WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014 | WWW.PGCITIZEN.CA News 19 Dishing on comedic genius Trying to control friendships can backfire Frazier MOORE The Associated Press NEW YORK — Like any Dick Van Dyke Show fan, Dear Annie: My husband and I he’s happy to catch an occasional rerun of the show were great friends with my sister while flipping channels. and her husband. When we sepa- Annie’s “If there’s nothing new to watch, I’ll let the episode rated, my ex continued to hang Mailbox play out,” says Carl Reiner. out with them because they liked “I’m always pleased to see how well those episodes to drink and do drugs together. KATHY MITCHELL & MARCY SUGAR have aged.” After the divorce, they stopped Reiner, of course, holds special status as a DVD seeing him. confederate. He created this timeless half-century- I just found out that they rekin- or a sprinkling of oregano. old comedy, which premiered on CBS in October dled the friendship when my sister Drenching food in hot sauce says 1961, fueled by his real-life experiences as a TV met his new wife at a party for one that your husband likes the taste comedy writer-performer and devoted family man in of my grandchildren. That was a of hot sauce and likely cannot New Rochelle, N.Y. year ago. I feel betrayed, hurt, an- taste much of anything else. Among all Reiner’s projects as an actor, stand-up gry and very disappointed. When If he doesn’t put hot sauce on comedian, writer, director and producer, The Dick I spoke to my sister, she said, it, it has no flavour at all. His Van Dyke Show stands out for its creator: in many “You’ve been divorced for a long taste buds may not be salvage- ways it tells his story. time, and your ex has been friends able, although you could ask him A talented string bean named Van Dyke became with my husband for years.” to please taste the food before al- Reiner’s alter ego on the show, which ran for five This is not true. Once the tering it. But we suggest you save seasons. divorce was final, they had no your more elaborate efforts for And, as no one needs reminding, the unknown contact until last year. those who can appreciate them. actress who won instant stardom as Van Dyke’s TV Am I wrong? Is it all right for Dear Annie: Now that I am wife was Mary Tyler Moore. them to be friends again knowing retired, I finally have time to read Now, Moore is being spotlighted in a new collec- how I feel? — Kicked Again the paper every day. I enjoy your tion of DVDs. The Dick Van Dyke Show: Classic Mary Dear Kicked: We understand column and agree completely with Tyler Moore Episodes ($24.98, Image Entertain- that you want your sister to be your advice to Aunt, who asked ment) gathers 20 episodes that dwell on the home supportive, but if she and her about registries for graduation life of Rob and Laura Petrie, putting the comic radi- AP PHOTO husband have a relationship with gifts. ance of Moore on full display. Mary Tyler Moore is being spotlighted in a new your ex and his wife (likely due However, in your response you Episodes include The Two Faces of Rob, where DVD collection called The Dick Van Dyke Show: to the drugs and alcohol), it re- said that “it is wrong to send out Rob fears Laura is cheating on him with a man Classic Mary Tyler Moore Episodes. The set gath- ally is no longer your business. notices inferring that the recipi- Rob impersonated as a prank. On My Husband Is ers 20 episodes that dwell on the home life of We know this isn’t what you ent is obligated.” I would like to a Check-Grabber, Laura is irked that Rob always Rob and Laura Petrie, putting the comic radiance want to hear, but trying to con- respectfully correct your choice springs for his friends’ dinner which, she fears, could of Moore on full display. trol someone else’s friendships of words: “Infer” means to inter- mean they won’t be able to afford to send their little tends to backfire. pret or to deduce from what the boy to college. Part of the reason: Reiner makes one of his handful Instead of convincing your sender “implies.” The word you On Never Bathe on Saturday, Laura is off-camera of appearances in the series as Brady, who is ap- sister to stop socializing with should have used is “implying.” for much of the episode after she gets her toe stuck palled that Laura made his baldness public. Brady’s your ex, your protests likely will — Another Reader in the faucet of the tub while taking a bath. These scene with Laura, terrified as she struggles to make create an estrangement between Dear Reader: You are abso- complications, which take place in a posh Manhattan amends, is a comedy masterpiece. you and your sister. You can ask lutely right, and you weren’t the hotel suite, throw a wrench into what was meant to Fortunately, Reiner wasn’t nearly so vain. her not to invite him to family only one to point it out. We knew be a romantic getaway for her and Rob. The script, he says, was penned by Bill Persky and functions where you will be pres- better, and it still slid right by us. “You hear her voice, but she’s hardly ever on- Sam Denoff, an up-and-coming writing team that ent. However, since you have (Some days, we are more over- screen,” says Reiner, now 92, during a recent phone wanted to break into this hit sitcom. children (and grandchildren) whelmed than others.) Six lashes conversation. “They knew me,” says Reiner, “and they knew I with your ex, it is unrealistic to with a wet noodle for us. “Mary was a little upset about it. She wanted more wasn’t at all self-conscious about being bald: I only think you will never bump into Dear Readers: We are carry- time on camera. wear a toupee to feel dressed-up, or if there are more them. It is in your best interests ing on Ann Landers’ tradition “But I told her, ‘Mary, I’ve just given America the than 5,000 people present. But they knew Alan Brady to learn how to tolerate their that April 2 be set aside as Rec- chance to fantasize what you look like naked,”’ didn’t feel the same way.” presence when necessary. onciliation Day, a time to make chuckles Reiner, who wrote the episode. This hilarious episode resulted. Dear Annie: While I do not the first move toward mending “When it came out, and she realized how very “It was one of Mary’s funniest performances,” says consider myself a gourmet chef, broken relationships. It also funny it is, she apologized by having a faucet mount- Reiner, who still marvels at the comic genius he I do take a lot of pride in my is the day on which we would ed on a little plaque and sending it to my house.” discovered and nurtured. cooking. I go to a lot of trouble to agree to accept the olive branch Also included in the set is Coast to Coast Big Moore had arrived at The Dick Van Dyke Show at get the seasoning just right. The extended by a former friend or Mouth, where Laura blurts out to an interviewer that age 24, a dancer with few acting credits and scant problem is, my husband takes one an estranged family member and Rob’s boss, conceited TV star Alan Brady, wears a evidence of a gift for being funny. look or maybe a taste and then do our best to start over. toupee. “She was a very quick study,” Reiner sums up immediately drenches his food in Annie’s Mailbox is written by “One of the best episodes we ever did,” says Reiner, admiringly. hot sauce. It really hurts my feel- Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, and no DVD fan would disagree. “It didn’t take her very long.” ings. Am I being oversensitive? longtime editors of the Ann Land- — Proud Woman ers column. Please email your Dear Proud: We assume other questions to anniesmailbox@ people enjoy your cooking, so comcast.net, or write to: Annie’s than six million followers instead. Russell Crowe, star of watery Bibli- please don’t take this so person- Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, A&E IN BRIEF cal epic Noah. ally. It’s not as if your husband 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, Kanye postpones tour Crowe was denied a private says you need a pinch more salt CA 90254. Colbert blows up audience with Pope Francis when NEW YORK (AP) — Kanye West he was promoting the movie in official Twitter account has postponed his May tour of Rome last month. Australia so he can concentrate NEW YORK (AP) — Stephen But Archbishop of Canterbury on new music. Colbert is done with the Colbert Justin Welby met the actor at the West announced Tuesday that Report Twitter account. cleric’s Lambeth Palace home he’ll postpone seven dates in He teamed with one of Twitter’s Tuesday, the day after the movie’s " ve cities scheduled for May 2 founders, Biz Stone, on Monday’s British premiere, to discuss faith to 11 until Sept. 5 to 15 because show to symbolically blow up his and spirituality.