This book is super awesome, it's just the best episode guide book ever written and I'm kind of partial since The Dick Van Dyke Show is my favorite classic TV show, I especially like the episode guide part which explained in a wonderful well written detail about each different episode, when they were made when they were originally shown on TV what they were about, who the guest actors were etc. I very strongly recommend this amazing book to any major Dick Van Dyke Show fan!

I really enjoyed this book, and would highly recommend it to any fan of "The Dick Van Dyke Show." It was very entertaining to read and informative as well. It was also very well written. I would give it more stars if I could.

This is an excellent "tv-ology guide" to the hugely successful and popular Dick Van Dyke show. It has all the creative nuts and bolts of how the show was put-together, the inner workings of the cast, crew, producers and director. It offers really good reading for the casual visitor as well as the dedicated TV sitcom buff. A really fun and informative book on the creation and multi-year production of a great show.

I knew that the executives who run the television networks are almost always shortsighted pea-brained idiots, but I did not know originally "The Dick Van Dyke Show" was cancelled at the end of its first season. Granted, the show finished in 80th place in the Nielsen ratings and during that first season Carl Reiner was clearly writing more for himself than Dick Van Dyke (which made sense since Reiner wrote and filmed the original pilot "Head of the Family" for himself), but we are talking about coming "that" close to losing what is one of the classic situation comedies in the history of television. After that first season "The Dick Van Dyke Show" finished 9th, 3rd, 7th, and 16th in the Nielsens and won the Emmy for best show in its category all four years (it was just that the category changed from Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of Humor, to the Field of Comedy, then in Entertainment, and finally as Outstanding Comedy Series).

Ginny Weissman and Coyne Stevens Sanders bring the sensibilities of both fans and television historians to this look at "The Dick Van Dyke Show." They benefited from writing with the complete cooperation of every member of the cast, who heartily endorse the end product. This revised and expanded version contains over 130 photographs, synopses of all 158 episodes, and a 500 question trivia section that tax your knowledge of the show. You will also find lists of all the awards won by the show and its cast during its five-year fun, an update on where everyone was as of 1993, the revival of the show on "Nick at Night," and the complete script of "That's My Boy??," the episode always cited as receiving the longest laugh in the history of sitcom taped before a studio audience when Rob opens the door for the couple he is convinced has taken Richie home from the hospital (if you do not know why the audience explodes long and loud in laughter, then you are completely unfamiliar with the show and have no business reading this far into the review).

This book is written for the fans, which explains why the synopses of each episode is provided "in brief," which means a single sentence. The point is clearly not to describe the episode, but rather to remind you which one it is in the grand scheme of things. Given that the cast list for each episode always includes all of the principles every single time, I admit I would have rather had the descriptions of the episodes include choice moments. I would rather know what songs the cast sang on "'The Alan Brady Show' Presents" or be reminded about the big diamond (next to the glass doorknob) Rob and Laura found in Hezekiah's desk in "The Great Petrie Fortune," instead of knowing what episodes did not have Buddy and/or Sally or featured Millie and/or Jerry Helper. I especially liked the details about the original pilot and how Van Dyke and the rest of the stellar cast were eventually assembled for the show. In fact, Weissman and Sanders repeatedly provide insights into some of the most famous episodes on the show. Finally, what makes it clear this book knows what it is doing, Richard Deacon is included on the front cover along with Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Morey Amsterdam, and Rose Marie. Case closed.

I've had my copy of this book for almost a decade now and I absolutely love it. The authors Weissman and Saunders have covered their subject well and brought together a fabulous treasure trove of information about one of television's most loved golden oldies. You won't find much gossip or other unsavory "warts and all" type material in this compendium, but you will find everything worth knowing about the show and it's stars. You get a good feel for the warmth and personal friendship that the cast has shared with each other since they began working together; each of the regular cast members as well as some of the show's writers and directors were interviewed and they add immeasurably to the book's enjoyment.

