Anthony Eisley was interesting in this episode, and so was Laura's cousin Donna.
Up until the ending, this was well-written and funny, great dialogue. There was an air of mystery about the Eisley character--- but the explanation of his mystery was weirdly a downer. Spousal abuse---admittedly, the use of this topic was ahead of its time, but the writers treated Eisley's problem as that of a 'weirdo' to get laughs, mostly. Of course, back then, it was difficult to get sit-coms to include controvercial material, so the writers did what they could with it. Still worth watching.
The Dick Van Dyke Show (TV Series)
The Lady and the Tiger and the Lawyer (1964)
User Reviews
Review this title5 Reviews
Disgraceful episode
Nancy-Fujiwara5 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers
As much as I love the Dick Van Dyke show, this particular episode is beyond disturbing. Even for a 1960's show, the appalling ending (that a good-looking bachelor hits women) makes the entire episode unwatchable. I can't believe they show it in reruns. Times have certainly changed, but there was never a time when a man hitting a woman is funny. Up until the last few minutes, it's an enjoyable episode. Both Rob and Laura have a woman in mind for the good-looking, single lawyer who just moved in next door. Fortunately, his character was never brought back and the episode should be buried and the film burned. Disgraceful!
Odd in many ways ...and creepy in one
balldave9 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This episode is creepy start to finish. Laura practically throwing herself at this new neighbour, Arthur Stanwick; even inviting him to dinner after knowing him only a few minutes. Trying to convince Sally to be a blind dinner date Rob fairly rushes at her in the office next morning; even reaching to grab her hand just to ask how she feels about the suburbs.
Then Arthur, practically sitting on blind date Donna's lap, even hugging her because she also doesn't like movie subtitles.
Rose Marie's Jimmy Durante impression is cringe worthy and goes on too long.
But the topper is the almost whimsical manner Arthur confesses how he tends to hit the people he loves.
Some good moments but odd in many ways making you glad you weren't invite to either of the two dinners.
Then Arthur, practically sitting on blind date Donna's lap, even hugging her because she also doesn't like movie subtitles.
Rose Marie's Jimmy Durante impression is cringe worthy and goes on too long.
But the topper is the almost whimsical manner Arthur confesses how he tends to hit the people he loves.
Some good moments but odd in many ways making you glad you weren't invite to either of the two dinners.
Call it the times back then...
JoDwightFrye10 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This is about a single neighbor man that Rob tries to fix up with Sally, and Laura does the same with her friend, Donna.
As it progresses, the man confesses that he's been married twice before, and they he hit his wives.
So, whew, right? He won't beat Sally or Donna! And Rob & Laura are relieved to hear this.
They ended with Rob and Laura doing a little fake sparring. Laughter. Women got beaten back then, too, and it belittles women victims.
I give TDVDS series itself a solid 10, but I can only give this episode one star.
Strange Episode that is really ruined by the Ending Reveal
mrogers14 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
A typical for the time sitcom premise. Nosy neighbor wants to set up eligible 'bachelor' with known girl as of course every single guy has to be matched up with someone.. it wouldn't be proper otherwise.. or so Laura insists. Competition between spouses takes place where Rob doesn't like his wife meddling but at least wants to prove that his co-worker is a better match for this lawyer that moved in next door that they don't even know well enough to be doing this. While Laura wants her shy but sweet cousin to be matched up with him.. start the competition.. both will set up blind dates and may the nosier and less pushy spouse win the race. Or something like that..
Dick Van Dyke Show is a classic 60s show and some of the themes they will do are 'controversial' at the time and have to be dealt with in a unique and 'funny' method to get serious messages across. Some of the themes in this episode are uncomfortable and (for a lack of better word) weird in how they went about it.
The very notion that someone you haven't met yet can be thrust into two blind dates and it becomes a competition to see who's girl he will like better, seems on paper like a funny premise but it's more awkward and uncomfortable to watch this take place. Even Rob and Laura get very competitive over this and start to hurt and belittle each other in the means of making sure their blind date is the one that the lawyer goes with. It's just strange to see how this all played out.
