By Grand Rapids Anonymous
thursday, july 18, 2024 at 4:49:00 p.m. edt
“(cnn) over the course of five decades, Newhart’s popularity rarely waned, whether it was as the recording star of the comedy album The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart (the first comedy album to win the Grammy for album of the year), the lead in two top-rated television sitcoms, or a supporting actor in movies including Catch-22 (in which he played the timid Maj. Major), Cold Turkey, and Elf.
“He remains best known for the television shows, The Bob Newhart Show (1972-78) and Newhart (1982-90), both of which were built around his persona as a reasonable man put-upon by crazies.
“Unlikely beginnings
“Born George Robert Newhart in Oak Park, Illinois on September 5, 1929, Newhart was originally an accountant and advertising copywriter.
“He first rose to fame with his comedy album, 1960’s The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart. The album was a phenomenon of its time: one of the best-selling albums of the year, it was No. 1 for 14 weeks on Billboard’s album chart and a multiple Grammy Award-winner, beating out Frank Sinatra, Harry Belafonte and Nat “King” Cole for album of the year. He also hit No. 1 with the follow-up: The Button-Down Mind Strikes Back!
“The finale of Newhart brought back the characters of Dr. Bob Hartley, Newhart’s character on The Bob Newhart Show, and his wife Emily, played by Suzanne Pleshette.
“From CBS, The Bob Newhart Show debuted in 1972. (This is not to be confused with his Peabody and Emmy Award-winning variety show of the same name that aired for one season beginning in 1961.) He played a Chicago psychologist, Bob Hartley, who ministered to a host of eccentric patients.
“In Newhart, he took on the role of Vermont innkeeper Dick Loudon, who tried to maintain his sanity while surrounded by comical locals.
“In both cases, his characters found refuge with their wives, played by Suzanne Pleshette in The Bob Newhart Show and Mary Frann in Newhart.
“The latter show’s finale remains one of the most famous in television history. In the final Newhart episode, Newhart’s town is purchased by a Japanese millionaire. Golfers at a new course regularly batter the inn with their drives, and one day – in the midst of an argument with townspeople – Newhart is hit by a golf ball. After a quick fade to black, he awakens… as Hartley, his character from The Bob Newhart Show, in bed with Pleshette.
“‘Honey, wake up! You won’t believe the dream I just had,’ he tells her, to uproarious audience laughter.”
GRA: There were many “one-of-a-kind” comics back in the day, and Bob had a monopoly on the “laid back, stuttering, bemused” persona. I watch his old show every night at 12:30 a.m. after Taxi.
Ginnie, his wife of 60 years, passed last year and, in my mind, it was a harbinger that Mr. Newhart would be taking his last curtain call in a fairly short amount of time (plus, he was 94!).
Part of the greatest night of comedy in TV history, in the early ‘70s, on Saturday nights:
8 p.m. All in the Family
8:30 p.m. M*A*S*H
9:00 p.m. The Mary Tyler Moore Show
9:30 p.m. The Bob Newhart Show
10 p.m. The Carol Burnett Show
All “Hall of Famers,” as was Bob himself.
-GRA
N.S.: What a beautiful finale! I only saw Newhart once or twice. As for Suzanne Pleshette (1937-2008), we were madly in love. What’s that, GRA? She had no idea who I was? Says you! Maybe it was in the deepest recesses of her mind, but somewhere… I know millions of guys were in love with her, but I was the one.
As for Bob Newhart, I watched his first comedy series religiously. I once saw him in a TV movie playing himself (late 1970s?), though under a different name in the story, as a stand-up comic. He told the audience, “I’m half-German and half-Irish… which makes me a very fastidious drunk.”
Well, you had to hear Newhart’s delivery.
I hadn't recalled that Carol Burnett followed him in those days. That must have been past my permitted TV time.
The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart (Complete Album!)
4 comments:
Suzanne,in the 1960s,was as sexy as any of the gorgeous women we're all familiar with:Raquel,Ann Margaret,Joey Heatherton,Sophia Loren,Jill St.John etc.And she was just as beautiful in "The Bob Newhart Show"--and great with a punchline too.
--GRA
A LITTLE SNIPPET ABOUT BOB
(npr)Bob Newhart won his first Emmy award, in 2013, for his guest appearance on The Big Bang Theory. The following year, NPR asked Newhart if there were any failures in his life or career that troubled him.
"No, I've lived in an incredible time," he answered. "I've lived in the days of Johnny Carson, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin — incredibly rewarding times. ... I could never look on my life as a failure — it's far beyond anything I ever thought I would attain."
Such humility was a fitting attitude for a performer who became a comedy legend by acting like the buttoned-down guy next door.
--GRA
AFTERLIFE TONIGHT SHOW(with guest Bob Newhart)Part 1
Ed McMahon:It's the Afterlife Tonight Show,with Johnny Carson.I'm Ed McMahon,along with the nbc afterlife orchestra inviting you to join Johnny and his guests,Bob Newhart,Don Rickles and Suzanne Pleshette.And now,heeeere's Johnny!
