Carl Reiner once surprised Morey Amsterdam by including his gags in The Dick Van Dyke Show
Before he appeared on The Dick Van Dyke Show, Morey Amsterdam had already made a name for himself in comedy. Fittingly, his role on The Dick Van Dyke Show was that of a comedy writer.
However, what he didn't know when he signed onto the series was that The Dick Van Dyke Show was a collaborative environment, one where the writing thrived on the talent of the actors.
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In an interview with the Herald Statesman, Amsterdam revealed that creator Carl Reiner actually incorporated some of Amsterdam's old comedic bits in upcoming episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show.
"I thought they looked familiar," Amsterdam said. "But it's sometimes hard to keep up with old material. I've been in show business for thirty-eight years, ever since I was ten, and I've been in television since 1939 in Los Angeles. I was the first person to use rear projection - they couldn't afford scenery."
Using an actor's talents to the writer's advantage isn't necessarily a new thing. Originally, the character of Laura Petrie was meant to act as a sort of straight man against the wacky characters on The Dick Van Dyke Show.
However, once actor Mary Tyler Moore showed comedic promise, writers were encouraged to write more humorous material for her character.
Still, it's difficult to tell whether Amsterdam was actually flattered or offended by Reiner's utilization. Some might argue that Reiner "stole" the comic's material; others might believe that Reiner was honoring Amsterdam's talent and demonstrating his hilarity to a wider audience on The Dick Van Dyke Show. What do you think?
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