The Bob Newhart Show: Group Therapy

Another great set from Shout
 Factory (not a paid endorsement)

The Bob Newhart Show: Group Therapy
Direct to DVD?
Early 2014? (recorded in December '13)
Documentary
DVD
B

Although some of the material isn't exactly fresh, it's still good to see the old friends gather together to pay tribute to a series they are justly proud of, and to remember their late comrades Suzanne Pleshette and Marcia Wallace.  There's obviously a certain poignancy built in, especially since Jack Riley looks so frail in his wheelchair, although still able to get laughs with just a few words.  Bob does most of the talking but the others chime in, as when Bill Daily says he had no funny lines on I Dream of Jeannie but the writing on BNS was so sharp everything afterwards paled in comparison.

Riley hung on till 2016, and the other four are still with us.

The Bob Newhart Show 19th Anniversary

The Bob Newhart Show 19th Anniversary
CBS
November 23, 1991
Sitcom
DVD
C+

Mark Egan and Mark Solomon, who co-wrote the final Newhart episode, are joined by Michael Mahler, who would write some other reunion shows.  This is better than that episode, although it lacks a strong finish.  (Bob sees Larry and his brothers Darryl [William Sanderson, Tony Papenfuss, and John Voldstad] as elevator repairmen.)  I wish some of the original writers had signed on, or maybe that the cast had written their own dialogue, since they seem eager to go back to their old characters, and the DVD commentaries on the episodes are much funnier than this.  Or maybe it's that Dick Martin directed and he belonged to the weaker later seasons of the original series.  Or maybe it's that this is just a clip show, and there's only so much you can do with that.  I wish there were more clever moments, like where Howard flashes back to I Dream of Jeannie, maybe with Bob wondering why his old college buddy the Peeper (Tom Poston) had showed up in his dream as his handyman in Vermont.  Still, it is nice to see everyone reunited and this is on a par with the final episode of BNS.

Fiedler and Libertini only appear in the flashbacks.  Note that Newhart explains in his introduction to the episode why it's the 19th rather than the 20th anniversary, which becomes a running joke throughout the hour, never mind that this contradicts information throughout the original run, like how long Bob was in practice before we met him.

The Bob Newhart Show: Happy Trails to You

The Bob Newhart Show: Happy Trails to You
CBS
April 1, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
C+

The Charles brothers wrote this unimpressive finale with Lloyd Garver.  Bob and Emily picking up and moving to Oregon feels abrupt and a bit forced, so I'm glad that it would be retconned into part of Bob's dream.  And the episode itself doesn't really have any great moments, although Carlin in a dress is memorable.  I might've gone with a B-, if not for Bobby Ramsen's performance as the landlord Mr. Gerber.  The studio audience is delighted with him, but I find his intonation completely off, like a hostile auctioneer.

Bill Quinn makes his fourth and obviously last appearance on the show, this time as Dr. James Wyler, Bob's replacement for his group.  Both Bonerz and Zinberg directed.

The season ranges from C+ to B, with over half (twelve) of the episodes receiving a B-.  That's perfectly respectable of course, but there's no question that the show had peaked two or three years earlier.  I think this was a good moment to end it.  I just wish they'd given it a better send-off.  And, yes, it's ironic that Newhart would have a very memorable ending.

The Bob Newhart Show: Crisis in Education

The Bob Newhart Show: Crisis in Education
CBS
March 11, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
B-

The best thing about this Earl Pomerantz story is the argument over who is Bob's best friend.  I will say it's nice to see how much more confidence Emily has, now that she's been vice principal awhile, compared to the first season or two, when it was hard for her to speak up at meetings.

Patricia Stevens moonlights from M*A*S*H as Wanda Moss here.  Robert Costanzo, who's Sal Petrone here, would be a Carny on Soap.  Bonerz directed.

The Bob Newhart Show: Carol Ankles for Indie-Prod

The Bob Newhart Show: Carol Ankles for Indie-Prod
CBS
March 4, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Lloyd Garver's script has some funny moments, mostly from Bob, and I do like that this time when Carol quits, it's for good.  However, I don't think it lives up to its potential in either the scene showing Carol working for Carlin, or in the Howard getting his driver's license subplot.

Angry Man 1 Joe George would have three roles on Three's Company.  The title has a Variety touch to it, making it sound like Carol is a gofer on an independent film.

The Bob Newhart Show: It Didn't Happen One Night

The Bob Newhart Show: It Didn't Happen One Night
CBS
February 18, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
B-

This Laura Levine story about the Hartleys' three best friends worried that Emily will have an affair with her college boyfriend doesn't quite bring off its blend of silliness and sincerity.  However, the scene in the restaurant at the end, with Howard, Carol, and Jerry in silly disguises, and Emily giving a heartfelt speech about Bob that the entire restaurant applauds, is worth tuning in for.

