DICK VAN DYKE SHOW, THE: ONE HUNDRED TERRIBLE HOURS (TV)
Summary
One in this series of comedy programs about the personal and professional life of Rob Petrie, the head comedy writer for television's "Alan Brady Show."
In this episode, a journalist interviews the Petries for a piece about Rob, and Rob explains that his first job after leaving the Army was as a disc jockey at radio station WOFF, a small-town establishment known for its "wild promotional gimmicks." In a flashback, as Rob spends another evening charming the airwaves, his boss Mr. Van Buren stops by and urges Rob to try to break a new "endurance record" by spending a hundred straight hours on the air, promising him a raise if he pulls it off. Despite Laura's concerns about the health risks, Rob eagerly agrees.
Two doctors are on hand for Rob's "Stay-Awake-Athon," and Laura supports Rob as he makes it through 24, and then 39, and then 57 hours, managing to stay awake but growing increasingly loopy and emotional as he goes, particularly when he reads out a tragic news item about a cat stuck in a tree. Finally, at Hour 96, Rob receives a telegram from Alan Brady, to whom he had been sending comedy routines, asking for a meeting in Chicago that very night. Though elated by the invitation, Rob vows to complete the 100-hour challenge first, and when he finally arrives for the interview, Alan is taken aback by his seemingly bizarre and/or drunk behavior. Laura hastily explains the situation, however, and Rob lands the job, with Alan deciding that any man determined enough to complete such a daunting task must be a very hard worker indeed. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: May 5, 1965 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:22:30
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: B:55890
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Radio personalities
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1961-1966
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Sheldon Leonard … Executive Producer
- Carl Reiner … Producer, Created by
- Ronald Jacobs … Associate Producer
- Theodore J. Flicker … Director
- Bill Persky … Writer
- Sam Denoff … Writer
- Earle Hagen … Music by
- Dick Van Dyke … Cast, Rob Petrie
- Rose Marie … Cast, Sally Rogers
- Morey Amsterdam … Cast, Maurice "Buddy" Sorrell
- Larry Matthews … Cast, Ritchie Petrie
- Mary Tyler Moore … Cast, Laura Petrie
- Fred Clark … Cast, William Van Buren
- Richard Deacon … Cast, Mel Cooley
- Carl Reiner … Cast, Alan Brady
- Dabbs Greer … Cast, Mr. Waring
- Howard Wendell … Cast, Mr. Chambers
- Harry Stanton … Cast, Dr. Gage
- Frank Adamo … Cast, Dr. Adamo
- Johnny Silver … Cast, Photographer