Bravo Dick

As a Vermonter myself, I loved this series, but add to this the fact that the outdoor shots were filmed in Middlebury Vermont where I grew up and I love it even more. Middlebury is even now a town of only about 8,500 permanent residents, and we had our own TV show!

The cast was one of the best. Everyone from Bob Newhart and Mary Frann to the supporting cast of Poston, Duffy, Kampmann and Scolari where not only hilarious, but portrayed perfectly some of the types of people you WILL find in Vermont.

If you love good comedy, this is some of the best. Watch it and then plan a vacation in Middlebury. Who knows, you may not want to leave either.

When I think of this show, I often compare it to Green Acres. The two shows were very similar in the fact that it featured someone who wanted to leave the city to move to the country. In this case it was author Dick Loudon filling in for attorney Oliver Wendell Douglas. Also, Dick was surrounded by a strange assortment of people just like Oliver was. The main difference, however, was the fact that Joanna Loudon wasn't the somewhat dim bulb that Lisa Douglas was. Thankfully, Fred Silverman had long since left C.B.S. or else this show might not have seen the light of day.

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.

"Newhart" was a wonderful TV series and I was a regular viewer when it first aired. It's also shown every night locally here and I still try to see it when I can...even if it does air at 1am!

For those unfamiliar to the show I have some important advice. First, the character Kirk was a regular during the first 44 episodes and he was simply terrible. I don't blame the actor...he was just doing his job. But the writing was terrible. Kirk was 100% disagreeable and that's a serious problem--as you have no idea why his neighbors have anything to do with him. He's one-dimensional and god-awful. Also, the final season was very, very spotty--with many episodes which demonstrated that the show had seen better days along with a few which were classics (such as the finale). So do NOT judge the show by the early and late episodes. Those in between are brilliant and fun.

Newhart was indeed a funny and brilliant show without being crude or vulgar. It was fun watching the late wonderful Mary Frann and the amazing genius of Bob Newhart as innkeepers in Vermont. Newhart had a wonderful supporting cast of interesting characters played by Tom Poston, Julia Duffy, and Peter Scolari, and more. It should have won Emmys rather than being nominated but it was a great cast and legacy to sitcom television. Too bad, they don't make them like they used to. Newhart is better known for his dry wit and humor. He is not a slapstick comedian at all. He knows how to tell a story and his facial expressions while similar always is worth watching. Mary Frann was a great actress who was taken from us too young. Julia Duffy and Peter Scolari were great together as a couple and their humor helped enhance this classic show. Tom Poston was always a joy to see and who could forget backwoods Larry and his brothers, Daryl and Darrell who never spoke.