''Newhart'' is an American
sitcom
A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ne ...
television series that aired on
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...
from October 25, 1982, to May 21, 1990, with a total of 184 half-hour episodes spanning eight seasons. The series stars
Bob Newhart
George Robert Newhart (born September 5, 1929) is an American actor and comedian. He is known for his deadpan and slightly stammering delivery style. Newhart came to prominence in 1960 when his album of comedic monologues, ''The Button-Down Mi ...
and
Mary Frann
Mary may refer to:
People
* Mary (name), a feminine given name (includes a list of people with the name)
Religious contexts
* New Testament people named Mary, overview article linking to many of those below
* Mary, mother of Jesus, also calle ...
as an author and his wife, respectively, who own and operate an inn in a small, rural
Vermont
Vermont () is a state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York to the west, and the Canadian province of Quebec to ...
town that is home to many eccentric characters. ''
TV Guide
TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program
Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or t ...
'',
TV Land
TV Land is an American pay television channel owned by Paramount Global through its networks division. Originally a spinoff of Nick at Nite consisting exclusively of classic television shows, the channel now airs a combination of recent and cla ...
, and
A&E named the ''Newhart'' series finale as one of the most memorable in television history. The theme music for ''Newhart'' was composed by
Henry Mancini
Henry Mancini ( ; born Enrico Nicola Mancini, ; April 16, 1924 – June 14, 1994) was an American composer, conductor, arranger, pianist and flautist. Often cited as one of the greatest composers in the history of film, he won four Academy Award ...
.
Premise
Bob Newhart plays Dick Loudon, an author of
do-it-yourself
"Do it yourself" ("DIY") is the method of building, modifying, or repairing things by oneself without the direct aid of professionals or certified experts. Academic research has described DIY as behaviors where "individuals use raw and semi ...
and travel books. He and his wife Joanna move from
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
to a small town in rural
Vermont
Vermont () is a state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York to the west, and the Canadian province of Quebec to ...
to operate the 200-year-old Stratford Inn. Although the town's name was never specified in the show, some media sources identified it as
Norwich
Norwich () is a cathedral city and district of Norfolk, England, of which it is the county town. Norwich is by the River Wensum, about north-east of London, north of Ipswich and east of Peterborough. As the seat of the See of Norwich, with ...
. The outside shot of the house is the
Waybury Inn
The Waybury Inn is an inn at 457 East Main Street in Middlebury, Vermont, United States. The inn was built in 1810, and is one of the oldest operating traveler's accommodations in the state. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Pla ...
in
East Middlebury.
Dick and Joanna run the inn with the help of sweet-natured but simple handyman George Utley and Leslie Vanderkellen, a
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College (; ) is a private research university in Hanover, New Hampshire. Established in 1769 by Eleazar Wheelock, it is one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the American Revolution. Although founded to educate Native A ...
student and heiress who takes a job as a maid to find out what it's like to be "normal." Next door to the inn is the Minuteman Café, owned by Kirk Devane, a pathological liar. Leslie leaves before season two to continue her studies abroad, to be replaced by her cousin Stephanie, who, unlike Leslie, is vain, lazy, and spoiled.
Near the end of season two, Dick becomes the host of a local television show, ''Vermont Today'', where he interviews an assortment of bizarre and colorful guests. His vapid, neurotic producer, Michael Harris, falls in love with Stephanie, their relationship providing a satire of 1980s excess.
The town is populated by oddballs whose behavior never ceases to bemuse the sane, mild-mannered
everyman
The everyman is a stock character of fiction. An ordinary and humble character, the everyman is generally a protagonist whose benign conduct fosters the audience's identification with them.
Origin
The term ''everyman'' was used as early as ...
