The Bob Newhart Show: Anything Happen While I Was Gone?

The Bob Newhart Show: Anything Happen While I Was Gone?
CBS
November 25, 1972
Sitcom
DVD
B

This first of six BNS stories by Martin Cohan is the first to really feel like the characters are falling into place, particularly Emily, who is able to blend in as one of the boys when both Bob and Jerry skip Jerry's bachelor party.  While Bob and Emily were vacationing in Mexico (Emily bought flight insurance but she did go, so she's made progress with that fear), Jerry got involved in a whirlwind romance with Cynthia Fremont (27-year-old Elaine Giftos, who seems to have specialized in these poised but essentially unlikable roles, see Three's Company).  They're soon engaged but Bob thinks Cynthia is too controlling.  (Bob calls her a back-buster, presumably a euphemism.)  Carol doesn't like her either, which might lend support to Jerry/Carol shippers, except that we see that Cynthia is condescending to Carol, reason enough.  Howard/Carol shippers should note that when Carol jokes that she's cranky when she gets her eight hours of sleep, Howard is very intrigued and puts his arm behind her shoulders on the couch.