It’s been nearly sixty years since The Dick Van Dyke Show went off the air. Despite this, it’s still beloved by legions of fans to this day.
That’s why it’s come as a shock to many that Dick Van Dyke, who will be celebrating his 100th birthday later this year, is revealing that the beloved sitcom was nearly canceled after just one season!
The Dick Van Dyke Show Dodges Cancellation
While appearing on Ted Danson’s “Where Everybody Knows Your Name” podcast, Van Dyke revealed that his eponymous sitcom was almost cancelled after one season because of the stiff competition it was facing from another Hollywood star.
“I was doing Bye, Bye Birdie for a year, and the pilot came up . . . my agent told me it was between me and Johnny Carson,” Van Dyke, 99, recalled when asked how The Dick Van Dyke Show was created.
Well that certainly explains the competition!
Van Dyke went on to say that after completing his run on Bye, Bye Birdie, he “flew out here and did a pilot with Carl [Reiner], came back. He called me and said it sold, and then the end of the first season we got canceled.”
Once The Dick Van Dyke Show made it to air, it was up against Perry Como on NBC. According to Van Dyke, “he beat us every night” in the ratings.
Como was an American actor and singer who was one of the most beloved entertainers of the 20th century. He’s best known today for his holiday classic song “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.”
That was definitely a tough matchup to overcome for The Dick Van Dyke Show!
Related: Dick Van Dyke Reveals He’s ‘Not Afraid’ Of Death Days Before 99th Birthday
The Dick Van Dyke Show Gets Saved
Van Dyke revealed that in order to save the sitcom, executive producer Sheldon Leonard had to fly to Cincinnati, Ohio to visit the show’s corporate sponsor, Procter & Gamble. Thankfully, Leonard was able to convince them to change their minds and keep airing The Dick Van Dyke Show.
“He said this show deserves another chance, and they gave us another chance,” Van Dyke remembered. “Then we ran for five years.”
The rest, as they say, is history. Indeed, The Dick Van Dyke Show became a huge hit in its second season. It ended up running for five seasons in total from 1961 until 1966.
Related: Dick Van Dyke ‘Praying’ He’ll Live To See His 99th Birthday – ‘I’m Very Old’
Van Dyke’s Secret To His Longevity
During this same interview, Van Dyke revealed his secret to his impressive longevity.
“Somebody said, ‘To what do you attribute your age and physical condition?’” Van Dyke recounted. “I said, ‘I’ve always exercised three days a week.’ We go to the gym, still, three days a week, and I think that’s it.”
Van Dyke was then asked what specific exercises he’s doing at the gym these days.
“I’m doing a lot of stretching and yoga-type thing. Sit ups,” he replied. “And they have machines, something for almost every exercise.”
Check out Van Dyke in action in the gym at 99 in the video below.
Days before his 99th birthday in December, Van Dyke appeared in a music video for the Coldplay song “All My Love.”
“I’m acutely aware that I could go any day now, but I don’t know why, it doesn’t concern me, I’m not afraid of it,” Van Dyke said in the video. “I have that feeling, totally against anything intellectual, that I’m going to be alright.”
“I think I’m one of those lucky people who got to do for a living what I would have done anyway,” he continued. “When you think how lucky I am — I got to do what I do, play and act silly.”
We’re sure glad that The Dick Van Dyke Show wasn’t cancelled after just one season. Had it been axed, we would have missed out on tons of hilarious moments that Van Dyke gave us during the entirety of the sitcom’s run.
God bless you, Dick Van Dyke!
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