Dick. Among them are Larry, Darryl and Darryl, three brothers who normally worked as woodsmen, but also supported themselves with various odd jobs throughout the first two seasons. When Kirk moved away in the third season, the three brothers bought the Minuteman Cafe from him and were seen running it for the remainder of the series. Larry would always make an entrance saying "Hi! I'm Larry, this is my brother Darryl, and that's my other brother Darryl". Neither of the Darryls talked (until the series finale), but Larry's descriptions of their misadventures often venture into the surreal.
As the series progresses, the world around Dick grows increasingly illogical. The final episode reveals that the entire series has been a dream of Dr. Robert Hartley, Newhart's character in ''
The Bob Newhart Show
''The Bob Newhart Show'' is an American sitcom television series produced by MTM Enterprises that aired on CBS from September 16, 1972, to April 1, 1978, with a total of 142 half-hour episodes over six seasons. Comedian Bob Newhart portrays a psy ...
''.
Cast
Main
*
Bob Newhart
George Robert Newhart (born September 5, 1929) is an American actor and comedian. He is known for his deadpan and slightly stammering delivery style. Newhart came to prominence in 1960 when his album of comedic monologues, ''The Button-Down Mi ...
as Dick Loudon, owner of the Stratford Inn, author of how-to books and host of ''Vermont Today''
*
Mary Frann
Mary may refer to:
People
* Mary (name), a feminine given name (includes a list of people with the name)
Religious contexts
* New Testament people named Mary, overview article linking to many of those below
* Mary, mother of Jesus, also calle ...
as Joanna Loudon, Dick's wife; the co-owner of the Stratford Inn who also works as a realtor
*
Tom Poston
Tom or TOM may refer to:
* Tom (given name), a diminutive of Thomas or Tomás or an independent Aramaic given name (and a list of people with the name)
Characters
* Tom Anderson, a character in '' Beavis and Butt-Head''
* Tom Beck, a character ...
as George Utley, the handyman/maintenance man at the Stratford Inn, a position that has been passed down in his family for generations
*
Jennifer Holmes as Leslie Vanderkellen, an heiress and student at
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College (; ) is a private research university in Hanover, New Hampshire. Established in 1769 by Eleazar Wheelock, it is one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the American Revolution. Although founded to educate Native A ...
who works as a maid at the Stratford Inn (1982–83)
*
Steven Kampmann as Kirk Devane, a pathological liar and the owner of the neighboring Minuteman Café (1982–84)
*
William Sanderson
William Sanderson (born January 10, 1944) is an American retired actor. He played J. F. Sebastian in the feature film ''Blade Runner'' (1982), and had regular roles on several television series such as Larry on ''Newhart'' (1982–1990), E. B ...
as Larry,
Tony Papenfuss
Tony Papenfuss (born March 26, 1950 in Robbinsdale, Minnesota) is an American television and film actor.
Papenfuss is best known for his role as one of the brothers Darryl on ''Newhart''. He was "my brother Darryl", the one with the straighter, ...
as his brother Darryl and
John Voldstad
John Ole Voldstad (born February 20, 1951) is an American television and film actor best known for his role as one of the brothers Darryl on ''Newhart''. He played "my other brother Darryl", the one with the curlier, lighter colored hair.
Life an ...
as his other brother Darryl, backwoodsmen who live in the same town. The three take over the Minuteman Café following Kirk's departure. The two Darryls never speak until the final episode. (recurring 1982–84, main 1984–90)
*
Julia Duffy
Julia Margaret Duffy (née Hinds; June 27, 1951) is an American film, stage, and television actress. She began her career in television, appearing in minor guest roles before being cast in the role of Penny Davis in the series ''The Doctors (1963 ...
as Stephanie Vanderkellen, Leslie's cousin, a vain, spoiled, and lazy heiress; replaces Leslie as the Stratford's maid after the first season (guest 1982, main 1983–90)
*
Peter Scolari
Peter Thomas Scolari (September 12, 1955 – October 22, 2021) was an American actor. He was best known for his roles as Michael Harris on ''Newhart'' (1984–1990), Henry Desmond on ''Bosom Buddies'' (1980–1982) and Wayne Szalinski on ''Hone ...
as Michael Harris, the vapid, neurotic producer of ''Vermont Today''; Stephanie's boyfriend and later husband (recurring 1983–84, main 1984–90)
Recurring
*
William Lanteau
William Lanteau (born William Lanctot) (November 17, 1922 - November 3, 1993) was an American character actor. Among his best known roles are Charlie the mail carrier in '' On Golden Pond'' and mayor Chester Wanamaker in ''Newhart''.
