Reiner writing new 'Van Dyke'

Oh Rob, it's been 40 years! But a "Dick Van Dyke Show" reunion special may be coming soon to CBS. No formal deals are in place, but series creator Carl Reiner is penning a script that would catch up with Rob and Laura Petrie in the present day. CBS is eyeing an hourlong special that would open with the scripted half-hour and conclude with a retrospective look at the enduring 1961-66 domestic comedy that starred Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore. Sources say Van Dyke and Moore have expressed interest in revisiting their Petrie personas, as has Larry Mathews, who played the couple's young son, Ritchie. The talk of a "Dick Van Dyke" reunion comes as Image Entertainment is readying a DVD release of the series. And Van Dyke and Moore will be seen onscreen together later this year in PBS' production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play "The Gin Game." Reiner is repped by CAA and manager George Shapiro of Shapiro/West & Associates

It should be on tap for November 2003 on CBS and TV Land.

Originally posted by pavanbadal
Reiner writing new 'Van Dyke'

Oh Rob, it's been 40 years! But a "Dick Van Dyke Show" reunion special may be coming soon to CBS. No formal deals are in place, but series creator Carl Reiner is penning a script that would catch up with Rob and Laura Petrie in the present day. CBS is eyeing an hourlong special that would open with the scripted half-hour and conclude with a retrospective look at the enduring 1961-66 domestic comedy that starred Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore. Sources say Van Dyke and Moore have expressed interest in revisiting their Petrie personas, as has Larry Mathews, who played the couple's young son, Ritchie. The talk of a "Dick Van Dyke" reunion comes as Image Entertainment is readying a DVD release of the series. And Van Dyke and Moore will be seen onscreen together later this year in PBS' production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play "The Gin Game." Reiner is repped by CAA and manager George Shapiro of Shapiro/West & Associates

That sounds interesting. Although just a half hour to catch up with the Petries sounds kind of difficult to do. Even though I love Carl and have a lot of faith in him, I'm not so sure that's the way to go. But I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Kristen

As much as I hate the idea of a DVD Show reunion I'd kill for some good DVD fan fiction. Someone ask Doug Denoff to get his dad to whip out a couple of episodes for old times sake. :)

You know, Dix,
That's not a bad idea. FanFiction.net (http://www.fanfiction.net/) would be a great place for him to post it! How about even a "The Petries" novel? The original Star Trek series only lasted about 3 seasons, but reruns did so well, and there were so many successful novels written sence then, production was finally OK'd for "Star Trek, The Next Generation." I suppose it would be interesting to see how well a Petrie family novel would do.
I'm not a reader of fiction, but of course, I'd buy one about our favorite couple and their friends. If there are any readers out there, tell me, do comedy novels exist? I've only heard of romances, mystery, adventure, and horror.

Steve

I remember once, at a STAR TREK convention, someone was selling a few novels of old TV shows (they used to be "cranked out" on a regular basis in the sixties-esspially for a hit or semi-hit show) and there was one for "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.' It was used, though, so it was probably written when the show was on.
Also, when "The Beverlly Hillbillies" was on, it was such a HUGEE hit, there was a LOT of memrobilia for it, including some novels.

I cant wait for the Dick Van Dyke Show Reunion Show
I hope it comes on very soon let me know when
The Dick Van Dyke Show Reunion will air on CBS.

Aaron

Hi All:
I'm new to this board, and thrilled to see that it exists. That the Dick Van Dyke Show was the greatest and most well written sitcom in TV history really cannot be disputed. It remains an icon to writers of newer sitcoms. But, I'm torn about the reunion idea. In a way, I'd love to see it. I'd love to know what Rob did after Alan Brady got cancelled. Do they still live at 148 Bonny Meadow Road. And does Rob still have the 1957 Dodge he drove in the episode where he was grabbing checks? (Hey, maybe he kept it as a collector's item -- I have a '64 Dodge, so why not?) The problem is so many reunions have turned out so badly. I'd rate The Odd Couple just a peg or two below TDVDS, but the reunion a few years ago was horrible. Mary's reunion with Rhoda was, at best, fair. Others have been bad to miserable. They've tried far too hard to push the latest PC social stances at the expense of comedy and the ensemble cast. Carl Reiner is perhaps the greatest mind to ever work in TV, so I doubt he'd let things sink to that level. Still, it's very hard to re-create history -- especially one as stellar as this show's. Maybe it's better to let history stand for itself. People will be imitating the Dick Van Dyke Show for decades, whether they're aware of it or not. Also, if I may, another post said Dick and Mary were the Giner and Fred on TV. Perfect comment! Indeed they were. And their version of "Mountain Greenery" is better than even Mel Torme's -- and I mean just the audio of it!