"The Cruse of the USS Codfish" is classic!
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 ...
I think one also must be very quick witted too. I have known a few people like that. I think they were born with it. I never was.
I used to like Bob Newhart until he revealed his flaming liberal lefty self. For me, he became just another Hollywood scumbag who I can’t watch without seeing a raging commie. No thanks!
I didn’t know he was a libtard. I wonder about Suzanne Plashette. I am not sure, but I heard she was a real wench. I know when she was young, she was really good looking. I also wonder about Bill Dailey, if he was a libtard or not? So many of those Hollywood elites are libtards, including Larry Hagman.
The final scene of “Newhart” will always remain a classic TV moment - brilliant!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgdUWXf8jJk
Well, I do still enjoy watching him as either a psychiatrist in Chicago or innkeeper in Vermont. Both shows a lot more watchable than most of the trash on nowadays. For fun, did people like Jennifer Holmes more than Julia Duffy on the Vermont show or vice versa, lol?
TCM often shows Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds” and Suzanne Pleshette appears in that one alongside Tippi Hedren and Rod Taylor.
Suzanne. Not until Tom Poston died did I come to realize the two were actually married. Who knew!?
Bob in Chicago over Bob in Vermont; but both were very much enjoyed and seldom missed.
I have seen it a couple of times. I don't know what kind of a person Suzanne Pleshette was. I just know that when she was young, she was a knockout.
“””””Suzanne. Not until Tom Poston died did I come to realize the two were actually married. Who knew!?”””””””””””””””
In 1984 I was at a McDonalds on Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica. Tom Poston was in front of me. He was driving an old Lincoln Continental with suicide doors.
I think “born” comedian, too. He must have drove his mom and teachers nuts.
There was an interview in the Wall Street Journal recently. Bob Newhart got an accounting degree after his military service. He said that he mentioned this on one occasion while talking with another comedian, and the guy said, “Oh, so you don’t have to do this!”
With his perfect timing, I’m sure, Bob Newhart said, “I have to do this.”
Then he lost his touch.
“Bob” - where he played a cartoonist - that show was a huge disappointment.
“George and Leo” - along with Judd Hirsch - that show was a bit better but it didn’t last.
"The Cruse of the USS Codfish" is classic!
Its funny you say that. I worked in college with a kid that everyone thought was the funniest guy in the world. People described him as “sharp” ad “quick witted.”
After spending eight weeks with him, side by side, delivering appliances, I can tell you that its a learned behavior. This kid had about four routines, and themes that he would use. It depended on the audience. But by the end of the summer I realized that he was hilarious a little bit at a time. But over the entire summer—it got a little tedious.
Saw his act in Vegas back in the 70s. Enjoyed the performance. In those days favorite comedians were Smothers Brothers and Bill Cosby. Their albums were heard time and again. Newhart’s, not as much.
Jennifer Holmes was pretty, but not funny. A very wealthy, Olympic skier, model, Dartmouth student, cleaning rooms at an inn? Julia Duffy was more entertaining.
It is a learned behaviour. I have Aspergers and I can usually make somebody laugh within a few minutes.
My style of humour involves taking the ridiculous and making it seem possible with a straight face. For example, on a Facebook page that I am part of, somebody said that their town had a lot of promise. I said it does, political promise. You know politicians keep their promises.
It got a good response.
That scene is without peer the best and funniest TV scene ever. As I recall, the idea was hatched by Susanne Pleschette and Bob Newhart’s wife. They filmed three endings with only the actors and the director in the studio.
Newhart has always been a favorite.
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