We're Here to Help - 219: We're Here to Chat Vandy Camp Special

Episode Date: October 17, 2025

Eric Edelstein gives the guys a play-by-play of his adventures at Dick Van Dyke's Malibu mansion.Want to call in? Email your question to [e-mail]: https://patreon.com/heretohelppodMERCH: heretohelppod.comINSTAGRAM: @HereToHelpPodIf you’re enjoying the show, make sure to rate We’re Here to Help 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts.Visit gemini.google/students to learn more and sign up. Terms apply.Advertise on We’re Here to Help via Gumball.fmSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This is a headgum podcast. On a Friday, because why, Eric? Well, we're finally going to have the last chapter of VandyCamp. What did the people do when I asked them, yay or nay, how did the people of the world respond, Eric? A lot of yays. A lot of yays. That's not a tribute to me.

That is a tribute to Mr. Dick Van Dyke. I don't know, Eric. A lot of yays. I think DVDs are right in your coattails at this point. Your Japanese rain gear coattails. Oh, this is the Manix jacket. This is General's rainwear. Looking great.

We also saw a comment on there, Eric, that I sent to you. Eric looking hot in the Manix jacket. We sure appreciate that. Thank you so much. It's great that Eric is wearing a Manix jacket, a detective, someone investigating scenes there might be a little out of water on. And he is really, he's gone under. cover in Vandy Camp, and he's blown the lid off the whole thing.

Everybody, please, enjoy your first drink now, sit back, have a pecan, because we're about to take you to Vandy Camp. So, I drove out, I was harried, I was nervous, I found out everybody was upstairs at a yoga studio, I started to go up there, and then I see a stream of top-tier Disney adults coming down, at which point I turned direction to get back in line for the shuttle, expecting there's going to be four or five shuttles there to get us to Vandy Camp, at which point I see one, and I see a guy get out, and I realize it is Chris Isaacson, who we've gone back and forth with, and there is one shuttle, and he is driving it.

So we pull up. It is Dick Van Dyke's house. There are neighbors that are kind of craning their necks and do not look thrilled to see what looks like the extras holding tent for Mary Poppins being ushered into their neighborhood. And we should also say here that this is a gated community. Garrett, your thoughts. My thoughts, I am in love with the story and in love with your disposition. You handling the, this is crazy.

But it's horrendous. I mean, in every way, it's horrendous. This is a human tragedy. It's horrendous. And Eric, you're on both sides of the fence. Eric, head of the spear. Then you'll go, kitty, chitty. Yeah, you're saying wrong.

And to me, whatever you're thinking right now, know for me, this is pretty much just another Sunday. But that's, you know, Jake, Jake, that's, I know where. That's Donnie Brascoe doing a line of blow because he's around. Because I'm undercover. Yeah, he's undercover. True. It's a guy who's not in the mafia dressed as the mafia doing a line of blow around.

No wire. No pace. He's a beautiful wife at all of him. He's a job. He's not in the, he's not in the bureau. Take that rain jacket off. and go home you're not in the mafia.

I guess what I never thought of was the neighbors. Yeah. It's a great community in Malibu. I never thought of the neighbors. I bet they're

furious about us. I didn't assume it was a gated community. I thought he had a little on the area. Well, we're going to get back to the neighbors

and the security checkpoint very quickly because as we talked about the other day, I get let back in and I have a big smile on my face. I'm sitting there

housing egg salad, having a Fitzwillie Fizz, which I am drinking right now. Oh. And just waiting, and they're waiting for these shuttles to show up. Eric, very quickly, temperature of the egg salad?

Great, great. Didn't, was not concerned about being sick. Cater knocked it out of the park. This was a good egg salad with watercress. What answer did you expect there when Eric's in this mode, Gareth? I'm happy. I'm excited. I'm also thinking about that one of you.

I thought maybe a little warm, but I figured I could make it. I'll promise you. was a little warm it was a tiny warm it was room temper good also while i'm back there i have a smile in my face truly i'm not hanging out of anyone else i'm mostly by myself i'm also thrilled that we called jake's bluff and he wasn't there because i can imagine he's sitting in this backyard the look on his face what he'd be saying to me we would have left he would have left so fast this would be the lowest point of our friendship he wouldn't have made it on the van so we're there in the backyard while because we are waiting for Chris in his shuttles.

