Why Should I Become a Fan?? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

KEVIN1782 · 07-26-2006, 12:24 PM

Okay, Bob Newhart Show fans. Please convince me why I should watch this show? I have heard so many wonderful things about this show being a classic, but I have never really watched this show. The one thing I know about it, is the catch theme song. I always have an open mind about experiencing new things.
Please tell me some positive things that I need to know about this show. Would it be worth it for me to purchase the DVD's at this point? Please note that this show has not been shown in the Toronto area for some years so it's not like I can take a look. Thanks for your time, Kevin.

CAJeannieFan57 · 07-27-2006, 02:20 PM

This show was a funny look at life from the adult point of view. With each character, you probably know someone in your life who is "just like (that character)." We can all see our own lives in the situations that Bob and his \cronies find themselves in. I just find this show SO funny, but yet touching and friendly enough, without being dirty. It's refreshingly clean in comparisons to many of today's sitcoms, and there are no smart-alecky kids that try to steal the limelight. Yet the humor is adult enough that kids might not find this as fun to watch. Back when it was popular, 1972-1978, the set of Mary Tyler Moore Show, followed by Bob Newhart Show and the Carol Burnett Show, made for a great Saturday night line-up. I was in college at the time, and remember many girls bringing dates into the "Date Room" to watch the CBS Saturday night lineup, if there were no dances at the college that night.

Some favorite episodes of mine:
Emily has a mother-in-law who is "Miss Clean". A simple spot on the glass will be detected by Mrs. Hartley. So the scene where Emily and her sister-in-law Ellen are cleaning the apartment in anticipation of Mrs. Hartley's arrival, is especially funny to those of us with "White Glove Test" relatives. Emily asks if she should put mayonnaise on the plant's leaves to make them shine. She and Ellen are worried about a spot on the sliding glass door, and decide that it's permanently there, but when Mrs. Hartley comes, she takes a paper towel and gets the smudge right off "use a little elbow grease!"

Bob finds himself talking to one of his best friends, Jerry, and says, "I've insulted my best friend!" referring to Howard. He falls all over himself when Jerry is insulted by this, thinking HE was Bob's best friend. Haven't we all done that? And of course with Bob's dead pan face, it's PERFECT!

Howard (Bob's neighbor who is an airline navigator) falls in love with Bob's sister Ellen and wants her to move in with him. Imagine, in the 70s, a big brother being asked by his little sister if it's okay with him if she moves in with his best friend.

Cast:
Bob Newhart - plays psychologist Bob Hartley
Suzanne Pleshette - plays his wife, schoolteacher, Emily Hartley
Bill Daily - plays Howard Borden, airline navigator, single, Bob & Emily's neighbor
Peter Bonerz - plays Jerry Robinson, orthodontist, same floor of Bob's office, his "office best friend"
Marcia Wallace - plays Carol Kester (Bondurant), Bob and Jerry's receptionist,
hysterically funny and off beat
Jack Riley - plays Mr. Elliott Carlin, one of Bob's patients that you see all the time, also hysterically funny.

Donna

KEVIN1782 · 07-28-2006, 11:28 AM

Hey Donna, thanks ! I will put it on my list to check out.
Kevin.

TVFactFan · 07-28-2006, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KEVIN1782

Okay, Bob Newhart Show fans. Please convince me why I should watch this show? I have heard so many wonderful things about this show being a classic, but I have never really watched this show. The one thing I know about it, is the catch theme song. I always have an open mind about experiencing new things.
Please tell me some positive things that I need to know about this show. Would it be worth it for me to purchase the DVD's at this point? Please note that this show has not been shown in the Toronto area for some years so it's not like I can take a look. Thanks for your time, Kevin.

I don't recommend buying a TV show on DVD that you never seen before. Unless you have money to throw away then I guess it's OK

Rich3 · 07-29-2006, 12:01 AM

Keep in mind Bob was a very low key character (the anti Jim Carrey). He also played a rich white guy, but without irony. That's just what his haracter was. I'm surprised that kind of character had any appeal in the countercultural 70's era.

