The Official Dick Van Dyke Show Book


Book Description

The first and only complete, fully authorized "biography" of one of TV's most beloved sitcoms, including the first complete viewer's guide to all 158 episodes, as well as special behind-the-scenes trivia and a full chapter concordance. 50 black and white photos.




My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business


Book Description

A heartfelt memoir from one of Hollywood's greatest icons Dick Van Dyke, indisputably one of the greats of the golden age of television, is admired and beloved by audiences the world over for his beaming smile, his physical dexterity, his impeccable comic timing, his ridiculous stunts, and his unforgettable screen roles. His trailblazing television program, The Dick Van Dyke Show (produced by Carl Reiner, who has written the foreword to this memoir), was one of the most popular sitcoms of the 1960s and introduced another major television star, Mary Tyler Moore. But Dick Van Dyke was also an enormously engaging movie star whose films, including Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, have been discovered by a new generation of fans and are as beloved today as they were when they first appeared. A colorful, loving, richly detailed look at the decades of a multilayered life, My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business, will enthrall every generation of reader, from baby-boomers who recall when Rob Petrie became a household name, to all those still enchanted by Bert’s “Chim Chim Cher-ee.” This is a lively, heartwarming memoir of a performer who still thinks of himself as a “simple song-and-dance man,” but who is, in every sense of the word, a classic entertainer.




WHY and WHEN the DICK VAN DYKE SHOW WAS BORN


Book Description

In 1960, Carl Reiner shot the pilot for a comedy series titled "Head of the Family," starring Carl Reiner. The show was about a writer who lived with his family in New Rochelle, New York and commuted to his job in Manhattan, writing on a TV comedy show. "Head of the Family" aired once and the reaction was, in Carl's words, "fair to middling." So Carl had moved on, until Sheldon Leonard came along and convinced him that he could sell it to a network, and they would not fail this time because, "we'll get a better actor to play you." And thus, "The Dick Van Dyke Show" was born.Besides giving all of us out in TV land, including countless aspiring young writers, our first view of how funny stuff happens (it's created by talented writers like Rob Petrie, Sally Rogers and Buddy Sorrell locked in a room with a typewriter, a piano and a couch), Carl, in the year 1960, also struck a blow for feminism by making one-third of the writers' room staff female."Why and When 'The Dick Van Dyke Show' Was Born" is a recounting of behind-the-scenes stories, many of which only Carl could know, about the casting, writing and shooting of "The Dick Van Dyke Show." It includes the real life happenings in the lives of Carl and his family and friends, which inspired many of the episodes, often proving that truth is exactly as strange as fiction - like the episode where Ritchie had to wear a pith helmet to school to ward off a bullying woodpecker, a remedy suggested in real life by the Game Warden to Carl's friends, Millie and Jerry Schoenbaum, when their son Eric was under similar woodpecker attack.




Mr. Finnegan's Giving Chest


Book Description

On Christmas Eve, with help from a mysterious toymaker and a magic box, a young girl learns about the spirit of giving.




The Dick Van Dyke Show


Book Description

In the history of television, there are very few shows that can truly be called "classics." The Dick Van Dyke Show is one of those few--and for the first time, authors Weissman and Sanders have succeed in capturing the unique flavor of this very appealing, warm comedy that went straight to the heart of the American public. An affectionate and nostalgic portrait of a show more than twenty years old that is still in reruns, The Dick Van Dyke Show tells the inside story of the situational comedy whose phenomenal success was a surprise even to its creators. Tracing its evolution from the pilot, Head of the Family starring Carl Reiner, through the ordeal of finding the right actor to play the clumsy but talented TV writer Rob Petrie, gathering the supporting cast that included Rose Marie and Morey Amsterdam, whose presence added a sharp-edged humor to the series, to the discovery of the largely unknown Mary Tyler Moore to play the Capri pants-clad Laura Petrie, The Dick Van Dyke Show plots the day-to-day course of getting and keeping the show on the air. Written with the complete cooperation of every member of the cast, this book takes us through the weekly process of consistently fine writing, rehearsing, improvising, and polishing the show in which the entire company participated. From start to finish, the cast was a tight group whose personal warmth, vitality, and camaraderie created a unique chemistry that shone through every episode. Containing over 100 photos, synopses of all 158 episodes and the complete script of one of them, lists of all the awards garnered by the show and its cast during its five-year run, and an update on where everyone is today, The Dick Van Dyke Show is a loving and carefully researched tribute to one of the most beloved comedy series of all time.