Life and ca ...
as Chester Wanamaker, the town's mayor (1982–90)
*
Thomas Hill as Jim Dixon, Chester's best friend (1982–90)
*Rebecca York as Cindy Parker-Devane, a professional clown, Kirk's girlfriend and later wife (1983–84)
*
Jeff Doucette
Jeffrey Doucette (born November 25, 1947) is an American character actor. Growing up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he was the second of eight children born to Elizabeth (Betty Andres) and William (Bill) Doucette. Jeffrey attended Marquette Universit ...
as Harley Estin, a friend of George who is always looking for a job (1983–88)
*
Fred Applegate as J.J. Wall, the director of Dick's television show (1984–87)
*
Ralph Manza
Ralph Manza (December 1, 1921 – January 31, 2000) was an American character actor who made over 160 appearances in American film and television shows.
Career
A pre-med student at UC-Berkeley in the early 1940s, Manza was drafted into the Unit ...
as Bud, the assistant director of Dick's television show (1984–90)
*
Linda Carlson
Linda Carlson (May 12, 1945 – October 26, 2021) was an American actress.
Early life
Carlson was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, on May 12, 1945, and raised in Minnesota; she was of Swedish descent. She attended the University of Iowa, where she ...
as Bev Dutton, the television station manager (1984–87)
*
Todd Susman
Todd Susman (born January 17, 1947) is an American actor.
Early life
A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Susman graduated from Ladue Horton Watkins High School in 1965.
Career
Susman has appeared in over one hundred different television series and ...
as Officer Shifflett, the town's chief of police (1984–90)
*
Melanie Chartoff
Melanie Barbara Chartoff (born December 15, 1948) is an American actress and comedian. She first became famous for her comedy work on the ABC series '' Fridays'' (1980–82), and in the 1990s Fox sitcom ''Parker Lewis Can't Lose''. She voiced b ...
as Dr. Mary Kaiser, Stephanie and Michael's therapist (1987–90)
*
Kathy Kinney
Kathy Kinney (born November 3, 1954, in Stevens Point, Wisconsin) is an American actress, voice actress, and comedian. She gained considerable popularity in the late 1990s for playing Mimi Bobeck, the outrageously made-up, flamboyantly vulgar, a ...
as Prudence Goddard, the town librarian (1989–90)
*David Pressman as Mr. Rusnak, the local shoe store manager (1989–90)
*
José Ferrer
José Vicente Ferrer de Otero y Cintrón (January 8, 1912 – January 26, 1992) was a Puerto Rican actor and director of stage, film and television. He was one of the most celebrated and esteemed Hispanic American actors during his lifetime, w ...
as Arthur Vanderkellen, Stephanie's father
*
Priscilla Morrill
Priscilla Alden Morrill (June 4, 1927 – November 9, 1994) was an American actress. She is best known for playing Edie Grant on the sitcom ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' in 1973 and 1975.
Career
Born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, M ...
as Marian Vanderkellen, Stephanie's mother
"The Last Newhart"
The
series finale of ''Newhart'', titled "The Last Newhart", has been described as one of the most memorable in television history.
The entire town is purchased by a visiting Japanese tycoon, who turns the hamlet into an enormous golf course and recreation resort. Dick and Joanna are the only townspeople who refuse to leave. The others accept million-dollar payoffs and leave in a farewell scene that parodies ''
Fiddler on the Roof''.