The Bob Newhart Show: Easy for You to Say

The Bob Newhart Show: Easy for You to Say
CBS
February 11, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
C+

This is the weakest of the three BNS stories by Andrew Smith (who did "Carlin's New Suit" and "Group on a Hot Tin Roof").  Part of the problem is that I don't find stuttering funny, and Bob is counseling a stutterer, Paul Billingham (Jerry Fogel, who previously played Paul Hollander).  The rest is that I just don't find it plausible that he would be able to not only get a radio show but spin it off onto television, without someone (a producer or whoever) finding out about his stuttering and either putting a halt to the project or getting him more help than Bob seems capable of.  Still, the ink-blots scene is cute and we later get to see Jerry dressed as a dog and Bob as a scarecrow.

The Bob Newhart Show: Emily Carlin, Emily Carlin

The Bob Newhart Show: Emily Carlin, Emily Carlin
CBS
February 4, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
B

Laura Levine seems to have become the main "Emily" writer in the last days of the series.  This story, as you might guess from the title, has Emily pretending to be Mr. Carlin's wife, at his 20-year high school reunion.  It's good to see Emily try to be sympathetic but self-respecting despite how irritating Elliot is, and her speech about "her husband" is well done.  Meanwhile, Howard has another funny (for him) new hobby: cooking.  And Bob is again on tour promoting his book.  Bonerz directed.

The Bob Newhart Show: Group on a Hot Tin Roof

The Bob Newhart Show: Group on a Hot Tin Roof
CBS
January 28, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
B

Andrew Smith seems to have been one of the better Season Six writers.  (He also did "Carlin's New Suit.")  In this one, Mr. Plager, on the advice of the group, decides to write a play.  He sets it in World War I but the characters suspiciously resemble Bakerman, Carlin, and Peterson.  Their leader, Major Hartman, is handsome and heroic, so Bob doesn't mind, but the others are upset.  We get to see some of the play, as well as the party afterwards.  It's fun to watch everyone bounce off each other.  And the subplot has Emily practicing Chemistry experiments at home, including a self-tossing salad.  I'd go with a B+ but there are some relatively slow moments in the first half.

Amzie Strickland, who did a lot of television going back to the '50s, including two appearances on That Girl, had previously played Mrs. Walhauser and is the Bakerman character here.  Lou Cutell least resembles his inspiration (Peterson) and had previously played a Delivery Man.

The Bob Newhart Show: Son of an Ex-Con Job

The Bob Newhart Show: Son of an Ex-Con Job
CBS
January 21, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
C+

As with the earlier episode about the five ex-cons (Taurean Blacque as Arthur Tatum, Allen Case as Steve Kopelson, Ric Mancini as Al Brolio, and Bert Rosario as Reuben Ortiz), this plays like a back-door pilot for a short-lived '70s sitcom.  (I'm thinking of 1975's On the Rocks, which is not one of the more memorable entries on the resumes for Mel Stewart, Tom Poston, and Hal Williams.)  And like before, Howard's antics save this from being a C or C-, this time with him trying to follow in Houdini's footsteps and Bob & Emily under-reacting after all these years of his craziness.

The Bob Newhart Show: Grizzly Emily

The Bob Newhart Show: Grizzly Emily
CBS
January 14, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
B

This Laura Levine story is one of the better ones for the last season, although not quite a classic.  Bob isn't in it much, again just calling from airports.  He's unable to join his father, Emily, Howard, and Jerry for a weekend at his dad's cabin.  Herb (Barnard Hughes in his last appearance in the role) is more old-fashioned than Emily's father, who used to take her fishing.  Emily rebels against Herb trying to limit her to housework.  They come to an understanding by the end and it's sweet.  Meanwhile, there's a lot of humor with Howard, especially his daffiness playing off of Herb's straightforwardness.  (Also, the bear looks about as realistic as the Gilligan's Island wildlife of a dozen years earlier.)  Not quite a B+, since it takes a while to get going, but definitely worth watching.  Bonerz directed.

This is the 700th sitcom episode I've reviewed, with a lot more ahead.

The Bob Newhart Show: Freudian Ship

The Bob Newhart Show: Freudian Ship
CBS
January 7, 1978
Sitcom
DVD
B-

This Earl Pomerantz story has Bob and Emily going on a cruise, where she partakes in all the shipboard activities and he counsels an older Texan couple, Vern and Clara Hackler.  (Mrs. Hackler is played by Jeff Donnell, who was Gidget's mother in a couple of the big-screen movies and Hannah on the Gidget TV-series.)

Scavenger #1, Jack Scalici, would be The Assistant on Three's Company, while #2, Claudette Duffy, had previously been Sister Mary Catherine, and #3, Timothy Himes, was the Obnoxious Reporter in The Boy in the Plastic Bubble.  Bonerz directed.

The Bob Newhart Show: 'Twas the Pie Before Christmas

The Bob Newhart Show: 'Twas the Pie Before Christmas
CBS
December 24, 1977
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Phil Davis's last BNS story doesn't mesh with previous Christmas episodes, such as the first-season one where the Hartleys threw a party for Bob's patients.  Also, I caught an error, where a man can be seen lurking in the hallway when he shouldn't be, and it doesn't really make sense for Mr. Peterson to answer the door when he's trying to avoid being seen.  Still, the episode has its moments and it's amiable enough.