(band plays,much applause,Johnny walks out onstage)
Johnny:Thank you and welcome to the Afterlife Tonight Show,where today's earthly celebrities are only a Covid shot away from booking a seat between me and Ed tomorrow night.(audience laughs)
(turns to Ed)
Hello,Ed.
Ed:Good evening,oh great one.
Johnny:Isn't that what that nutjob,Joy Behar,calls Joe Biden?
Ed:You are correct,sir.
Johnny:And YOU are correct about my being correct!
Ed:And YOU are correct about...
Johnny:Okay,a lot of political news on planet Earth;Last Saturday,a 20 year old male attempted to assassinate Donald Trump and Mr.Trump was grazed by a bullet. As a result, a small piece of President Trump's ear got shot off--about THIS big--or about the same size as what's left of Joe Biden's brain.
(laughs)
Johnny:So now,nancy pelosi--who happens to be 84--is telling biden--who is 81--that HE'S too old to run for re-election(audience chuckles). That's like Joan Rivers telling Cher she's had too much plastic surgery.(laughs).That's like William Taft telling Orson Welles he needs to lose 100 pounds(small laugh).That joke was for our less recently deceased viewers.
Let's do a little Carnac.
Ed:Ladies and gentlemen, I now introduce a visitor from the Far East,the all knowing,all seeing,all omniscient--seer,sage and soothsayer --and former diaper changer for Joe Biden--here he is:CARNAC the Magnificent.
-(applause)
Johnny:Sim Salabim.Just one quick one tonight--as Kamala Harris used to say to Willie Brown.
Ed:Hi yooo.
Johnny:Carnac is eager to get started.
Ed:So was Kamala,I hear(laughs)--but here in my hand,I hold the envelope,which you,in your somewhat mystical and semi-comical way,will divulge the answer inside,without previously knowing the question.
Johnny:You are correct,cremation breath.
Ed:I hand you tonight's envelope.
Johnny:Carnac thanks you.
(places envelope near forehead)
Johnny: Ho,ho,ho.
Ed:Ho,ho,ho.
Johnny:Name something you'd say if you saw three Kamala Harrises walk into a room(laughs)
Ed:One more?
Johnny:One more.
(puts envelope to his forehead)
Johnny:Lizzo...Garfield...and Speaker Mike Johnson.
Ed:Lizzo,Garfield and Speaker Mike Johnson.
Johnny:Name a person who's fat,a cat and a rat.
Back in a minute.
(commercial)
Part 2 follows
--GRA
AFTERLIFE TONIGHT SHOW(with guest Bob Newhart)Part 2
Johnny:We're back. One of the finest comics,since the late 1950s,is our next guest. Making his debut on the Afterlife Tonight Show--which means he's freshly dead--please welcome Bob Newhart and his friends,Don Rickles and Suzanne Pleshette(standing ovation).
Rickles(running around the stage):Where's Frank?That's who they said was gonna be out here tonight.Where is he?Oh,hi,Bob--have YOU seen Frank?I wouldn't be here if I'd known Frank was gonna be a no show.
Bob:H-H-Hello,Don,n-n-no,haven't seen Frank.
Suzanne:Hi,Bob,Don.
Bob:Hi,S-S-Suzanne,you l-l-look gorgeous,I can't say the s-s-same for Don.
Rickles:Who CARES?I'm not THAT LONELY!You finally croaked,huh Newhart ?
Johnny:Yes,it took you a while to get here,Bob--94?
Bob:W-W-Well,I still had a career,John.If you'd have stayed on the T-T-Tonight Show for a few more years,m-m-maybe you could have lasted into YOUR nineties.
Rickles:That's right--and probably gotten married and divorced ten more times.You could have changed your name to Zsa Zsa Carson.
Johnny:Zsa Zsa Carson?
Rickles:YES,Zsa Zsa Carson--do I have to explain it to you?Are you a DUMMY?
Bob:I-I-I think he wanted a better joke,Don.
Johnny:Thank you,Bob,for explaining the obvious to Mr.Warmth.
Rickles:Hey,I've been dead for 8 years,I'm a little rusty.
Johnny:And moldy. MAKEUP--especially on that shiny forehead.
(Rickles laughs)
Johnny:Well,time's up for this show,anything else you'd like to say,Bob?
Bob:Am-am-am I in hell?If Rickles is here...(audience laughs)
Suzanne:No,Bob,it's just the Afterlife.
Bob:B-B-Because I thought,maybe that meatloaf I ate on Ash Wednesday in 1958...
Suzanne:That's not the way it works,Bob.
Johnny:Okay,thanks to my guests tonight,we'll dig up Dr.Ruth and Richard Simmons for you tomorrow.Good night everyone.
THE END.
Post a Comment