The Bob Newhart Show: An American Family

The Bob Newhart Show: An American Family
CBS
November 23, 1974
Sitcom
DVD
B

This Charlotte Brown story is somewhat similar to the That Girl episode where Donald and Ann celebrate Thanksgiving with both sets of parents, although with obvious differences, since Bob and Emily are married and have invited over their single friends as well.  As on TG, the main conflict is between the leading man's fussy mother and the leading lady's overbearing father, with the other parents more easy-going.  John Randolph and Ann Rutherford return as the Harrisons, while Martha Scott's Martha Hartley is joined by Barnard Hughes as Herb.  Note that the senior Hartleys have been married for 45 years, and Aggie Harrison is 56.  Bonerz directs again.  The episode's title is taken from the '73 documentary about the far more dysfunctional Loud family.

The Bob Newhart Show: Sorry, Wrong Mother

The Bob Newhart Show: Sorry, Wrong Mother
CBS
October 12, 1974
Sitcom
DVD
B+

Charlotte Brown wrote this story about Howie (Moosie Drier) and Ellen meeting and not hitting it off.  While the many-sided argument at the end feels a bit contrived, there are some moments of realism throughout.  And there are also moments of absurdity, whether it's Bob use of a puppet in therapy, Jerry's purchase of an abstract clock, or the whole ice cream parlor scene with John Ritter as Dave.  More so than on his M*A*S*H appearance the previous season, Ritter is beginning to show star quality.  (He by then had a recurring role on The Waltons, as a reverend, but lead roles were still awhile off.)

The Bob Newhart Show: Big Brother Is Watching

The Bob Newhart Show: Big Brother Is Watching
CBS
September 14, 1974
Sitcom
DVD
A-

When I saw Charlotte Brown's name in the credits, I knew this would be very good, but it's in fact the most fantastic program I've watched in a long while.  That may sound over the top for what is just the basic five characters, plus Ellen, playing off each other, but there are some wonderfully funny and believably human moments.  (Bob's "Do you have all his albums?" had me on the floor!)  And a couple other characters have established enough personalities that we can imagine Bob's mother's end of the conversation, or Mr. Carlin's with Carol.  Also, there's some fun coming out of two new sets: the Hartleys' den and Carol's funky apartment, with chairs made out of hippos and swings.  (That Bob has to retreat to the beanbag chair says a lot about the '70s.)

The subject of living together had come up for Carol in the first season, but it was one of her short-term boyfriends.  With its being Howard, a character we've grown fond of for two years, and Bob's sister, the stakes are much higher.  (And, yes, we are two and a half years away from the platonic trio of Three's Company.)  I am definitely looking forward to the rest of the season.

The Bob Newhart Show: The Modernization of Emily

The Bob Newhart Show: The Modernization of Emily
CBS
January 12, 1974
Sitcom
DVD
B+

Another very good story from Charlotte Brown, with Emily, after ten years of teaching and five years of being married, trying to act and feel younger.  The reactions of the others are spot on.  Ironically, in a decade of regrettable fashion (and we are deep into the plaid slacks era now), Emily's two "tacky" outfits look adorable.  It is definitely the mid-'70s, with jokes about the high cost of meat, much like the frequent similar jokes on The Brady Bunch that season.

J.J. Barry, who's the Man in Market, would show up in some of my other shows, most notably as Janet's boss on Three's Company.  And, yes, that's 30-year-old Sharon Gless as Howard's date.  This is, by the way, the 600th program I've reviewed.

The Bob Newhart Show: Mister Emily Hartley

The Bob Newhart Show: Mister Emily Hartley
CBS
November 3, 1973
Sitcom
DVD
B

Charlotte Brown examines the effect Emily having a higher IQ has on Bob.  He's "petulant" but they do eventually talk things out.  (No, we don't find out Howard's IQ, since he doesn't finish the test.)

Bill Quinn, Newhart's real-life father-in-law, who had done a That Girl, makes his first of four BNS cameos, as Ralph Hodiak.  Writers Jay Tarses and Tom Patchett play respectively the Waiter and Dave Robbins (the backwards-speaking guy).

The Bob Newhart Show: Last TV Show

The Bob Newhart Show: Last TV Show
CBS
September 15, 1973
Sitcom
DVD
B

This season-opener written by Charlotte Brown has an ironic name, although it in fact refers to what will presumably be the last TV appearance of Bob's group.  (Bob on the other hand would make other regrettable appearances on various shows.)  The unwieldiness of Bob's first-season groups is gone, with no more one-shots and extras.  Now this group has a core of five who play off each other very well.  (Bob would, however, have two overlapping main groups, which would lead to hilarity when they all went on a mountain retreat with the Hartleys.)  I'd go with a B+ on the episode, but unfortunately the situation means that for one segment Bob is doing most of the talking, as stage fright is not exactly the best way to showcase cast chemistry.  This is, by the way, one of the episodes where Emily shows what a wonderfully supportive wife she is, not only pushing Bob out the door in a suit he's not sure he should be wearing but also enthusiastically lying to him at his request.

The Bob Newhart Show: The Crash of 29 Years Old

The Bob Newhart Show: The Crash of 29 Years Old
CBS
January 13, 1973
Sitcom
DVD
B

Charlotte Brown's second BNS script is almost as sharp and funny as her first, in part because she knows how to write for Carol, who's having doubts about her career now that she's 29.  Also, as you can see from the tags, the nucleus of Bob's group is starting to form, with the better, more interesting members recurring and starting to play off each other, as when Mr. Gianelli laughs at Mr. Carlin and Michelle.  And there are some funny lines about "lunch with Emily" inspiring people to quit their jobs.  Oh, and I like the way the "male secretary" aspect is handled.

Jill Jaress makes her first of three appearances as Howard's stewardess girlfriend Mary Ellen.

The Bob Newhart Show: Bob and Emily and Howard and Carol and Jerry

The Bob Newhart Show: Bob and Emily and Howard and Carol and Jerry
CBS
December 9, 1972
Sitcom
DVD
B+

Then everything clicks in this first BNS episode directed by Peter Baldwin and first written by Charlotte Brown.  Not only is it the ultimate episode for Howard/Carol shippers (with a bone thrown to Jerry/Carol shippers), but it's funny and intelligent and a bit sexy.  The five main characters (getting their names run together Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice style) play off each other very well, but there are some good moments with the guest cast, too.  Note that two of the Emily motifs, fear of flying and love of matchmaking, are used, but she also teases Bob that he's overpaid.  The bathroom scene is just perfect, and if the rest of the episode were on that level, I'd go with an A- or higher.

Marilyn Child is Mrs. Walker again.  Shizuko Hoshi, who plays the Waitress, would be a Hostess the following year.  And, yes, forty-year-old Pat Morita plays the Bartender.