The Dick Van Dyke Show: The Gunslinger (1966)

In keeping with producer Carl Reiner's edict, "Always leave 'em laughing," the final episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show (though not the final one to be shown) is one of the series' funniest outings. Assigned to write a cowboy sketch for his boss Alan Brady, Rob (Dick Van Dyke) dreams up an elaborate "High Noon" Western-spoof casting himself as a sheriff slated for a showdown with notorious outlaw "Big Bad" Brady (Reiner, of course). The show's entire cast joins in on the dream sequence, with Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) performing a spirited (and interminably repeated) rendition of "I Don't Care," Buddy (Morey Amsterdam) showing up as Rob's deputy, Sally (Rose Marie) appearing as the local saloon gal, and Richard Deacon, Jerry Paris, Larry Mathews, and Ann Morgan Guilbert likewise cavorting about in Old West costumes. The script contains more classic gags and one-liners than one can shake a stick at, and as the bonus, includes the only Dick Van Dyke Show sequence to be filmed out-of-doors." The Gunslinger" is everything a great series finale should be...even if it wasn't telecast as the series finale! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi