In Your Opinion, Is The Bob Newhart Show A True Classic Or Just A Former Hit Sitcom? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 03-20-2011, 11:42 AM

In your honest opinion, do you think The Bob Newhart Show holds up as a classic or was it just a show that was a hit in its time?

sh3k · 03-20-2011, 01:31 PM

I feel that it was a show that by fortune was a hit in those times. Now, if it comes on air then it will be flop.

catlover79 · 03-20-2011, 02:03 PM

An UNDERRATED classic!!!!!

Retro4Life · 03-20-2011, 03:02 PM

It's definitely a classic. It has all the earmarks of one; great writing, wonderful acting, and a cohesive and ultimately loveable ensemble cast. I'm not sure why it's not up their with the Big Ones when people think of great sitcoms, unless it's just that it's a very 'quiet', understated show with very little hoopla and a much more subdued tone. There's nothing "sexy" about this show; it didn't hit on cultural topics or involve (much) family drama, it just wryly went about its business showcasing the life of one Chicago psychologist and his offbeat family, friends, and clients. But it still delivers on the laughs and it's a very memorable and treasured show.

catlover79 · 03-20-2011, 03:33 PM

Peter Bonerz (Jerry) said in one of the commentaries on the S3 DVD set that he felt the show was about, most of all, friendship. I concur!!

The characters and stories are not dated at all. Now, the clothing and decor - that's another story!!

Retro4Life · 03-20-2011, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Peter Bonerz (Jerry) said in one of the commentaries on the S3 DVD set that he felt the show was about, most of all, friendship. I concur!!

The characters and stories are not dated at all. Now, the clothing and decor - that's another story!!

Oh yeah. Lots of leisure suits, and plaid and corduroy, if I recall. Hey, the world could use more of those!

catlover79 · 03-20-2011, 07:41 PM

I even read a review of the S4 DVD set that said, "The Bob Newhart Show is very funny once you get over the hideous 1970s fashions (on occasion it’s very hard to do that)." I think "hideous" is too kind a description.

Retro4Life · 03-20-2011, 07:46 PM

Well, I guess you just, uhm, kinda had to "be there".

catlover79 · 03-20-2011, 07:55 PM

Think those clothes were loud enough?

Retro4Life · 03-20-2011, 07:59 PM

I actually owned a pair of red plaid pants back in about 1974, so you know, I might not be the best authority on "loud".

catlover79 · 03-20-2011, 08:06 PM

Think there was enough plaid and polyester?

They joked about the clothes during the commentaries on the DVD. The men's wardrobe man, named Ralph, was actually color-blind!!

1960'sTVfan · 03-20-2011, 08:11 PM

I've never been a fan of Bob Newhart, Mary Tyler Moore or any of those other MTM sitcoms. Just not my cup of tea I guess.

biffbronson · 03-21-2011, 07:42 AM

Having lived through those years, for men I think the worst period peaked around 1975 -- with loud jackets, very wide neckties, and big, pointy collars on dress shirts. By comparison I don't think women fared quite as badly. Suzanne still looked okay in some of the pants suits she wore on the series, and usually Marcia and the ladies in group therapy also looked fine.

As far as decor, it's almost inverse as far as bad to better. I think overall, the decor of the early 70s tended to have a not-so-good look and improved later (after the shag rug era). While fashions, by contrast, started out okay and began getting worse.

I think Bob looked his best early in the series, wearing sporty hats and subdued suits. As far as Suzanne, I would have liked to see her wearing dresses and skirts throughout, but form-fitting pants suits did not bother me...!

catlover79 · 03-21-2011, 11:56 AM

Peter Bonerz escaped most of the bad fashion by wearing the dental smock the lion's share of the time. Also in 1975 is when Barney Miller debuted - and of course they had those really wide ties and even wider labels.

I asked my parents what people were thinking back then with the fashion and decor. They said they thought the styles were hideous back then, too, but that was all that was in the stores - they didn't have a choice!!

At least, that's what they said.

biffbronson · 03-21-2011, 08:08 PM

Yes -- my dad got a lot of bargains at places like JCPenney as far as suits and shoes. He created somewhat of a stir with a white dress shirt with 2 pockets in the front (from Montgomery Ward) -- one of his co-workers was a smoker and wanted to buy one like it to have an extra pocket for his cigarettes (most had only 1 pocket). In my case I got a lot of hand-me-downs from my older brother, but I fixed that by outgrowing him a bit. That may be why I never had to wear his old leisure suit (LOL). I wonder what ever happened to that?

