I don't know how I missed this, but there's an adorable interview with Dick Van Dyke, Mary Steenburgen, Ted Danson and Arlene Silver.
a few fun things they discuss:
influences on them as they went into Hollywood (for Ted it was Dick Van Dyke, for DVD it was Laurel and Hardy, and Buster Keaton)
Dick Van Dyke show origins-- and how it was cancelled the first year, it was against Perry Como. Sheldon Leonard went to bat for them to talk them into keeping the show.
Dick Van Dyke Show - a lot of improve, history of the show, a few memories
Memories of people in Hollywood (Carl Reiner, Sheldon Leonard, Mary Tyler Moore, Morey Amsterdam, Ed Asner, Rose Marie, Paul Lynde, Tom Poston, Fred Astaire, Charlie Chaplin, Marcel Marceau, Leslie Neilsen, Dudley Moore,
DVD's early days in the business, on Broadway
Ted Danson absolutely gushes. He admits he's a bit of a stalker and has followed DVD throughout his career- he would race to the gym to see DVD (who danced at the gym- DVD still goes to the gym at 99)
DVD still has a barbershop quartet
DVD worked in news in the early days with Walter Kronkite and Barbara Walters
DVD struggled to be taken seriously as a serious actor (talks about the film The Comic)
DVD briefly talks about sobriety-- he went through a short period where he was drinking too much, that was about 50 years ago, struggles to quit smoking
some of his films that haven't been as recognised- The Comic, Cold Turkey
DVD seriously loves Halloween. He used to make halloween monsters for decades - they had competing exhibitions every year with James Cameron who used to be their neighbours, Cameron bought them all
DVD into tech - Diagnosis Murder did the special effects on an episode because no one on set knew how to do the special effects
how DVD met his wife Arlene, and their age difference
Ted met Mary at Henry Winkler's garden BBQ
DVD being teased about his English accent - Americans tease him, but Brits don't
DVD guest starring on Becker as Ted Danson's character's dad - Ted tells him how much the episode meant to him, and the whole cast were just so gobsmacked to be around him they couldn't really rehearse because everyone couldn't stop talking to him.
DVD talking about losing all his friends, as he's 99. Last friend he's lost was Bob Newhart.
DVD used to go down to the homeless shelters to entertain people and give them sweets, but since Covid he's been struggling to dot his (fair play, man, you're turning 100 in 3 months)
It's a fun interview, Ted is clearly absolutely smitten with DVD, and it was nice to see DVD talk about his life and some highlights. Worth a watch!
