The Group is in Session

The Bob Newhart Show -- sitcom at its finest

by blogSpotter
It's been a while since I did any television reviews. Of course, my "TV Land" mentality has me channel-surfing thru the 70's, one of the best decades for TV sitcoms. I've already paid homage to The Mary Tyler Moore Show in a previous blog. Another MTM production that is excellent is The Bob Newhart Show which ran from 1972 thru 1978. Bob Newhart excelled at the sitcom formula of a deadpan, serious main character surrounded by a cast of loonies. His later show, Newhart borrowed the formula, but not as effectively. In The Bob Newhart Show (TBNS hereon), Bob plays Psychologist Robert Hartley. He is married to elementary school teacher Emily, played by the lovely Suzanne Pleshette. Together, they live in a nice, Chicago high-rise apartment. Across the hall is the flaky, squirrelly Howard Borden, a divorced airline navigator -- portrayed to perfection by Bill Daily.

TBNS plot lines struck a nice balance between Bob's work and home life. At work, Bob is blessed with the extreme wit of receptionist Carol, the single-man bluster of Jerry the orthodontist and the various 'wackadoo' patients. His patients such as the timid Mr. Petersen, the tact-impaired Mr. Carlin and assorted others provide the Mother Lode of all comedy. We have kindly old ladies making nympho remarks, a unibrow woman concerned about sexism and then also the tennis instructor whose problem is that he’s too handsome.

TBNS gave us the same nuance and credible character shading that was offered on Mary Tyler Moore. Nothing was over-the-top or gimmicky; there was no obligatory pandering, profanity or forced hipness like you see on today's sitcoms (a vanishing breed it seems). Like MTM, TBNS was made 30+ years ago and still seems fresh and modern. The casual attitudes reflect 2006 as well as 1976; the clothing and styles are still surprisingly attractive and current considering the decade. That's probably because the show portrayed urban professionals in their 30's and 40's. A hipster show would've given you more shag hairstyles and bell bottom pants, one has to figure.

TBNS was superbly done, in a subtle artful comedy style that seems to be lost. We now live in an age of reality TV programming with shows like Fear Factor and America's Got Talent. Sitcoms do seem like a dying breed. It helps to let go, by remembering some choice lines from TBNS:

Tennis instructor to Bob:
"Bob, you have no idea how hard it is, being good-looking".

Bob, to Emily (after losing a couples' tennis match):
"Emily, you run like a girl".

Carol, to Bob -- on overhearing office gossip:
"Bob, I heard it in passing. OK, your office door was opened and I happened to be passing.”

The Bob Newhart Show is now out on DVD – first 3 seasons. Go purchase a copy and see what sitcom at its finest was all about.

© 2006 blogSpotter.