Bill Persky Movies

Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) warns Rob (Dick Van Dyke) that if he plays an early-morning round of golf, he'll wear himself out and be unable to attend a party that evening for Laura's relatives. Rob pooh-poohs this notion and heads to the links -- coming home hours later with the head cold to end all head colds. Rather than admit that Laura was right, the severely congested and highly feverish Rob puts in an appearance at the party, with catastrophic results. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rob (Dick Van Dyke) and Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) have always been proud of the fact that their respective parents have never been "intrusive" in-laws. All this changes when the elder Petries and the elder Meehans each buy a separate family cemetery plot -- and both Rob's and Laura's folks expect the couple to "share" their respective plots when the time comes. A huge family squabble erupts, whereupon Rob comes up with a brilliant solution (after first vetoing the notion of inventing a "longevity serum"). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) is mortified when a portrait of herself, painted many years earlier as a present to Rob (Dick Van Dyke), shows up at a local art gallery. In flashback, she recalls how she posed for the painting fully clothed -- but when the masterpiece was finished, there she was on canvas, standing with arms outstretched, naked as a jaybird! Series creator Carl Reiner appears as the perpetrator of "October Eve," eccentric Russian artist Serge Carpetna. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Broadway favorite Eddie Hodges guest stars as Roger McChesney, the teenaged babysitter for Ritchie Petrie (Larry Mathews). Unbeknownst to Ritchie's parents, Roger is hopelessly in love with Laura (Mary Tyler Moore). In their efforts to find out why Roger is so moony-eyed, Laura and Rob (Dick Van Dyke) unwittingly make things worse for the boy -- and when the truth comes out and Roger announces that he's leaving town, a guilt-ridden Rob and tries to talk him out of so rash a move. In an unexpected musical highlight, Eddie Hodges performs the old Phil Harris song hit "The Thing." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The usually ungenerous Mel Cooley (Richard Deacon) invites Rob (Dick Van Dyke), Laura (Mary Tyler Moore), Buddy (Morey Amsterdam), and Sally (Rose Marie) to spend a weekend at a fishing lodge -- only he forgets to make reservations. As a result, the gang is billeted at a vacant lakeside cabin, which, according to the somewhat sinister caretaker, happens to be haunted! Naturally, the foursome doesn't believe such nonsense, until strange things begin to happen. The best line in this chillingly hilarious episode is uttered by Rob: "Buddy, will you stop acting like Lou Costello and come to bed?" ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of a two-part story, Sally (Rose Marie) continues making guest appearances on "The Stevie Parsons Show," forcing Rob (Dick Van Dyke) and Buddy (Morey Amsterdam) to seek out a temporary replacement for Sally in the office. When two such temps, the "gum-snapper" and the "giggler," fail to work out, Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) volunteers her services. The presence of his own wife in the office drives Rob crazy -- not because Laura is incompetent, but because she is too darn good at her job (and worse, she has even come up with funnier jokes than Rob!). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Dick Van Dyke Show executive producer Sheldon Leonard guest stars as Big Max Calvada, a notorious mob figure who has ostensibly gone legit. Approaching the writing staff of "The Alan Brady Show," Big Max offers to pay them an enormous sum to write a nightclub routine for his nephew Kenny (Jack Larson), an aspiring comedian. Alas, Kenny is utterly bereft of talent, but when Rob (Dick Van Dyke) tries to tell this to Big Max, the mobster merely offers even more money for the monologue -- and also drops a few subtle hints that Rob better do what he's asked if he wants to stay healthy! Ultimately, Kenny makes his professional debut, the disastrous results of which lead to a surprising denouement. Best line: "Have you ever seen a man put on a tie to take a shower?" ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This half-hour musical comedy-revue is staged as the Christmas episode of "The Alan Brady Show" (though clearly played by Carl Reiner, we still don't see Alan's face, since he is hidden behind a Santa beard). The program is a showcase for Brady staffers Rob Petrie (Dick Van Dyke), Buddy Sorrell (Morey Amsterdam), Sally Rogers (Rose Marie), and Mel Cooley (Richard Deacon) as well as Rob's wife Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) and son Ritchie (Larry Mathews). Highlights include "I Have Everything But You," an elaborate song-and-dance routine from Rob and Laura (both dressed in Santa suits); Sally's plaintive "Santa, Send Me a Fella"; a cello solo from Buddy ("Jingle Bells," what else?); an a capella choral tribute to Alan Brady, with unexpected interpolations; and the ensemble number "I Am a Fine Musician," previously performed on the second-season episode "The Sam Pomerantz Scandals." What many fans consider the low point of the show, Ritchie's off-key rendition of "The Little Drummer Boy," is generally cut from the syndication prints. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Attending an art auction, Rob (Dick Van Dyke) amuses Laura (Mary Tyler Moore), Buddy (Morey Amsterdam), and Sally (Rose Marie) by giving a demonstration of how some people make silent bids. It isn't so amusing, however, when the auctioneer accepts Rob's phony bids, sticking our hero with an expensive painting, signed by an unknown artist named Artanis. Hoping to recoup his losses, Rob tries to find out if the Artanis is covering up a more valuable painting. Rubbing away the first layer of paint on the canvas, Rob uncovers a replica of Grant Wood's American Gothic -- only the farmer and his wife are smiling! Howard Morris guest-stars as the zany art critic who solves the mystery and reveals the truth worth of Rob's accidental acquisition. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi