Newhart

I never saw the previous also MTM-produced, apparently very successful "The Bob Newhart Show" which I don't think ever played in the UK, but remember this particular series very well indeed.

I liked it very much then and still do today, now I've got the chance to re-watch them again. Of course rather like the flagship "Mary Tyler-Moore Show", it's built around a known star, the rather hangdog comedian Bob Newhart, who with his improbably young and pretty wife leaves the rat race behind to set up home in a run-down Vermont guest-house.

Being very much set-bound, it relies on the familiarity and like-ability of its quirky cast and the gentle humour in the writing. Of course almost every bit of dialogue is set up for Newhart to deadpan the punch-line but on the parameters there are some engagingly odd-ball supporting characters like the dimwitted repairman George, the ditzy chambermaid Lesley and especially the 80's answer to the Crazy Gang crossed with the Marx Brothers, the hilarious "Anything for a buck" brothers Larry, Daryl and Daryl. Less appealing however is their irritating, fabricating, restaurant-owning neighbour Kirk.

With a luxuriant, scene-setting theme by the celebrated Henry Mancini, the humour here is hardly revolutionary or cutting-edge, but for warm, cosy, feel-good comedy, this is a very enjoyable and comfortable place to check into.

New York couple Dick (Bob Newhart) and Joanna Loudon (Mary Frann) buys and operates an inn in Vermont. He's a writer of how-to books. George Utley (Tom Poston) is the handyman. Leslie Vanderkellen is the maid in the first season replaced by her flakier cousin Stephanie Vanderkellen (Julia Duffy). Kirk Devane owns the neighboring diner and lusts after both cousins. Michael Harris (Peter Scolari) produces Dick's TV show in later seasons and becomes Stephanie's romantic lead. Then there are the locals Larry (William Sanderson) and his brother Darryl and his other brother Darryl.

Bob Newhart is classic. His stuttering delivery gives him an unique voice. It's rare that a guy can head two long-running successful TV shows. The first season is a little rough so Bob retooled it for the second season. It is basically brighter and more fun. He replaced the ineffective Jennifer Holmes with the sillier Julia Duffy as the hot girl. Then he replaced the funny Steven Kampmann with Peter Scolari. It certainly worked out well since it lasted a full 8 season. Tom Poston is funny as handyman George Utley. There is nothing like Larry, his brother Darryl, and his other brother Darryl which steals the show every time. This was a safe lovely show. Bob wasn't in the business to break down any doors or push an agenda. He was simply in it to make jokes, and he was good at it. To lead 2 different long running shows based mainly on his name is something that only legends get to do.

One of the most intelligent sitcoms of the 1980's. The brand of humor was and still is refreshing for the time and in many ways missed today.

Newhart was a classic, smart and hilarious show. Bob Newhart is hilarious here. The humor, which was in no way directed at sexual issues, was great and refreshing. The series' quality never declined in quality and was great throughout it's entire run. The final episode probably being the best of all.

That's how I describe "Newhart" in one word. I've always enjoyed Bob Newhart's dry humor and wit.

I liked almost all of the characters on the show. The only one I wished stayed for the entire run was Kirk Devane (Steven Kampmann). He was hilarious the way he lies and the one episode that sticks out with me was when he produced and stared in his own commercial with Dick's wife Joanna for his diner. He does the commercial like the old Ronco ads from the 70s ("How much would you pay for this hamburger? Well don't answer yet...."). Then he says Joanna paid this outrageous price and the look on her face was priceless.

The other episode that sticks out with me was when Dick goes to a Boston Celtics game and has courtside seats. He apparently gets kicked out of the seat I believe because it was someone else's seats and he had to stand outside in the aisle area. Then I believe it was Larry Bird goes hobbling out of the game to the Celtic's team clubhouse, which became the perfect set up for the parody of the "Mean" Joe Greene Coke commercial from 1980. That was a classic.

The final episode was the best and ultimate way to end the show. One of the biggest "curve balls" was thrown. This was one ending you could never see coming.

A bit of trivia: Larry and the 2 Darryls were originally planned by the writers to appear in about 2-4 episodes and were to be written off shortly thereafter. Since "Newhart" was taped in front of a studio audience, the audience would cheer, applaud and holler when the trio walked in the door, then the introduction would follow: "Hi, I'm Larry, this is my brother Darryl and this is my other brother Darryl". That would then follow with more cheers and applause or laughs. It was said, that the studio audience kept the trio from being written off the show.