Favorite Bob Newhart sitcom

[vampirevsrobot]

There aren't many actors or actresses (dead or alive) that have enjoyed anywhere near the success as Bob Newhart has had in his television career.

...

So this begs the question, what is really Bob Newhart's best sitcom?

[comedyfreak]

The original Bob Newhart Show of course

[70s show watcher]

I voted for newhart

[tlc38tlc38]

I voted for "Newhart". I like all 4 but "Newhart" has always been one of my favorite shows.

[bmasters9]

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

The original Bob Newhart Show of course

Shout!'s complete release of that is slated to be the next thing I purchase.

[benjamoon]

I like Newhart too but The Bob Newhart Show is definitely the best

[Yong Fang]

The one where he plays the stuttering psychologist in Chicago with the hot wife. Forgot the name of the show. Sorry.

[Becca3557]

I voted for the original, but I have fond memories of Monday nights watching Designing Women and then Newhart as well. I used to laugh myself sick. I own the first 4 seasons of the original show and am really enjoying watching them again. Love Suzanne Pleshette too!

[bh7812]

Originally Posted by tlc38tlc38

I voted for "Newhart". I like all 4 but "Newhart" has always been one of my favorite shows.

Mine too! I have one unofficial set for the whole series and of course the 4 officially released seasons so far too! I bought the boxed set for his first show a few months back so I could see Seasons 5 and 6..finally..I really wish Shout had sold those seasons separately but it is what it is. I like his first series but it holds nowhere near the place in my heart his second show does. It's just so bizarre, out there and eccentric I can't help but love it the most of the 4. Not to mention that final scene..no finale has come close to it since and I greatly doubt anything will ever top that. Larry and the Darryl's are the weirdest most bizarre characters I've ever seen on TV, very closely followed by Kramer. With Newhart though all the pieces came together brilliantly..the setting, the characters and that ensemble cast. I like Mary Frann much more than Pleshette but I respect what Suzanne did.

I noticed especially watching Seasons 5 and 6 of his first show there's a ton of what ended up being foreshadowing and alluding to many situations that would later happen in his second series. I know Newhart wasn't even a thought at that point but when you see these references it's damn brilliant. Then to add to all that, during the first year of the second show, Tom Poston literally gives away how that series would end in the UFO episode! "Dick, if I didn't know any better, I'd swear all of this is some crazy dream." Unreal..the ending wasn't even a iota if a thought then...they were trying to get through that first year..the ending wasn't even on their minds yet George Utley says exactly how that series would end up ending in that episode! People thought of that line in the context of that episode at the time I'm sure and gave no thought beyond that.

His third series, Bob had an outstanding first year and could have had a very very long run if CBS hadn't tried to fix it. Lightning struck Bob a 3rd time pretty much..great concept, great supporting characters/ensemble cast, perfect comedic situations and CBS crapped all over it truly disappointing. Seeing that short second year literally hurt..don't fix what's not broken, CBS...

I felt much the same way about George and Leo as I did Bob..again great idea that I'm sure CBS had their hands caught red in wrecking. A second year and some minor adjustments and that show coulda gone on a while, too.

[vampirevsrobot]

Originally Posted by bh7812

Then to add to all that, during the first year of the second show, Tom Poston literally gives away how that series would end in the UFO episode! "Dick, if I didn't know any better, I'd swear all of this is some crazy dream." Unreal..the ending wasn't even a iota if a thought then..

Didn't Carlin (Jack Riley) & Howard (Bill Daily) appear on the show as well? I think they did and I would have sworn I'm missing someone else.

Originally Posted by bh7812

I like Mary Frann much more than Pleshette but I respect what Suzanne did.

...And I thought I was the only one?

Newhart was my second pick, I actually chose "BOB" in the poll.

I agree with you the first season of BOB was about the best television ever offered. Well, I guess you didn't say that, but it was pretty amazing, right?

Unlike you though, I actually don't really mind the second season that much.

We still have the writers from the first, but the cast has been dramatically changed (as in they're all fired)!

I liked Betty White and Jere Burns.

Now you have to remember, I had never seen "Dear John" so seeing Burns ripping through his lines at lightning fast pace was all new to me.

And the secretary was about the biggest smart ass I've ever seen on TV.

Regardless, I really liked Harlan from the first season, I am shocked that John Cygan was never able to find any major success following "BOB', he was a master stroke of great casting.

They all were, every single one of them.

I really liked Albie (Andrew Bilgore) as well. Didn't he wear the same outfit in every single episode??

Talk about an insecure character...holy crap!

Gosh, CBS really screwed BOB up.

I'm still pissed all these years later...

One of the reason's I picked BOB over the others, especially Newhart because my major qualm with Newhart was...there wasn't enough Bob Newhart.

Especially in the latter seasons, to me it sorta became the Michael & Stephanie show or the Larry, Darryl & Darryl show.

It's like we only get to see Newhart behind the lobby welcome desk from time to time.

