Dick Van Dyke turned 100 on December 13. PBS ran a 2-hour “American Masters” profile. What a delight!
Van Dyke starred in the unforgettable eponymous 1961-66 TV series, as a comedy show writer, with Mary Tyler Moore as his wife. Both of them fond youthful memories. Dick’s show was ended after just five seasons because they feared its getting stale. Bravo for that too.
The show’s panache couldn’t be equaled by Van Dyke’s later TV ventures. However, he did landmark unique movie roles, notably in Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
An amazing performer in so many ways — notably the physical comedy. Watching such bits in the documentary, it was hard to believe a human body could be made to do what he did. And for so long. Dick was still performing at 99; still with physical shtick.
He is also an admirable person — his performances coming from his heart. He was even admirable talking about his alcoholism (which he overcame) in the documentary.
Also talking much in it about Dick was Carol Burnett. Another flame from my youth. Such a warm feeling I get seeing or thinking of Carol Burnett.
Not just a great talented performer, but a sweet lovely human being. The world is better for having Carol Burnett in it. She’s 92 now.
“American Masters” included a clip of Carol and Dick, playing enfeebled oldsters, getting into a physical fight. Extending for many minutes, their mock rough-and-tumble looked carefully choreographed and rehearsed. Yet we learn it was all actually improvised, on the spur of the moment.
Still another fond TV remembrance was Rob Reiner, playing Archie Bunker’s son-in-law (and foil) Mike in “All in the Family” (1971-79). Rob’s father was Carl Reiner (1922-2020), a comedy legend who famously partnered with Mel Brooks (oh! marvelous Mel Brooks!), and had a key role in the Dick Van Dyke show.
Rob went on to a sterling career as a film director. Notable for iconic classics like This is Spinal Tap (“It goes to eleven”) and When Harry Met Sally (“I’ll have have what she’s having” — perhaps the most famous movie line ever, actually an unscripted ad lib spoken by Estelle Reiner, Rob’s mother, as an extra).
Shows, and movies, like those mentioned were American cultural anchors. Part of all our lives; a unifying force. We no longer have that, and it’s a loss.
Reiner, 78, and his wife Michelle were murdered December 14, apparently by their son Nick, whose life was a mess of addiction and other pathologies. Based on which Rob had even made a film. This story was a profound tragedy all around.
Its cause, Trump wrote in an online post, was Rob Reiner’s “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” Reiner was politically active and a regime critic. Trump elaborated with a stream of vicious verbiage demonizing Reiner’s politics as a form of insanity, and implying he got what he deserved.
Not mentioned was that Michelle Reiner, a professional photographer, did the cover picture on Trump’s “Art of the Deal” book.
There’s no reason to imagine politics had anything to do with these murders.
After the recent Charlie Kirk killing, MAGA-land went to town objecting to arguably insensitive comments. People lost their jobs. Trump himself gave a televised speech denouncing nasty political talk — and in his next breath spewed some very nasty political talk. But that was nothing compared with his Reiner comments.
They did elicit some tsk-tsking by Republicans. Mild and muted. Were they biting their tongues?
“Trump Derangement Syndrome” is a term concocted by MAGAdom to mock critics, as if outrage at this regime’s atrocities signifies mental illness. As if tolerance for them is mentally healthy. Like being okay with Trump’s Reiner comments. We know what Trump Derangement Syndrome really is.
Its poster boy is Trump himself. Imagining that writing what he did about Reiner’s murder was a good idea. And challenged about it the next day, he doubled down.
America is full of wonderful people. Why are we led by one so vile?
The president is clinically insane and should be removed from office through the procedures of the 25th Amendment.
The Rational Pessimist 