Because it's 10 minutes in, 10 minutes back. And a little spoiler, later on this week, Instagram live, Arlene definitely seemed to have some issues with Chris and was saying, I can't believe there weren't more shuttles, at which point Chris said, and I'm willing to believe this guy, Chris said that there was an incident at the gate and he couldn't get through. So I can just see Chris sweating, doing this makeup show. It's Dick Van Dyke's house. and some Malibu security offers is like,

you're bringing 60 people in? No, or somebody in front of them. Chris is sweating, but there were shuttles that were not there by the time the thing finally started. Oh, so some people paid and didn't get in. Or got in very late, and I watched Chris, like, bend over backwards,

trying to accommodate them, getting them scones, and they were also the people up front. So they probably also got there a little late. Top tier. Top tier, that table was not filled. Other people came in and filled it, then Chris picked him out later when they showed up. And people were putting in the Instagram comments like,

we were at the yoga studio on time. There's no reason we weren't there. It's basically now people doing what I'm doing of now trying to get another free show out of it because there was a big of a show. He was another one. But he might be right. So this is a disaster.

Oh, I don't need anything else again. But Eric, we're jumping to the end a little bit too fast for me. I'm just telling you, Arlene is not happy with a shuttle situation at all. Arlene is keeping Dick alive, and Arlene is Dick's wife, Arlene Van Dyke, and Chris is defending himself in the comments during the Instagram live saying, it was an instant at the gate, Arlene, I couldn't

get in, like almost like they're not totally talking. And Arlene is not happy because I think it was their friends that couldn't get in. And then they had to kick everyone out of that front table because it was like squatters right at Disney adults. They're just grabbing up front. So I can just imagine, poor Chris, who I really like trying to get through that gate. Wait, now you really like Chris?

I sure do. Chris and I have a lot more in common than I care to admit. The only big show I've ever organized in this town was a birthday party for my 90-year-old friend, and a 98-year-old Eva Marie Saint canceled on the day. Like, I have a lot more in common with Chris Isaacson. But what about you and Chris and all those harsh emails going back and forth? That's on me and my anger issues and my unreasonability. That's on me being a dick. We have to look inward. I'm in therapy. Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on. He ripped you off eventually.

Yes. You bought tickets. He refunded me. Yes, but it's after your mad emails. After your mad emails. Yeah. That's my biggest quibble of him is you don't say when you bought a ticket. Eric is trying to get civil tickets.

No, I know I'm not ever getting any free from Chris again. I don't want to ruin your angle. But I mean, no, no, no. I must say. I'm extremely off putting it unreasonable to say when you bought the ticket it said no refunds to which i said yes i bought a ticket to dick van dyke didn't show up then i took it to an 11 kind of seemed unreasonable started with my friend shanna called a little bit of a dick van dyke villain arc but i'm fine with this i'm absolutely fine by the way eric i will say with

this whole thing i think you've become the villain to the dick van dyke thing oh i'm sure because i'm concerned i may not be allowed to buy tickets for the hundred no way i think that you've become Well, you're just kicking dirt all over this thing. Because he's in, it's a cult that's falling apart. It's like, it's the last third, it's the last act. No. It is. It is the part of Waco when they just got to Africa.

This is a nice part of Jones town. The Kool-Aid hasn't even been thought of yet, okay? All right? Everything is awesome. I'm a big part of this. All right? Oh, my God. So, we're still, they're kind of.

of talking about holding for a shuttle and then not and then there's some whispering and then they're like okay everybody start lining up and I'm like what is this going to be are we going to line up to like see him in his house people one by one yeah yeah here's your 307 2 bucks pal so we just start lining up and I'm like are we going into the house is he even able to be down here what's going on so I jump in line trying to get as close as I can and they start letting us in and you go into this like courtyard and if anybody knows Dick Van Dyke did a cold play video

at his house because that's where he's most comfortable when this is the a few years ago like four or five years ago and he danced beautifully Gareth when he was in his 90s he was in a cold play video and they made him dance yes yes yes

that checks out no yeah and so I walk in and somebody leans to me and says seats are first come first serve grab something quick who said that to you A vandy camp employee

was like very quickly like they knew that there was going to be Get me out of here. Wait, hold on, hold on. Hold on. Hold on. No. No, no, no, no, no. How big is the staff at these events?