Contained inside the pages of this tome is a detailed but concisely written history of how the show came about, beginning with Carl Reiner's original idea for a television show titled 'Head Of The Family' with himself in the lead; his redesign and recasting of the show; his working relationship with Sheldon Leonard, Dick Van Dyke and the rest of the cast members and beyond. Also included within is a complete synopsis of all 158 episodes including guest star appearances, a complete script from one of the shows, over 100 photos, an excellent trivia test with answers in the back and a list of all the awards that the show won during it's initial network run.

Long after it first aired in the early 60's 'The Dick Van Dyke Show' still continues to enjoy phenomenal -but not surprising - success as one of the shows currently seen on TV Land as of this writing. I know people ranging from preteen to senior citizens who list it among their favorite TV shows to watch, even favoring it far above contemporary television programming. Nearly all of them are able to recount the series' most popular episodes to any one who will listen as well as recite the memorable lines of dialogue from each one. If you know someone who truly appreciates this show then this book would make an excellent gift; or if you're a fan don't go another day without it!

This book contains short stories and comments by children of different religious backgrounds who believe God can do anything. They approach the concept of God with a natural child-like faith, believing that God hears and answers their prayers, even when they ask for a puppy, and they get a kitten, instead. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Everything about it will uplift your soul. This book is for anyone who needs a good laugh during their trials and tribulations. The children took a complicated God and made Him simple to understand. The author, Dick Van Dyke, may have written this book 30 years ago, but the comments in the Forward and the opening paragraphs to each new chapter still stand today. The book lets us know that it's not a corporate religion we should seek, but an individual, personal relationship with our Creator (as seen through the minds, eyes and tongues of children).

This is a fine volume, although I Dream of Jeannie, Bewitched, and the Munsters hardly merit inclusion in such august company as Mary Tyler Moore, or the Bob Newhart show, and perhaps not even with WKRP, Taxi, or Kotter. But don't let that editorial error keep you from seeking out this influential work in the study of the Golden Age of Television (1970-79).

A must-have for any Classic TV fan, this book tells you everything you need to know to better enjoy episodes of sitcom favorite such as "I Love Lucy", "Mary Tyler Moore", "The Dick Van Dyke Show", and others. Each show includes classic quotes, listing of guest stars, and awards, and information on how the series effected "Our Television Heritage". The book also features a number or humorous features for each series, including chronicling Mary Richard's failed dinner parties or the number of times cast members greet Bob Hartley by saying "Hi Bob!" in the series (256, if you were wondering). If you're looking for plenty of information or trivia about your favorite shows, this is the book for you.

this is a really fun and entertaining guide to classic television. for all who consider themselves true television gourmands, this is a must read!
also, i think tom hill is hot!

I did enjoy this book, and there were some really moving stories and some funny stories, but i didn't find it too terribly filling. Honestly, i personally can't say i'd recommend it. The problem i had with it is that it lacks substance. The stories, while are mostly very nice, do not even attempt (for the most part) to tell the Gospel. And (too) many of the stories had themes that were doctrinally and biblically unsound. I am critical only because it is named "Chicken soup for the CHRISTIAN soul." As a book, it does not bring forth a world view that is terribly Christian. I believe a more apt title would have been "Chicken soup for the God-believing soul." Some may not see a difference, but it's definately there...

"Do you still think it's enough just to believe that there is one God? Well, even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror!" James 2:19 (NLT)

I think a MUCH better book is Joni Earickson Tada's "When God Weeps." That book is also quite moving, but it also contains much Godly wisdom, and makes a conscious effort to show what the bible says about life and death and suffering.

I love your book and i recommend it to anyone who is devoted to Christ and loves to read inspirational stories about things from the Bible.

I am still reading this but, it has been just as fun to read as all the others I have read. The short stories are good for me and my hectic schedule and short attention span(I am 25 years old and getting better on the attention part). If I need a little laugh, I go to the funny part,and, every section has a different type of short stories in it. Of course, some will make you feel like crying or touch your soul, some will make you giggle or maybe even burst out laughing if you have had the same experience. The "Family Circus" cartoons are light-hearted ways to look at important things as well. You gotta buy this book!