NEWHART: The Bob Newhart Thread

[ClassyCo]

Let's discuss the sitcoms of Bob Newhart.

THE BOB NEWHART SHOW aired on CBS from 1972 to 1978, totaling six seasons and 142 episodes.

NEWHART aired on CBS from 1982 to 1990, totaling eight seasons and 184 episodes.

BOB aired on CBS from 1992 to 1993, totaling two seasons and 33 episodes.

I only have the complete series of BOB apart of my collection, and I've only seen tidbits of THE BOB NEWHART SHOW and NEWHART over the years. My father was a pretty big fan of NEWHART in the '80s, primarily because of Mary Frann and her form-fitting sweaters. I watched an episode or two of THE BOB NEWHART SHOW on Hulu once, and I liked it, despite never having the unction to revisit the episodes any further.
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[Avery Merry Christmas]

I was a consistent fan of Newhart, but I don't recall ever watching an episode of the other two. BNS was such a popular program during its run that one cannot help but know what it was about, generally.

Newhart was comfortable and always "clean fun," with Bob Newhart's typical style of being surrounded by wacky characters and being "the straight man" reacting to their excesses. I recall they filmed the show in its first season or two, then switched to the more traditional videotape, giving the early seasons a very different feel. Though they had a few cast changes during the run, the changes actually improved the show rather than taking away from it. Leslie, their original maid, seemed rather bland despite her interesting back-story (she was a "runaway heiress" who decided to take a job as a maid in order to escape the pressures of her wealthy family). Replacing her with her snooty, pampered-princess cousin Stephanie was a stroke of genius, since Leslie had been so agreeable and perfect; Stephanie was the very definition of high-maintenance, generating irritation with Joanna.

Those amazing sweaters aside, Joanna seemed to be the only character who did not get to fall into ridiculous behavior. As Dick's sensible wife, she didn't do a lot of the wacky stuff all the other characters were allowed to do. Mary Frann was so good at the role, though, that I felt really sad when I found out she had passed away.

 

[DallasFanForever]

I wasn’t really a fan of Newhart although I did love Mary Frann and her sweaters. What the heck? We all seem to be mentioning it so I might as well too. I just found that show a little too goofy at times for my taste.

I loved TBNS though. I thought Bob and Suzanne were awesome together. They had such great chemistry and often came off like a real married couple to me. I like how Bob wakes up next to her in the final scene of Newhart, making the entire series a dream. That was a great way to end it.

 

[Crimson]

I'm a fan of TBNS and NEWHART, and think both would likely make it into my Top 20 Favorite Sitcoms list. I waver back-and-forth on which I prefer; currently I would say TBNS. NEWHART started surprisingly rocky, considering Bob was already a sitcom vet. The show's first season is not very good. It took dumping that awful Kirk and dull Leslie, replacing them with Stephanie & Michael, for the show to find its groove. But even still, I think TBNS was more consistent and had a more rounded ensemble.

I recall they filmed the show in its first season or two, then switched to the more traditional videotape, giving the early seasons a very different feel.

I think it was the opposite. The first season or two has a shoddy, overly bright look; I think it was bad lighting and cheap video tape process. Those first two seasons are like 1950s kinescope chintzy looking. I'm not sure if the show switched to film or just improved their techniques, but subsequent seasons look much better.

 

[Avery Merry Christmas]

Kirk was meant to be obnoxious, but I think they forgot the part where he was supposed to likeably obnoxious. Both Michael and Stephanie (separately AND together) were the likeably obnoxious types they were going for. And what can we say about Larry, Darryl, and Darryl? Inspired lunacy that would never have worked on paper, but became so much fun to watch. And LDD were used at just the right dosage, not "over-exposed" like so many breakout supporting characters on sitcoms that take over. Once they became well-known, it was a signal to the writers that they could populate the entire town with off-kilter weirdos.

Putting Dick Loudon on a boring talk show within the confines of the sitcom was also a stroke of genius, since the in-jokes about TV basically wrote themselves. One of my favorite episodes was when Michael decided to produce a sitcom "patterned on" (ripped off from) The Patty Duke Show, with Stephanie (of course) in the dual role, and Dick playing the supremely uncomfortable father of the "twins" in Seein' Double! It had the cheap production values one would expect of a small, Vermont TV station along with the god-awful acting and cliche-ridden script. Dick looked as if he wanted to curl up and die during the whole thing.

 

[Chris2]

Season 1 of Newhart was taped (unusual for an MTM-produced sitcom), and then they switched to film for the remainder of the run.

Stephanie was definitely an improvement over dull Leslie. I’m in the minority, but I liked Kirk. They were taking steps to make him more likable in season 2 with his marriage to Cindy. But instead they gave up on him and promoted Michael, whom I could never stand, to regular. A little of him and his alliteration went a long way.

TBNS is well done, though I’ve always had a difficult time warming up to it. The whole look and feel of the series just screams 1970s, and I didn’t really like the characters outside of Bob and Emily.

“Bob” had potential, in its original format. I didn’t think the revamp for season 2 was as good. Bob’s wife seemed far too young to be the mother of their daughter (the actresses were only 10 years apart in age).

