View Full Version : Tournament Round Three: Newhart vs. Taxi


icecream
01-17-2022, 05:13 PM
Newhart aired 8 seasons on CBS from 1982-1990. Comedian Bob Newhart and Mary Frann starred as Dick and Joanna Loudon, owners of the Stratford Inn in rural Vermont. Comedy veteran Tom Poston was the inn's handyman George Utley. They are the only three cast members who remained on the whole series. Steven Kampmann was the next door cafe owner Kirk Devane who was constantly making up lies. Jennifer Holmes was the original maid Leslie Vanderkellen who left after season 1. Replacing her as maid from the same family, but a lot lazier and meaner, was Stephanie Vanderkellen (Julia Duffy). Recently deceased Peter Scolari joined as Dick's TV show producer Michael Harris. Michael and Stephanie soon got together and were the world's most self-centered couple. Kirk left at the end of season 2, starting in season 3 Michael replaced him as a regular. Larry, Darryl, and Darryl were hick country bumpkin brothers who started coming around the inn. They became the cafe owners after Kirk was gone. Only Larry (William Sanderson) spoke, the two Darryls (John Voldstad and Tony Papenfuss) were silent except for the series finale. In that finale the whole run of Newhart was revealed to be a dream when Bob Newhart woke up next to his wife Emily Hartley from The Bob Newhart Show, Suzanne Pleshette. He said she should wear more sweaters, which Joanna often did.
How it got this far
1st Round: defeated Growing Pains 9-4
2nd Round: defeated Mr. Belvedere 16-2

It was not sunny in this sitcom where Danny DeVito got his start as super mean boss Louie De Palma. Set at a cab company, Judd Hirsch stars as Alex Reiger, the only cabbie who was there full time not supplementing with another job. Marilu Henner is Elaine Nardo, Tony Danza is Tony Banta, Jeff Conaway is Bobby Wheeler, and Andy Kaufman is mechanic Latka Gravas. John Burns (Randall Carver) was dropped after season 1. Bobby was dropped at the end of season 3. Christopher Lloyd joined the cast as "Reverend" Jim Ignatowski in season 2. Danny DeVito's real wife Rhea Perlman played Zena Sherman in 6 episodes. Carol Kane recurred as Latka's eventual wife Simka Dahblitz-Gravas. Taxi aired five seasons from 1978-1983, the first four on ABC. When they cancelled at the end of season 4, NBC picked up Taxi for a 5th season pairing it with Cheers on Thursday nights. But that did not help Taxi's ratings improve as it was still two years before The Cosby Show would save the night (although I like Fame a lot better than TCS).
How it got this far
1st Round: defeated Yes, Minister/Yes, Prime Minister 9-2
2nd Round: defeated The Wonder Years (1988) 10-1

AMackII
01-19-2022, 03:16 AM
Newhart wins Round 3

Dude111
01-19-2022, 03:16 PM
Taxi :)

Adamantium
01-19-2022, 03:48 PM
Taxi is a top 5 favorite of mine. Newhart is a top 25. Therefore, my vote goes to Taxi.

icecream
01-24-2022, 05:17 PM
Taxi defeats Newhart 11-8 and will advance to the top 10 quarterfinals.