"The Bob Newhart Show" (1972) TV series 1972-1978

User Rating:

8.4/10   

Creators:

David Davis
Lorenzo Music
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

16 September 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

The professional and personal misadventures of a psychologist and his family, patients, friends and colleagues.

Plot Keywords:

Psychologist | Dentist | Secretary | Neighbor | Sitcom

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Bob Newhart	...	Dr. Robert 'Bob' Hartley (142 episodes, 1972-1978)
Peter Bonerz	...	Dr. Jerry Robinson (142 episodes, 1972-1978)
Suzanne Pleshette	...	Emily Hartley (141 episodes, 1972-1978)
Bill Daily	...	Howard Borden (139 episodes, 1972-1978)
Marcia Wallace	...	Carol Kester / ... (139 episodes, 1972-1978)
Jack Riley	...	Elliot Carlin (76 episodes, 1972-1978)

(more)

Series Directed by
Peter Bonerz		(29 episodes, 1974-1978)
Alan Rafkin		(23 episodes, 1972-1975)
Michael Zinberg		(15 episodes, 1975-1978)
Peter Baldwin		(12 episodes, 1972-1974)
James Burrows		(11 episodes, 1975-1977)
Dick Martin		(11 episodes, 1977-1978)
Jay Sandrich		(10 episodes, 1972-1975)
George Tyne		(6 episodes, 1973-1974)
Jerry London		(5 episodes, 1973)
Alan Myerson		(4 episodes, 1976)
John C. Chulay		(3 episodes, 1976)
Martin Cohan		(2 episodes, 1973)
Bob Claver		(2 episodes, 1975)

Series Writing credits
Lorenzo Music		(70 episodes, 1972-1975)
David Davis		(69 episodes, 1972-1975)
Tom Patchett		(20 episodes, 1972-1976)
Jay Tarses		(20 episodes, 1972-1976)
Gordon Farr		(13 episodes, 1975-1977)
Lynne Farr		(13 episodes, 1975-1977)
Jerry Mayer		(10 episodes, 1972-1975)
Charlotte Brown		(9 episodes, 1972-1974)
Sy Rosen		(9 episodes, 1976-1977)
Martin Cohan		(6 episodes, 1972-1974)
Lloyd Garver		(5 episodes, 1977-1978)
Bill Idelson		(4 episodes, 1973)
Phil Davis		(4 episodes, 1975-1977)
Michael Zinberg		(4 episodes, 1975-1977)
Laura Levine		(4 episodes, 1977-1978)
Coleman Mitchell		(3 episodes, 1974-1975)
Geoffrey Neigher		(3 episodes, 1974-1975)
Bruce Kane		(3 episodes, 1975-1977)
Gary David Goldberg		(3 episodes, 1976-1977)
David Lloyd		(3 episodes, 1976-1977)
Hugh Wilson		(3 episodes, 1976)
Glen Charles		(3 episodes, 1977-1978)
Les Charles		(3 episodes, 1977-1978)
Earl Pomerantz		(3 episodes, 1977-1978)
Andrew Smith		(3 episodes, 1977-1978)
Susan Silver		(2 episodes, 1972-1973)
Gene Thompson		(2 episodes, 1972-1973)
Ray Jessel		(2 episodes, 1974-1975)
Arnie Kogen		(2 episodes, 1974-1975)
Erik Tarloff		(2 episodes, 1974-1975)
Douglas Arango		(2 episodes, 1975-1976)
Phil Doran		(2 episodes, 1975-1976)

Series Produced by
Michael Zinberg	....	associate producer / executive producer / ... (61 episodes, 1972-1977)
David Davis	....	executive producer / producer (59 episodes, 1972-1975)
Lorenzo Music	....	executive producer / producer (53 episodes, 1972-1975)
Mark Tinker	....	associate producer (46 episodes, 1976-1978)
Tom Patchett	....	producer / executive producer (26 episodes, 1974-1977)
Jay Tarses	....	producer / executive producer (26 episodes, 1974-1977)
Martin Cohan	....	producer (23 episodes, 1973-1974)
Bill Idelson	....	producer (6 episodes, 1972-1973)
Glen Charles	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Les Charles	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Patrick Williams		(70 episodes, 1972-1977)

Series Cinematography by
Paul Uhl		(67 episodes, 1972-1975)
Edward E. Nugent		(2 episodes, 1977)

Series Film Editing by
M. Pam Blumenthal		(64 episodes, 1972-1977)
Mike Wilcox		(9 episodes, 1974-1975)
Douglas Hines		(6 episodes, 1972-1973)

Series Casting by
Sharon Himes		(1 episode, 1977)
Bob Manahan		(1 episode, 1977)
Joel Thurm		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Lewis E. Hurst Jr.		(42 episodes, 1972-1974)
Ken Reid		(24 episodes, 1974-1975)
Albert Heschong		(2 episodes, 1974-1975)

Series Set Decoration by
James Hassinger		(25 episodes, 1973-1977)
Mary Swanson		(23 episodes, 1974-1975)
Joseph Reith		(8 episodes, 1972-1973)
Sam J. Jones		(4 episodes, 1973)

Series Costume Design by
Dorothy H. Rodgers		(59 episodes, 1972-1977)
Ralph T. Schlain		(33 episodes, 1973-1977)
Botany 500		(14 episodes, 1973-1974)
Dave Rawley		(14 episodes, 1973-1974)
Robert Harris Jr.		(12 episodes, 1972-1973)
Hal Rutherford		(2 episodes, 1973-1974)

