TVSquad Talks To Dick Van Dyke about His Auto-Biography, Reality TV, and Mary Poppins - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 05-07-2011, 09:53 PM

Dick Van Dyke Explains Why He Turned Down "Dancing With the Stars"
by PopEater Staff
posted May 7th 2011

Although screen legend Dick Van Dyke is -- believe it or not -- 85 years old, he shows no signs of slowing down and has just released a memoir, My Lucky Life In And Out Of Show Business, filled with tales about his lustrous career.

In a lively chat, the proud great-grandfather of four spoke about his winning fight with the bottle, why he turned down "Dancing With the Stars", his distaste for reality TV, and the greatness of Mary Poppins, his bad cockney accent notwithstanding.

You come across in your book like your public persona. Is that fair to say?

Yeah that's pretty much it. I've always resisted doing a book because my life sounded kind of pedestrian. Actually after I'd got it written I retitled it because almost anything that happened to me happened by chance.

Well I think your talent had a little something to do with it.

Well you have to be able to deliver, that's true.

You never sold out in your career.

I hesitate to call it a career. I had no goals in mind. I just went with whatever happened.

You were working during the cultural revolution of the 60's and 70's.
You must have turned down a lot of material that you didn't agree with.

That's true. By the '70s they weren't doing much of my kind of stuff anymore.

Did it make you bitter?

Oh no. I would have liked to have been around during the '30s and '40s, that would have been wonderful but I'm not going to complain.

I can't believe "Diagnosis Murder" was on the air for ten years.

It was the longest I've ever held a job. Thank God for Hallmark because they insist on family entertainment, so it was a perfect niche for me.

You must hate Reality TV.

Yes I do hate it I must say. I know it's inexpensive to do but I don't think it's entertainment.

We watched Donald Trump's "Apprentice", whatever it is, I've never been so bored in my life! That's not entertainment. Those shows encourage bad behavior.

Have you been asked to do anything recently?

I get a lot of scripts but as you say they are not exactly my cup of tea. They did ask me to do "Dancing With The Stars", I said I can do one show but on that show you have to come up with a new number every week and I told them that I think I'm a little past that stage.

Maybe you could be a special guest star.

That would work. I'd get Betty White to dance with me (laughs). I'm the not the oldest person out there. Thank God for Betty.

You're in a singing quartet.

Four guys in their 30s and me. They found me in a Starbucks one morning. We got together ten years ago, we do a lot of benefits, fundraisers, children's hospitals. It's the most fun I've ever had.

What was your favorite movie?

Oh Mary Poppins of course, by far and away is my favorite.

I love you in that movie, but you know your accent isn't the best.

I not only wince every time I hear it but every Brit that I run into rakes me over the coals for it. I have taken such a kidding all these years -- but I deserve it, I must admit.

Did you realize the movie was special when you were making it?

Oh yes, everybody did. The music alone. We knew we had something really nice going.

Everybody was so enthusiastic about it although little did I know 40 years later it would still be around.

Was "The Dick Van Dyke Show" your favorite working experience?

I think everyone connected with that show says it was the best five years because it was like going to a party everyday. It was so much fun.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2011/05/07/di...ith-the-stars/

Marvo301 · 05-07-2011, 11:11 PM

I love that even after all the success he's had in his career Dick Van Dyke is still humble enough to recognize his own short comings and limitations. He seems to very down to earth. And he's right about reality TV. It is boring and it does encourage bad behavior. I'd rather watch a rerun of TDVDS show than any reality show!

Mr. Television · 05-08-2011, 12:47 AM

He is a true legend. He's right about reality tv. It sucks.

05-07-2011, 09:53 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,168	TVSquad Talks To Dick Van Dyke about His Auto-Biography, Reality TV, and Mary Poppins *Dick Van Dyke Explains Why He Turned Down "Dancing With the Stars"* by PopEater Staff posted May 7th 2011 Although screen legend Dick Van Dyke is -- believe it or not -- 85 years old, he shows no signs of slowing down and has just released a memoir, My Lucky Life In And Out Of Show Business, filled with tales about his lustrous career. In a lively chat, the proud great-grandfather of four spoke about his winning fight with the bottle, why he turned down "Dancing With the Stars", his distaste for reality TV, and the greatness of Mary Poppins, his bad cockney accent notwithstanding. You come across in your book like your public persona. Is that fair to say? Yeah that's pretty much it. I've always resisted doing a book because my life sounded kind of pedestrian. Actually after I'd got it written I retitled it because almost anything that happened to me happened by chance. Well I think your talent had a little something to do with it. Well you have to be able to deliver, that's true. You never sold out in your career. I hesitate to call it a career. I had no goals in mind. I just went with whatever happened. You were working during the cultural revolution of the 60's and 70's. You must have turned down a lot of material that you didn't agree with. That's true. By the '70s they weren't doing much of my kind of stuff anymore. Did it make you bitter? Oh no. I would have liked to have been around during the '30s and '40s, that would have been wonderful but I'm not going to complain. *I can't believe "Diagnosis Murder" was on the air for ten years.* It was the longest I've ever held a job. Thank God for Hallmark because they insist on family entertainment, so it was a perfect niche for me. You must hate Reality TV. Yes I do hate it I must say. I know it's inexpensive to do but I don't think it's entertainment. We watched Donald Trump's "Apprentice", whatever it is, I've never been so bored in my life! That's not entertainment. Those shows encourage bad behavior. Have you been asked to do anything recently? I get a lot of scripts but as you say they are not exactly my cup of tea. They did ask me to do "Dancing With The Stars", I said I can do one show but on that show you have to come up with a new number every week and I told them that I think I'm a little past that stage. Maybe you could be a special guest star. That would work. I'd get Betty White to dance with me (laughs). I'm the not the oldest person out there. Thank God for Betty. You're in a singing quartet. Four guys in their 30s and me. They found me in a Starbucks one morning. We got together ten years ago, we do a lot of benefits, fundraisers, children's hospitals. It's the most fun I've ever had. What was your favorite movie? Oh Mary Poppins of course, by far and away is my favorite. I love you in that movie, but you know your accent isn't the best. I not only wince every time I hear it but every Brit that I run into rakes me over the coals for it. I have taken such a kidding all these years -- but I deserve it, I must admit. Did you realize the movie was special when you were making it? Oh yes, everybody did. The music alone. We knew we had something really nice going. Everybody was so enthusiastic about it although little did I know 40 years later it would still be around. *Was "The Dick Van Dyke Show" your favorite working experience?* I think everyone connected with that show says it was the best five years because it was like going to a party everyday. It was so much fun. http://www.tvsquad.com/2011/05/07/di...ith-the-stars/ Attached Images

05-07-2011, 11:11 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	I love that even after all the success he's had in his career Dick Van Dyke is still humble enough to recognize his own short comings and limitations. He seems to very down to earth. And he's right about reality TV. It is boring and it does encourage bad behavior. I'd rather watch a rerun of TDVDS show than any reality show!
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

05-08-2011, 12:47 AM	#3
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	He is a true legend. He's right about reality tv. It sucks.
	__________________ Sonny