On the evening of October 3, 1961, a future television classic called “The Dick Van Dyke Show” debuts on CBS. The sitcom’s inaugural episode—which revolves around the lead couple bickering over leaving sick son, Ritchie, with a babysitter while they go to a party—kicks off a beloved show that will run for five seasons and receive 15 Emmy awards.
The sitcom, created by actor, writer and comedian Carl Reiner, starred the titular Dick Van Dyke, along with a stellar ensemble cast including Mary Tyler Moore, Rose Marie and Morey Amsterdam. It told the story of Rob Petrie (Van Dyke), the head writer for a television comedy called “Alan Brady Show,” starring the egotistical Alan Brady (Reiner).
The show straddled being both a workplace comedy and a domestic comedy, with storylines revolving around Petrie’s relationships with his two wise-cracking co-writers and his wife, a USO dancer he met while in the Army. It became known for its sharp writing, strong performances and brilliant physical comedy.
“The Dick Van Dyke Show” remains available in syndication via streaming and DVD decades later—an indication of its enduring appeal. In an interview with The Digital Bits, TV historian Herbie J. Pilato said that appeal rests with its “timeless appreciation of non-insulting, marriage-encouraging, friendship-bonding and work-ethic-inducing scripts.”