Five years later, Dick and Joanna continue to run the Stratford Inn, which is now located in the middle of the golf course. The other townspeople, now richer and older, unexpectedly return for a reunion. The Darryl brothers also speak for the first time on screen, loudly yelling "Quiet!" at their wives in unison. Dick gets frustrated with the increasingly chaotic scene, and storms out shouting "You're all crazy!", only to be knocked out by an errant golf ball.
The setting of the last scene is nighttime, in the bedroom of Dr. Bob Hartley (Newhart's character on ''
The Bob Newhart Show
''The Bob Newhart Show'' is an American sitcom television series produced by MTM Enterprises that aired on CBS from September 16, 1972, to April 1, 1978, with a total of 142 half-hour episodes over six seasons. Comedian Bob Newhart portrays a psy ...
'') and his wife Emily (
Suzanne Pleshette
Suzanne Pleshette (January 31, 1937 – January 19, 2008) was an American theatre, film, television, and voice actress. Pleshette started her career in the theatre and began appearing in films in the late 1950s and later appeared in prominent ...
). Bob awakens, upset, and he wakes Emily to tell her about the very strange dream he has just had: that he was an innkeeper in a small Vermont town filled with eccentric characters. Emily tells Bob "that settles it—''no more'' Japanese food before you go to bed." Bob mentions his marriage to a "beautiful blonde," and that Emily should wear more sweaters (in reference to Mary Frann's form-fitting tops) before the credits roll.
This ending is a parody of the episode of the nighttime soap opera ''
Dallas
Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...
'', where the character of Bobby Ewing had been killed off. Fan reaction to his death was so negative, the producers of ''Dallas'' brought the actor
Patrick Duffy
Patrick Duffy (born March 17, 1949) is an American actor and director widely known for his role on the CBS primetime soap opera ''Dallas'', where he played Bobby Ewing, the youngest son of Miss Ellie, and the nicest brother of J.R. Ewing (pla ...
, who played Bobby Ewing back at the start of the next season, by making the entire previous season of ''Dallas'' (where the family reacted to Bobby's death) nothing but a dream Bobby's wife had.
Several references are made to Newhart's former show, including the use of its theme song and credits. Although the ''Bob Newhart Show'' theme was missing from the final closing credit shot in the series' initial syndication run, the theme has been reinstated in the current version syndicated by
20th Century Fox Television
20th Television (formerly 20th Century Fox Television, 20th Century-Fox Television, and TCF Television Productions, Inc.) is an American television production company that is a division of Disney Television Studios, part of The Walt Disney Compa ...
.
The MTM cat logo normally closed the show
end credits
Closing credits or end credits are a list of the cast and crew of a particular motion picture, television program, or video game. Where opening credits appear at the beginning of a work, closing credits appear close to, or at the very end of ...
with Newhart voicing-over the "meow", but for the finale, the cat's voiceover was a reprise of Darryl and Darryl yelling "Quiet!"
Reception to the finale
Interviews with Newhart, Pleshette, and director
Dick Martin reveal that the final scene was kept a secret from the cast and most of the crew. A fake ending was written to throw off the
tabloids that involved Dick Loudon going to heaven after being hit with a golf ball and talking to God played by
George Burns
George Burns (born Nathan Birnbaum; January 20, 1896March 9, 1996) was an American comedian, actor, writer, and singer, and one of the few entertainers whose career successfully spanned vaudeville, radio, film and television. His arched eyebr ...
or
George C. Scott
George Campbell Scott (October 18, 1927 – September 22, 1999) was an American actor, director, and producer who had a celebrated career on both stage and screen. With a gruff demeanor and commanding presence, Scott became known for his port ...
. Pleshette was kept hidden until her scene was shot. When the scene began, many people in the live audience recognized the bedroom set from ''The Bob Newhart Show'' and burst into spontaneous applause. Pleshette and Newhart performed the scene in one take.