He of course agrees to go on both blind dates, at the neighbors house by the way, yes because that would happen. Go to your neighbors house for two days in a row for two separate dates while said neighbors serve, stare and remark on your date all the while. Only in TV land would this happen. Rob is accused of making things tough for Laura's cousin so he doesn't fall for her.. even leading to a stupid scene where she is locked in the den and Rob has to bash the door down to get her out and then trips her due to his fallen body laying there as she exits. Wow.. that's just over the top ridiculous. Every time the cousin likes something the lawyer is into Laura cheers and Rob grumbles and vice versa. Its really not funny.
Then we have Sally dating the guy and she starts doing weird Jimmy Durante impressions and staring at each other and it turns out he likes everything she is into also. Huh? The whole premise of this episode is just forced and awkward. Everything would not happen the way it did here and the notion that Rob and Laura are meddling into a strangers life like this without even knowing him and going by looks and profession is just a typical of the times. Oh he's well off and looks handsome, he needs to be married. Before even talking to the guy or learning more about him?! And having it at your house without any questions asked and two nights in a row? Wow really? Just an awful premise for an episode.
The kicker is that awful, awful, awful and very badly aged ending that is not funny or a good reason why this all won't work out. As of course you know there had to be a reason why this wonderful lawyer won't wind up with either of them. The whole awkward ending is set up so badly too.
The lawyer neighbor randomly knocks on the Petrie's door and is like.. oh hi there.. randomly showing up to talk to you. And they are both giddy.. oh boy now to find out who he will choose to go with. The cousin or Sally. Before it gets there the lawyer just starts to randomly confess something you wouldn't talk about with others and is a very serious problem and should not be joked about with as was done here. Even back then this is awkward. He admits to them that he won't be going with either girls as he likes them both too much. HUH?
Yeah you see.. he was married two times prior and he had to get divorces from both as he likes to hit girls he likes a lot. HUH? He's seeing his therapist though so it's ok and he realizes he can't go out with girls he likes so he won't hit them. Cue nervous laughs and reactions from Rob and Laura as they both sigh in relief that this is the case and neither will go out with him now. HUH?
What a weird and strange episode this is. It's really not funny and the ending is so bad that it really ruins the whole set up of the episode. I could have accepted that he likes to be single and just doesn't want to be tied down or he had another date and found his true dream love and that's why it won't work out. .anything else.. but he's abusive and ha ha ha he can't date them again due to that? Just an awful ending and way to handle a serious situation such as that. This is a real dud of an episode.
Gets four stars out of ten because some of the antics were amusing and as always the acting and direction was top notch as is the case in most Dick Van Dyke episodes. On a show from the 50s this may have been fun without the weird ending, but in the 60s this is quite a dated premise to have two neighbors setting up blind dates at their own home for a man they just met. It didn't work well with the style of the show and probably seemed better on paper than it turned out in true time. They did what they could with the episode but it's one of those they should have changed to make it funnier, less awkward and better executed.
Something like this would not happen in a show past the 80s where we bring up a subject like as was at the end here with such random and careless banter as you reveal something like this to your neighbors in such a matter of factly way. Not the worst episode of the series by far, but such an awkward premise and set of events it is hard to watch. Especially as that weird ending comes out of nowhere to close things out as to why the lawyer is single and won't be dating anyone else past this episode.
Just wow.. does anyone look over scripts before they are green lit like this?
I know this happened around the time of the JFK assassinations and everyone was in a rush to get the country back on track but this episode wasn't it. That's for sure.
Dick Van Dyke Show is a classic 60s show and some of the themes they will do are 'controversial' at the time and have to be dealt with in a unique and 'funny' method to get serious messages across. Some of the themes in this episode are uncomfortable and (for a lack of better word) weird in how they went about it.
