About
"We're losing manners. We're losing style. We're losing kindness. A lot of it is happening as a result of the television we're doing and the characters we're willing to play that reflect a piece of human nature. But it's done over and over because it gets laughs or because it's dramatically interesting. What's the actor's obligation to make the world a better place?"
In her two-hour-plus interview, Suzanne Pleshette (1937-2008) talks about her early years as an actress in films (The Geisha Boy), television (Playhouse 90, One Step Beyond), and Broadway (The Miracle Worker). She discusses her friendship with Alfred Hitchcock which began on the feature film The Birds, and details her television work on The Bob Newhart Show, on which she played Newhart's wife "Emily Hartley." For this series, she describes her character, talks about working with the other series regulars, and recounts her surprise reappearance on the series finale of Newhart. She speaks of several other appearances on television, including roles on Columbo, Leona Helmsley: The Queen of Mean (in which she played the title role), and 8 Simple Rules. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview on February 9, 2006 in Beverly Hills, CA.
Highlights
Suzanne Pleshette on appearing in "The Miracle Worker" on Broadway
Suzanne Pleshette on acting in Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds"
Suzanne Pleshette on playing "Emily Hartley" on The Bob Newhart Show
Suzanne Pleshette on reprising her role of "Emily Hartley" on the final episode of Newhart
Suzanne Pleshette on advice to aspiring actors
Suzanne Pleshette on problems while guest-starring on Columbo
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her early life and influences; on her early memories of television; on her first professional role
On being signed to a contract at Warner Bros.; on working with Jerry Lewis; on working in live television; on meeting future husband Tom Poston
Chapter 2
On working with George Burns; on learning from other actors and acting in sitcoms
On performing in the play "The Miracle Worker" with Patty Duke; on performing on Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Route 66; on her relationship with The Fugitive's David Janssen
Chapter 3
On appearing on The Fugitive; on playing various roles on television and in features; on acting in Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds"
On appearing on Columbo; on why she enjoys made-for-television movies; on how she came to be cast on The Bob Newhart Show
Chapter 4
On her character, "Emily Hartley," on The Bob Newhart Show; on acting on The Single Guy; on the cast of The Bob Newhart Show
On memories of filming The Bob Newhart Show; on her cameo in the series finale of Newhart
Chapter 5
On playing Leona Hemsley in The Queen of Mean
On her career highlights; on advice to aspiring actors; on how she'd like to be remembered
Shows
8 Simple Rules ... for Dating My Teenage Daughter
Suzanne Pleshette on appearing on 8 Simple Rules
Bob Newhart Show, The (1972-78)
Suzanne Pleshette on being cast on The Bob Newhart Show
Suzanne Pleshette on playing "Emily Hartley" on The Bob Newhart Show
Suzanne Pleshette on the cast of The Bob Newhart Show
Suzanne Pleshette on reprising her role of "Emily Hartley" on the final episode of Newhart
Suzanne Pleshette on "breaking up" while filming The Bob Newhart Show
Suzanne Pleshette on ending The Bob Newhart Show
Columbo
Suzanne Pleshette on guest-starring on a problematic episode of Columbo
Dr. Kildare
Suzanne Pleshette on guest-starring on an episode of Dr. Kildare
FBI, The
Suzanne Pleshette on guest-starring on The F.B.I.
Fugitive, The
Suzanne Pleshette on The Fugitive's David Janssen
Suzanne Pleshette on working with David Janssen on The Fugitive and The Invaders
General Electric Theater, The
Suzanne Pleshette on acting on General Electric Theater
Newhart
Suzanne Pleshette on reprising her role of "Emily Hartley" on the final episode of Newhart
Newhart: "The Last Newhart"
Suzanne Pleshette on reprising her role of "Emily Hartley" on the final episode of Newhart
One Step Beyond
Suzanne Pleshette on "doubling her double" while working on the Alcoa Presents (aka One Step Beyond) episode "Delusion" (airdate: 9/15/59)
Route 66
Suzanne Pleshette on working on location for Route 66
Single Guy, The
Suzanne Pleshette on her role on The Single Guy
Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The
Suzanne Pleshette on guest-hosting The Tonight Show
Will & Grace
Suzanne Pleshette on guest-starring on Will & Grace
Topics
Classic TV Series Episodes
Suzanne Pleshette on her cameo on the series finale of Newhart
Comedy
Suzanne Pleshette on her cameo on the series finale of Newhart
Fame and Celebrity
Suzanne Pleshette on being a "movie star" who appeared on television
Memorable Moments on Television
Suzanne Pleshette on her cameo on the series finale of Newhart
Pop Culture
Suzanne Pleshette on being a "movie star" who appeared on television
Suzanne Pleshette on her cameo on the series finale of Newhart
Suzanne Pleshette on her cameo on the series finale of Newhart
Television Industry
Suzanne Pleshette on being a "movie star" who appeared on television
We Laughed
Suzanne Pleshette on her cameo on the series finale of Newhart
Professions
Actor
Suzanne Pleshette on acting on stage versus acting on television
Suzanne Pleshette on acting in sitcoms
Suzanne Pleshette on advice to aspiring actors
Performers
Suzanne Pleshette on acting on stage versus acting on television
Suzanne Pleshette on acting in sitcoms
Suzanne Pleshette on advice to aspiring actors
Genres
Comedy Series
Suzanne Pleshette on acting in sitcoms
Suzanne Pleshette on acting on The Bob Newhart Show
People
Peter Bonerz
Suzanne Pleshette on Peter Bonerz as "Jerry" on The Bob Newhart Show
George Burns
Suzanne Pleshette on how she came to meet George Burns
Johnny Carson
Suzanne Pleshette on guest-hosting The Tonight Show
Bill Daily
Suzanne Pleshette on Bill Daily as "Howard" on The Bob Newhart Show
Patty Duke
Suzanne Pleshette on working with Patty Duke in "The Miracle Worker" on Broadway
Peter Falk
Suzanne Pleshette on Peter Falk not showing up for Columbo due to a contract dispute
Alfred Hitchcock
Suzanne Pleshette on acting in Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds"
David Janssen
Suzanne Pleshette on working with David Janssen in The Fugitive
Suzanne Pleshette on working with David Janssen on The Fugitive and The Invaders
Jerry Lewis
Suzanne Pleshette on working with Jerry Lewis on the film "Geisha Boy"
Bob Newhart
Suzanne Pleshette on Bob Newhart as "Bob" on The Bob Newhart Show
Tom Poston
Suzanne Pleshette on meeting future husband Tom Poston
John Ritter
Suzanne Pleshette on a lesson she taught John Ritter and Henry Winkler
Marcia Wallace
Suzanne Pleshette on Marcia Wallace as "Carol" on The Bob Newhart Show
Henry Winkler
Suzanne Pleshette on a lesson she taught John Ritter and Henry Winkler