It's probably, I mean, there's a big staff. And then there's also Dick's band. The staff is probably eight to ten. I'm sure volunteers. They're dressed like Mary Pop and stuff. And they're ready. And someone leaned in and's like, get a seat, get a seat quickly. And almost nudge me to the back.

but I look ahead and I see the numbers that say reserved and then I see I'm believe it or not I'm one of the few people there by myself incredible so I look and there's the first table that's not reserved and there's a family of three and I just jump and I take the first seat closest to the stage what's the youngest member of this family yeah it's a child that's maybe 50. And then an older parents and people had flown in and I grabbed this seat. A child of 50 is a shocking line. It sure is big daddy. So then I grab a regular

child. A regular child of 50. And then I look before me. Friends, I think we've all been on this journey. You're going to know what this meant to me. 15 feet in front of me, beaming out like the

fucking son. friends is Dick Van Dyke and he's sitting there his wife Arlene is sitting in there with the dog that appears to be older than Dick and he is has the biggest smile on his face he's nodding smiling to everybody and then we all kind of get situated there's some weirdness I can tell with the empty tables and then other people are filling it in and we're all sitting there and he looks amazing and he's like welcome everybody to our house and he like I apologize for not being there. And then he just, I was prepared to meet a caged animal

that I'd been warned about on the van. And instead, it is Dick Van Dyke. It is what I'd seen in these videos of him smiling. He's like, should we sing a song? And then out of nowhere, he leads the band, leads in, and he starts singing supercalifragilistic, XBialadocious. This is a bad ethic trip.

No, it was a great acid trip. No. He has the biggest smile in his face. He is all there. He's dancing in his seat. Can we stop for a second, Gareth? Please. I mean, dancing in his seat?

Yes. Well, no, now that you know the reveal, there's a lot of videos online that everybody else can go and find this stuff. I've not sent any of it to you because I didn't want a spoiler. Eric, he is 99. Two months away from a hundred. He's 99. And in all sincerity, you believed him to be there of his free will at 99.

We are going to get into that, but absolutely yes. At that point, yes. At that point, very interesting. There's going to be a little snag later. Can I ask one more question before we get back in? The energy at the table that. you sit at when you sit down, welcoming a little estranged out by you? A little estranged out that a family of three is now sitting with this giant guy who

immediately just turns a seat opposite of them. And I'm dead in, locked in with Dick Van Dyke. I will say something I respect about you, Eric, is that moment doesn't make you feel uncomfortable. No. I want the best seat for Dick Van Dyke. It's a really wild. It's a wild trait that I really respect, but you don't care about that moment. you'll just sit with a family

and it works no and when I turned my seat away from them so I'm facing dick and there were scones and finger foods and cookies I don't need I'm not I'm not about that I'm just saying what was there so there was the illusion

of people sitting together and it's called Van Dyke High Tea and Van Dyke High Tea Van Dyke High T How much after was that? No that the tea was free but a lot of people didn't get it That's the Kool-Aid Steve

They turned out of it That's the Kool-Aid that he gave everybody but dick. He had his coat. You know, life's full of those little moments when you're sending money and it can make a big difference. So why not do that with Zell? Gareth and I send money to each other via Zell. When we are in the hole to the other guy,

the easiest way to do it is Zell. We both use it. We both know that it works. Pay and or request. Request money. Send me some money. via Zelle. Why? Because yo, you owe to me, little rat. Time to send me the money you owe me. My brother, the great Danny J. And I do something for each other that, to us, it's sincere and it's

sweet. We always send each other money as gifts, and we do it randomly, and we use Zell. We'll just, every once in a while, he'll get $7.50 from me with a big subject that says, you deserve it. And even though he sends me money back, I know in his heart of hearts for a moment when he saw that $7.50 on a Tuesday morning at seven before work, he thought, my brother loves me. And sure, when he sends me less back, do I think my brother loves me less? Sure, maybe a little. Whether it's a big moment or a small moment, Zell is here for you, so you can be there for them. When it counts, send money with Zell. So you're sitting there, it's about 80% filled. The,