I Remember Me


Book Description

I Remember Me weaves an American tapestry of colorful tales, beginning with the timid musings of a young boy on the verge of becoming a man in the Jewish section of New Yorks Bronx neighborhood, and bringing us up to date with the mature insight of a man whose remarkable trajectory has sent him to the top of Hollywoods elite and sparked the careers of dozens of household-name entertainers. Along the way, Reiner treats his loyal readers to everything from the ordinary to the truly unforgettable: a family trip to a nude beach, French lessons with Mel Brooks, a chapter dedicated to Rinnie the dog who unfortunately mistakes a skunk for a cat, a surprise early-morning visit from the McCarthy era FBI, a heart wrenching story of loss describing the day of his wifes passing, and then in a revealing chapter of Reiners character, he describes the most theatrically triumphant day of his young career. Through his memoir, we meet the man behind the success in roles rarely seen before: son to Romanian immigrant Irving Reiner, husband to fellow Bronx native and renowned singer Estelle Reiner, father to the prolific filmmaker Rob Reiner, Dr. Annie Reiner psychoanalyst & gifted singer, and Lucas Reiner, a globally recognized fine artist. Written with the same combination of playful jest and modest humility that has garnered the love and respect of fans for generations, I Remember Me remembers the creative and inspiring journey of one of the most revered comedic icons of the past hundred years. Carl Reiner is at that wonderful point in life where he knows absolutely everything. Especially, how to tell a wonderful story. I just love being in his world and this book is the Grand Tour. Jerry Seinfeld Great stories from the great Carl Reiner. I liked Chapter 29 the best. Albert Brooks At a time when so much of comedy can be cruel and mean spirited... Carl Reiner is a perfect example of comedy and kindness mixed with just the right amount of biting wit to make for a really satisfying read. Jay Leno Crime and Punishment has always been my favorite book... Until Now! Mel Brooks




Jeannie Out of the Bottle


Book Description

A magical, heartwarming memoir from one of Hollywood’s most beloved actresses, best known for her iconic role on I Dream of Jeannie The landmark NBC hit television series I Dream of Jeannie has delighted generations of audiences and inspired untold numbers of teenage crushes on its beautiful blond star, Barbara Eden, for decades. Part pristine Hollywood princess and part classic bombshell, with innocence, strength, and comedic talent to spare, Barbara finally lets Jeannie out of her bottle to tell her whole story. Jeannie Out of the Bottle takes us behind the scenes of I Dream of Jeannie as well as Barbara’s dozens of other stage, movie, television, and live concert performances. We follow her from the hungry years when she was a struggling studio contract player at 20th Century Fox through difficult weeks trying to survive as a chorus girl at Ciro’s Sunset Strip supper club, from a stint as Johnny Carson’s sidekick on live TV to tangling on-screen and off with some of Hollywood’s most desirable leading men, including Elvis Presley, Clint Eastwood, Paul Newman, and Warren Beatty. From the ups and downs of her relationship with her Jeannie co-star Larry Hagman to a touching meeting with an exquisite and vulnerable Marilyn Monroe at the twilight of her career, readers join Barbara on a thrilling journey through her five decades in Hollywood. But Barbara’s story is also an intimate and honest memoir of personal tragedy: a stillborn child with her first husband, Michael Ansara; a verbally abusive, drug-addicted second husband; the loss of her beloved mother; and the accidental heroin-induced death of her adult son, just months before his wedding. With candor and poignancy, Barbara reflects on the challenges she has faced, as well as the joys she has experienced and how she has maintained her humor, optimism, and inimitable Jeannie magic throughout the roller-coaster ride of a truly memorable life. Illustrated with sixteen pages of photographs, including candid family pictures and rare publicity stills, Jeannie Out of the Bottle is a must-have for every fan, old and new.




Nick at Nite's Classic TV Companion


Book Description

"Nick at Nite's Classic TV Companion offers capsule descriptions of every episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, I Love Lucy, Bewitched, The Bob Newhart Show, I Dream of Jeannie, The Munsters, Taxi, and Welcome Back, Kotter. Featured are such vital nuggets as classic guest stars: cameos by famous actors; classic quotes: TV's classic catchphrases and unforgettable one-liners; and awards and critical comments."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved




Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted


Book Description

The behind-the-scenes story of the making of the classic television series offers insight into how the influential show reflected changing American perspectives and was a first situation comedy to employ numerous women as writers and producers.




Brief Encounters


Book Description

Reminiscences from the legendary talk show host: “Erudite and witty . . .Brief Encounters is very good and very funny.” —Chicago Tribune On his talk show, Dick Cavett welcomed leading figures from film, music, theater, literature, comedy, and politics, and engaged them in conversation that made viewers feel like the discussion was taking place in their own living rooms. In Brief Encounters, Cavett introduces us to the fascinating characters who have crossed his path, and also offers piquant commentary on contemporary politics, the indignities of travel, the nature of comedy writing, and the utter improbability of being alive at all. “A touching essay about the late James Gandolfini, a fond remembrance of an afternoon at Stan Laurel’s small Los Angeles apartment, sparring with Muhammed Ali, and being talked into signing on as Apple’s first celebrity pitchman by a young Steve Jobs are all here, as are Cavett’s warm memories of John Lennon.” —Esquire “Includes numerous observations about contemporary culture and politics—neither Democrats nor Republicans are spared.” —USA Today “A delightful peek behind the curtain at celebrities, complex characters, and the nuances of everyday life—all told with his singular wit and style.” —Publishers Weekly Includes a foreword by Jimmy Fallon