VERY VERY: Playwriting

Back in the mid-1990s, Nick at Nite ran a programming block on the weekends called "Very Very Nick at Nite," which looked at four episodes with a similar theme. Now I will look at four sitcom episodes from across the decades that have a similar plot or theme. This week's topic is Very Very Playwriting!

This Week's Episodes

The Bob Newhart Show #136 "Group on a Hot Tin Roof" (First Aired: January 28, 1978)

The members of Bob's therapy group are upset when one of their group members writes a play with characters based on the other members of the group.

This episode has a really funny conceit and is a great used of the therapy group that became more prominent characters in the later years of The Bob Newhart Show. There was very strong casting of the altar egos for the group members that really makes this work. There's also a rare moment of serious physical comedy from Bob Newhart in a side plot involving science experiments for Emily's school.

The Dick Van Dyke Show #124 "Baby Fat" (First Aired: April 21, 1965)

Alan Brady asks Rob to secretly ghostwrite parts of a new Broadway play he is starring in.

I think this is a great plot for the episode but a little Alan Brady goes a long way for me and this episode has entirely too much Alan Brady. That being said, Dick Van Dyke has some moments where he really shines. I love the pettiness Rob has when he is being forced to be the "tailor" for Alan and is drawing on Alan's suit. This episode does suffer a bit though from not much screen time for Laura, Buddy or Sally.

I Love Lucy #17 "Lucy Writes a Play" (First Aired: February 4, 1952)

Lucy enters a playwriting and wants to cast Ricky in it but when he refuses, she changes the play entirely.

This is one of those rough entries from the first season of I Love Lucy, which has more clunkers than the rest of the seasons combined. There's just way too much performative moments (like Lucy's mugging at the beginning of the episode and the multiple costumed entrances) and not enough genuine plot building. The funny idea of the Spanish and English plays switching is not strong enough to build an entire second half of an episode around.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show #19 "We Closed in Minneapolis" (First Aired: January 30, 1971)

A play that Murray has been working on for years is finally put on but with Ted starring in the lead role.

Poor Murray, he always has to have the sad sack stories on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. This might have been the first one of the series. After watching an earlier Season One episode for last week's Very Very, the cast is more settled into their dynamics with each other and Ted has become much closer to the Ted Baxter we see for the rest of the way. There was a part of me that really wanted to see a bit of the play itself but that wasn't the way this show usually operated.

Best Episode: The Bob Newhart Show

I think it's the funniest episode of the four with a strong premise that unfolds as a slow burn and inherently ties in the insecurities and idiosyncrasies of the therapy group.

Best Fit for the Theme: I Love Lucy - It involves the most actual "playwriting."

Standout Performer: Dick Van Dyke, The Dick Van Dyke Show

Runners-Up: Bob Newhart (The Bob Newhart Show), Lucille Ball (I Love Lucy)

Tomorrow: The Friday Five - Top 5 TV News Stories of the week!

Next Thursday: Very Very Back Injury!