And it will all be filled. It was sold out. It will all be filled eventually. There was an issue of the shuttle on the gate. Well, no, there's only one van that sat six. But Dick's already come out at 80% capacity and started singing. When we come in there, he's already sitting there. And I'm in stone cold shop.

I thought you walked in and grabbed a chair. No, I saw Dick Van Dyck and still took this chair. They had to get him in there first. They had to like put him in a wheel there and prop him up so that we saw how awful. So in the room he's in, is it a third. theater? Is it a living? No, it's outside. It's this like this jury in courtyard. And I cannot explain to you how massive his house is. Well, he's working six days a week.

Like, back when you really got paid residuals, like back when you really got paid residuals, diagnosis murder, I think was huge. But Eric, they can't be that good. I mean, he is still working. He's still working. No, he wants to. I promise. All right. So Eric, keep going. You guys, I promise you. I've seen a lot of older musicians. We know, like I saw Glenn Campbell and they were like, we're keeping him on the road because that's what keeps him going.

He looks forward to this. The show he didn't show for, Aline's like, we're going to, Arlene said, we're really going to try to keep him going because he looks forward to these and gets excited. When I walked in and saw him, I understand and I love your guy's bits about elder abuse and he doesn't want to be there. He was lit up like a Christmas tree and so darn happy. And I was so darn happy to see him. I positioned myself directly in his eye line 15 feet away.

as an actor, I think I'm a very good listener and my goal then was to be the greatest active listener in my life for Dick Van Dyck and to send him energy back and I couldn't believe I was looking at him

and I was just so darn excited. So he does two or three songs and then there's just kind of a pause and she's like, so what do you think? Do you want to take some questions? And he's like, sure, sure. And he's smiling. And then this is where we are going

to get to my biggest issue with the event. And they are planning on at least two more, and I have a feeling that I'll be listening to this. So this is my biggest beef. Do you think they're listening? I have a feeling. Yeah, Chris definitely knew who I was, and kind of Leon said, I'm very glad you're here. He said that?

This is my... Hold on, Eric. When did that happen? That happened right when I got dropped off in the shuttle. So what happened? I don't think there's any way if he didn't at least Google me to see who is this psycho that's demanding a Dick Van Dyke refund. Well, we talked about the pod too, so in the...

And we invited him on the pod. I sent him a long email that you guys approved on the air. We offered him a spot on the pod. Right. Which I still think... And we just went out on social media asking Dick Van Dyck to come on. And I tagged Arlene. So you guys are maybe somehow...

He's all over. I tagged at Vandy Manor. Oh, you did. I sure did. I sure... And stories. And she's done... She's gone live about three or four times today.

And she's gone live and definitely... What was the last time? went life the day I saw him that's the last proof of life we have okay so you loved the show now i just got to know this now eric because i don't want a different story at lunch that's why i'm a little bit confused no no give it to me i'm here for i'm about to explain the where the show's but but i will say this the vibe of the eric i'm getting right now i'm just wondering if if this is because you think that arline might be listening you don't want to offend no i think that bridge has been completely

utterly burned. I don't think Arlene and Chris are listening. No. I can promise, even if they are, they will that bridge has been burned. Okay, okay. My email's at Chris. I promise you, I am not here looking for the acceptance of Arlene Van Dyke. But so Chris says to you when he sees you, because that's a big

part of the story. Yeah, well, he just leans in says, I'm glad you're here. And I'm really glad you can make it. And I'm like, I got the sense he knew who I was. Okay. My name's definitely on the list to be checked in. there's a lot of security. And so I have a feeling you knew who I was. But nothing more than that.

