My name is Peter Oliphant. But you guys probably know me better as Freddie Helper on TDVDS!

It was a LONG time ago I worked on the show. I first worked on the show when I was a pre-teenage, and now I'm over 50 years old.

So, if you'd like to ask me any questions, I'll try to answer them. But realize my memory of that time is not exactly perfect... :)

One thing though. An error was made a LONG time ago that seems to keep being perpetuated. Frank Adamo has been acredited as playing 'Freddie Helper' on the show. I'm pretty sure this never happened, since he is like 20 or 30 years older than I am.

And I have a theory as to why he is given this credit. In old episode listings, he is listed in the cast RIGHT BELOW ME in the episode 'Odd But True' (we were both in that episode). I think someone looked across, accidentally let their eyes drop a bit, and wrote his name down instead of mine!

This error has perpetuated throughout most TDVDS data bases, and it drives me nuts! lol

Anyway, enough on that. Questions anyone? :)

Hi!

yes; I have3 questions for you: how did you get the job on the show?


Also, did you or anyone else back then; that you know of; think that Dick had a problem with his drinking?

And; do you keep in touch with anyone else from the show?


welcome to the board! It's good to have a former cast member of the show on here. Maybe now; some other former cast members will visit this board!

Hi!

yes; I have3 questions for you: how did you get the job on the show?


Also, did you or anyone else back then; that you know of; think that Dick had a problem with his drinking?

And; do you keep in touch with anyone else from the show?


welcome to the board! It's good to have a former cast member of the show on here. Maybe now; some other former cast members will visit this board!


I was very young at the time. But as I recall, I interviewed for the job like any other part. The interesting thing is, I interviewed for it EACH time I was on the show, even though after the first time it was a forgone conclusion I would play the part! I even remember one time being interviewed and Jerry Paris telling me during the interview I already had the part, the interviewing of others was a formality.

At the time I did not know Dick Van Dyke had a drinking problem. On the set, he was VERY nice, polite, professional, and always on time. However. There was one day that they called off rehearsals because he was home sick. He might actually been home sick, but with what I know now I wonder if that as the case. I can't speak for what others knew or figured out since I didn't know about this until decades later!

No, I have kept in touch with absolutely nobody from the show. Keep in mind, I only did like 3-4 episodes (the number is disputable, I'm credited for one I'm not in, and I think I was in one that was never shown), so I saw these people for 1 week every year or two. Not exactly part of the family.... hehe

You probably know the show was filmed in the following way. We rehearsed the show for about a week. Then, on Friday night (I think), we filmed it live and IN ORDER of the show before a live audience. I think we did this twice to get more than one 'version'. As with all tv, if someone made a mistake, we re-shot the scene. But with a week of rehearsal first, this didn't happen a lot...

I mention this because I have pretty bad stage fright! I'm ok when there is a camera because I know it could be shot again (i.e., mistakes are correctable). Plays don't have such a luxury. This was interesting for me, then, because it was like a play with a camera! As a result, I was VERY nervous before we started shooting on 'live night', but after the first take all nerves went away (because of the camera affect)...

Hi Peter, great to have you here! I have a couple of quick questions. I'd like to know a bit about what you did after TV and movies, that is, if you don't mind discussing this. And, perhaps related, what is your take on the entertainment business in general? Thanks much for participating!

No, I have kept in touch with absolutely nobody from the show. Keep in mind, I only did like 3-4 episodes (the number is disputable, I'm credited for one I'm not in, and I think I was in one that was never shown),...

Are you saying there was a 'lost' episode? One that was filmed and never shown? Can you tell us anything about that?

Or are you saying you were in one where they cut out your part?

Freddie? Anyone? Eleven days since the last post - has everybody lost interest in the Dick Van Dyke show?