Ep 1. Coast-to-Coast Big Mouth

Rob Petrie, head writer of the fictional TV show "The Alan Brady Show," receives a phone call from a man named Ralph Twigger, who claims to have written 2,500 song parodies. After Rob tells his colleagues Buddy Sorrell, Sally Rogers, and Mel Cooley about the call, they convince him to allow Ralph to come on the show with his parodies.

However, Ralph proves to be a difficult guest, constantly interrupting rehearsals and complaining about minor details. When the show finally goes live, Ralph's performance is a disaster, as his microphone fails to work and he forgets the lyrics to his songs. Despite this, he refuses to leave the stage.

Meanwhile, Rob's wife Laura is on a flight from New York to Los Angeles to visit her pregnant friend Millie. Laura strikes up a conversation with an attractive man named Howard Morris, who turns out to be a film director. They hit it off, and Howard offers Laura a part in his upcoming movie. However, Laura hesitates to accept the offer, fearing that it would interfere with her responsibilities as a mother and wife.

Back at the Alan Brady Show, Rob and his colleagues are struggling to deal with Ralph's increasingly erratic behavior. It is revealed that Ralph has a drinking problem, and Rob decides to try to help him get sober. With the support of his colleagues, Rob confronts Ralph about his alcoholism and convinces him to seek help.

In the end, Laura decides to take the part in Howard's movie, but only on the condition that she can bring her family with her to California. Rob is initially hesitant about the idea, but ultimately agrees to go along with it.

"Coast-to-Coast Big Mouth" is a classic episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show, blending humor and heart in a way that only the show's talented cast and writers could achieve. The episode features several memorable moments, including Ralph's disastrous performance and Laura's chance encounter with Howard Morris. Ultimately, however, it is the relationship between Rob and Ralph that serves as the emotional core of the episode, demonstrating the power of friendship and empathy in overcoming adversity.