"The Dick Van Dyke Show" Oh How We Met the Night That We Danced (TV Episode 1961) Poster

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9/10
Rob and Laura Begin
hellraiser720 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Warning do not read unless seen episode.

This episode is an honorable mention, basically it's simply about both meeting for the first time and I felt it was executed very well.

Liked seeing a little of what both Rob and Laura were like back then, both weren't that different except for the fact they never met yet. Really like Rob's interactions with his friend from the army, he is a well-meaning guy but the only problem is the guy is a complete imbecilic. It's just funny how the guy just keeps making things worse when he mentions how Rob always makes a bad first impression.

I like how both Rob and Laura interact with one another. For Rob it was love at first sight but for Laura not so much. Really like the things that Rob says to Laura, but Laura she takes Rob's impression wrong or misunderstands and of course dismisses the guy. This is funny because it's true most of the time whenever we interact for the first time with someone we're attracted to or like, we simply get off on the wrong foot.

But of course, we see Rob doesn't give up and of course his chance to met up with Laura comes in a Stage Number which is the pay off with the episode. When we see both dance together and sing "You Wonderful You" it is just beautiful because that song along with the beginning to end of the dance number it perfectly sums up the relationship between the two.

Rob and Laura are truly in step with each other.

Rating: 3 and a half stars
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A little lesson I learned because of this Van Dyke Show episode
thwrtr198 July 2020
Greatness, regardless of context/specificness, is timeless. Almost 60 years after Dick and Mary did that "You Wonderful You" number, its delightful, romantic impact remains as lusciously strong as when the scene originally was done. Reiner said in retrospect, that when he watched it back in 1961, when it initially was shown, he and the audience "melted." People watching the scene today, six decades hence, no doubt had/have the same effect. Oh, one asterisk-like sideline.....at the conclusion of the scene, when Rob inadvertently stepped on Laura's foot and broke her toes, she wound up in the camp hospital. Back in the "present," as Rob was relating the story to Ritchie, Laura revealed that he finally won her over by visiting her in the hospital everyday and bringing her flowers, candy, etc.. She added that it took her "about three weeks" to discover what a wonderful person Rob was. Unfortunately, I tried to win over a girl in a similar way...not by bribing her in the method Rob did, but by "being there for her." I ultimately learned that I was just wasting my time; the girl had a boyfriend. I felt like an utter fool, and will never repeat such actions. A person either likes you, or they don't. That all said, that Van Dyke episode nonetheless was wonderfully entertaining. And memorable.
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6/10
Rob should have taken the hint.
ronnybee211224 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Rob Petrie reflects and recollects upon the first time he and Laura met when Rob was in the Army and Laura was a USO dancer.

Rob is explaining this to his son Richie.

Rob first tried to meet and talk to the single "Laura-Meeker" through a friend and when he does talk with her she is pretty darn rude to him. Instead of just moving-on,Rob becomes obsessed with this Laura and goes to great lengths to learn more about her.

Rob contrives to take the place of Laura's male singing and dancing partner in the USO show and it is an unpleasant last-minute surprise to Laura.

This show is basically an excuse to see Rob and Laura dancing and singing together as far as I can tell. They do a fine job of singing and dancing but this episode is not one of my favorites. 6/10.
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5/10
Mildly enjoyable but Rob is pretty obnoxious in this one.
planktonrules20 November 2023
First of several flashback army episodes.

Times have changed--rob is a pig.

"Oh How We Met the Night That We Danced" is a flashback episode about Rob and his army years...something that will be revisited in several future episodes.

It begins with Rob and Laura getting rid of some junk when they come upon Rob's old Army boots...and this spurs Rob to then tell Ritchie about when he and Laura met. Apparently, she was with the USO and Rob was to be the emcee of the show with her.

When Rob sees Laura, he's instantly smitten and spends most of the episode harassing Laura to go out with him. He will NOT relent and comes on very strong. This sort of thing was considered cute back in 1961, but today it does come off as pretty obnoxious and might be seen by many as sexual harassment. As for me, I thought it was a mistake to make Rob act like this, as it undermined his nice-guy image the show had created....hence my low score.
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