The very notion that someone you haven't met yet can be thrust into two blind dates and it becomes a competition to see who's girl he will like better, seems on paper like a funny premise but it's more awkward and uncomfortable to watch this take place. Even Rob and Laura get very competitive over this and start to hurt and belittle each other in the means of making sure their blind date is the one that the lawyer goes with. It's just strange to see how this all played out.
He of course agrees to go on both blind dates, at the neighbors house by the way, yes because that would happen. Go to your neighbors house for two days in a row for two separate dates while said neighbors serve, stare and remark on your date all the while. Only in TV land would this happen. Rob is accused of making things tough for Laura's cousin so he doesn't fall for her.. even leading to a stupid scene where she is locked in the den and Rob has to bash the door down to get her out and then trips her due to his fallen body laying there as she exits. Wow.. that's just over the top ridiculous. Every time the cousin likes something the lawyer is into Laura cheers and Rob grumbles and vice versa. Its really not funny.
Then we have Sally dating the guy and she starts doing weird Jimmy Durante impressions and staring at each other and it turns out he likes everything she is into also. Huh? The whole premise of this episode is just forced and awkward. Everything would not happen the way it did here and the notion that Rob and Laura are meddling into a strangers life like this without even knowing him and going by looks and profession is just a typical of the times. Oh he's well off and looks handsome, he needs to be married. Before even talking to the guy or learning more about him?! And having it at your house without any questions asked and two nights in a row? Wow really? Just an awful premise for an episode.
The kicker is that awful, awful, awful and very badly aged ending that is not funny or a good reason why this all won't work out. As of course you know there had to be a reason why this wonderful lawyer won't wind up with either of them. The whole awkward ending is set up so badly too.
The lawyer neighbor randomly knocks on the Petrie's door and is like.. oh hi there.. randomly showing up to talk to you. And they are both giddy.. oh boy now to find out who he will choose to go with. The cousin or Sally. Before it gets there the lawyer just starts to randomly confess something you wouldn't talk about with others and is a very serious problem and should not be joked about with as was done here. Even back then this is awkward. He admits to them that he won't be going with either girls as he likes them both too much. HUH?
Yeah you see.. he was married two times prior and he had to get divorces from both as he likes to hit girls he likes a lot. HUH? He's seeing his therapist though so it's ok and he realizes he can't go out with girls he likes so he won't hit them. Cue nervous laughs and reactions from Rob and Laura as they both sigh in relief that this is the case and neither will go out with him now. HUH?
What a weird and strange episode this is. It's really not funny and the ending is so bad that it really ruins the whole set up of the episode. I could have accepted that he likes to be single and just doesn't want to be tied down or he had another date and found his true dream love and that's why it won't work out. .anything else.. but he's abusive and ha ha ha he can't date them again due to that? Just an awful ending and way to handle a serious situation such as that. This is a real dud of an episode.
Gets four stars out of ten because some of the antics were amusing and as always the acting and direction was top notch as is the case in most Dick Van Dyke episodes. On a show from the 50s this may have been fun without the weird ending, but in the 60s this is quite a dated premise to have two neighbors setting up blind dates at their own home for a man they just met. It didn't work well with the style of the show and probably seemed better on paper than it turned out in true time. They did what they could with the episode but it's one of those they should have changed to make it funnier, less awkward and better executed.
Something like this would not happen in a show past the 80s where we bring up a subject like as was at the end here with such random and careless banter as you reveal something like this to your neighbors in such a matter of factly way. Not the worst episode of the series by far, but such an awkward premise and set of events it is hard to watch. Especially as that weird ending comes out of nowhere to close things out as to why the lawyer is single and won't be dating anyone else past this episode.
Just wow.. does anyone look over scripts before they are green lit like this?
I know this happened around the time of the JFK assassinations and everyone was in a rush to get the country back on track but this episode wasn't it. That's for sure.
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