HEAD OF THE FAMILY: PILOT {ORIGINAL PILOT OF "THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW"} {COMEDY SPOT} (TV)
Summary
The pilot in this proposed comedy series created by and starring Carl Reiner as television comedy writer Rob Petrie, eventually to become "The Dick Van Dyke Show." The program begins as the Petries' neighbor Mrs. Harley stops by to ask if Rob has finished writing a bulletin for the PTA bazaar, as promised, though Laura tells her it is not yet ready. She then finds her son Ritchie pouting under the sink, and he complains that his father does not have a "real job." Laura tries to convince him of Rob's importance, and Rob soon arrives home and is shocked to hear that his son dislikes him. Laura suggests that Ritchie simply does not understand what a television writer does and urges Rob to take him along to the office to show him, and though Rob refuses at first, she flatters him by telling him how "commanding" he is at his job and he reconsiders. At the office, opinionated Sally banters with the fussy Buddy, and Rob and Ritchie soon arrive and meet the other two writers. Rob tries to assure his son that he himself is in charge, but the three of them descend into bickering and even the coffee delivery man seems dismissive of the show's quality, and Ritchie remains unimpressed.
Matters grow worse when the show's star, Allan Sturdy, summons Rob to his office and tells him to rewrite the latest script, as he finds it unfunny. Ritchie wails that he wants to go home, and Rob is forced to buy him football gear to appease him. He complains to Laura that the plan was a failure, worried that he will have to continue bribing him to win his affections. At school, however, all of the students gather around to read a funny poem written to the parents as if from a child's point of view, urging them to attend the PTA meeting, and Ritchie is stunned when the teacher reveals that Rob wrote it and praises his comedic talents. Ritchie hurries home and declares his admiration for his father, though when he requests another on-the-spot poem, it turns out to be somewhat over the boy's head. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: July 19, 1960 9:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:26:18
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: B:09639
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Families; Writers
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV, 1960
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Stuart Rosenberg … Producer
- Martin Poll … Producer
- Carl Reiner … Created by, Writer
- Don Weis … Director
- Bernard Green … Music by
- Carl Reiner … Cast, Rob Petrie
- Barbara Britton … Cast, Laura Petrie
- Monty Gunty … Cast, Buddy Sorrell
- Sylvia Miles … Cast, Sally Rogers
- Gary Morgan … Cast, Ritchie Petrie
- Jack Wakefield … Cast, Allan Sturdy
- Milton Kamen … Cast, Snappy
- Jean Sincere … Cast, Mrs. Harley
- Nancy Kenyon … Cast, Teacher
- Joey Trent … Cast, Roy
- Mannie Sloan … Cast, Freddie