In 1991, the cast of ''The Bob Newhart Show'' reunited in a
primetime special. One of the things they did was analyze Bob's dream. During the discussion, the Hartleys' neighbor, Howard Borden (
Bill Daily), quipped, "I had a dream like that once. I dreamed I was an astronaut in Florida for five seasons", while scenes were shown from ''
I Dream of Jeannie
''I Dream of Jeannie'' is an American fantasy sitcom television series, created by Sidney Sheldon that starred Barbara Eden as a sultry, 2,000-year-old genie and Larry Hagman, as an astronaut with whom she falls in love and eventually marrie ...
'', which featured Daily in all five seasons. At the end of the reunion special, Dr. Bob Hartley gets on the elevator only to see three familiar workmen doing repairs in the elevator and one of them says to Bob, "Hi. I'm Larry. This is my brother Darryl, and this is my other brother Darryl."
''
Entertainment Weekly
''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cul ...
'' claimed in 1995 that Newhart's wife Ginny had conceived the idea for the finale, but the show's executive producers, Mark Egan, Mark Solomon, and Bob Bendetson, denied this in a letter to the editor, "
e final episode of ''Newhart'' was not 'dreamed up' by Bob's wife, Ginny. She had absolutely no connection with the show. ... We wrote and produced the Emmy-nominated script (with special thanks to
Dan O'Shannon
Dan O'Shannon (born March 10, 1962) is an American television writer and producer who has worked on shows such as ''Newhart'', '' Cheers'', and ''Frasier''. He was an executive producer of the ABC show ''Modern Family'', but left the show at th ...
)."
Newhart himself, in his 2006 book ''I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This! And Other Things that Strike Me as Funny'', stated that his wife had indeed proposed the ending of ''Newhart''. He reiterated this in a 2013 interview with director and comedian
David Steinberg
David Steinberg (born August 9, 1942) is a Canadian comedian, actor, writer, director, and author. At the height of his popularity, during the late 1960s and mid 1970s, he was one of the best-known comics in the United States. He appeared on ...
, saying,
Suzanne Pleshette, in a Television Academy interview, also avers that the idea was Ginny's, having heard it from Ginny over dinner with the Newharts several years before the finale was shot.
In November 2005, the series finale was named by ''TV Guide'' and TV Land as the most unexpected moment in TV history. The episode was watched by 29.5 million US viewers,
bringing in an 18.7/29 rating/share, and ranking as the most-watched program that week.
In 2011, the finale was ranked number four on the
TV Guide Network
The American cable and satellite television network Pop was originally launched in 1981 as a barker channel service providing a display of localized channel and program listings for cable television providers. Later on, the service, branded Prev ...
special, ''TV's Most Unforgettable Finales'', and in 2013 was ranked number 1 in
Entertainment Weekly
''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cul ...
's ''25 Best TV Series Finales Ever''.
In popular culture
On the February 11, 1995, episode of ''
Saturday Night Live
''Saturday Night Live'' (often abbreviated to ''SNL'') is an American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC and Peacock. Michaels currently serves a ...
'' which was
hosted by Bob Newhart, the episode's closing sketch ended with a redux of ''Newharts final scene, in which Bob Hartley again wakes with his wife Emily (special guest Suzanne Pleshette) and tells her that he had just had a dream of hosting ''Saturday Night Live''. Emily responds, "''Saturday Night Live'', is that show still on?"—this during a period when ''SNL'' was heavily criticized for its declining quality.
In 2010, ''
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
''Jimmy Kimmel Live!'' is an American late-night talk show, created and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, broadcast on American Broadcasting Company, ABC. The nightly hour-long show debuted on January 26, 2003, at Hollywood Masonic Temple in Hollywood, Los ...
'' presented several parody alternate endings to the television show ''
Lost
Lost may refer to getting lost, or to:
Geography
*Lost, Aberdeenshire, a hamlet in Scotland
* Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, or LOST, a hiking and cycling trail in Florida, US
History
*Abbreviation of lost work, any work which is known to have bee ...
