Is the last episode a ripoff? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

tvje · 01-15-2005, 12:24 AM

This is a question that a lot of people have asked for a long time. Is the final episode when the whole series is revealed to be a dream by Bob Hartley, is that idea a ripoff of Dallas, when the entire 1985-86 season is revealed by a dream by Pam Ewing?

What are your thoughts? I think it is one upmenship because on Newhart the whole series was a dream, instead of just one season.

drc35ca · 01-17-2005, 12:22 PM

Myself I just thought it was darn funny!

leroykevin · 04-22-2005, 01:38 AM

More like a spoof. They might never had got the idea if Dallas hadn't pulled the dream bit. Married with Children also used the dream bit after Katy Sagal had a miscarriage and the producers respectfully decided not to use her being pregnant on the show.

Penny Lane · 04-24-2005, 03:46 PM

That episode is pure genius! On Bob Newhart's Biography he said that the whole thing was his wife's(Ginny Newhart's) idea! It's a classic!

mapleleaves · 05-09-2005, 09:36 PM

I think the fact that it was a dream by a different character played by the same actor added a new dimension to it.

Roseanne ended in a similar way - the end of the series (them winning the lottery, etc.) was all part of a novel Roseanne was writing to hide from the stress of her life, and we find out that Dan really DID die when he had his heart attack.

bh7812 · 08-12-2005, 12:10 AM

I don't think the final episode is a rip off at all! It is just brilliant. I'd read, and heard about the final episode for many years. When I actually saw the final episode, it didn't disappoint that's for sure. It is the most creative series finale I have ever seen. I wish more shows would put that kind of thought and creativity into their final episodes instead of simply saying "Here ya go, we're out of here..see ya!" The whole show was excellent, but that final scene is it's finest moment. Not to be missed.

leroykevin · 08-12-2005, 01:29 AM

Very well said

tv star collector · 10-24-2005, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvje

This is a question that a lot of people have asked for a long time. Is the final episode when the whole series is revealed to be a dream by Bob Hartley, is that idea a ripoff of Dallas, when the entire 1985-86 season is revealed by a dream by Pam Ewing?

What are your thoughts? I think it is one upmenship because on Newhart the whole series was a dream, instead of just one season.

I loved it. One of the best series finales of all time. Pure genius. I remember
one critic quipped that Andy Griffith should do the same finish for MATLOCK:
have Ben Matlock wake up in Mayberry saying that he had dreamed that he
was this high-falutin' attorney!

EighteenMinutes · 06-30-2006, 02:54 AM

I couldn't agree more with the fact that this episode is pure genius. I grew up watching this show with my parents and when the last episode came around, the outcome was the last thing any of us expected. Dallas or not Dallas, this was a series finale that I'll never forget.

catlover79 · 05-02-2007, 02:57 PM

It was a perfect parody/homage to Bob's former show. I saw this episode when it first aired in the spring of 1990. I had never seen Bob's '70s show before, so I had no idea why my mom and grandma were in hysterics.

Now that I've caught up on Bob's '70s show via DVD, I can see even more how brilliant Newhart's final episode really was. Now why isn't THIS show on DVD!?

ewoowoo · 07-23-2008, 03:56 PM

I always thought it took guts to pull that off, such a big gamble.

I do admit I'm young enough to have not watched The Bob Newhart show, but knew of it enough to get the gag on Newhart. But really learned to respect it years later.

catlover79 · 07-23-2008, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ewoowoo

I always thought it took guts to pull that off, such a big gamble.

I do admit I'm young enough to have not watched The Bob Newhart show, but knew of it enough to get the gag on Newhart. But really learned to respect it years later.

The first 4 seasons of The Bob Newhart Show are on DVD - they really are worth checking out!! You're right that they took a big chance and they reaped a BIG payoff!!!

Welcome to the boards!!

Dusty's Fan · 07-31-2008, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tv star collector

I remember one critic quipped that Andy Griffith should do the same finish for MATLOCK: have Ben Matlock wake up in Mayberry saying that he had dreamed that he was this high-falutin' attorney!

I would have loved that (especially if somehow we also could have had Linda Purl, Nancy Stafford, and Brynn Thayer appear as Mayberry citizens too!).

bh7812 · 03-17-2009, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bh7812

I don't think the final episode is a rip off at all! It is just brilliant. I'd read, and heard about the final episode for many years. When I actually saw the final episode, it didn't disappoint that's for sure. It is the most creative series finale I have ever seen. I wish more shows would put that kind of thought and creativity into their final episodes instead of simply saying "Here ya go, we're out of here..see ya!" The whole show was excellent, but that final scene is it's finest moment. Not to be missed.

