over it one last time). But, most of the time, in the other 156 episodes, there is no ottoman anywhere in the living room. I wonder why? I didn't know if anyone may have the story behind this. I am yet to buy all the DVD sets so I may have missed this story on the commentary, if it is indeed there. I have a couple theories that I've come up with as possibilities but I don't know for sure. Just thought I'd nit-pick a bit myself. I mean, afterall, the ottoman seems to be the Dick Van Dyke show's trademark piece of furniture, right? But, no matter what, It's the very best show ever. Thanks.

Maybe that's why he tripped over the ottoman in the opening--because it's usually not there!

Welcome to the board, Nate! Very keen observation you made. Now that you mention it, I don't remember seeing that ottoman in other episodes! Sharp eye!


Lolac
:crazy:

Welcome Nate Richie,
You'd think we'd have noticed a thing like that before, huh? :crazy:

Steve

We all noticed, we just didn't want to mention it. *wink* Right guys?? RIGGGGGHHHHHT.

I'd like to thank Lolac and Steve for welcoming me to the board....I really appreciate it. It's been a lot of fun reading everyone's messages and replying to some of these. It's great to find such a very dedicated group of DVD fans. I'm glad to be here! Thanks and remember to watch out for those ottomans....!