Does It Bother Anyone Else?

[Artfiore1]

Hi folks,
I have been a huge fan of the Dick Van Dyke Show and a Laura Petrie worshipper since the 1960s.

But, there's one thing that has always annoyed me to no end. It's really the only thing I don't like about the show: The way Laura sees practically every woman in the world (with the exceptions of Sally and Millie) as a threat to her marriage. The blond defendant in the trial for which Rob was the jury foreman, a beautiful TV star with whom Rob had to work for a week, a singing weather girl on TV, even a woman in their neighborhood who could sing and dance, at least, as well as Laura (maybe better) all turned her into a complete wreck. There were others, too, of course.

I mean -- it was perfectly obvious that Rob absolutely *adored* her, not to mention the fact that she was more beautiful and sexier than any of them. We could all see that Rob was the kind of guy, anyway, who would never even *think* of cheating on or leaving his wife. Why couldn't she??

[Kellie87kp]

true true. but hey, jealousy makes the world go 'round! lol, jk. :joke:

[Artfiore1]

Kellie,
I couldn't agree less. A completely worthless, needless, useless and dangerous emotion.

[Kristen]

Originally posted by Artfiore1
Hi folks,
I have been a huge fan of the Dick Van Dyke Show and a Laura Petrie worshipper since the 1960s.

But, there's one thing that has always annoyed me to no end. It's really the only thing I don't like about the show: The way Laura sees practically every woman in the world (with the exceptions of Sally and Millie) as a threat to her marriage. The blond defendant in the trial for which Rob was the jury foreman, a beautiful TV star with whom Rob had to work for a week, a singing weather girl on TV, even a woman in their neighborhood who could sing and dance, at least, as well as Laura (maybe better) all turned her into a complete wreck. There were others, too, of course.

I mean -- it was perfectly obvious that Rob absolutely *adored* her, not to mention the fact that she was more beautiful and sexier than any of them. We could all see that Rob was the kind of guy, anyway, who would never even *think* of cheating on or leaving his wife. Why couldn't she??

Speaking as a woman, I can say that this aspect of Laura's character wasn't that far off the mark. I think it was basically Laura's insecurity, which is something everyone has to a degree. Besides, I don't think she had any trouble trusting Rob, I think it was the other women she had trouble trusting. ;)

BTW, Art, I LOVE the quote in your sig from "Inside the Actor's Studio"!!

[cablejockey]

Back in those days women were encouraged to distrust each other when it came to men. If a husband was cheating, the wife was more inclined to blame the other woman also known as a home wrecker. Maybe the writers were just reflecting the way it was.

[Samme]

Everyone is right, but I think it was basically just a gimmick to create
stories. It fit storylines of that era. What hits me, watching lately, is how loving they are. I really like
Everybody Loves Raymond but it hurts to see the wife almost seems to hate him. Nothing is ever right. He's always wrong. He's a jerk, every thought is wrong, he's insensitive,
and she has show him how he deserves every emotional pounding that she heaps on him. (And yet I like the show and think it's very funny.) But compared to that kinda stuff, Laura's
insecurities seem so small that she's almost a saint. It's too bad that most people aren't as nice, or smart,
as Rob and Laura. And they each realize and admit when they're wrong.
That stuff doesn't show up on TV, or in life, very often.

[Christina E]

I agree with everything that everyone else has said, but I thought of something that no one has mentioned. Rob was also jealous of Laura. I think he was jealous of Laura more often then she was of him. That's just my impression. I've never counted episodes of each.

Rob was jealous during the flashbacks to their dating time. It also seemed like an old boyfriend or two pop up of Laura's, and Rob gets jealous. Then there's the time when Laura was playing Cleopatra and kissing that other man, and Rob was very jealous although it was only "acting".

I just think that it was something that the writers used to help create story lines. If you think about it, Rob was funny when he was jealous.

Christina

[Artfiore1]

Samme,
I know what you mean about "Everybody Loves Raymond." I just recently found myself somewhat aggravated by a rerun of that show in which the wife tricked Raymond into believing she had gotten some sort of breast enhancement job, by stuffing socks into her bra. When he reacted positively to it (really only trying to be supportive), she pulled the socks out and jumped all over him, claiming that he didn't love her the way she was. And, don't you know that, had he spent a bunch of time in a gym or something and suddenly become a muscle man, she would love it like crazy? And, would that have meant that she didn't love him the way he was before? Of course, not! That's not to mention how dishonest and despicable her little sock trick was! (But, that's a discussion for a whole other message board.)

I just find Laura Petrie's jealousies and insecurities very unbecoming and something I would have a really hard time tolerating were I lucky enough to be married to her.

========================================

Christina,
I can't say that I agree with your claim that Rob was jealous even more often than Laura was. She was jealous of everything with a uteris. But, I can hardly remember an instance when *he* was. I remember he got upset in the office that time when the delivery boy (Jamie Farr) made a fuss over the sight of Laurie in her dance leotard. As for that "Cleopatra" episode, *everybody* behaved so ridiculously in that scene -- Rob. Laura, Jerry, Millie, that neighbor couple...

[MTM1Fan]

Originally posted by Artfiore1
But, I can hardly remember an instance when *he* was. I remember he got upset in the office that time when the delivery boy (Jamie Farr) made a fuss over the sight of Laurie in her dance leotard. As for that "Cleopatra" episode, *everybody* behaved so ridiculously in that scene -- Rob. Laura, Jerry, Millie, that neighbor couple...


There was also the time Rob brought Jim Darling home. He was insanely jealous in that episode. Oh, and in "Two Faces of Rob" he was jealous of himself!

[Artfiore1]

MTM1Fan,
Maybe you're right. Who can say? But, you know -- Laura acted jealous of every woman who came within a hundred yards of Rob, and with whom he even spoke.

In "The Two Faces Of Rob," he was misled by Laura into believing that she would flirt, and even make a date with, a complete stranger on the phone. Remember the end, though? Catching her in the act again, when he knows perfectly well that it *isn't* him on the other end of the line, he only *pretends* to be angry, growling and all, but a second later is hugging and kissing her.

Another time, he was prokoked into pouring champagne all over Richard Dawson's head. But, that was a set up, also. Dawson's character purposely was all over Laura like a tan -- mauling and kissing her . . . just to get a rise out of Rob for fun. And, Rob fell for the bait . . . as most husbands probably would.

Laura's jealousies, on the other hand, seemed to always be unprovoked and completely unfounded. So, he left the jury box to pick up the thing the lady defendant had dropped. So, he had to work with a beautiful TV star for a week. Did any of that mean that he didn't love Laura anymore . . . or that Laura was losing her husband?