Dick Van Dyke show and Vietnam War

[osegov]

Can anybody tell me if the Vietnam War was ever mentioned on the Dick Van Dyke show?

[SawgrassSteve]

Never once.
TDVDS, in keeping with television of it's time, was not a show that dealt with any kind of social commentary head on. It did, however reflect some of the issues of the day, either in theme or just a mention in the dialog.
From the late 50s on, the nation saw the rise of many types of social movements: Servicemen in Southeast Asia, music & television sensorship, the younger generation & teen idols, equal rights for minorities and women, massive foreign immigration to the US, the drug culture, concern about "Big Brother" (the government's unconstituional intrusion into the lives of individuals), and the sexual revolution, to name a few. All have been reflected in some form or another on the show. Carl Reiner is a genius!

Steve

[B&W fan]

Originally posted by SawgrassSteve
Never once.
TDVDS, in keeping with television of it's time, was not a show that dealt with any kind of social commentary head on. It did, however reflect some of the issues of the day, either in theme or just a mention in the dialog.
From the late 50s on, the nation saw the rise of many types of social movements: Servicemen in Southeast Asia, music & television sensorship, the younger generation & teen idols, equal rights for minorities and women, massive foreign immigration to the US, the drug culture, concern about "Big Brother" (the government's unconstituional intrusion into the lives of individuals), and the sexual revolution, to name a few. All have been reflected in some form or another on the show. Carl Reiner is a genius!

Steve

Excellent points, Steve. I agree that Carl is a genius!! In fact, his way was far superior, IMHO, to Norman Lear's blatant and obvious way of commenting on the social issues of that same era.

With Carl, no one was alienated and his stuff remains completely "relevant" to any time period. I think Lear most assuredly alienated alot of folks with his not too subtle slams on conservatism and even Christianity. That's why Carl is much higher up in my book than Norman Lear.

B&W "not trying to turn this into a flame or anything like that - just pointing out the differences between what most folks consider two of the top 'TV' guys in the business" fan

[Kristen]

Originally posted by B&W fan


Excellent points, Steve. I agree that Carl is a genius!! In fact, his way was far superior, IMHO, to Norman Lear's blatant and obvious way of commenting on the social issues of that same era.

With Carl, no one was alienated and his stuff remains completely "relevant" to any time period. I think Lear most assuredly alienated alot of folks with his not too subtle slams on conservatism and even Christianity. That's why Carl is much higher up in my book than Norman Lear.

B&W "not trying to turn this into a flame or anything like that - just pointing out the differences between what most folks consider two of the top 'TV' guys in the business" fan

B&W Fan,
I couldn't agree more! Carl is a genius, and I think fans like myself are living proof of the timelessness of TDVDS. I wasn't even an inkling when the show was on the air, and yet I like it a lot better than most TV shows today. Just my 2 cents.

Kristen

[treky]

allright, get down from the soapbox!!

[SawgrassSteve]

Originally posted by Kristen
I like it a lot better than most TV shows today. Just my 2 cents.
Kristen

...And an important two sents it is, Kristen! It's real proof of a show's ability to reach something within the human heart when someone like you can so enjoy it today, even though the show is twice your age. I don't think any show produced today will enjoy that kind of longevity and acceptance in the future.

Steve