Bob Newhart Show, The (1972-78)

As with many 1970s ensemble sitcoms, such as The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show focused on career-oriented adults, mostly single, related by circumstance rather than blood. Newhart played Dr. Bob Hartley, a psychologist practicing in Chicago. He treated a variety of patients whose problems, no matter how eccentric, were played for laughs; the star among them was the misanthropic Elliott Carlin (Jack Riley). Bob's office mate was Dr. Jerry Robinson (Peter Bonerz), an orthodontist and typical 1970s "swinging single"; they shared the services of a quick-witted secretary-receptionist, Carol Kester (Marcia Wallace). Bob's wife, Emily--smart, funny, sexy--was played by Suzanne Pleshette. The couple's neighbor and closest friend in their high-rise apartment building was Howard Borden (Bill Daily), a childlike airline navigator who ate most of his meals with the Hartleys and had them water his plants even when he was home; he was, in effect, the offspring they didn't have. "That guy could lose an argument with a fern," was the caustic Carlin's comment on Howard. A few lines and situations illustrate the show's deft and daft humor: Bob and Emily having a bicentennial party in 1976 and inviting Carlin because, according to Bob, "He says he gets lonely every bicentennial;" Howard explaining how spilling salt could be fatal--this after Bob nearly fell down an elevator shaft and became obsessed with death; the Hartleys sending Howard to a psychologist so he can become independent and responsible--but then wanting the old Howard back; Jerry coming into money, giving up his practice, and turning into "the village coot," who wants to do nothing but whittle and watch the sunrise. These characters, even if defined by their specific quirks, developed and grew throughout the show's long run. Emily began as a substitute teacher, became a full-time teacher and moved up to vice principal; Carol married a travel agent and also tried out some other careers, but always came back to Bob and Jerry; Howard was engaged for a time to Bob's sister Ellen, a newspaper reporter, but she went out of his life and off the show when she moved to Cleveland for a better job (and after she had a flirtation with Howard's visiting brother, game warden Gordon Borden). The show made creative use of some running gags--Bob's one-sided telephone conversations, which had been a popular part of Newhart's standup act; his habit of trying to explain situations by using analogies no one understood; and his bedtime conversations with Emily, as each could turn back on the light, and make one more comment.

CAST

Robert (Bob) Hartley............................... Bob Newhart

Emily Hartley................................. Suzanne Pleshette

Howard Borden............................................. Bill Daily

Jerry Robinson....................................... Peter Bonerz

Carol Kester Bondurant....................... Marcia Wallace

Margaret Hoover (1972-1973).................. Patricia Smith

Dr. Bernie Tupperman (1972-1976).......... Larry Gelman

Ellen Hartley (1974-1976)............................. Pat Finley

Larry Bondurant (1975-1977).................. Will McKenzie

Eliot Carlin .................................................Jack Riley

Mrs. Bakerman ....................................Florida Friebus

Miss Larson (1972-1973)...................... Penny Marshall

Michelle Nardo (1973-1976)...................... Renee Lippin

Mr. Peterson (1973-1978).......................... John Fiedler

Mr. Gianelli (1972-1973)............................. Noam Pitlik

Mr. Vickers (1974-1975)........................... Lucien Scott

Mr. Herd (1976-1977)................................. Oliver Clark

PRODUCERS

Tom Patchett, Jay Tarses, David Davis, Lorenzo Music, Michael Zinberg

PROGRAMMING HISTORY

138 Episodes CBS

September 1972-October 1976   Saturday 9:30-10:00

November 1976-September 1977   Saturday 8:30-9:00

September 1977-April 1978   Saturday 8:00-8:30

June 1978-August 1978   Saturday 8:00-8:30