- Paperback: 401 pages
- Publisher: Applause Books; 1 edition (Feb 28 2005)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1557834539
- ISBN-13: 978-1557834539
- Product Dimensions: 22.9 x 15.5 x 2.5 cm
- Shipping Weight: 658 g
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#567,195 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #89 in Books > Entertainment > Television > Screenwriting
- #91 in Books > Entertainment > Television > Reference
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Booklist
Definitive is a much-abused word, especially in subtitles, but this time it's used properly. The author of Classic Sitcoms (1987), Waldron combines nostalgia with substance, offering not only the expected stills, plot summaries, and backstage anecdotes, but also some fascinating commentary on what made the Dick Van Dyke Show unique in television history. Drawing extensively on the recollections of the show's creator, principal writer, and producer, Carl Reiner, Waldron argues that the saga of Rob, Laura, Buddy, and Sally took the sitcom genre in a new direction, away from complete reliance on I Love Lucy-like slapstick and toward a more reality-based version of comedy. Reiner, in fact, was famous for his obsession with "realies," carefully observed snippets of reality: "How do you use that rubber thing on the end of a toothbrush?" he once asked. "Put that in the show." Put it in the show they did--and with enough frequency to create a timelessness rare in television of any kind. The show's fans already span multiple generations, and there's no end in sight as long as the reruns keep coming, and Rob keeps tripping over (or sidestepping) that confounded ottoman. Definitive show, definitive book. Ilene Cooper
Review
“It was the very best time of my life and Vince's book helps me recall every treasured moment. Thanks, Vince!" —Dick Van Dyke
"Wonderful. You got all the facts down in the right order. No embellishments. All the truth. Somebody finally got the whole story right.” —Rose Marie
“The Official Dick Van Dyke Show Book is the best reference book on my shelf. It makes it even more fun to watch the show, if that's possible.”
—Morey Amsterdam
“What an unexpected pleasure to read a book on a subject about which I thought I knew everything, only to find out that I didn’t. A very serious contribution to understanding what really were the best years of my theatrical life. I’d say it was a wonderfully scholarly work--but I won’t, because I don’t want to scare people away from a book that’s as much fun to read as this is.” —Carl Reiner, producer/creator of The Dick Van Dyke Show
“Vince's tribute to our show offers as accurate a snapshot of the series—and the era that begat it—as any I've seen.” —Sheldon Leonard, Executive Producer
“A compelling narrative. . . . Waldron waltzes through the series’ story as gracefully as Van Dyke sidestepped his living room ottoman.” —Entertainment Weekly
“Vince Waldron lovingly and very thoroughly recounts the history of The Dick Van Dyke Show." —Los Angeles Daily News
"The definitive history...offers a wealth of backstage anecdotes."
—Emmy Magazine
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
First Sentence
"ANY GOOD SHOW THAT YOU see on television is going to reflect one person's reality," says Carl Reiner, whose work as writer, producer, and creative conscience of The Dick Van Dyke Show certainly bears proof of his premise. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
"ANY GOOD SHOW THAT YOU see on television is going to reflect one person's reality," says Carl Reiner, whose work as writer, producer, and creative conscience of The Dick Van Dyke Show certainly bears proof of his premise. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Toe in the Faucet and other stories...,
By Steven Cain (Temporal Quantum Pocket) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Official Dick Van Dyke Show Book (Paperback)
The other reviewers have pretty well covered it. This show was as good as it gets, and it never seems to date with time.This book is an invaluable guide to the greatest show/series of all time, and represents oustanding value. The pairing of Dick and Mary was a stroke of genius, and the chemistry between them lifted this brilliantly conceived and well-written series onto another level. Remember the 'Nuts' episode? Even the cutesy touches, such as the way Dick randomly tripped over or side-stepped the ottoman just added to the seemingly endless magic that was the Dick Van Dyke Show. I had been itching to get my paws on this guide ever since I read Mary's autobiography After All, in which she rightly sings the show's praises - they both won Emmys of course - and this Definitive History illustrates just why it was out there on its own. A wonderful book, and absolutely essential for the serious fan of this unique and unforgettable series.
5.0 out of 5 stars
"DEFINITIVE" Is Right! A Fascinatingly-Detailed Volume!,
By David Von Pein (Mooresville, Indiana; USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Official Dick Van Dyke Show Book (Paperback)
This book features an amazing amount of insight into one of the very best television programs to ever grace the airwaves, "The Dick Van Dyke Show".If you're an avid fan of this 1961-1966 CBS-TV program, trust me, you will NOT be able to stop turning pages until you've read the whole thing! In each chapter, we learn new tidbits of behind-the-scenes information. There's info (including some brief biographical data) about every single member of the show's stellar cast. For example: Did You Know .... that the audience laughter went on so long when Greg Morris & his on-screen spouse entered the Petrie home at the end of the episode "That's My Boy??" that the editor actually had to cut out some of the audience hysterics in order to fit the episode into the allowable timeframe? (Too bad, too. I'd love to have heard the WHOLE thing. A great episode indeed.) The book also reveals the fact that Mary Tyler Moore stormed off the set in a huff one time, while doing the ultimately-classic episode, "Never Bathe On Saturday". She was upset because she was off-camera and talking through a door for most of the show. But, after seeing how funny the show worked as written, MTM felt bad about her tirade. "Never Bathe On Saturday" features Dick's great line, after finding that the hotel bathroom door is locked: "Don't toy with me, you saucy wench." :) LOL!!!! Plus there's a complete episode guide, with still more tidbits written within most of the episode descriptions. I cannot imagine a more thorough and detailed Dick Van Dyke Show volume than this one. This book is a MUST for any fan of this highly-intelligent and magnificently-written TV program.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A very good and well written book on the classic series!,
This review is from: The Official Dick Van Dyke Show Book (Paperback)
I really enjoyed this book, and would highly recommend it to any fan of "The Dick Van Dyke Show." It was very entertaining to read and informative as well. It was also very well written. I would give it more stars if I could.
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