We are constantly on the hunt for decent shows to watch after the kids go to bed, and our current favorite is The Dick Van Dyke Show. We don’t watch all evening, but it is very relaxing to “veg out” in front of the TV for an hour before bed, after a long day with a toddler and a newborn.
I picked up a DVD of the first season of the show at a used book store because Mr. Handsome’s parents recommended it. Mr. Handsome turned on an episode while I was in the shower, and I returned to find him rolling on the floor laughing. (Yes, he was literally rolling on the floor, but I think that was just for effect.)
It is exactly Mr. Handsome’s type of humor. I do find the episodes amusing, but the goofy humor just doesn’t get me like it does Mr. Handsome. I mostly enjoy the show because Robert Petrie’s son, Ritchie, reminds reminds me of Little Buddy, right down to his mannerisms and the way he talks.
There have been a couple episodes that we would say haven’t “aged well.” What I mean by that is that some of the jokes might be viewed today as politically incorrect. But aside from that, the show is totally clean and contains none of the violence or inappropriate content that is in so many of today’s shows. Well, we haven’t completely finished the series yet, but I would be shocked to come across anything of that nature.
So far, Mr. Handsome’s favorite episode is the one where Dick Van Dyke goes to the dentist…of course.
How many of you have watched The Dick Van Dyke Show? What are some of your favorite TV shows? We both also loved Downton Abbey but haven’t been able to find something similar that isn’t full of affairs and inappropriate content.
Shela G
My Husband got a DVD set of the entire series for Christmas before we were married. We both love it and enjoy rewatching it!! I would highly recommend Heartland if you have not watched it yet!! Very clean, good values and messages. My Husband and truly enjoy watching it together.
Ellie
I have heard a lot about Heartland but haven’t watched it. Thanks for the suggestion!
Anonymous
Heartland is good to on the UPtv.
I don’t think shows always inappropriate at all.
If my mom let me watch its not inappropriate
Carolina
There’s a Dick Van Dyke episode where they make jokes about domestic violence. It’s very odd.
Ellie
That’s bad. We haven’t come across that one yet. Thanks for the heads up.
Laura
Please share other shows you enjoy. It is so hard to find anything to watch on TV lately.
Ellie
Some of my all-time favorites are Psych and Monk. We also watched White Collar and thought it was good. The first seasons of Madame Secretary are good, but we didn’t finish the series because it became repetitive. Also Designated Survivor, although that one was pretty intense.
Mary T.
I do like Monk also, as well as All Creatures Great and Small . You might check out Diagnosis Murder which ran in the 90’s. It had a great cast including a much older Dick Van Dyke and his son Barry Van Dyke.
Ellie
I think Mr. Handsome watched Diagnosis Murder years ago, but I haven’t. I’ll have to check it out.
Lauren
All Creatures Great and Small (the modern re-make on PBS’ Masterpiece Theater) is lovely. Takes place in the 1930s in the Yorkshire countryside. Beautiful music, scenery, and heart-warming plot line. Very clean. They just released season two.
Also really enjoyed Victoria on Masterpiece Theater.
Ellie
Yes! We love All Creatures Great and Small! Haven’t tried Victoria. Thank you!
Diana
We enjoy that show as well!
Mary T.
The Dick Van Dyke Show debuted when I was a small child and I still enjoy watching it. One of the over the air channels here shows two episodes every weeknight and I sometimes watch as I am moving around and doing other things. Their Christmas show aired recently, and it has always been one of my particular favorites, as it showcased the talents of the various cast members. You mentioned “Ritchie”…in the Christmas episode, he sings a very touching version of the Little Drummer Boy. The cast members were all very talented in real life and my favorite episodes are when they display their singing and dancing talent.
Ellie
I agree..they are so talented. Very impressive. I will have to find the Christmas episode!
Jo
Call the Midwife and All Creatures Great and Small on PBS are wonderful shows.
Ellie
We are watching the new All Creatures Great and Small and enjoying it. Wondering if I should wait to watch Call the Midwife until I’m done having babies. I’m afraid it might make me worry, LOL
Jo
It’s set in the 1950’s and 1960’s in England and many issues in the show don’t occur in modern times. However, I usually cry at some point during each episode! I also liked Heartland.
Gabrielle
I just started watching All Creatures Great and Small also!
Jessica
I enjoy both The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Bob Newhart Show.
Ellie
Another reader mentioned those, too. We will have to try them.
Jill
It’s one of the best. Some others you should try are: The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show and the show Newhart. Also, Betwitched, I Dream of Jeannie and my favorite, I Love Lucy 🙂
Ellie
I love Bewitched! Watched I Dream of Jeannie as a child but haven’t seen it in years. I’ll have to check out the others. Thanks!
Jannie
I don’t think those shows are clean at all. They depict a high level of sexism and denegration of women.
Ellie
Like I said, there are a few episodes that haven’t aged well, but most of the episodes actually portray Dick Van Dyke as kind of a goof and Mary Tyler Moore as the more intelligent one.
Eileen
Agree with this Ellie.
Louise
I am a big Dick Van Dyke fan too and love lots of “classic” tv shows, some age better than others. It’s not in the same genre as Downton Abbey but your post about going back to nature and making your own maple syrup reminds me of a show from the 70s here in the UK called The Good Life about a couple who decide to give up the rat race and become self sufficient in their suburban back garden. It’s very funny and not violent/inappropriate. It has been on Netflix/Prime before and dvds are available.
Ellie
That sounds interesting! Thanks, Louise.
Anonymous
Those are good shows I agree. You are being a bit generous with your kind critique. But we can use the same analysis of our own culture and really critique some of the now ‘norms’ of our day and age.
