# RIP Bob Newhart **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, celebrity-death\ **Created:** [July 18, 2024, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-bob-newhart/1004433 "2024-07-18T20:01:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2024, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-bob-newhart/1004433/61 "2024-07-19T22:12:05Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > One of the stories in the podcast I linked before was on that exact subject. I prefer text to podcasts. They can be interesting, but they frustrate me. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2024, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-bob-newhart/1004433/62 "2024-07-19T22:14:41Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > I prefer text to podcasts. Well then you can read the podcast but it probably won’t be as entertaining. > **[Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend - Bob Newhart (Re-Release) Transcript and...](https://podscripts.co/podcasts/conan-obrien-needs-a-friend/bob-newhart-re-release)** > > Bob Newhart (Re-Release) - Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend Transcript and Discussion ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2024, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-bob-newhart/1004433/63 "2024-07-19T22:18:51Z")
O.k. I’ll check it out! Sheesh. 😜 ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2024, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-bob-newhart/1004433/64 "2024-07-19T22:48:39Z")
FWIW, I rewatched the Apatow doc and realized I got the neighbor thing backwards. The Newharts moved into the Rickles’ nabe. It was definitely worth watching again. I still can’t get over the fact that The Peeper and Emily were married in real life. Anybody here remember him as the tobacco company creep in Norman Lear’s _[Cold Turkey](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066927/)_? Great cast: Tom “The Peeper” Poston, Jean Stapleton, Bernard Hughes, Edward Everett Horton, Graham “Charlie Haggers” Jarvis. Maureen McCormick did the voice of a doll. A _Who’s Who_ of sitcom actors. I just noticed that IMDb has Bob & Ray as a single credit. Of course they do. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-bob-newhart/1004433/65 "2024-07-20T02:23:11Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > I still can’t get over the fact that The Peeper and Emily were married in real life. When someone upthread mentioned Bob in heaven waking up in bed with Suzanne, my first thought was that George is also going to be in that bed. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-bob-newhart/1004433/66 "2024-07-20T02:39:48Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > > [@ftg](#): > > > > I still can’t get over the fact that The Peeper and Emily were married in real life. > > When someone upthread mentioned Bob in heaven waking up in bed with Suzanne, my first thought was that George is also going to be in that bed. - I’m sure Bob would rather wake up next to Ginnie. ---
**Author:** ![Jay\_Z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Jay\_Z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jay_Z)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-bob-newhart/1004433/67 "2024-07-20T06:58:24Z")
Worth checking out - Thursday’s Game. Features Bob with Gene Wilder in a rare pairing as poker buddies. Bob’s big stinker was The First Family. Written by Buck Henry and featuring Gilda Radner and other top comic talent of the time. I’ve never seen this one, really bad reviews on IMDB. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-bob-newhart/1004433/68 "2024-07-20T07:11:07Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Anybody here remember him as the tobacco company creep in Norman Lear’s _[Cold Turkey](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066927/)_? I do. He was the one who convinced the tobacco company to give $1M to the town that could quit smoking for a month. Then, when it looked like Eagle Rock (the town) was going to earn the money towards month end, he organized an air drop of cigarettes from helicopters. Fun movie! I did like his one-sided phone calls and whatnot, and his TV shows. He had a knack for deadpan delivery, by an everyman who is a little befuddled by what’s going on around him. But he had to deal with it, so he did. And he did it beautifully. Rest well, Bob. You’ll be missed. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-bob-newhart/1004433/69 "2024-07-20T13:28:10Z")
Making him a clinical psychologist was brilliant. It was just the profession the 70s was ripe for seeing on TV, and it’s a job where you need to be able to keep a straight face no matter what someone says. There was a great skit when he hosted SNL, where Dr. Bob Hartley is either hosting his own daytime show, or filling in for Dr. Phil, and the people are the usual daytime freaks. He keeps the deadpan the whole time, but his verbal reaction is to tell the guests they are disgusting. You kinda have to see it, but I was rolling on the floor. Literally, because I was sitting on the floor to begin with. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-bob-newhart/1004433/70 "2024-07-20T13:43:21Z")
It’s frustrating that _Bob_ didn’t work. I remember watching and recognized that the writers didn’t surround Newhart with the right characters. Newhart was at his best observing and reacting to odd situations. _Bob_ only ran 1 1/2 seasons. IIRC it never had a good time slot in the schedule. Wikipedia says 33 ep were filmed and 3 never aired. That says a lot about the ratings. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-bob-newhart/1004433/71 "2024-07-20T14:04:32Z")
Oh, **Kolak\_of\_Twilo** , you are so right! After more than 60 years, I still add “and Storm Door Company” to company names when I want to mock them. “Oh, honey, here’s another news story about the Tesla Motors and Storm Door Company laying off employees.” ---
