Head of the Family

In trivia you wrote: "A surviving Desilu Production Schedule for the week of Jan. 16-21, 1961 is believed to include a slot for the filming of the pilot that was later reworked into "The Dick Van Dyke Show". It says "Carl Reiner Show" - "All in a Day's Work" - Pilot. Unit Production Manager is listed as "Myers"; Assistant Director is "Sandrich". It shows that it was filmed at Desilu Cahuenga Studios, Stage 5 on Jan. 20, 1961. "

Not Correct! "Head of the Family" was filmed in New York at the Bronx Gold Medal Studio (at the site of what had been the old Biograph Studios.) In 1959 as I recall. I worked on the show and even have a credit as sound editor.

It's only interesting because it became The Dick Van Dyke Show. Otherwise, this was just blah. Carl Reiner as Robert Petrie was mediocre, Laura was tolerable, Buddy was annoying, Sally was fair, and Richie was a jerk. They stuck some canned laughter in here and there in pointless spots. If this was best of the nine replacement episodes, then the others must have stunk.

I gave this a ten because it showed the seed planted that eventually grew into the timeless classic "Dick Van Dyke Show". I was amazed at the similarities yet I was also amazed at the differences. The trick to watching this is to not compare it to the "Dick Van Dyke Show" but to watch it as its own work. This is difficult because the names draw you to be reminded of "The Dick Van Dyke Show". However this is also kind of a good thing because you can see the similarities and how they were changed as a result of shaping it into the eventual award-winning situation comedy. Carl Reiner did an amazing job writing and starring in this as he is (in my opinion) a creative genius that can actually act. If you are a fan of the "Dick Van Dyke Show", this is a must-see. Some may not like it as much but again, remember that it isn't the "Dick Van Dyke Show" but the original creative bulb that went off over Carl Reiner's head for the idea of a sit-com. It's great to see where things came from.

This nascent version of The Dick Van Dyke Show is fascinating on many levels-- however, it isn't an entertaining show at all.

It's not good because we know all these characters subsequently with different actors who in every case are superior to what we see here.

It is not good because even if we didn't know these characters we would not want to get to know them: Rob (Reiner) is flat and plays every line with the same tone. Laura (Britton) is passable, but always "on stage." Ritchie is downright awful-- unpleasantly loud and unattractively toothy. The worst of the lot are Buddy and Sally (Gunty and Miles) who come across as unfunny and uninteresting to the point of being sullen and mean.

The reason to watch this show-- and watch it you should if you ever enjoyed TDVDS-- is to see that this mess somehow morphed so marvelously. Reiner took a seat behind the camera for the most part writing and not starring in the show. They got good actors to portray interesting characters. Moreover they put Dick Van Dyke opposite Mary Tyler Moore and the magic began to flow.

So watch this program, but don't expect much of it-- except to be amazed.

Wow I had never seen this before, and loved every minute. Tonight on the Catchy Comedy channel they were showing this little seen pilot episode of the "Dick Van Dyke Show", with the only actor I recognized being the late Carl Reiner. I loved seeing this pilot with them saying Petrie different, and even different actors playing the beloved Sally and Buddy. But I do feel having Rose Marie and Morey Amsterdam were so much the better choice their interactions really made the show a lot better. I think all the changes that were made make the show so much better, even the character of Ritchie. Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore are also such improvements as Rob and Laura in the show with Carl taking up the reins as Alan, and the great addition that was not in the pilot was Richard Deacon as Mel.