Yeah, not beyond that. And then this is where, I'm telling you, it was truly an incredible, amazing show. And I really do look up to Dick Van Dyke at time. I know you do. And this is where we had a problem because they turn it over and Dick's like, sure, I'll take questions. Now, something I learned when I first came to Los Angeles is that the Q&As here are very, different than the Q&As I encountered in Portland and Spokane. There it's a question and answer.

Here it is a rambling, narcissistic dialogue, tribe with some trauma dumping and an answer. And so I was really hoping for the best. But these were people that had shit they had to get out to Dick Van Dyke. And also, I will say this. This is going to be ammo for you guys. Yeah, I was singing and I answered the question that went 25 minutes. It got so bad. I did not ask a question because I did not want to be associated with these people.

Oh, no. Because Dick was up front early. He's like, I can't hear and I've got, I can't remember anything. God, Jesus Christ. But Eric, listen to yourself. And they're going to do a Q&A for the guy who just said that. And they're going to make him perform and he loves it. He can't hear.

I can't remember it. Hey, he can hear of someone, if someone from far away. Now, here's the other thing. You said this was one of the best. Best shows you've ever seen. It was. I was 15 feet away from Dick Van Dyke, radiant, beaming light out of him,

and I was so inspired. I can't breathe. Oh, God. My memory is bad. Was a classic legend being self-deprecating. Because, Steve, laugh all you want. Dick Van Dyke's memory is so much better than yours. I'm sure it is.

But I'm not a bar to hold it up against. I know, but I'm just letting you know that right the fuck now. What we're laughing about Eric is he said. He said this. My memory is bad, and I can't hear it. Literally, literally. We're not making fun of his hero. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, I know you're not.

I know you're not. What this was, was a consummate showman trying to steer the direction of the show. And unfortunately, that bus could not be steered. Imagine if you said before a Q&A to someone, what would be the two worst things to remove from you right before this? Can't hear, can't remember. That would be it, Gareth. But you could already tell the can't remember because already one song, somebody threw it out

and he went, oh, okay. And he started remembering song lyrics. And then he's like, those are the last to go. But Eric, if you can't hear and you can't remember, you can't do a Q&A. Q&A. Question answer. No, no, no.

He can hear, he's just letting, what he can hear is what Arlene says to him in his ear or the band leader and like, miss this that. We made $24,000. So he just got to give it to him. Sure. You just got to give a short first right next to him. When it's a microphone 30 feet away, he can't hear.

And unfortunately, every, not every person, 80% of people, when they said, first, I want to say, you're like, this is really bad. And when I've done this, when I've been on the other end of these Q&As and I've emceeded, I said, I know we all have amazing opinions about the movie we just said. We just saw, let's keep them in for ourselves. I would have said to these folks, we're going to play a magical game that Walt Disney and Goofy invented where you aren't allowed to say the word I. Because every single one of these persons

gave just a ramble up top that Dick couldn't hear. And he'd go, can't hear! Can't hear! And then, so they would seriously do this thing. When I was 14, my father was diagnosed with lupus, and my grandmother had passed away. Chitty, chitty, chitty, bag.

The one thing my father loved was Mary Poppins. And when my dad, when we went to Wichita and like the longest thing, and then Arlene would hilariously just sum it up like, Grandfather, Dad, Mother's Sick, loves Mary Poppins. And he go, oh, okay. Then they would ask a question. His command was shocking how good he was. His memory was insane.

It was, you're sitting here a guy talking about dropping out of high school. senior year to enter World War II? Like, they bring up stuff and you go, oh, Cubby Broccoli, shirt. You know, he offered me James Bond? He calls me up, and he says, yeah, I'm like, they're already giving me hell for my accent. I used to marry Poppins. You don't want me as James Bond.

I'm up the phone, but yeah, they offered me James Bond. He is memory. I wanted to ask him if I had about Columbo. I'm going to go, oh, yeah, Peter was lovely. His memory was incredible, and again, so much better than Steve Berg's. Hold on. I'm trying to keep up here, pal. Please.

Let's take a breath Why are you attacking my memory? I'm not, I'm not. I'm getting attacked on all sides right now. No, you're not getting attacked. It's a little all over the place, babe. Okay. So we understand your defending Dick Van Dyck.

