Reunion show is painful to watch

It meanders about in a distant state.
By TERRY MORROW
SCRIPPS HOWARD
Some reunions are sad to attend.
Though gathering together the surviving members of "The Dick Van Dyke Show" 40 years later seems like a wonderful idea, "The Dick Van Dyke Show Revisited" is unintentionally sorrowful.
Like an older person with a faltering memory, the hourlong special meanders about in a distant state. The plot is flimsy, and there's barely enough meat on its bones to bring it altogether.
Making this especially painful to watch is the fact that Carl Reiner, the creator of the classic series, wrote the reunion.
Unlike "The Andy Griffith Show Reunion," the "Mary and Rhoda" movie and the Carol Burnett specials of recent years, "Revisited" isn't as much of a celebration of the show as it is a horrible reminder that we're all nearing death with the passing of time.
'You're old!'
In fact, Jerry Van Dyke, reprising his occasional role as Rob Petrie's on-screen brother, blurts out to his sibling: "You're old!"
And that's the problem.
Van Dyke and gang don't relish their experience and age. They give in to it. Sure, time has not been as kind to Van Dyke, Rose Marie or Ann Guilbert has it has to Mary Tyler Moore or Reiner.
For them, life is rushing headlong into a brick wall, and they're sitting around waiting for the crash.
The plot is eerily dark.
Egomaniac Alan Brady, Rob's former boss, brings the gang together to write his eulogy. He isn't dying, but he wants to hear the nice words that Rob will be saying about him after he's gone.
Rob and Sally (Marie) balk at first, but then he offers them a handsome sum to do it, and they change their minds. (Actor Larry Matthews, who played Rob and Laura's son, Richie, has an all-too-brief appearance by himself in the opening.)
Few flashbacks
"Revisited" doesn't have enough flashbacks either. For my money, it would have made a better clips show. Reprising the characters and watching the tired actors trying to do them is not really entertainment.
I'm a fan of "The Dick Van Dyke Show," and this was difficult to see.
These characters and actors aren't the way I remember them. It's a tough fact of life. We all age, some of us better than others.
I don't need a remembrance of that.
If your idea of a good time is sitting back and being tortured by the fact that days gone by are truly over, then this is the reunion special for you. If you'd rather relish the memories you already have, then skip this one.