Posted on 09/17/2013 7:15:46 AM PDT by nuconvert
Bob Newhart has been married to the same woman for years — quite an accomplishment for Hollywood.
One of the best Bob Newhart stories...
He had always steadfastly refused to play a character who was a dad, mainly because TV dads are always treated like idiots (the kids are actually smarter than he is, the family has to continually come to the rescue of the klutz, etc.)
Late in the run of The Bob Newhart Show, the ratings were starting to sag. The producers wanted to add a story line where Emily became pregnant. They wrote a script introducing this concept.
Newhart reportedly read it and responded, “This is great! You should be proud of yourselves! Absolutely one of the funniest scripts I have ever read!”
“Just one question though. Who are you gonna get to play Bob?”
Yeah, he was on “Roseanne”, or something, wasn’t he? A good supporting actor.
Judge it for youself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgdUWXf8jJk
He started in show bizness with LP comedy records in the '50s. They all had the theme of one-sided phone conversations and could reduce a roomful of college students to rolling on the floor with laughter. He continued that schtick on both Bob Newhart TV shows, but in smaller doses. "The Grace L Ferguson Airline and Storm Door Company where they have a casual approach to maintenance."
As for Newhart, he's great with his delivery. One of the best was when Penny asked a sincere, but stupid question -- one that would have gotten a sarcastic response from Sheldon -- Newhart looks at her, pauses, and you think he's building up to something and he just says a simple, No.
I was happy to hear that he'll be back this season.
I remember an appearance on the "Tonight Show" in which Johnny Carson asked Bob Newhart how he came to be friends with Don Rickles. Newhart's reply: "Somebody has to do it."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KmGeX8nyck
She says the scene was originally an idea proposed by Bob's wife, early in the series (2nd year or so). At the time, they didn't think they would ever be allowed to do it, but in the last year of the series, the producers called Pleshette, and she immediately knew why.
There's more about all the secrecy around it. The rest of the cast thought it was going to end with Bob talking to God. They didn't find out until 20 minutes prior to shooting the scene.
They got some supporting cast from Roseanne in the early seasons, too. Sarah Gilbert popped up a few times, but Laurie Metcalf just hit it out of the park as Sheldon’s mother, a part that could have been just a one-note caricature (and a nasty one at that) and made it a more sympathetic and believable figure. (Leonard’s mother, however, is still 1-D, and played for laughs, which are few and far between.)
Thanks
Best last episode of a sit-com EVER!
Completely agree! I have one of his old comedy albums and I’ll laugh my head off listening to it. I loved both his TV shows, as well as the characters created for those shows. “Hi I’m Daryl, this is my brother Daryl and this is my other brother Daryl” LOL!
I remember that - funny
I had a crush on Suzanne Pleshette all through Jr. High School.
I absolutely love when Laurie Metcalf shows up on BBT. She is awesome.
Although she was not in this particular episode, the one where Penny agrees to give Sheldon acting lessons to help him with his lectures is classic. I couldn’t stop laughing.
LOL! When I read his name its the first thing that came to mind. :)
The Grace L Ferguson sketch was hilarious.
It's all in the pauses. A genius for comedic timing.
He is one of the funniest guys I’ve seen on TV. A genious.
One of the few that can say nothing and be funny.
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