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