**Author:** ![Jay\_Z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Jay\_Z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jay_Z)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-bob-newhart/1004433/72 "2024-07-20T14:49:31Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > It’s frustrating that _Bob_ didn’t work. I remember watching and recognized that the writers didn’t surround Newhart with the right characters. Newhart was at his best observing and reacting to odd situations. > > _Bob_ only ran 1 1/2 seasons. IIRC it never had a good time slot in the schedule. Wikipedia says 33 ep were filmed and 3 never aired. That says a lot about the ratings The workplace on Bob never worked. I have to say that Bob was not terribly convincing as a comic artist, it doesn’t seem like something he would do. Too Close For Comfort wound up being a better show. The workplace wound up being more Fish Out Of Water which wasn’t Bob’s humor; I think he could play a grump but not an eccentric. George And Leo was far better constructed to make use of Bob. But that was 1997. Comedy wise it was competing against Seinfeld, The Simpsons, Friends. It probably came across as a little behind the times. Though I think they did their best in advancing the dialogue to then current sensibilities. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-bob-newhart/1004433/73 "2024-07-20T15:40:22Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > _Bob_ only ran 1 1/2 seasons. IIRC it never had a good time slot in the schedule. Wikipedia says 33 ep were filmed and 3 never aired. That says a lot about the ratings. Saw it, was not funny. You need the complete package, which his two previous shows had. Cast, writers, premise. Bob(the show) just didn’t click. It happens. I mean, Ted Danson has had: Cheers - huge hit, he’ll never outdo it Becker - reasonable hit, though more or less forgotten Good Place - big hit, well received Ink - huge bomb Help Me Help You - huge bomb Mr. Mayor - bomb-ish? two season apparently, never heard of it Some actors just keep going back and trying and Danson is one who had more luck and talent than some. Bob Newhart was incredibly lucky to have two hit shows centered around himself. ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-bob-newhart/1004433/74 "2024-07-20T15:52:24Z")
I mostly loved Newhart but felt it was just so-so until Julia Duffy and Peter Scolari joined the cast (replacing two rather bland characters). ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-bob-newhart/1004433/75 "2024-07-20T17:52:46Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > There was a great skit when he hosted SNL, where Dr. Bob Hartley is either hosting his own daytime show, or filling in for Dr. Phil, and the people are the usual daytime freaks. He keeps the deadpan the whole time, but his verbal reaction is to tell the guests they are disgusting. There was also the cameo on Murphy Brown. Okay, it was mostly Marcia Wallace’s cameo. She was one of Murphy’s parade of secretaries, and all the characters were clearly noting, but not commenting on, her being fully in character as Carol, from The Bob Newhart Show. Of course, at the end, Newhart-as-Hartley comes in frantic, begging her to return. She immediately agrees, because FYI was just too crazy for her! ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2024, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-bob-newhart/1004433/76 "2024-07-20T18:42:28Z")
Scolari was a great comedic actor, IMHO. But underutilized in the show. In particular being tied to Duffy who was just a blob in a sweater didn’t help. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-bob-newhart/1004433/77 "2024-07-21T06:37:53Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Mr. Mayor - bomb-ish? two season apparently, never heard of it It wasn’t bad but Danson’s character was too much like his Good Place character without the tight comedy writing, and the mix of characters never gelled. Also, Holly Hunter tended to draw too much focus, like she was competing for protagonist status. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-bob-newhart/1004433/78 "2024-07-21T07:41:55Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Mr. Mayor - bomb-ish? two season apparently, never heard of it I pondered whether _Mr. Mayor_ was Michael living his mortal life on earth. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2024, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-bob-newhart/1004433/79 "2024-07-21T08:25:50Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Mr. Mayor - bomb-ish? two season apparently, never heard of it It was okay. It was funny enough that I watched every episode, yet I was neither surprised nor particularly upset when it was canceled. It felt like the show didn’t know where to go and none of the characters had any meaningful or compelling growth. And yeah, Ted Danson’s character was so very much Michael from _The Good Place_, but in a much lesser show. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2024, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-bob-newhart/1004433/80 "2024-07-22T13:11:15Z")
Did anybody else see [The Bob Newhart Show: The 19th Anniversary Special](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bob_Newhart_Show:_The_19th_Anniversary_Special)? It came out in 1991 and was mostly a flashback show with the premise that it took place the day after the dream. At one point Howard tells Bob he had a similar dream, but in his he was an astronaut (cue flashbacks from _I Dream of Jeannie_) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-bob-newhart/1004433.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-bob-newhart/1004433.md?page=5)