Legendary actor Dick Van Dyke was on Conan yesterday and the TBS late night host asked him if it was true that before Johnny Carson hosted The Tonight Show, he was up for the role of Rob Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show (obviously the show would’ve had a different name had it happened). He said yes it was true that Carson was considered for the role, but for whatever reason it didn’t work out. Then the Mary Poppins actor said, “Thank G-d it turned out the way it did because I would’ve been rotten on The Tonight Show.” Without hesitation Conan O’Brien said, “Oh, that job’s easy!” And everyone rightfully got big laugh!
BTW as a huge fan of The Dick Van Dyke Show, I am so happy things turned out the way it did. I seriously can’t and don’t want to picture the classic sitcom any other way.
Dick Van Dyke is 86 years young and I really do mean young. The legendary actor is on The Doctors this Thursday and they asked him how he remains so youthful. He told them having younger friends helps, and I am assuming having a beautiful wife who is more than half his age is even more helpful. So much so he showed off his dancing moves and they are just as nimble as when starred in Mary Poppins almost 50 years ago. He also demonstrated his Rebounder skills and he was better at it than The Doctors. Crap if the mini-trampoline is keeping him so active, I will start using mine because I want to be that lively as him when I am his age.
Can I tell you guys a little secret? Out of all of the celebrities in Hollywood, he is one of the very very few left I would really love to meet and would be extremely delighted and grateful to interview.
He truly is a legend who I thinks needs to back on television. TV Land please take me up on that.
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Almost 50 years after Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews made Mary Poppins the two were reunited at the The Professional Dancer’s Society Gypsy Awards; and they look just close as they did when the classic musical came out in 1964. How cool is to see Bert and Mary Poppins together again? I know for me seeing them reunited has me as excited a spoon full of sugar.
BTW the other woman in the picture is Rob Petrie’s brand new wife Arlene Silver, who wasn’t even born when the movie came out.
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Dick Van Dyke was promoting his book My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business in LA yesterday and two of his co-stars from The Dick Van Dyke Show came out to support him. Rose Marie aka Sally Rogers and Larry Matthews aka Richie Petrie showed they are all still close 45 years after their timeless show ended. I had to share these pictures with you because the 87 year old actress and 55 year old actor look so awwdorable together as they honor the 85 year old Rob Petrie.
Here is a little factoid, Van Dyke’s TV co-worker and his TV son share the same birthday.
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Dick Van Dyke and actress Sally Ann Howes aka Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’s Caractacus Potts and Truly Scrumptious were reunited for the premiere of the DVD release that is out tomorrow and they look just like they did when the movie came out 42 years. Can you believe he is 84 and she is 80 because they look like they can get right back into that car and sing Chitty Chitty Bang Bang like they did all those years ago!
Is just me or is Dick Van Dyke’s smile as addictive as singing the theme song from the movie. If you somehow forgot how it went, you can listen to it below and get stuck in your head all over again. I promise it will brighten your day!!!
