
Watch the unmatched chemistry between Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke
Clip: 12/12/2025 | 2m 21sVideo has Closed Captions
Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore reunited for a variety special in 1969.
Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore had such great on-screen chemistry that they reunited for a variety special in 1969 called "Dick Van Dyke and the Other Woman." The success of this special led CBS to offer Mary Tyler Moore her own show, "The Mary Tyler Moore Show."
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Support for American Masters is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, AARP, Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Judith and Burton Resnick, Blanche and Hayward Cirker Charitable Lead Annuity Trust, Koo...

Watch the unmatched chemistry between Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke
Clip: 12/12/2025 | 2m 21sVideo has Closed Captions
Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore had such great on-screen chemistry that they reunited for a variety special in 1969 called "Dick Van Dyke and the Other Woman." The success of this special led CBS to offer Mary Tyler Moore her own show, "The Mary Tyler Moore Show."
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship- I also did a special called "Dick Van Dyke and the Other Woman," where I brought Mary on and just let her do everything she wanted to do and we did some great stuff together.
♪ Life is like a situation comedy ♪ ♪ A series of incidents that happened every day ♪ ♪ Life is like a situation comedy ♪ ♪ The trivial things that make your hair start turning gray♪ ♪ But we were very lucky ♪ ♪ The parts we had to play ♪ ♪ They taught us how to handle life the sane and sober way ♪ ♪ So nights at home were nothing but a rerun of the day ♪ ♪ A comedy ♪ ♪ That's life ♪ - Mary's career after "The Dick Van Dyke Show" had hit kind of a valley.
She was, she had attempted to do a Broadway show that was a musical version of "Breakfast at Tiffany's."
It was doomed.
It was doomed.
But we thought it would be fun to do a special reuniting, the two of them.
- I've worked with a lot of wonderful actresses, but you know, after doing a series together for five years, well, Mary just kind of holds a special place in my heart.
- With his wife's approval.
- Yes, ma'am, right.
(audience laughing) Normally that phrase, the other woman, implies a relationship between two people, which might be considered unsavory.
- Yeah.
- But of course, a relationship between Mary and myself is of course completely savory.
- Completely.
Actually, when we were doing the series, people thought we were married.
- Oh boy.
So much so that I often had trouble checking into a hotel with my real wife, Margie.
- And I had trouble checking into a hotel with my real husband, Grant.
- And Margie and Grant had trouble checking in anywhere.
(audience laughing) - They gave me a wonderful opportunity to sing and dance and clown and do everything that I felt comfortable doing.
And Dick stood by applauding my every move.
It was very successful.
And CBS noted how successful it was, how comfortable I seemed being in the spotlight.
And they asked me if I wanted to do my own show, to which I said yes.
(gentle music)
Dick Van Dyke was an early advocate for civil rights
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Clip: 12/12/2025 | 1m 7s | On May 31st, 1964, Dick Van Dyke delivered a speech on race relations. (1m 7s)
How "The Dick Van Dyke Show" took inspiration from its leading man
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Clip: 12/12/2025 | 54s | Dick Van Dyke's love of physical comedy was incorpoated into his main character's persona. (54s)
Rare behind-the-scenes footage from "The Dick Van Dyke Show"
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Clip: 12/12/2025 | 50s | Larry Mathews shares home movies shot from the set of "The Dick Van Dyke Show." (50s)
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Preview: 12/12/2025 | 2m 8s | Ahead of his 100th birthday, celebrate the life and career of iconic actor Dick Van Dyke. (2m 8s)
Watch this footage from an unaired Dick Van Dyke pilot
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Clip: 12/12/2025 | 1m 58s | Dick Van Dyke showcases his physical comedy strengths with a short story. (1m 58s)
What made the opening credits of "The Dick Van Dyke Show" special
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Clip: 12/12/2025 | 1m 49s | Hear the origin story of one of televisions most iconic opening credits. (1m 49s)
Why Conan O’Brien had an "out-of-body experience" with Dick Van Dyke
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Clip: 12/12/2025 | 1m 7s | Conan O’Brien had a dream come true when Dick Van Dyke appeared on his show. (1m 7s)
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