What if The Dick Van Dyke Show went on for a sixth season?

[chrisjm23]

What if The Dick Van Dyke Show continued on for a sixth season? For one thing, the series would be in full color. Rob and Laura Petrie would probably have another child (a girl, perhaps?) Rob would become the new head writer and producer of Alan Brady's new show, in which Brady would portray Rob. Mel Cooley would become the new show's co-producer and director. Buddy and Sally would, of course, become the writers.

I'm merely being hypothetical about this what-if concept.

Supposing The Dick Van Dyke Show had been renewed for a sixth season, what do you think they ought to do about the show's new format?

[treky]

well, maybe Rob would get a promotion and the Petries would probably move...that's all that I can think of.

[Mikado]

Rob and Laura realise that their marriage isnt working, so, Laura changes her name to Mary and runs away to work at a newsshow in the twin cities. :rolleyes: But, seriously......
My guess is the show wouldnt have changed much, maybe they would have let Rich grow up a little and have his first crush; on the other hand, i think youre right about them having another child ( And 2 to 1 it would have been a girl ) Jerry and Millie would still be there but, a new neighbour would have moved into the house on the other side, who didnt like the Petries. ( Rob with an enemy, that has possibilities, dont you think? ) then of course, after a season with Laura worrying about her pregnancy, the baby would have come during the 2 part season finale, with the baby being born in a tow truck after Robs car breaks down in a snowstorm! ( whew! hows that? )

[Carrie]

Interesting thoughts. :) I definitely think the show would have been in color. That would have been neat to see. I like the idea of Rob and Laura having another child. I've always wondered why they didn't.

[Lee G]

If there was a season six, I think definitely it would have been in color.

Other possible scenarios for a sixth season: Laura is expecting a baby. I think this would have been a key element for this season. The episodes during the season could have had Rob dealing with Laura and the pregnancy with her mood swings and cravings. The Petries hire a maid to help Laura at home while she's pregnant. Rob and the maid don't exactly see things eye to eye. Some potential there for pretty good laughs. Laura gives birth to the baby in one of the seasons later episodes, it's a girl so now they have one of each.

Other possibilities: Sally finally finds a rich man to marry her, she moves away and quits her job. Buddy is gone too, he has retired. So Alan Brady hires two new writers to work with Rob. The episodes have Rob trying to get to know his new co-workers and co-exist with them. Naturally, they are stubborn and headstrong and not that easy to get along with. At first, Mel is happy when Buddy retires but the new guy picks on Mel worse than Buddy did so Mel ends up wishing Buddy was back. Again, good potential here for some laughs.

So a sixth season in my view would have had Rob dealing with all the changes going on in his life. New co-workers on the job, and baby on the way at home. The Helpers are still the neighbors, and Millie comes over to visit the expecting Laura at home while Rob is at work and they get themselves in goofy situations.

The season would have ended with the Alan Brady Show getting cancelled, and Rob unemployed with a new baby at home. A seventh season could have started with Rob's search for a new job. He decides to go into business for himself and opens a real estate office, sells real estate and amuses his clients with silly jokes.

How does all that sound?

[Markxxx]

If you remember correctly at the end of season five, Rob won election as city councilman. This was going to be a new angle for the series if they could've persuaded the gang to opt for another year.

[Mikado]

If there was a season six, I think definitely it would have been in color.

Other possible scenarios for a sixth season: Laura is expecting a baby. I think this would have been a key element for this season. The episodes during the season could have had Rob dealing with Laura and the pregnancy with her mood swings and cravings. The Petries hire a maid to help Laura at home while she's pregnant. Rob and the maid don't exactly see things eye to eye. Some potential there for pretty good laughs. Laura gives birth to the baby in one of the seasons later episodes, it's a girl so now they have one of each.

Other possibilities: Sally finally finds a rich man to marry her, she moves away and quits her job. Buddy is gone too, he has retired. So Alan Brady hires two new writers to work with Rob. The episodes have Rob trying to get to know his new co-workers and co-exist with them. Naturally, they are stubborn and headstrong and not that easy to get along with. At first, Mel is happy when Buddy retires but the new guy picks on Mel worse than Buddy did so Mel ends up wishing Buddy was back. Again, good potential here for some laughs.

So a sixth season in my view would have had Rob dealing with all the changes going on in his life. New co-workers on the job, and baby on the way at home. The Helpers are still the neighbors, and Millie comes over to visit the expecting Laura at home while Rob is at work and they get themselves in goofy situations.

The season would have ended with the Alan Brady Show getting cancelled, and Rob unemployed with a new baby at home. A seventh season could have started with Rob's search for a new job. He decides to go into business for himself and opens a real estate office, sells real estate and amuses his clients with silly jokes.

How does all that sound?
I think firing half the cast and Rob going into real-estate seems a bit far-fetched , but, hey, its speculation, so, why not? ;)

[mstewart]

It would not have been enjoyable if they had went on for a sixth season. One thing they would had went color. The show in the fifth, and final season, was beginning to slip. Plus they weren't showing as many home scenes as they did the first four. The show ended just right leaving us wanting more.

[catlover79]

I agree - the show ended on top and left us wanting more. Having said that, I would've loved to see Rob and Laura as parents of a baby girl. Something about that is so sweet. :love:

[Lee G]

I think firing half the cast and Rob going into real-estate seems a bit far-fetched , but, hey, its speculation, so, why not? ;)

I didn't say that Buddy and Sally get fired, I said Sally quits, gets married and moves away- and Buddy retires. Perhaps there could have been a good bye episode where they throw a party for Buddy & Sally before they leave. But as you say, this thread is simply intended for fun and speculation.

[chrisjm23]

Mikado and Lee G., I must say that you have provided such interesting ideas on what might have been if the Dick Van Dyke Show had continued for a sixth season and beyond. Remember the Andy Griffith Show? The show's first five seasons were in black & white, and the remaining three seasons were in color, but Andy Griffith Show remained in the top ten shows through the series' entire run.

The Dick Van Dyke Show was on top when the series ended, but it might continue to remain in the top ten if that show had gone into color for at least two or three seasons.

Lee G., would you care to provide some ideas on the seventh season of the Dick Van Dyke Show, and maybe an eighth? By the way, what would be a good name for Rob and Laura's baby girl? What if Rob's career as a real estate agent didn't work out. What would be some good career choices for Rob?

I do recall a two-parter when Rob ran for City Councilman and won that election. Would you see him continue his career as a councilman?

.... and what about Naomi? HA HA

[Lee G]

A name for Rob & Laura's baby girl? How about Rachel? This way, they would have had Richie and Rachel. I didn't like the idea of Rob getting involved in politics, I like the real estate angle a little better.

[mstewart]

As I stated earlier in the post I think the sixth season would not have been as good. One thing the show would had went color, less of Mary Tyler Moore on the show and the show would had got stale and tired. The fifth season it was beginning to age. Also, in the fifth season there weren't as many scenes with Rob and Laura as it was in the previous seasons. Carl Reiner was smart in calling it after five seasons. Many domestic sitcoms are good for five years and anything beyond that gets bad.

[Lee G]

Many domestic sitcoms are good for five years and anything beyond that gets bad.

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. The Dick Van Dyke Show was still going pretty strong in the fifth season, but I agree the formula was wearing a little thin. It was in need of a few changes. Sheldon Leonard was the only one who wanted the series to continue, the rest of em wanted to quit. Color episodes and a few changes within the show would have been a nice shot in the arm for the series, but it never came to pass. I think the series had potential to go on for another 2 or 3 seasons.

[treky]

Rose Marie also thinks it could have gone on for another couple seasons if it switched to color.