FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
I'm Dickens He's Fenster Official Website
Debuts to Launch Campaign
To Release Rare 1962 John Astin TV Sitcom on DVD
www.ImDickensHesFenster.com
December 11, 2008 - A website dedicated to the 1962 TV sitcom
I'm Dickens, He's Fenster, www.imdickenshesfenster.com, has been launched as part of an official campaign to bring the rarely-seen brilliantly reviewed series to DVD. Visitors to the site can sign up for a
Dickens & Fenster newsletter to show their support for a DVD release and also receive updates on the progress of the DVD project.
Authorized by
I'm Dickens, He's Fenster creator Leonard Stern (
Get Smart, The Honeymooners), the new website also features rare footage from the show, publicity photos, vintage reviews and memorabilia, the show's history, biographies of the cast, and a video interview with Mr. Stern (who, in addition to creating
I'm Dickens, He's Fenster, also served as writer, director, and executive producer of the series).
Recently, all thirty-two of the fine-grain 35 mm films from
I'm Dickens He's Fenster were discovered, and Stern is hoping his comedy gem will be remastered and preserved on DVD, to be enjoyed by the fans who fondly remember the show, as well as a new generation of TV viewers.
"If we can get public support, hopefully
I'm Dickens He's Fenster will be released on DVD," says Stern. "We truly believe that the series deserves to be preserved because it's truly funny. Unfortunately, too many times there has been indifference to classic films of the past. There are too many of them that will never be seen again that were representative of remarkable funmaking."
I'm Dickens, He's Fenster followed the exploits of two construction workers and bosom buddies, played by John Astin (
The Addams Family) and Marty Ingels (
The Dick Van Dyke Show). The series ran for one season on ABC and produced thirty-two side-splittingly hilarious episodes. The show was canceled despite strong ratings, critic's raves, and one very special fan: comedy film legend Stan Laurel (
Laurel & Hardy).
"I was always a great admirer of Laurel and Hardy," says Stern. "So when I received a fan letter from Stan Laurel saying he loved
Dickens and Fenster, I couldn't believe it. I thought my friend Steve Allen, who knew I loved Laurel and Hardy, was playing a practical joke on me! The letter turned out to be legitimate, and over time Stan and I became correspondent and good friends. It was exhilarating - a creative high for me. Stan watched
I'm Dickens, He's Fenster every week and would call and give his critique of every episode he saw. It was exhilarating!"
Although short-lived,
I'm Dickens, He's Fenster featured a remarkable roster of guest stars including: Yvonne Craig (Batgirl from
Batman), Harvey Korman (
The Carol Burnett Show), Sally Kellerman (
M*A*S*H), Peter Lupus (
Mission: Impossible), Lee Meriwether (
The Time Tunnel), Ellen Burstyn (
The Exorcist), Edy Williams (
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls), and Jim Nabors (
The Andy Griffith Show, Gomer Pyle USMC). The series also featured directors Arthur Hiller (
Love Story, The In-Laws), Jay Sandrich (
The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Golden Girls) and writers Mel Tolkin (
Your Show of Shows, All in the Family), Don Hinkley (
The Steve Allen Show, The Muppet Show) and Jay Sommers (
Green Acres, Ozzie & Harriet).
In addition to being creator, writer, director and producer on
I'm Dickens, He's Fenster, Leonard Stern's remarkable career includes writing for the
Abbott and Costello and
Ma and Pa Kettle movies, and the classic TV shows
The Honeymooners, Sergeant Bilko and
The Steve Allen Show. From 1965-1970, Mr. Stern was executive producer, writer and director on the classic spy spoof
Get Smart (starring Don Adams and Barbara Feldon). He also created, produced and directed the TV series
He & She (co-starring Richard Benjamin and Paula Prentiss) and
McMillan & Wife (starring Rock Hudson and Susan St. James). He is also co-creator of the immensely popular series of children's game books,
Mad Libs.