And I'll be honest, I never really cared for the three strange "woodsmen" all that much and the audience clapping every-time they made an entrance got annoying to me pretty quick.

All in all, they were all great shows.

I'm a huge fan of Bob Newhart and all four.

[HugeBensonFan]

I voted for Newhart. The Bob Newhart show was good, but I loved the supporting characters much much better in Newhart. Larry, Daryl and Daryl, George, Michael, Stephanie, just great.

[Mr. Television]

The Bob Newhart Show.

[treky]

NEWHART

[bh7812]

Originally Posted by vampirevsrobot

Didn't Carlin (Jack Riley) & Howard (Bill Daily) appear on the show as well? I think they did and I would have sworn I'm missing someone else.



...And I thought I was the only one?

Newhart was my second pick, I actually chose "BOB" in the poll.

I agree with you the first season of BOB was about the best television ever offered. Well, I guess you didn't say that, but it was pretty amazing, right?

Unlike you though, I actually don't really mind the second season that much.

We still have the writers from the first, but the cast has been dramatically changed (as in they're all fired)!

I liked Betty White and Jere Burns.

Now you have to remember, I had never seen "Dear John" so seeing Burns ripping through his lines at lightning fast pace was all new to me.

And the secretary was about the biggest smart ass I've ever seen on TV.

Regardless, I really liked Harlan from the first season, I am shocked that John Cygan was never able to find any major success following "BOB', he was a master stroke of great casting.

They all were, every single one of them.

I really liked Albie (Andrew Bilgore) as well. Didn't he wear the same outfit in every single episode??

Talk about an insecure character...holy crap!

Gosh, CBS really screwed BOB up.

I'm still pissed all these years later...

One of the reason's I picked BOB over the others, especially Newhart because my major qualm with Newhart was...there wasn't enough Bob Newhart.

Especially in the latter seasons, to me it sorta became the Michael & Stephanie show or the Larry, Darryl & Darryl show.

It's like we only get to see Newhart behind the lobby welcome desk from time to time.

And I'll be honest, I never really cared for the three strange "woodsmen" all that much and the audience clapping every-time they made an entrance got annoying to me pretty quick.

All in all, they were all great shows.

I'm a huge fan of Bob Newhart and all four.

I could swear both Jack Riley and Bill Daily guest starred on Newhart at some point..it would have been really nice if Bob could have found recurring roles for both of them in the second series. They both did outstanding in The Bob Newhart Show. In fact through the last few seasons next to Bob and Suzanne they were the biggest parts of it. I believe the character of Kirk in Newhart is modeled a bit after Carlin.

Mary Frann was a beautiful, talented lady that died entirely way too young seemed like a genuinely classy lady and I just preferred her to Pleshette so you're not alone

The first season of Bob was honestly as strong as the later seasons of Newhart! They picked an interesting premise-he goes back to his comic book job after years away..they got Bob a great supporting cast too. There was a lot of room for that concept to grow. Could have gone in a lot of different directions. I feel there could have been 3 solid seasons worth of material there. I forever question CBS screwing with it I liked how Mr. Terhorst was never seen, we only heard his voice. Lot they could have done there too.

George and Leo had a lot of potential too..I think they just tried to tweak and adjust too much. They lost the audience. I did actually watch it every week and my heart sank when it was cancelled..felt very sorry for Bob. Series number 3 and 4 both could have lasted a while and should have. I'm pissed at CBS too believe me. I wonder if NBC or ABC would have treated him better.

You're exactly right, the second half of Newhart very much increasingly became both "The Michael and Stephanie" and "The Larry Darryl and Darryl" show depending on the week. Thinking about it towards the very end Bob and Mary didn't have much screen time at all! Hell neither did Tom really. Newhart had been renewed for a ninth season at the time bob decided to end it. There was really nowhere else to go with it..couldn't have gotten more surreal or wacky!

I wish Bob would take one more shot at a sitcom but he's in his mid 80s now and earned the right to take it easy. I'll be forever grateful for all the entertainment he's given us.

[vampirevsrobot]

Originally Posted by bh7812

I could swear both Jack Riley and Bill Daily guest starred on Newhart at some point..

I checked references on the somewhat sketchy IMDB, apparently they were the only two.

Originally Posted by bh7812

I noticed especially watching Seasons 5 and 6 of his first show there's a ton of what ended up being foreshadowing and alluding to many situations that would later happen in his second series. I know Newhart wasn't even a thought at that point but when you see these references it's damn brilliant.

These 'references' of both "Elliot" & "Howard" (as different characters) could also tie into the whole dream sequence...right?

Originally Posted by bh7812

don't fix what's not broken..

...agree!

Entertainment Weekly (back when it was good) once predicted in the 1992-93 "TV Fall preview" that "BOB" would run for 5 seasons.

Sadly, their psychic ball cracked.

It's a shame (although I guess they actually were sorta psychic) as "BOB" aired it's finale 3 episodes in 1997 on TV LAND.

Currently re-watching "George & Leo"...