It seems like the wife in that show sort of has the role of referencing the plumb line, but not always, sometimes the other characters are doing that.
I saw a special on the show where they said it could be used as a topic reference because they seem to cover everything!
Gabrielle
I just started watching the Dick Van Dyke show! And I love it! Of course my other favorite shows are the Duggar’s and Bates! I’m excited to watch the rest of the Dick Van Dyke show!
Jane
Doc Martin is absolutely hilarious! There are some parts that seem unkind but no real violence that I have noticed. It is set in Cornwall, England, so the humor is different than in USA. We love it.
Ellie
Ooh, I love English shows! Thank you, Jane.
OhioMama
Have you tried Dr Quinn Medicine Women. I use to watch it with my parents when I was younger and I enjoy it still. It was on Amazon prime not long ago.
Ellie
Haven’t tried that one, but I’ve heard of it. Great idea!
Shela G
I really like Dr Quinn Medicine woman. I would also recommend watching it.
Ellie
Thanks, Shela!
OhioMama
Just a nice family show, there might be parts in it that people would say aren’t appropriate for kids. But my kids have watched it with me, though I’m not one to really know what is appropriate some would say since my kids will watch Harry Potter with me and my oldest has watched Blue Bloods with me too. Although we do have shows and movies that we won’t let our kids watch with us
A
Dick Van Dyke is a very talented and funny man. I really liked him in ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.’ It’s amazing how he was able to preform so well for the entire duration of ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show’ and films like ‘Mary Poplins’ while batting severe alcoholism.
Fun Fact: ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ was written by James Bond author, Ian Fleming. And the screenplay of the James Bond film, ‘You Only Live Twice,’ was written by fellow author Roald Dahl.
Ellie
I heard about his alcoholism too. Very sad. I read an interview he did with Oprah Winfrey where he said he was able to help others after getting over his own addiction.
And that is very interesting about the James Bond author! Thanks for sharing.
Janny
The good life is definitely funny, I loved watching it. I also like watching the shows from Jeanne Robertson.
Ellie
What are those ones called?
Janny
She is a US speaker with a good sense of clean humor.
She passed away last year.
You can find quite a few pieces of her on YouTube.
Natalie
I Love Lucy is the best!
So funny!
My husband argues that Andy Griffith is better
Ellie
We are planning to try Andy Griffith next. I’ll add I Love Lucy to the list. 🙂
Anonymous
I liked the (DVD show) episode where they take in baby ducks and one grows up in their house. It has a very good message.
Ellie
We just watched that one. 🙂
Marilyn
Our favorite shows are The Waltons,Big valley Gunsmoke,Kojak,Columbo,Perry Mason, Honeymooners,I Love Lucy, Golden Girls,Anne Of green Gables, Little House On The Prairie Father Knows Best , Leave It To Beaver ,Andy Griffth, old movies on TCM, Little Rascals, Antique Road Show and Finding Your Roots. A few cooking shows,too.Many of these shows are no longer on the air in reruns.
Joan,Marion and Marilyn
Ellie
Thank you for that great list, Marilyn! I loved Little House on the Prairie as a kid, and Mr. H did too.
Anonymous
The Waltons, Little House on the Prarie, The Brady Bunch are my all-time favorite shows, but I’m chilling with a Netflix series right now. The funniest shows, imo, are I Love Lucy and Reba.
Ellie
I loved Little House on the Prairie and The Brady Bunch growing up. Mr. H hasn’t seen The Brady Bunch…I should introduce him to it!
Beth
My favorites tv shows are, Hazel, Bewitched, Who’s the Boss, Father knows Best, The Waltons, Leave It to Beaver,Full House.
Ellie
I love Bewitched and Full House! So sad to hear that Bob Saget passed away. 🙁
Beth
It was sad about Bob Saget.
Beth
I also love Brady Bunch. On Disney Channel I also loved Kids Incorporated. That was my favorite. I also watch Days of our lives
Regina
I’m late coming into this conversation and I live The Dick Van Dyke Show too. I enjoy the old classic sitcoms too. I like classic police shows and medical dramas like the original Hawaii Five-O, Dr. Simon Locke aka Police Surgeon( not as well known in USA), Emergency,The Mod Squad, and Rockford Files.
The more current shows I like are Heartland and Family Reunion (Netflix). Many of today’s shows are not my cup of tea. I do plan on checking out Downton Abbey sometime. My friend found the series at our public library so perhaps I will look for it next time I’m at the library. I will have to make a pot of tea first!🙂
Ellie
You should definitely check out Downton Abbey. 🙂 Mr. H told me yesterday that he heard about a new series coming out by the same writer. I hope it’s just as good! I think you would also like the new All Creatures Great and Small, Regina.
Eileen
The new show is The Gilded Age set in New York. We have been watching it, but prefer Downton Abbey. As many here are, we have really been enjoying the remake of All Creatures Great and Small and some other PBS shows.
Ellie
I plan to try it. Too bad it’s not as good as Downton. Planning to watch the next episode of All Creatures Great and Small tonight 🙂
Eileen
Julian Fellowes, the writer of Downton Abbey was in a funny show called Monarch of the Glen. You might enjoy that. Takes place in Scotland.
Anne
When I was younger my family watched the entire Dick Van Dyke Show from Netflix DVD. I checked and now they only offer seasons 4 and 5. All Creatures Great and Small has been a part of my life for a long time. I can’t wait to read the books to my kids. We enjoy the remake but the original had so much personality! I can’t see Siegfried without picturing Robert Hardy. Seasons 1 and 7 are available on Netflix DVD. We also enjoy Doc Marten, Cranford and Extras (brilliant satire).