One of the best-regarded and loved sitcoms of all time is The Dick Van Dyke show from the early 1960s. The series featured top-notch writing and acting and it has rightfully become part of television history.

The Dick Van Dyke Show followed the professional and private life of Rob Petrie, played by Dick Van Dyke, a writer for a fictional television show. Rob and his co-workers did their best to provide material for the show but were often bullied by the arrogant Mel Cooley, the show’s producer. The star of this show-within-a-show was Alan Brady, played by Carl Reiner. Other characters included Rob’s wife, Laura, and their son, Ritchie. Buddy and Sally, his two work friends, were the source of much of the humor and witty banter in the show.

Episode plots usually split the action between Rob’s home and his workplace, introducing a simple, everyday occurrence as the premise. This allowed the talented cast to trade heavily in jokes and one-liners—often aimed at the balding and pompous Mel Cooley—and to improvise funny and witty dialogue. The show also showcased Van Dyke’s slapstick gags and humor, most notably featured in the iconic opening credits where he enters his home and trips over the ottoman.

The show blazed a new path in several categories. For example, it offered a look behind the scenes of a sitcom with the fictional ‘Alan Brady Show’ and the interaction between the writers, the producer and the star. The Dick Van Dyke Show also dealt with several topics that weren’t typical sitcom fodder, like death, race, infidelity and religion. Laura Petrie, played by Mary Tyler Moore, became somewhat of a controversial figure for wearing capri pants at a time when TV housewives mostly sported demure dresses and skirts.

The series has had a tremendous influence on later comedy shows and sitcoms, thanks to its clever writing and skillful performances. It is a classic that lives on in syndication, still entertaining and drawing in fans.