We watched this episode last night with friends. This is one of my all-time favorites. It was a a bit of a risky theme back in the 60s and so well done. The awkwardness displayed by each of the characters brings out their unique talents for combining good writing with good physical humor. The scene at the end after Sally arrives is priceless. I love to watch their facial expressions as they are saying these lines and acting out the scenes. They are fantastic. You truly think this is real. I love when Laura says, "Sally, can I take your wrap," and Sally screams out and wraps the coat even tighter. Look at Laura's face..she knows exactly what Sally's hiding...and when Laura says to Rob "Gee, darling, I wish you'd told me Sally was coming," and Rob says, "I wish you'd tell me some things, too," and Laura is smiling and awkwardly nodding her head..." You really have to watch those types of things with this show. They are so good at doing the combo physical, facial, with the script...never overdone. The whole episode is great, even the beginning when Mel and Buddy are on good terms. And, of course, the way the writers finished it off, so as not to ofend, making God the main "love." Rob's liine about losing him to a better man, pleased the censors, and the audience.

That is a great episode.

I missed it the last time they showed it and now I'm just eagerly waiting for the series to start again so I can record it and keep it forever! I'm so excited I can hardly wait!!! :woohoo:

I agree, BWLuv. It's one of my favorite eps for all the reasons you just mentioned.

Steve

Excellent observations re. "The Life And Love Of Joe Coogan". It, too, is one of my favorite and most-watched episodes of TDvDS on DVD.

Similar to the good observations made by BW, another thing I've always enjoyed about the "Joe Coogan" ep. is the natural dialogue in the scene when Rob first tells Laura he ran into Joe on the golf course. The script flows effortlessly and so naturally, you'd swear there WAS no script at all.

I particularly like the lines written for Laura when she (naturally) has questions about Rob's talk with Joe......

"Well, it's just strange to think that he would go around telling someone he wrote love letters to his wife."

And:

"You mean he goes around telling strange golfers that he wrote sonnets to me?" :)

A great ep., with possibly the best ending of any Van Dyke show.

:)

Also one of my favorites. Carl Reiner wrote the sonnet that Rob reads at the end. He is such a talented guy.

Lolac
:wave: