The Bob Newhart Show: Fly the Unfriendly Skies

The Bob Newhart Show: Fly the Unfriendly Skies
CBS
September 16, 1972
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Creators David Davis and Lorenzo Music co-wrote this pilot, which establishes the basic show for the next six years.  Not that there wouldn't be changes of course, if less dramatic ones than on the five years of The Brady Bunch, but the core settings and characters are here.  We even see three of Bob's regular patients at the Fear of Flying workshop:  Florida Friebus as Mrs. Lillian Bakerman, Noam Pitlik as Mr. Victor Gianelli, and of course Jack Riley as Elliot Carlin.  Since this is one of my favorite shows, it's tempting to give the first episode a higher grade, but things haven't jelled yet.  For one thing, Emily's toughness and humor have yet to emerge, to say nothing of the full daffiness of Howard.  Also, it's hard to forgive Bob for laughing at her when she cries.  But it's a good place to start.  And notice that this was still the era when you could smoke on planes.

Penny Marshall, still a few years away from sitcom fame of her own, plays the Stewardess.  Patricia Smith plays forgettable neighbor Margaret Hoover.  (I guess they figured Emily needed a sounding board friend, like Ann had on That Girl.)  To keep the tags simple, this show will be referred to as "BNS."