One of his most famous routines in his early (pre-television) days was the "guy on the phone." He would act like he was talking to someone on the other end, and you were just hearing from his side. He utilized that occasionally in his TV shows too. He was funny at that.

07-26-2006, 12:24 PM	#1
KEVIN1782 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 20, 2003 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 38	Why Should I Become a Fan?? Okay, Bob Newhart Show fans. Please convince me why I should watch this show? I have heard so many wonderful things about this show being a classic, but I have never really watched this show. The one thing I know about it, is the catch theme song. I always have an open mind about experiencing new things. Please tell me some positive things that I need to know about this show. Would it be worth it for me to purchase the DVD's at this point? Please note that this show has not been shown in the Toronto area for some years so it's not like I can take a look. Thanks for your time, Kevin.

07-27-2006, 02:20 PM	#2
CAJeannieFan57 Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 01, 2005 Location: Central Missouri Posts: 871	This show was a funny look at life from the adult point of view. With each character, you probably know someone in your life who is "just like (that character)." We can all see our own lives in the situations that Bob and his \cronies find themselves in. I just find this show SO funny, but yet touching and friendly enough, without being dirty. It's refreshingly clean in comparisons to many of today's sitcoms, and there are no smart-alecky kids that try to steal the limelight. Yet the humor is adult enough that kids might not find this as fun to watch. Back when it was popular, 1972-1978, the set of Mary Tyler Moore Show, followed by Bob Newhart Show and the Carol Burnett Show, made for a great Saturday night line-up. I was in college at the time, and remember many girls bringing dates into the "Date Room" to watch the CBS Saturday night lineup, if there were no dances at the college that night. Some favorite episodes of mine: Emily has a mother-in-law who is "Miss Clean". A simple spot on the glass will be detected by Mrs. Hartley. So the scene where Emily and her sister-in-law Ellen are cleaning the apartment in anticipation of Mrs. Hartley's arrival, is especially funny to those of us with "White Glove Test" relatives. Emily asks if she should put mayonnaise on the plant's leaves to make them shine. She and Ellen are worried about a spot on the sliding glass door, and decide that it's permanently there, but when Mrs. Hartley comes, she takes a paper towel and gets the smudge right off "use a little elbow grease!" Bob finds himself talking to one of his best friends, Jerry, and says, "I've insulted my best friend!" referring to Howard. He falls all over himself when Jerry is insulted by this, thinking HE was Bob's best friend. Haven't we all done that? And of course with Bob's dead pan face, it's PERFECT! Howard (Bob's neighbor who is an airline navigator) falls in love with Bob's sister Ellen and wants her to move in with him. Imagine, in the 70s, a big brother being asked by his little sister if it's okay with him if she moves in with his best friend. Cast: Bob Newhart - plays psychologist Bob Hartley Suzanne Pleshette - plays his wife, schoolteacher, Emily Hartley Bill Daily - plays Howard Borden, airline navigator, single, Bob & Emily's neighbor Peter Bonerz - plays Jerry Robinson, orthodontist, same floor of Bob's office, his "office best friend" Marcia Wallace - plays Carol Kester (Bondurant), Bob and Jerry's receptionist, hysterically funny and off beat Jack Riley - plays Mr. Elliott Carlin, one of Bob's patients that you see all the time, also hysterically funny. Donna
	__________________ Donna

07-28-2006, 11:28 AM	#3
KEVIN1782 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 20, 2003 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 38	Hey Donna, thanks ! I will put it on my list to check out. Kevin.

07-29-2006, 12:01 AM	#5
Rich3 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 10, 2005 Posts: 700	Keep in mind Bob was a very low key character (the anti Jim Carrey). He also played a rich white guy, but without irony. That's just what his haracter was. I'm surprised that kind of character had any appeal in the countercultural 70's era. One of his most famous routines in his early (pre-television) days was the "guy on the phone." He would act like he was talking to someone on the other end, and you were just hearing from his side. He utilized that occasionally in his TV shows too. He was funny at that.