Did you know that during the 1976-77 season Bob Newhart actually decided to

[TVFactFan]

retire and no longer do the show? It was reported in the April 1977 York Dispatch Issue by Irv Kupcinet, that Bob decided to announce he was going to rescind his decision to retire on the Tonight Show that night and that he will do another season of the show.

[rusty spike]

I suppose that he grew tired of his show, then realized that he still needed to pay the bills.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by rusty spike

I suppose that he grew tired of his show, then realized that he still needed to pay the bills.

Im surprised he had the power to say he will do another season because the show wasnt doing that well by that time of the series. Seems like CBS would be like....You go ahead and retire

[CosmicCharlie]

if indeed his ratings were low THAT would have drawn attention to his show which is what a PR Guy would have told him was a good idea

[Alan Brady's Hair]

ABC's sitcoms were coming strong, so CBS was willing to keep Newhart with middling ratings over a new show that might get wiped out. Newhart agreed to come back after his role was cut back considerably - there were several episodes where he's on a book tour and only has one scene where he's calling home.

[CosmicCharlie]

I remember that !