The Bob Newhart Show: Grand Delusion

The Bob Newhart Show: Grand Delusion
CBS
December 17, 1977
Sitcom
DVD
C+

I want to like this Lloyd Garver story where Bob and Emily go out to dinner to celebrate their tenth anniversary (a year or two early, but who's counting?) and end up fantasizing about what their lives would be like if they'd never married.  After all, it has a relatively early role for 27-year-old Morgan Fairchild, as Linda/Bianca.  But I don't think it's that funny, e.g. Jerry as a subservient servant in both fantasies, and I feel bad for Howard being cheated on as Emily's fantasy husband.  Still, it is cool to see Bob in a navigator's uniform and Emily in some very attractive outfits.

The Bob Newhart Show: A Girl in Her Twenties

Mildred Natwick as the title character

The Bob Newhart Show: A Girl in Her Twenties
CBS
December 3, 1977
Sitcom
DVD
B-

This first of four BNS scripts by Laura Levine has Emily and Howard befriending the elderly but lively lady next door while Bob's on tour promoting his book.  Includes references to Jimmy Carter and Gene Rayburn, among others.

J.J. Johnston, who plays the man who takes the pay phone Bob was using, would play a Helicopter Pilot on M*A*S*H.  Macon McCalman, who's Dr. Malcolm, would have roles on Soap and Three's Company, including as Janet's father.  Bonerz directed this episode.

The Bob Newhart Show: Shallow Throat

The Bob Newhart Show: Shallow Throat
CBS
November 26, 1977
Sitcom
DVD
B-

In this first of three BNS stories written by Earl Pomerantz, Richard Libertini plays Mr. Twillmer, a new patient of Bob's who claims to be an embezzler, causing an ethical dilemma for Bob.  And Howard learns that TV dinners must be cooked.

Frank Maxwell played a General on Gilligan's Island, William Samuels on That Girl, Lt. Col. Harold Becket on M*A*S*H; did a voice on Wait Till Your Father Gets Home; and is Sgt. O'Conner here.  Alan Haufrect, who plays the Felon, would be Mr. Miller on Bosom Buddies.

The Bob Newhart Show: You're Fired, Mr. Chips

A fellow who looks like Ralph Bellamy

The Bob Newhart Show: You're Fired, Mr. Chips
CBS
November 19, 1977
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Ralph Bellamy guest stars as Bob's former professor and new assistant, Alan Dreeben, in this Lloyd Garver story.  We learn that Mrs. Bakerman's late husband was named Burl.  And we see the Hartleys' new bedroom, which looks nothing like their previous one, suggesting that, if we accept the closing moments of Newhart, then Bob dreamed this sixth season as well.  Bonerz directed this episode.

The Bob Newhart Show: My Son the Comedian

The Bob Newhart Show: My Son the Comedian
CBS
November 12, 1977
Sitcom
DVD
B-

David Lloyd's last BNS story has no longer so little Howie (Moosie Drier in his last appearance on the show), now about twelve, wanting to become a stand-up comic.  He attends a summer school (yes, this is not set in November) for comedians, run by Mickey Melnick (Bobby Ramsen again), and then is invited to perform in little Nevada towns.  Howard has to voice his disapproval before it's too late, although of course it's Uncle Bob who has the real impact.  The ending, with Bob onstage pretending to be a comic, is of course ironic, especially since it's not at all his button-down persona.

One of the other comics is Don Rickles wannabe Minnie Farber, played by 65-year-old Elizabeth Kerr, who the following year would gain fame as Mindy's wisecracking grandmother on Mork & Mindy.

The Bob Newhart Show: Carlin's New Suit

Anderson and Marcus reunited,
but this time he's Mr. Carlson's son.

The Bob Newhart Show: Carlin's New Suit
CBS
October 22, 1977
Sitcom
DVD
B

This, the first of three BNS scripts by Andrew Smith, is better than any lately.  The main plot is that Leslie Greely (32-year-old Loni Anderson, still almost a year away from hitting it big on WKRP) brings a paternity suit against Mr. Carlin.  Although he's of course attracted to her, the real appeal for him is playing dad to her son (but not his) Billy (9-year-old Sparky Marcus, playing younger than his age, as he did as Ape Face in Freaky Friday the previous year).  Not only does he teach the boy about real estate, but he takes him to see Star Wars, and they wear matching outfits.  Meanwhile, Howard brings Bob a beeper back from Japan.  A funny, kind of sweet episode, not a classic for the series, but I suspect one of the best entries of this last season.

Pat Cranshaw, who previously played the Old Gentleman on Carol's wedding day, here is the Bum with a beeper.

The Bob Newhart Show: A Jackie Story

The Bob Newhart Show: A Jackie Story
CBS
October 8, 1977
Sitcom
DVD
B-

In this Davis & Music story about a woman named Jackie, a friend of Carol's who dates Jerry, we get a sense of Jerry's insecurity, especially about women.  The episode takes awhile to get going and doesn't live up to its potential, but I do like that it ends on a happy-ish note.