It was the best show you've ever seen. Not the best. It was amazing. It was a very, very good one. Inspirational. So Dick just killed it. And then what happened? Dick killed it, but then the stories from the Disney adults would not stop.

And eventually, I was close enough to be able to hear him off mic. How long are we talking for the, how long is the total run time of this Q&A? The entire show lasted an hour and 45 minutes. But the Q&A. The Q&A, it would be broken up by songs, and the songs were great. Then one family said it was their kid's birthday, and the kid was there. No, the kid was like seven or eight, and Dick organized everybody to sing happy birthday to him. But at one point, this one person would not stop saying how they devoted their life to charity after seeing Mary Poppins.

And Dick off Mike goes there. He's like, I didn't think this was going to be a conversation. And she's like, well, it's your show. And he goes, no, it's your show. And that was off Mike. And I think what he meant by a conversation is like, let him talk. Why are we listening to all these random people? Eric, Eric, Eric, can I ask you a question?

Please. Dick Van Dyke said to his wife, mid-show, it's not my show, it's yours, meaning she's the one that wants to do this. Or she's the one that planned it. He was so fucking sick as I was of these people rambling and trauma-dumping and talking about their life when he can't hear them. She would get in his ear and sum it up being like, uncle died, mom died, World War II vet. A 96-year-old lady was like, I used to hear it. on the radio and this was somebody who did have a memory issue because he goes were you in danville illinois i did radio in danville that's how i started and she's like i don't know i just know i heard you

and he's like ah like he was so shockingly together and which surprised me i didn't know what to expect out there but the people rambling really brought it down i think for him and that's what he meant when he said i didn't know this was going to be a conversation and that you said there was something they got caught and there was an off-color joke that went viral or something. This was really awesome. And this would probably go in with y'all's point that perhaps he was not where he wanted to be. So they start going,

they start going into what the next show is going to be and other stuff. He just kind of shakes his head like Uncle Bill an American movie. Like, and then somebody's like, well, and he said many times, he gave his wife all the credit for him living to be this long. And he rattled off all these great one liners.

And at one point he goes, Oh, if I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself. And then he says a line that horrified the Disney adults, and I blurted out laughing where someone's like, so you're 100th, are you going to do another party? Are we going to be here, Mal? He goes, he just kind of looked at it.

He goes, God, wouldn't it be funny if I didn't make it to 100? It was like if I died, and then I cackle. And people look horrified that he would even say this. And it is the thing that got put in clickbait is Dick Van Dyke, says it would be funny if he didn't make it to age of 100. And a lot of people didn't laugh. I thought it was kind of the funniest moment in the whole thing. Because he gave this look, and I do think he looked at me because I was laughing.

And it was just, that's his sense of humor. And he still, believe it or not, has his fastball. I mean, it was a hot show. It went viral. I mean, a 50-person show. Okay, so Eric, so what happens to him after all of this? What is the removal process? I'm going to make a guess.

please everyone leaves before he's taken off stage no no he's got to get out of there dude he's he walking it was amazing watching arline pulled me out by my fucking ears is he walk is he walking yeah well near the end somebody gave a two-minute rambling thing about their whole family gathered around a vhs tape and watched mary pavens and this is where i saw how arline is his bouncer and then they pull out the vhs tape like it's a great honor for dick to sign it and he looks at him kind of, it's like, what? And then Arlene just goes, he's not signing that. Put it away. And then they started to move. They wouldn't take no. And they're like, I just wanted to do any, and she's like, put it away. And I wanted to hug her. And then other people wanted

a picture. And there's like, well, are we going to get pictures? And then it was clear that he'd been punished by these punishers enough. Hug who? Arlene? I wanted to hug Arlene for stopping the autograph request in its tracks. Also, as much as I'm ripping everyone for their trauma dump. and unfiltered. They're meeting their hero for the first time. And I was definitely did that when I met Neil Young at the In-N-Out Burger. I definitely did not keep myself.

