Ep 4. Sally and the Lab Technician

Rob Petrie (Dick Van Dyke) and his co-writers Buddy Sorrell (Morey Amsterdam) and Sally Rogers (Rose Marie) are up against a deadline for the writers' meeting next day. Sally, hoping to inject some originality into their comedy sketches, has brought in her friend Linda (Mary Tyler Moore), who works in a laboratory and has a background in science. When Linda suggests science jokes that go completely over the heads of Rob and Buddy, Sally is thrilled and suggests that Linda helps them out with some of their sketches. But Linda's contributions only make the sketches more confusing. Meanwhile, Rob's wife Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) is convinced that a pimple on her nose is a sign of a bigger problem.

As the writers continue to struggle with their sketches, Sally bumps into her old flame, Harry Zarakartos (Dan Frazer), who is now a technician in Linda's lab. Sally is clearly smitten with Harry and spends the rest of the day trying to impress him. She invites him to come to the writers' meeting later that night as their guest. When Harry arrives, he is friendly and engaging, and he impresses the writers with his knowledge of science. Sally becomes convinced that he is interested in her again, but it quickly becomes apparent that Harry is smitten with Linda. Sally is disappointed, but Linda seems oblivious to Harry's attention.

As the meeting goes on, Linda becomes more and more agitated. When she finally breaks down and confesses that she has lost an important experiment, the writers try to help her find it. Sally and Laura volunteer to search the lab, but they find themselves locked in and unable to leave. Meanwhile, Harry helps Rob and Buddy to find the missing experiment and impresses them with his expertise.

When Sally and Laura finally find their way out of the lab, Sally is devastated to learn that Harry is interested in Linda. Sally feels humiliated and embarrassed, but Laura reminds her that Sally's contributions to the writing team are crucial and valued. In the end, the team works together to create a science-based sketch that is a hit at the next day's meeting.

The Dick Van Dyke Show season 1 episode 4, "Sally and the Lab Technician," is a charming and witty episode that showcases the talents of the show's talented cast. With its blend of science humor, romance, and workplace hijinks, this episode is an excellent example of why The Dick Van Dyke Show remains a beloved classic of American television.