Dick Van Dyke Recently, his beloved Sitcom had a rough start.
When asked how “The Dick Van Dyke Show” was created, the 99-year-old actor shared that he almost lost his famous show after being confronted with heavy competition from another Hollywood star.
“I was doing it for a year, bye, Bye Birdie ‘, and the pilot came up … My agent told me it was between me and Johnny Carson,” he shared on Ted Danson’s “Where everyone knows your name” Podcast.
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The famous actor Dick Van Dyke thought about his beloved Sitcom and how he was almost resigned from the television. (Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty images)
He continued to explain that after working on “Bye, Bye Birdie”, he took a week off, “flew here and did a pilot with Carl (Reiner), came back … he called me and said it was sold. And then the end of the first season was canceled.
Van Dyke explained that his show was against Perry Como on NBC, and “he beat us every evening.”
Perry Como was one of the most loved and successful entertainers of the 20th century. The American singer and actor was known for his popular songs, including the vacation hit, “It starts to look a lot like Christmas” and “Catch a Falling Star.”
“I did ‘Bye Bye Birdie’ for a year, and the pilot came up … My agent told me it was between me and Johnny Carson.”
Van Dyke said that executive producer Sheldon Leonard traveled to Cincinnati to pay the business sponsor of Van Dyke, Procter & Gamble, a visit and the network convinced to continue the show “The Dick van Dyke” show.
Leonard produced “The Andy Griffith Show” together with “The Dick Van Dyke Show.”
Cast of the Dick Van Dyke Show, circa 1965. (Getty Images)
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“He said this show deserves another chance, and they gave us another chance … Then we walked for five years.”
The Hollywood -Actor Also spoke about working with one of his ‘heroes’, the maker of ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show’, Carl Reiner.
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Van Dyke was honored with a television special in 2023. (Photo by Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty Images)
“He was not only a great talent, he was one of the nicest people I ever knew. He was an angel who loved him.”
In June 2020, legendary actor, Director and producer Reiner died at the age of 98. Reiner died of natural causes in his house in Beverly Hills, California.
Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner (r) pose with their Grammy Award for Best Spoken Comedy Album for “The 2000 -year -old man in the year 2000.” (Reuters)
During his legendary career in the show business, Reiner earned countless prizes, including various Emmy’s and a Grammy for Best Spoken Comedy Album in addition to Mel Brooks for their album “The 2000 -year -old man in the year 2000.”
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Reiner was best known for co-starring in “The Dick Van Dyke Show”, which he also created. He played comedian Alan Brady in the fictional TV program.
The 99-year-old actor shared how he almost missed his famous role for another Hollywood star. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Bafta La/Getty images for Bafta LA)
In 2019, Reiner Fox News said that working on “The Dick Van Dyke Show” was his favorite.
“To the question:” Of all the theatrical projects that you have done in your life, what are you most proud of? ” I always say, it creates and produces ‘the Dick van Dyke Show’.
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