Dick Van Dyke

Went to a Barnes and Nobles in LA and got to see Dick Van Dyke.  Also got his autobiography signed.

We got a little more than we expected, too.  Ritchie "Rosebud" Petrie, AKA Larry Matthews (doesn't that sound like Jerry Mathers?) showed up and I got his autograph.  When it didn't seem like it could get any better, Rose Marie, AKA Sally, showed up.  I wonder if she ever got married???  Only kidding (inside joke).

She was cracking jokes from her wheelchair like there was nothing to it.  Example: As I was taking her picture, a man introduced himself, saying, "My name is John."  Without hesitation, she replied, "Great!  There're two rooms in this building named after you."

What a riot.

It was nice to see that bit of TV history before, you know, they pass away.  Dick Van Dyke is 79.  Sally is even older.  Larry Matthews is in his fifties.  Also, while I was away in Washington, my wonderful little sister got Barbara Eden's autobiography signed for me.  You can imagine how I reacted when my eyes first saw the signature.  I flipped.  I first fell in love with Jeannie at the age of ten or eleven.  She was only my biggest crush then and forever!  (My future wife will just have to deal with Barbara Eden's poster on all the walls.  Do you think she'll mind?  Lol).

I wish shows were made like those old ones.  Classy, clean, incredibly witty and hilarious.  Most of the stuff nowadays is repetitive, boring, and obvious (not to mention extremely sickening, considering the utter filthiness of most of the shows).  With few--just a few--exceptions.  For those of you with Netflix, I'd advise you to watch Dick Van Dyke and Andy Griffith.  Throw in a little Monk and Columbo for mystery--they are both usually clean.

And if you're a nut like me, collect Father Knows Best (my favorite), I Love Lucy, I Dream of Jeannie, Brady Bunch, Partridge Family, My Three Sons, Leave it to Beaver, and all those great classics.

For movies: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (my favorite), The Man Who Knew to Much, It's a Wonderful Life, Rear Window, Ten Commandments, Ben Hur, Marx Brothers, Abbott and Costello, Happiest Millionaire, Follow Me Boys, Snowball Express, Strongest Man in the World, The Computer that Wore Tennis Shoes, Now You See Him Now You Don't, and the countless others.  You know which ones I'm talking about.

Who knows, maybe TV will turn around and serve the largest audience: the families.  It's a proven fact that good shows have more viewers.  Same with movies and the Box Office.

On another note, how I wish Mary Tyler Moore had shown up...