What did you do? Why I moved to L.A., brother. This is my buddy, Scott. My Jeep got robbed. They took my... I did it, too. So I'm no better than that. Do an honest impression

of what you said to Neil Young when you saw him. Neil, this is my buddy. We moved down. Well, first of all, he just did this concert called Greendale. And then he played a whole album people hadn't heard yet. And so they mostly booed.

I walked in to the In-N-Out Burger, not knowing he was in there. And then he's looking around at signs. He's like, ah, animal style. What's animal style? And then I just go, oh. And he looks back at me in my Greendale shirt, and he just goes, ha, starts laughing. And then I charge over to him. And Scott Sayer and I just start telling him how much we loved Greendale, which is kind of

the only thing he wanted to hear at that moment. Because he just got booed at the Greek theater. Like, we loved it. we love sun green car michael god greendale rules neil and then i started telling him how his music made me move down to la all this other stuff then his tour manager came in i'm like i'm about to get tase this is about to stop and then he's like guys why don't we go outside and take a quick picture so neal took a picture of us he's beaming in the picture and happy and he got a kick out of me but i definitely did the same thing these folks did to dick van dyke but sounds different

Neil's not 99. It's different. You were. I was. I was. And now I go out of my way to never bother him again. And I've had great moments with him at concerts. But like my friends open for him.

My friend's in his band now. And I don't go backstage. I want to keep it how I left it. And I don't want to intrude. I like that. Because I intruded on a lot of people. So Dick had a great time. Arlene ran a great thing.

Chris did really good. made one mistake. The problem was that the fan base was a little bit pushy. But other than they got him off, Arlene did a great job of getting him off into security. And then what happens? Everybody just leaves? No, he even, I'm like, how are they going to get him out of here? I don't know if he can walk. I don't know anything. And he just grabs his cane, pushes himself up, and then stands and waves, and then they just take him through the garage. And then I very quickly am like, I got to get an early shuttle so other people are milling around trying to get stuff from dick or like is he going to get pictures you said in the email we're going to get pictures the email said somebody even showed the

email like the email said we're going to picture we paid 700 bucks and then i just go back i know there's not going to be many shuttles then i go back with chris smart in the second shuttle so there's not too bad of a weight and then i go back and i truly left there feeling incredible i thought it was an amazing show right back people are over the moon uh yeah mostly there's some discussion that he didn't do pictures but I wanted to be like all of you just punished him and made him listen to your diatriatria and that's his energy.

But what is then what is Arlene mad about? He said she was doing lives and you said she might not like you. They started coming to the stage wanting pictures wanting autographs and then oh the live later was she was like well we didn't have enough shuttles

Chris we didn't have enough shuttles and then he's putting in the comments Arlene they stopped me at the gate Arlene, the gate wouldn't let me through on the fourth shuttle. I was waiting there forever. We had enough. It's so clear there weren't enough shuttles. So what is the, so here's Mike, what is the, because you've been texting us for about a week,

can't wait to tell you, holding it in. What are you holding in just for that he did a good job, but the people were annoying? The Dick Van Dyke ran that shit and put on a great show. And he was there. The thing you're holding in is that he crushed it. That's why when he said, I didn't expect this was going to be a conversation. He made, why am I hearing all these people? He had, his memory was amazing.

It was shocking how good he was. The stories he told, the inspiration, I'm also, he got a little bit political and I was here for it. I thought it was just awesome. What do he say? He'd give these little lessons. He's like, the key for me is not hating. He's like, I choose love every single day. And I don't understand why people hate.

He gave a rant about anti-Semitism. He just said, yeah. have to focus on the positive every single day. It was basically like Steintology, what you'd expect for my great-grandfather. If he were up there, his life, what he thinks of. And I left feeling completely inspired, and I did not expect it. I didn't think it would be that great. I didn't know what he was capable of.

But he seemed like somebody that was like 75 years old that still had his fastball. And he ran that show. Well, that feels like, I think. the takeaway is then happy ending. Dick did a great job. I don't know why Arlene would be upset with you at all. So if she's got tickets for you, she should definitely hook you up. You didn't say one bad thing about her. I think Chris seems like he ran a great festival. I will speak for all of us when I say it seems as if our read is dead wrong. He loves it. He's passionate. He's basically like a 75 year old. He has his fastball. He could not be doing better.