 

[darkshadows38]

i've never seen the entire Newhart series but i've seen about half of it i think? maybe? it's been years since i last watched it but i have seen the entire run of The Bob Newhart Show a few times though

 

[Treeviewer]

Loved TBNS, second best 70s sitcom (after Mary Tyler Moore, whose company produced both) and Bob and Emily, still the best TV marriage ever.
Newhart was good. Larry and his brothers Darryl never failed to make me laugh and Stephanie's is still the best TV baby birth episode ever.
Bob I watched.

 

[ClassyCo]

I have the complete series of BOB, Newhart's short-lived early-'90s sitcom. It started out as apart of the new Friday night lineup on CBS the network was promoting as a "comedy block". The other shows on Friday nights were DESIGNING WOMEN, THE GOLDEN PALACE, and MAJOR DAD. All three of those shows were axed from the CBS fall 1993 schedule, therefore ending their runs, while BOB was retooled and brought back. Betty White was brought into the main cast, and other "tweaks" were done to turnaround the show's unimpressive ratings. BOB failed to gain ground, however, and it was cancelled soon thereafter.
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[ClassyCo]

THE BOB NEWHART SHOW and NEWHART are both reasonably priced on eBay right now. As soon as my finances get organized, I just might look into buying those shows. Why not be the complete series? It doesn't make any sense not to be the whole series in one go.​

 

[Avery Merry Christmas]

It was just a throwaway joke, but I remember it fondly:

Larry, Darryl and Darryl enter the inn with very obvious sunburns. Joanna asks what happened.
Larry: "We just spent a week on the Riviera."
Joanna (shocked): You guys went to France?"
Larry: "No....we spent the week on the hood of an abandoned Buick."

In other, less G-rated humor, "Larry, Darryl, and Darryl" is code/slang in my family for "male genitalia". Larry does all the work, while the Darryls just sort of hang around.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

 

[AndyB2008]

The Bob Newhart Show also featured the late Marcia Wallace, later to appear on The Simpsons. (After her death, Gracie Films retired her character, similar to what they did with Doris Grau and Phil Hartman's characters. They could've done the same with Russi Taylor's, but guess they are too integral to Bart and Lisa, hence the recast there with Grey DeLisle).

You can hear elements of Edna Krabappel in her Carol Kester voice.

 

[AndyB2008]

I have the complete series of BOB, Newhart's short-lived early-'90s sitcom. It started out as apart of the new Friday night lineup on CBS the network was promoting as a "comedy block". The other shows on Friday nights were DESIGNING WOMEN, THE GOLDEN PALACE, and MAJOR DAD. All three of those shows were axed from the CBS fall 1993 schedule, therefore ending their runs, while BOB was retooled and brought back. Betty White was brought into the main cast, and other "tweaks" were done to turnaround the show's unimpressive ratings. BOB failed to gain ground, however, and it was cancelled soon thereafter.
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View attachment 28487​

Even if DW had been renewed, Annie Potts was reportedly going to leave anyway - she had a falling out with the Thomasons over the incorporation of her real life pregnancy into the show.

They certainly couldn't risk another original cast member leaving after the Delta Burke drama and Jean Smart quitting.

 

[Chris2]

The Bob Newhart Show also featured the late Marcia Wallace, later to appear on The Simpsons. (After her death, Gracie Films retired her character, similar to what they did with Doris Grau and Phil Hartman's characters. They could've done the same with Russi Taylor's, but guess they are too integral to Bart and Lisa, hence the recast there with Grey DeLisle).

Lunchlady Doris (originated by Doris Grau) was temporarily retired, but Tress MacNeille now voices the character.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

Best series finale ever with Suzanne Pleshette!

 

[DallasFanForever]

Best series finale ever with Suzanne Pleshette!

One of the best moments in TV history for me. So unexpected, as back then you could still keep a secret. It was perfectly done!

 

[bchristmastree9]

I recall they filmed the show in its first season or two, then switched to the more traditional videotape, giving the early seasons a very different feel.

The other way around, actually-- the first go (1982-83) was videotaped, then the balance (1983-90) was on film.

 

[Sarah]

Linda Gray had great fun doing a film with Bob Newhart in the early 1990's:

Watch The Entertainers | Prime Video

Todd Wilson and his comical chimpanzee companion have fallen on tough times, unable to secure a steady gig performing together. With nothing to lose, the duo travels to Las Vegas with hopes to secure a show in Chick Balton's famous review, but monkey business perplexes their path to the perfect...

www.amazon.co.uk

 

[ClassyCo]

This video -- which is some years old -- gives me a fresh respect for actress Suzanne Pleshette, Newhart's leading lady on THE BOB NEWHART SHOW in the '70s.

Apparently she had been approached a few different times about doing the series finale of NEWHART, and she was well aware that that show would be written off as a dream. When the time finally came for that later show to end, she knew what the producers were calling her for.

What really stands out to me here is the respect Pleshette had for Mary Frann, Newhart's leading lady on NEWHART. When the wrap-up party was held, Pleshette excused herself so Frann could enjoy her limelight. That's an admiral character trait.

I love how Pleshette says "it wasn't my house" in explaining her decision to leave the party to the cast that had served NEWHART for eight years.​