Posted on 09/06/2017 1:35:36 AM PDT by iowamark
Happy birthday, Bob Newhart! The comedian turns 88 on September 5, 2017.
Newhart has largely stepped out of the public eye, though he has been busy over the past month, giving interviews and appearing on talk shows to celebrate the 45th anniversary of The Bob Newhart Show.
In that breakthrough sitcom, which aired on CBS from 1972 to 1978, Newhart perfected the low-key delivery and deadpan reactions that made him so distinctive as a comedian.
Newhart has resisted dissecting his own understated comedic style (“I don’t want to find the secret. I’m afraid all the joy will go out of it if I find the secret,” he told Esquire in 2008), but he’s offered some insight over the years into why he makes certain comedic choices, and why he loves making people laugh.
In honor of Newhart’s birthday, here are nine of his best quotes on keeping his comedy clean, sticking to his values, and embracing his trademark stammer.
1. “One of the first things you ever learn as a stand-up is don’t show fear.”
2. “You should have a value system. You can win if you stick with your value system.”
3. “I couldn’t play off people that I don’t personally like.”
4. “There are a lot of questions I keep asking myself about why I do comedy. I guess I laugh to keep from crying. And I guess if you ever get me crying, I might not stop. This is the way I look at tragedy or else I’ll cry.”
5. “It was a decision to work clean. I just prefer to work that way. I have no problem with comedians who don’t work that way. There was a temptation in the early ’70s to reconsider. I decided against it.” ...
(Excerpt) Read more at parade.com ...
They dated when young in the 1950’s but didn’t marry until 2001 after both were widowed. Tom Poston realized that he had made a mistake letting her get away the first time. They are now buried next to each other.
And his character .. Professor Proton .. really hammered Bill Nye, the “Science” Guy.
I preferred Bob the Librarian.
Reminds me of my college days when we played: ‘Bob and Mary.’
There was a local TV station that played Bob Newhart and Mary Tyler Moore episodes back to back.
Had to take a drink every time you heard Bob or Mary.
“Bob, Bob, Bob, Bob Bob!” Mrs. Newhart said...
I’ve watched episodes of the psychologist and the innkeeper. He’s much like Mary Tyler Moore, when she portrayed a character surrounded by oddballs. The benevolent and rational, encountering the harmless irrational; the regular fellow playing off the irregular. A heroically courteous gentleman, determined never to be ruffled. The contrast of subtlety and outlandishness, the way he deftly skirts whatever craziness tries to draw him into its orbit.
There is a similarity between people in the mental health field, and those in hospitality and sales, and his comedy resonates with both groups.
That said, he was also hilarious with the “Just Stop It!” routine, where he actually got somewhat agitated.
He was good in that role. Just for the record, so was Jane.
Rather than a TV series, thought it was a movie? Only one seen but now find there were several made...a ‘franchise’
Why not just ignore their politics and enjoy what these artists do well? Ones like Bob Newhart who don't wear their politics on their sleeve are pretty tolerable.
Originally a “made for TV” movie, it was a surprise hit that stimulated several direct sequels. It also spun off a TV series “The Librarians”, but without Newhart. I’ve only seen a few of the series, which involves a group of “apprentice” librarians-in-training, in which Noah Wylie makes the occasional appearance. Newhart may had done a cameo or two, but not in the ones I watched.
When that scene aired, there was a lot of laughter and applause. Did they show the prerecorded scene in front of an audience? If so, I wonder how they kept that audience from spilling the beans before the episode actually aired on TV.
Since Al Gore’s Amazing Internet wasn’t really around then, I would guess they filmed it just a few hours before broadcast.
If so, they also could have sequestered the audience for a while.
I never missed an episode of The Bob Newhart Show when it aired.
I never got into the follow-up Newhart program. I did decide to watch the Newhart finale, for some reason and am glad I did. It was hilarous. One of the best finales ever. I still laugh when I think about it. Supposedly, Suzanne and Bob’s real or TV wife in the 2nd series came up with the idea for that Newhart finale.
I read that the DVD releases of Newhart did not include that finale. Something to do with licensing, etc. I did manage to get a copy from Youtube or some online source several years ago. It is a classic in TV history.
Was Curtain in any but the first? Really enjoyed the one seen - much more than a similar movie, “Night at the Museum” (though this one did have its moments).
I remember Suzanne Pleshette used to go on Johnny Carson. He was always kidding about her first husband. I don’t know who the guy was but he was filthy rich and his name was Tommy.. Johnny once asked her “what does Tommy do?” And Suzanne smiled and said “he owns things”. It was hysterical.
You could not possibly make The Bob Newhart Show today. All of the mental health advocacy groups would be screaming bloody murder.
Suzanne Pleshette was one of the best sitcom wives ever. The lead female character in those things needs to have an edge. Some bite. She certainly did.
She collaborated with a textile company at one time. Persons in contact with her often said she had a mouth worse than the most windblown sailor. She did have the knack for drop dead one liners. She might have done better in movies had she not been stuck with Troy Donahue types.
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