VAN DYKE & COMPANY - THE COMPLETE SERIES (NBC 1976) RARE!!! HARD TO FIND!!! Dick Van Dyke, Andy Kaufman, Los Angeles Mime Company

Van Dyke & Company was an eccentric, yet strangely charming, entry on NBC’s 1976 schedule. The short-lived variety show featured singing, dancing and comedy skits and starred Emmy award-winning actor Dick Van Dyke, Andy Kaufman and the Los Angeles Mime Company.

Dick’s assorted guests included Mary Tyler Moore, Carol Burnett, John Denver, Lucille Ball, Freddie Prinze, Carl Reiner, Harvey Korman, Hal Linden, Tommy Smothers, Bob Einstein (aka Super Dave Osbourne, Chevy Chase, Flip Wilson, John Byner and Gabe Kaplan. Musical guests include Ike & Tina Turner, John Denver, K.C. & The Sunshine Band, Sha Na Na, The Spinners, Bobbie Gentry, The Sylvers, Donna Fargo and Lola Falana.

Kaufman’s role on the show was Foreign Man, a running gag wherein he would interrupt and annoy Dick week after week with his wanting to be on TV and performing an array of jokes, Elvis impressions, lip syncing to musical records and conga playing. (Note: Dick Van Dyke may not be one of the first people you would think of as cherishing such a unique and anarchic talent as Andy Kaufman, but in fact he was responsible for giving Kaufman’s career a significant boost.)

The show also featured a recurring segment about the dumbest family in the world (like The Family skits on The Carol Burnett Show).

The show lasted for just 11 episodes and was up against some already well established and popular shows like The Waltons on CBS, Welcome Back, Kotter and Barney Miller on ABC.  

This set features the pilot special and the 11 episodes produced.

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Number of DVDs: 6

Number of DVDs: 11 + Pilot

Quality: 9.5/10

Running Time: 10 hrs 30 min

Aspect Ratio: Fullscreen

NOTES: This is a fan-made DVD set. Not a studio release.  The pictures shown are screenshots from the DVD.