The Bob Newhart Show: Bob's Change of Life

The Bob Newhart Show: Bob's Change of Life
CBS
September 24, 1977
Sitcom
DVD
B-

The Charles brothers wrote this episode where Bob is experiencing changes (no, not menopause).  He and Emily move to a different apartment in their building, and he finishes the manuscript of his book.  Both of these will continue through the season.  However, Carol's pregnancy, unlike Julie Kotter's, has vanished.  (I'm guessing a false positive rather than a miscarriage.)

Charles Thomas Murphy, who plays George Simmons, previously was a Messenger.  Martha Scott makes her last appearance as Bob's mother.  Bonerz directed this.

The Bob Newhart Show: Making Up Is the Thing to Do

The Bob Newhart Show: Making Up Is the Thing to Do
CBS
December 25, 1976
Sitcom
DVD
B-

In this story by the Farrs, Bob's parents (Barnard Hughes and Martha Scott), who split up around Thanksgiving, reconcile on Christmas Day.  As mentioned on the previous episode, they've been married 47 years.  And we find out that Bob was almost named Herb, not for his father but for President Hoover.  The episode references Farrah and has quite a bit about CB radios.  It's the only one directed by Harvey Medlinsky, who'd go to Mork & Mindy.  It's also the 600th sitcom episode I've reviewed.

The Bob Newhart Show: Breaking Up Is Hard to Do

The Bob Newhart Show: Breaking Up Is Hard to Do
CBS
December 11, 1976
Sitcom
DVD
B-

In this Sy Rosen story, Bob's parents split up and his mother begins dating a man she meets at Mrs. Bakerman's church social.  It feels a little unbalanced to not have Bob's father appear, or even call.  Bonerz directed.

The Bob Newhart Show: Fathers and Sons and Mothers

The Bob Newhart Show: Fathers and Sons and Mothers
CBS
November 29, 1975
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Bob's mother stays with him and Emily while her house is being painted.  (His father is away.)  Meanwhile William Daniels guest-stars as the son of Mr. Vickers (Lucian Scott) and proves to be as bad as we've heard.  It seems odd that Howard has never heard that Martha calls Bob "Sonny," or that his father is named Herb, especially since Howard has been dating Ellen all this time, but then Howard doesn't have the best memory.

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: A Love Story

The Bob Newhart Show: A Love Story
CBS
February 9, 1974
Sitcom
DVD
B+

Martin Cohan wrote and Peter Bonerz directed this episode that introduces Bob's 32-year-old sister Ellen (33-year-old Pat Finley).  Howard falls in love with her at first sight, and she gradually starts to return his feelings.  Unfortunately, she's getting married in a few days.  The timeline doesn't quite work, but that's all right.  It's still a wonderful episode, with how all the characters, including Bob's mother (Martha Scott, with her character now sharing the same first name), play off each other.  I of course especially loved Bob telling Emily she's sunk to a new low, trying to matchmake an engaged person.  I almost went with an A-, but I do have a few qualms about how quickly Howard and Ellen get involved, especially under the circumstances.

This is the 200th CBS programmed I've reviewed.  I don't think they'll ever catch up to ABC, but with this show and M*A*S*H hanging on for a few more years, the Eye Network will come close.

The Bob Newhart Show: Mom, I L-L-Love You

The Bob Newhart Show: Mom, I L-L-Love You
CBS
October 7, 1972
Sitcom
DVD
B-

This is the only BNS episode written by Dick Clair and Jenna McMahon, who'd do some of the later Soap scripts.  Bob, as the title suggests has trouble telling his mother he loves her.  The problem is, his mother Eleanor (Martha Scott) comes across as very annoying in this episode, so the viewer can't really blame Bob.  Jerry/Carol shippers note how eager Carol sounds when she thinks Jerry is asking her out.

Marilyn Child makes her first of two appearances as Bob's patient Mrs. Walker.