Let me take you back in time to where it was shocking that woman wore trousers on television and a man was expected to be the only breadwinner in this strange post-World War II United States known as the 60s.
The “Dick Van Dyke Show” starred the title’s namesake as Rob Petrie, a comedy writer for a popular evening TV show. Yes. The was named after the actor playing the lead character NOT the actual character. Early TV basically got as far as figuring out laugh tracks and then didn’t put too much thought into the shows beyond that. Rob lives with his wife, Laura (subtle feminist icon Mary Tyler Moore) and son Ritchie (Larry Matthews) in the suburbs complete with twin beds for the married couple. Not to be crass, but how did sitcom characters have children when the never slept in the same bed. Is this a reality where the stork is actually a thing?
The episode entitled “The Meershatz Pipe” opens with Rob in the writers room with his co-workers Buddy (Morey Amsterdam as a character based on Mel Brooks) and Sally (Rose Marie). “We’re writing a comedy show, we’ve got no time for jokes,” Buddy states as the team realizes they are stuck on the ending for that night’s show. He shows off his gaudy pipe made by a man named Lazlo Meershatz which was given to him by their boss without any reason. This makes Rob jealous and worried as he realizes he’s not the favored employee despite being the head writer. In a moment of frustration, Rob goes home, leaving his co-workers to finish on their own.
Of course, Rob gets home and Ritchie demands hearing a politically incorrect story about a peace pipe. This pushes Rob’s buttons further and he falls into a state of exhaustion which leads to a cold. Laura makes him stay home the next day and rest. Literally makes him. She holds him down in bed until he gives up. He tries to still be a part of work by calling Buddy and Sally over the phone.
Beyond being upset by the boss giving Buddy so much attention, Rob is driven to sneak into work with a fever when he finds out that there seems to be no trouble on the show without him there. Rob wants to prove himself and Laura wants him back in bed.
One of the best parts is when Laura is trying to explain to Ritchie what’s wrong with Daddy and Ritchie bluntly asks if Daddy is “unsecure”. Laura asks how he know that word and the small child reveals it was the topic of an episode of Popeye. “And who says television isn’t educational?” Laura responds.
SPOILER ALERT:
Rob’s boss sends Rob home instantly where he’s forced to watch the show HE DIDN’T WRITE on TV and declares that he’s “not needed”. Just as he’s about to call the show and quit, the show’s host calls Rob at home telling him live on the air to get better and that his fellow writers send the message, “Help!”
Once again feeling appreciated, Rob returns to work recuperated and Buddy gives him a pipe. As it turns out, the fellow writer made up the story about their boss giving him the pipe just to mess with Rob and Sally.
I don’t have much to say about this episode. I thought it was a good one to blog about because it is about the fragility of a writer’s ego and how some people work together.
