Review: Absolutely Perfect THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW Remastered on DVD!

Some years back, I was lounging around on a weekend, bored, desperately looking for something to watch on TV. I browsed the channels, getting more and more discouraged the higher and higher they went. Then, a show on one of the classic channels caught my eye. There was Dick Van Dyke, sitting on a couch, mid-somersault. I instantly started cracking up. I couldn't help but hysterically laugh for the rest of the episode, so naturally I continued to watch the hours-long marathon that I accidentally stumbled upon.

Much to my surprise, a friend of mine has been obsessed with THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW since childhood and had every possible DVD set that existed. We wasted no time marathoning the show.

We were instantly transported back to the golden age of television that day, and it was actually very refreshing. Television today, especially network television, is saturated with sitcoms, each one trying to one up the rest - but only a handful of them are actually funny. THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW has a much simpler format than many modern comedies, but its underlying themes still resonate with current audiences.

This is exactly why THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW: COMPLETE REMASTERED SERIES DVD set is absolutely perfect, even if you've never seen a single episode of the show! For new viewers, you couldn't ask for more: every single episode of the fifteen-time Emmy Award winning series, completely restored and remastered for an audience accustomed to high definition. You'll be hooked from the first episode: Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore have chemistry and comedic timing, making them a comedy duo that's nearly impossible to dislike. Plus, there's nothing better than good, old fashioned physical comedy, and Dick Van Dyke is a master of physical comedy. And you can binge watch it all!

"But I'm a long-time fan! I've already seen every episode, I don't need a boxed set!"

Well, long-time fan, no offense, but you couldn't be more wrong.

Sure, you may have seen every episode and you may already know all the jokes, but the DVD set has loads of bonus features, including a tribute from the Television Academy featuring stars including George Clooney, Ray Romano, Brad Garrett, cast member Rose Marie, and the man himself, Dick Van Dyke. It also features a 50th Anniversary celebraiton Q&A with Dick Van Dyke, Carl Reiner, and Garry Marshall. Still want more? Watch each episode while listening to the audio commentaries, or if you want to feel like you're on set with the cast, feast your eyes on rare rehearsal footage!

I know that, many times, these DVD box sets seem targeted to the superfan or passionate collector, but believe me, this set really does have something for everyone of every age. THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW revolutionized the television sitcom. Many shows that we know and love today, like Modern Family, Friends, and Everybody Loves Raymond, wouldn't exist as we know them if it weren't for programs like THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW. It originally aired more than 50 years ago (which is actually really hard to believe), and it helped change the path of comedy on television while also kickstarting the career of both Dick Van Dyke, who went on to play the iconic Bert in Mary Poppins a few years after this show first aired, and Mary Tyler Moore, who got her own smash hit sitcom shortly after the show ended.

So if you want to find yourself transported back to the golden age of television, order THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW: COMPLETE REMASTERED SERIES, kick back on your couch with a snack or two (or three or four, I'm not here to judge), and get ready to laugh. A lot. For a long time.

THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW: COMPLETE REMASTERED SERIES comes out on DVD today, Tuesday, November 10, 2015! Click here for more information and don't forget to order your set today!

Are you a long-time Dick Van Dyke fan, or a new admirer? What's your favorite scene from this classic show? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter @CourtHenley!

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