Series Makeup Department
Donna Cox	....	hair stylist (58 episodes, 1972-1975)
Ben Nye Jr.	....	makeup artist (42 episodes, 1972-1974)
Jerry Cash	....	makeup artist (26 episodes, 1974-1977)
Barbara Lorenz	....	hair stylist (5 episodes, 1974-1977)

Series Production Management
Lionel A. Ephraim	....	executive in charge of production / production manager / ... (41 episodes, 1972-1977)
Abby Singer	....	unit production manager / production manager (27 episodes, 1974-1977)
Ted Rich	....	post-production supervisor (19 episodes, 1974-1977)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Hap Weyman	....	assistant director (34 episodes, 1972-1974)
Gregg Peters	....	assistant director (28 episodes, 1974-1977)
Bruce Hanson	....	second assistant director (24 episodes, 1974-1975)
Les Sheldon	....	assistant director (7 episodes, 1974)
Lee Rafner	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Ted Cooper	....	property master (31 episodes, 1972-1974)
Joseph Kuri	....	property master (17 episodes, 1974-1975)
Jack M. Marino	....	property master (6 episodes, 1974)
Lloyd R. Apperson	....	construction foreman (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
James R. Wright	....	sound mixer / production sound mixer / ... (62 episodes, 1972-1977)
Richard Weaver	....	sound re-recording mixer (23 episodes, 1974-1977)
Lee Minkler	....	sound mixer (4 episodes, 1974)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Sam Ozment	....	gaffer (69 episodes, 1972-1977)
R.B. Garig	....	key grip (41 episodes, 1972-1977)
Don Bustany	....	camera coordinator (34 episodes, 1972-1974)
Don E. FauntLeRoy	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Andrew Pallack	....	wardrobe (4 episodes, 1972)
Dorothy H. Rodgers	....	costumer: women (2 episodes, 1975-1977)
Ralph T. Schlain	....	costumer: men (2 episodes, 1975-1977)

Series Music Department
Henrietta Music	....	composer: theme "Home to Emily" / composer: theme music (68 episodes, 1972-1977)
Lorenzo Music	....	composer: theme "Home to Emily" / composer: theme music (68 episodes, 1972-1977)
Ed Norton	....	music editor (43 episodes, 1972-1977)
Patrick Williams	....	conductor (6 episodes, 1975)

Series Transportation Department
Chris Haynes	....	driver (2 episodes, 1973)

Series Other crew
Rosemary Dorsey	....	script supervisor (68 episodes, 1972-1977)
David Davis	....	title designer: main titles / title visualization (63 episodes, 1972-1975)
Tom Patchett	....	story consultant (24 episodes, 1973-1974)
Jay Tarses	....	story consultant (24 episodes, 1973-1974)
Donna Anderson	....	assistant to producers / production assistant (24 episodes, 1974-1975)
Paula Hollander	....	assistant to producers (24 episodes, 1974-1975)
Gil Clasen	....	technical coordinator / production coordinator (23 episodes, 1974-1977)
Jerry Mayer	....	story consultant / script consultant (23 episodes, 1974-1975)
Lionel A. Ephraim	....	production executive / production executive: MTM Enterprises / ... (19 episodes, 1973-1977)
Milton Hubatka	....	production assistant (10 episodes, 1974-1975)
Dawn Aldredge	....	production assistant (9 episodes, 1974)
Jim Buck	....	technical coordinator (4 episodes, 1974-1975)
Michael Zinberg	....	title visualization / title designer: main titles (3 episodes, 1975-1977)
Meryl O'Loughlin	....	executive in charge of talent (2 episodes, 1977)
Jane Ficker	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• MTM Enterprises

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1972-1978) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Television (1998) (USA) (TV)
• MTM Enterprises (1990) (USA) (TV)
• New Video Group (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Viacom (1978) (USA) (TV)

Runtime:

30 min | USA:30 min (142 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

430 N. Michigan Avenue, Near North Side, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

MTM Enterprises

Trivia:

When Bob Newhart read the premise for the proposed series, he insisted on two changes. First, he insisted that his character be changed from a psychiatrist to a psychologist so he wouldn't make fun of the seriously mentally ill, and he insisted that his character have no children as to avoid the standard scenario of a goofy father.

Quotes:

Howard Borden: I was, uh, just decorating my Christmas tree and I was wondering, is there a trick to stringing cranberry sauce?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Newhart: I Married Dick (#7.4)" (1988)

We all wanted a wife and life like Bob's.

A masterpiece of understated adult humor, epitomized by its low-key star, Bob Newhart, who could get big laughs reading from the phone book with his trademark stammers and pauses.

Supporting cast was remarkable, each playing to his or her strengths, gliding smoothly along the tracks laid down by the expert writing staff. Standouts? Everybody was a standout. Peter Bonerz as Jerry, the libidinous orphaned dentist. Bill Daily as the addled Howard Borden, airline navigator, bumbling divorced dad, and meal moocher. Marcia Wallace as Carol, confident, razor-tongued receptionist extraordinaire. Jack Riley as Mr. Carlin, the funniest self-centered jerk of the modern sitcom era. And Suzanne Pleshette as Emily, Bob's gorgeous, sensible wife.

The trick to the show's humor was that it seemed to rise naturally from these characters who, though colorful, also resembled real people. Nobody had to push too hard for a laugh.

Almost three decades later I still haven't seen another TV comedy series that possessed this one's unique tone of humor, an almost indescribable mix of the usual satire and sarcasm and poking fun at our modern life and lifestyles, balanced perfectly against warm-hearted affirmation of the bonds of friendship and affection that make life bearable. And funny.