Of the dozen replies in this thread, this one really sums it up and how I feel about this show's finale! Pure genius, we will not see another series finale like that ever, ever again. Even if you hear how it ends nothing can actually prepare you for when you actually do finally see the finale. THIS is what shows are capable of when they really try!

This finale is one of the very few times they were able to keep it a total secret until it aired. The day after it aired, the finale was all a lot of people could talk about. There were a few other ideas Bob and the writers threw around for the finale but this is the one they ended up doing and I'm glad they did

Newhart is one of my personal favorite sitcoms. Even if you don't watch much of the series you owe it to yourself to watch the final few scenes of this show.

Marvo301 · 03-18-2009, 12:46 AM

The other brilliant part of this finale was pairing up Darryl and Darryl with two women who wouldn't stop talking. The Darryl's got more and more annoyed as the episode went on until finally for the first and only time in the entire series they spoke! Two simple words. "Shut up!"

01-15-2005, 12:24 AM	#1
tvje Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 26, 2002 Posts: 1,402	Is the last episode a ripoff? This is a question that a lot of people have asked for a long time. Is the final episode when the whole series is revealed to be a dream by Bob Hartley, is that idea a ripoff of Dallas, when the entire 1985-86 season is revealed by a dream by Pam Ewing? What are your thoughts? I think it is one upmenship because on Newhart the whole series was a dream, instead of just one season.
	__________________ tvje

01-17-2005, 12:22 PM	#2
drc35ca Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 08, 2004 Posts: 22	last ep Myself I just thought it was darn funny!

04-24-2005, 03:46 PM	#4
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,363	That episode is pure genius! On Bob Newhart's Biography he said that the whole thing was his wife's(Ginny Newhart's) idea! It's a classic!
	__________________ Vulgarity is no substitute for wit- Lady Violet Crawley

05-02-2007, 02:57 PM	#10
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	It was a perfect parody/homage to Bob's former show. I saw this episode when it first aired in the spring of 1990. I had never seen Bob's '70s show before, so I had no idea why my mom and grandma were in hysterics. Now that I've caught up on Bob's '70s show via DVD, I can see even more how brilliant Newhart's final episode really was. Now why isn't THIS show on DVD!?
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

03-18-2009, 12:46 AM	#15
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	The other brilliant part of this finale was pairing up Darryl and Darryl with two women who wouldn't stop talking. The Darryl's got more and more annoyed as the episode went on until finally for the first and only time in the entire series they spoke! Two simple words. "Shut up!"
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

04-22-2005, 01:38 AM	#3
leroykevin Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 27, 2004 Posts: 50	More like a spoof. They might never had got the idea if Dallas hadn't pulled the dream bit. Married with Children also used the dream bit after Katy Sagal had a miscarriage and the producers respectfully decided not to use her being pregnant on the show.

05-09-2005, 09:36 PM	#5
mapleleaves Member Forum Hawk Join Date: May 09, 2005 Posts: 4	I think the fact that it was a dream by a different character played by the same actor added a new dimension to it. Roseanne ended in a similar way - the end of the series (them winning the lottery, etc.) was all part of a novel Roseanne was writing to hide from the stress of her life, and we find out that Dan really DID die when he had his heart attack.

08-12-2005, 12:10 AM	#6
bh7812 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 21, 2005 Posts: 272	I don't think the final episode is a rip off at all! It is just brilliant. I'd read, and heard about the final episode for many years. When I actually saw the final episode, it didn't disappoint that's for sure. It is the most creative series finale I have ever seen. I wish more shows would put that kind of thought and creativity into their final episodes instead of simply saying "Here ya go, we're out of here..see ya!" The whole show was excellent, but that final scene is it's finest moment. Not to be missed.

08-12-2005, 01:29 AM	#7
leroykevin Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 27, 2004 Posts: 50	Very well said

06-30-2006, 02:54 AM	#9
EighteenMinutes It's comin' around. Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 30, 2006 Location: Middle-America Posts: 384	I couldn't agree more with the fact that this episode is pure genius. I grew up watching this show with my parents and when the last episode came around, the outcome was the last thing any of us expected. Dallas or not Dallas, this was a series finale that I'll never forget.

07-23-2008, 03:56 PM	#11
ewoowoo Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 23, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 37	I always thought it took guts to pull that off, such a big gamble. I do admit I'm young enough to have not watched The Bob Newhart show, but knew of it enough to get the gag on Newhart. But really learned to respect it years later.