[1] The Dick Van Dyke Show creator Carl Reiner wrote and directed numerous episodes, also serving as creative consultant.

Like Van Dyke's previous series, this show divided its time between Dick's job in television and his home life with his wife and child.

The show featured Hope Lange as his wife, Jenny; Arizona native Angela Powell as their daughter, Annie; Fannie Flagg as his sister, Mike; David Doyle as his boss, Ted; and Marty Brill and Nancy Dussault as the Prestons' friends, Bernie and Carol Davis.

Dick and his family moved there after he landed a role in a medical soap opera called Those Who Care in which he played Dr. Brad Fairmont.

The network felt that Ball's series would provide a strong lead-in for The New Dick Van Dyke Show.

An episode produced for the third season, "Lt. Preston of the 4th Cavalry," included an off-camera scene in which Annie, Dick and Jenny's daughter, walked in on her parents having sex.

CBS at this time was allowing a number of other shows, such as All in the Family, which featured Reiner's son, Rob, to deal openly with much more controversial topics.