Bob Newhart

How can you hate Bob Newhart?

It's DL; someone has to keep the hate going and we're running out of things to hate.

That's the point r1 I don't but I also don't like him or have any strong feelings at all. Such an inoffensive white bread person rarely becomes a huge star with shows built around them. How did he get such a substantial career.

He had a very successful stand-up career in the 60s and a huge hit with a comedy album......not every comedian is an Andrew Dice Clay.....some actually have talent and can make you laugh just musing about everyday things....think Bill Cosby and his schtick with kids.

Love him, love his (deadpan) humor. His old telephone comedy bits are priceless.

"Such an inoffensive white bread person "

Perhaps you answer your own question, as the white bread he was the foundation on which to build a tall tasty sandwich. Bob was one of the most likeable straight men in comedy.

Love the Bob!

I think his success comes from him being an Everyman. I know my father watched everything he did because my father sort of looked like him, balding, schlubby and I think my father identified with him.

Compared to McLean Stevenson, he might as well have been Daffy Duck!

He was Kermit The Frog; the sane center of an insane world. Funny people are a dime a dozen. Good straight men are rare as hen's teeth.

R10 Exactly. Also, he did well in TV because he had a true Midwestern work ethic and demeanor. He was always professional and worked hard. Never gave anyone any problems.

His humor was incredibly dry and reactive. I think that's too sophisticated for OP, who prefers Jerry Lewis types.

You lost me at "we both enjoy The Big Bang Theory," OP.

Does he still do his own taxes?

Look beyond the 'boring' surface and you find an understated, dry, absurdist comedian. Absolutely brilliant.

his comedy was dull and conservative because he used to be an accountant before doing standup comedy. My ex was an accountant and was as dull as dishwater but had a huge cock and could plow like a jackhammer.

We need to hunt op down and seek vengeance.

Larry, Darryl and Darryl make a great reference point for a hick.

He was a low key, adult character. That's why I loved the Seventies, they weren't afraid to put actual adults on screen.

Good luck with finding one know. Even if they're over the age of 40, they act like they're in high school.

Boring and so played.

I grew up in the 60's and he was on TV constantly. Every talk show imaginable.

We watched TV with the whole family and he fit right into that.

It was his comedic timing and stoic facial expressions.

It takes some intellect to get his dry humor.

There's a radio station here that plays comedy instead of music and sometimes they play his standup. He's spectacularly unfunny. There's some bit where he's a driving instructor or something that's excruciating to listen to.

OP is a Philistine. Bob was brilliant.

And if you don't like him, why watch so many seasons of his shows?

I love Bob Newhart's "Stop ItL skit. I think it was for MadTV? Anyway, it's hilarious.

Sir Walter Raleigh calling from the Colonies, explaining tobacco to Elizabethan Bob.

Fucking priceless.

Mr. Newhart surrounded himself with talented actors and actresses, good writers and directors. He let the other actors develop as characters and essentially let them go. He was very generous with screen time and wasn't afraid of being the butt of a joke. He also avoided typical sitcom storylines, especially in the Newhart series.

Newhart's humor was extremely subversive and yet oblivious to its targets, like OP. The finale to his second show, when he woke up in bed with his wife from his first show and realized the entire second series had been a dream, was one of the most brilliant moments on commercial network TV of that era.

I quite agree. Whoever came up with that finale should've retired, how could you ever top something that was so ingenious, sweet, compelling AND funny?

I remember how hush-hush they had to be about it -sneaking Pleshette into the studio.

" The finale to his second show, when he woke up in bed with his wife from his first show and realized the entire second series had been a dream, was one of the most brilliant moments on commercial network TV of that era. "

Watching that episode when it first ran, when that scene had played out I applauded from my chair. How often in ANY decade do you see something on television that worthy of applause.

I’m sorry to be bumping an old thread and especially over a somewhat tangential issue. I’m not sure how I missed that his former co-star Mary Frann had died way back in 1998. I don’t remember that being discussed even when Suzanne P later passed. It’s old news obviously but I’m a bit stunned.

“You really ought to wear more sweaters" was one of the best-delivered lines in TV comedy history.

No comedian will EVER accomplish this again:

[quote]His 1960 comedy album The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart was the first comedy album to make number one on the Billboard charts. It won the 1961 Grammy Award for Album of the Year and peaked at number two in the UK Albums Chart. Newhart also won Best New Artist.

Bob Newhart was and is hilarious. If you don't get his humor, fine. But a lot of us do.

R32 I remember when she died, but can't BELIEVE it was that long ago. God, I am old.

Op you need a 24 hour vicious face slapping. Bob Newhart is the rarest thing of all, clean (meaning he doesn’t swear or do a ton of sexual stuff in his act), grown up, quirky, but not cloying humor. He’s the definition of a dry, cool wit. He was even funny in the Big Bang Theory. He’s also lovable.

My GOD the slapping you are going to get.

Hard to believe he and Don Rickles were best friends in real life. About as different as night and day.

Actually, OP, he had five network shows. The first The Bob Newhart Show was a Peabody Award winning variety show that lasted one year in 1961. Then he later had the sitcoms The Bob Newhart Show, Newhart, Bob, and then George & Leo.

Lily Tomlin came close with This is a Recording. It peaked at #15, won her a Grammy Award, the first woman to win. #15 is also the highest charting for any female comic.

Why isn't everything from the past all about ME and what MY tastes are like in 2020?

Here's another example: the hit comic play of the 1860s, "Our American Cousin"? HATED IT! I bet Lincoln actually committed suicide because it was so unfunny and boring!

[quote]Actually, OP, he had five network shows. The first The Bob Newhart Show was a Peabody Award winning variety show that lasted one year in 1961. Then he later had the sitcoms The Bob Newhart Show, Newhart, Bob, and then George & Leo.

Don't forget "The Entertainers."

R42 I did forget it. And, I guess I'm not the only one, since it doesn't even get a mention on his wikipedia entry.