The only downside to this entire event is people talking at a man who can't hear and can't remember. But where Eric's coming from and where we're coming from, the premise of this show is we were with the caller. And on this one, Eric was the caller. Sounds like Dick crushed it. Everybody, if you get a chance, go see the next Vandy camp. And then let's make this the last time we ever talk about. Can I make a... Allow me to make a pitch.

Because I am personally done with this. Well, we left it. We left it. We left it all out on the field, and my pitch would be this. Eric has not only embedded himself, he's been a positive force in the world of Vandy Camp. Yeah, agreed. The only issue is you... He's not a villain.

The only issue that you alluded to is the Q&A was run maybe a little improperly, maybe a little too polite. What they should have in that role is someone not only with a passion for Dick Van Dyke, who understands what he's comfortable answering and not answering, but someone who not only could set rules, but lightly and politely and politely and force them, which is why, if I were at all involved in Vandy Camp, the person I would bring to the next Q&A, who would definitely do it pro bono for love of the game, would be Eric. I would suggest Eric runs the next Q&A.

If they're interested, we have contacts, if they are listening. Wow, what a crazy thought you just had. That's the whole propaganda of this entire episode. Is that, Derek? You're pretending? You just get, and Steve's like, wow, that's a great idea. He should. Nothing has been propaganda.

No. This is just a sales pitch. I did not realize we were going to spend an hour he was auditioning. No, I will actually, just to move away from North Korea propaganda, I fully believe that Dick Van Dyke is not only held at gunpoint, there's probably a car battery hooked up to whatever he's sitting on where they are electronically stimulating him when he falls short of an answer. And every time he has to sing chitty, chitty bang, we know those testicles have a little bit

feeling left in them, and they're getting zapped. And Arlene, without question, is Al-Qaeda. However, my personal feelings aside, Eric would be a fantastic liaison from crowd to the God, Dick Van Dyck. Now, Gareth, I'm going to ask you before we get out of here, will you retell the story of Dick Van Dyke as Eric from your point of view? Do you mind doing it? I will do the synopsis version, because we're not going to do it.

another hour. Jake, the day, was flawless. We got in a van. Sure, there were some problems, but the energy inside of there could have powered it with no gasoline. The only issue there was the Gestapo gatekeeper who kept giving Chris the business. Chris, a new close friend, someone I would not only call an Amigo, but a brother. We went to Vietnam together that day. I walked in. I ate an egg salad sandwich that was colder than the energy of the people who I sat at the table with with a young child age 58 years old. Dick came out, he rocked it. He hit the set list. He knew where to hit his marks. The only issue was these Disney princess adults who made everything about themselves.

Not only was I sick of it, there might have been something in the egg salad. It might have been a little warmer than I alluded to earlier. I did do a tight spew in the corner of the Maddox jacket. thankfully I still had kerchiefs from the 70s detective show in there they absorbed them like a sponge they made them different back then my brother dick was carted off I got in the early van out of there Chris and I made a secret handshake we've been texting there's a strong chance strong chance that I will go outside of the union and work the next Q&A for the DVD party and Arlene and I shared a

Kiss. Everybody, thank you for listening. We're Here to Help is hosted by Jake Johnson and Gareth Reynolds. If you'd like to be on the show, please email us your question at helpful pod at gmail.com. And if you want to watch video episodes of We're Here to Help, you can go to our Patreon at patreon.com slash here to help pod to see our entire catalog. We're Here to Help is produced by Rabbit Grimm Productions. Executive producers Rob Hollis, Jeff Porter, and Natalie Hollis, Associate producer Jesse Thurston, editing mix and master by Chris Fowler.

The theme song by Oliver Raleigh. The cover artwork is by James Fostike, animations by Andrew Strelecki. And if you'd like to see Gareth, you stand up on the road, go to garethrenolds.com. Remember all of the advice given on we're here to help is for entertainment purposes only, and all listeners should be adults and make their own decisions.

All video episodes of season one are available now on Patreon, and season two video episodes will be available every Monday starting January 20th. Go to patreon.com forward slash here to help pod.