I used to follow The Bob Newhart Show as closely as any other favorite sitcom. I particularly liked the Loyola of Chicago basketball episode -- it was fun to see older guys get that excited over collegiate sports.

03-20-2011, 11:42 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	In Your Opinion, Is The Bob Newhart Show A True Classic Or Just A Former Hit Sitcom? In your honest opinion, do you think The Bob Newhart Show holds up as a classic or was it just a show that was a hit in its time?
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03-20-2011, 02:03 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	An UNDERRATED classic!!!!!
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03-20-2011, 03:02 PM	#4
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	It's definitely a classic. It has all the earmarks of one; great writing, wonderful acting, and a cohesive and ultimately loveable ensemble cast. I'm not sure why it's not up their with the Big Ones when people think of great sitcoms, unless it's just that it's a very 'quiet', understated show with very little hoopla and a much more subdued tone. There's nothing "sexy" about this show; it didn't hit on cultural topics or involve (much) family drama, it just wryly went about its business showcasing the life of one Chicago psychologist and his offbeat family, friends, and clients. But it still delivers on the laughs and it's a very memorable and treasured show.
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03-20-2011, 07:41 PM	#7
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	I even read a review of the S4 DVD set that said, "The Bob Newhart Show is very funny once you get over the hideous 1970s fashions (on occasion it’s very hard to do that)." I think "hideous" is too kind a description. Attached Images

03-21-2011, 07:42 AM	#13
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,649	Having lived through those years, for men I think the worst period peaked around 1975 -- with loud jackets, very wide neckties, and big, pointy collars on dress shirts. By comparison I don't think women fared quite as badly. Suzanne still looked okay in some of the pants suits she wore on the series, and usually Marcia and the ladies in group therapy also looked fine. As far as decor, it's almost inverse as far as bad to better. I think overall, the decor of the early 70s tended to have a not-so-good look and improved later (after the shag rug era). While fashions, by contrast, started out okay and began getting worse. I think Bob looked his best early in the series, wearing sporty hats and subdued suits. As far as Suzanne, I would have liked to see her wearing dresses and skirts throughout, but form-fitting pants suits did not bother me...!
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03-20-2011, 01:31 PM	#2
sh3k Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 06, 2011 Posts: 400	I feel that it was a show that by fortune was a hit in those times. Now, if it comes on air then it will be flop.

03-20-2011, 03:33 PM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Peter Bonerz (Jerry) said in one of the commentaries on the S3 DVD set that he felt the show was about, most of all, friendship. I concur!! The characters and stories are not dated at all. Now, the clothing and decor - that's another story!!

03-20-2011, 07:46 PM	#8
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	Well, I guess you just, uhm, kinda had to "be there".

03-20-2011, 07:55 PM	#9
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Think those clothes were loud enough?

03-20-2011, 07:59 PM	#10
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	I actually owned a pair of red plaid pants back in about 1974, so you know, I might not be the best authority on "loud".

03-20-2011, 08:06 PM	#11
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Think there was enough plaid and polyester? They joked about the clothes during the commentaries on the DVD. The men's wardrobe man, named Ralph, was actually color-blind!!

03-20-2011, 08:11 PM	#12
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,163	I've never been a fan of Bob Newhart, Mary Tyler Moore or any of those other MTM sitcoms. Just not my cup of tea I guess.

03-21-2011, 11:56 AM	#14
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Peter Bonerz escaped most of the bad fashion by wearing the dental smock the lion's share of the time. Also in 1975 is when Barney Miller debuted - and of course they had those really wide ties and even wider labels. I asked my parents what people were thinking back then with the fashion and decor. They said they thought the styles were hideous back then, too, but that was all that was in the stores - they didn't have a choice!! At least, that's what they said.

03-21-2011, 08:08 PM	#15
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,649	Yes -- my dad got a lot of bargains at places like JCPenney as far as suits and shoes. He created somewhat of a stir with a white dress shirt with 2 pockets in the front (from Montgomery Ward) -- one of his co-workers was a smoker and wanted to buy one like it to have an extra pocket for his cigarettes (most had only 1 pocket). In my case I got a lot of hand-me-downs from my older brother, but I fixed that by outgrowing him a bit. That may be why I never had to wear his old leisure suit (LOL). I wonder what ever happened to that? I used to follow The Bob Newhart Show as closely as any other favorite sitcom. I particularly liked the Loyola of Chicago basketball episode -- it was fun to see older guys get that excited over collegiate sports.