TV.com

show: The Dick Van Dyke Show

episode: The Man from My Uncle

The Bottom Line: "Perfect"

Once again they wrote an episode playing to the strength of Dick Van Dyke's talents! He is always best when doing his "Walter Mitty" bit, as a lawyer, cop, motorcyclist, or as in this episode, he gets to pretend to be a G-man. The fun is how Rob wants so bad to help out, but Laura is apprehensive because of the potential danger. Rob is very happy she relents so he can get an upclose look at how they operate, and of course he can play cops and robbers, or secret agent. He is at his funniest as he tries to assist the G-man, Agent Bond! Yes, just like the famous one! He acts like all of us, at least the boys, and is like a little boy himself, especially when he takes over for the Agent when he gets a toothache. He's very cute and innocent and having a grand old time. This is a classic. Pure Dick Van Dyke magic!

show: The Mary Tyler Moore Show

episode: The Birds . . . and . . . um . . . Bees

The Bottom Line: "Superb"

This episode is, after stripping away all the jokes and gags, a very tender and touching episode about a girl coming to grips with love, sex and life.
Not to get too maudlin, it is a funny episode. The antics of the gang are the usual hilarious best. Lou’s proud boast of his high score, Ted’s strutting about, and Rhoda’s and Phyllis's jabs. They all do not disappoint, but the show is stolen by young Bess, played brilliantly by Lisa Gerritsen.
Much to her mother’s ignorance, Bess actually does know about the facts of life. Her naivety and anxiety are rooted in the more subtle questions of when, why and whom.
She does an absolutely amazing job with understated charm, playing a young girl confused with her feelings. Her little face exhibits both the innocence and fear that we all go through. She is utterly heart wrenching as she wrestles with the new feelings of love confused with questions of sexuality. You can’t help but ache for her, as you see her little face is so full of worry, because she thinks she has to be sexual because she’s in love. Your heart soars with hers as you see the relief in her young face, as Mary tells her that she can love without worrying about sex, for a long, long time.

It is truly an astonishingly poignant and moving episode.

show: The Dick Van Dyke Show

episode: Body and Sol

The Bottom Line: "Great"

We are again treated to another delightful Dick Van Dyke tour de force!
This episode allows him to do what he does best, physical, facial and slapstick humour!
As in most of the best Dick Van Dyke Shows, he is funniest in his “Walter Mitty” mode, and this time he is a “champion” boxer, “PitterPatter Petrie”!

As the camp’s reigning “Special Services” champion, which is a dubious honour due to the dearth of qualified opponents. His list of 3 vanquished foes include a piano player, an Irish tenor and a female impersonator!
Sol is taunted into a challenge match against the motor pool’s champ, a trained boxer named “Boom Boom Bailey”.

PitterPatter is goaded into accepting the fight, against Laura’s wishes, to whom he promised he wouldn’t fight anymore.
All this sets the stage for some of the funniest moments in The Dick Van Dyke Show. Rob gets into all kinds of hilarious trouble with the ropes, the stool, Laura, all the while getting punched silly by Boom Boom. Rob's antics in the ring are priceless!

A great vehicle for Dick Van Dyke to flex those incredible funny muscles!
A knockout performance!

show: The Dick Van Dyke Show

episode: The Great Petrie Fortune

The Bottom Line: "Superb"

******CAUTION: SPOILERS AHEAD, PROCEED WITH CARE!******

A very funny episode. Most of the action centers around the old roll top desk Rob inherits. Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore have fun searching all the little cubbyholes and finding unusual and funny items.
They are so convinced that there is a secret valuable hidden inside, that every little thing has a hilarious potential at being their ticket to wealth.
The desk has things in it like a bag of "purie" marbles, a $10,000 confederate
war bond, a crystal door knob, an old lantern full of old, but semi valuable coins.
Dick Van Dyke, with Mary Tyler Moore's excellent assistance, are hilarious while finding the items, allowing their avarice to get the better of them.
One classic moment is when Rob in a silly moment after they have exhausted any potential wealth coming out of the desk, decides to chance rubbing the old “Aladdin” style lamp they found. While he does so, Laura comes out of the bedroom and just as he lifts the lid, she says, “YES?” making Rob jump out of his skin! It is a priceless moment and one of many.