'', one of which mirrored the finale of ''Newhart'' complete with a cameo appearance by Bob Newhart and with ''Lost'' star
Evangeline Lilly
Nicole Evangeline Lilly (born 3 August 1979) is a Canadian actress and author. She is the recipient of various accolades including a Screen Actors Guild Award and an MTV Movie Award. She has also received nominations for a Golden Globe Award, a ...
in place of Emily/Pleshette.
The final scene with Newhart and Pleshette was later parodied in an alternate ending to the television series ''
Breaking Bad'' where actor
Bryan Cranston
Bryan Lee Cranston (born March 7, 1956) is an American actor and director who is best known for portraying Walter White in the AMC crime drama series ''Breaking Bad'' (2008–2013) and Hal in the Fox sitcom ''Malcolm in the Middle'' (2000–2 ...
wakes from a dream next to his ''
Malcolm in the Middle
''Malcolm in the Middle'' is an American family television sitcom created by Linwood Boomer for Fox. The series premiered on January 9, 2000, and ended on May 14, 2006, after seven seasons and 151 episodes.
The series follows a dysfunctional ...
'' co-star
Jane Kaczmarek
Jane Frances Kaczmarek (; born December 21, 1955) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Malcolm's mother Lois on the Fox television sitcom '' Malcolm in the Middle'' (2000–2006), which earned her three Golden Globe nominat ...
where they assume their respective roles of Hal and Lois. Hal recounts the events of ''Breaking Bad'' in humorous fashion as though he is horrified that he could do those things albeit as
Walter White Walter White most often refers to:
* Walter White (''Breaking Bad''), character in the television series ''Breaking Bad''
* Walter Francis White (1893–1955), American leader of the NAACP
Walter White may also refer to:
Fictional characters ...
. Lois reassures him that everything is all right and the final shot is of Walter's hat.
The final scene of ''
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
''The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson'' is an American late-night talk show hosted by Scottish actor and comedian Craig Ferguson. This was the third iteration of the ''Late Late Show'' franchise, airing from January 3, 2005, to December 19, ...
'' parodied this, as well. After revealing that Bob Newhart had been playing the on-set
pantomime horse
A pantomime horse is a theatrical representation of a horse or other quadruped by two actors in a single costume who cooperate and synchronize their movements. One actor plays the front end, including the horse's head and its front legs, in a mor ...
Secretariat, Ferguson wakes up as his ''
The Drew Carey Show
''The Drew Carey Show'' is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC from September 13, 1995 to September 8, 2004. Set in Cleveland, Ohio, the series revolved around the retail office and home life of "everyman" Drew Carey, a fictionalize ...
'' character Nigel Wick, in bed with his co-star
Drew Carey
Drew Allison Carey (born May 23, 1958) is an American comedian, actor and game show host. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and making a name for himself in stand-up comedy, he gained stardom in his own sitcom, '' The Drew Carey Show'', an ...
. The two then discuss the crazy possibility of Wick being a talk show host and Carey losing weight and becoming a
game show host
A game show host is an individual who manages a game show, introduces contestants, and asks quiz questions to test the knowledge of said contestants. They may also have other duties pertinent to production.
History
In 1938, Freddie Grisewood w ...
. (The shot continued with a parody of the twist ending of ''
St. Elsewhere'' and then the
closing song from ''
The Sopranos
''The Sopranos'' is an American Crime film#Crime drama, crime drama television series created by David Chase. The story revolves around Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), a New Jersey-based American Mafia, Italian-American mobster, portraying h ...
''
finale.)
Reception
''Newhart'' was a solid ratings winner, finishing its first five seasons in the
Nielsen top 25. Despite not finishing in the top 30 for its last two seasons, Bob Newhart stated in an interview with the
Archive of American Television that CBS was satisfied enough with the show's ratings to renew it for a ninth season in 1990. However, Newhart, who was anxious to move on to other projects, declined the offer, promising CBS that he would develop a new series for the network, which he was under contract to do. This resulted in the 1992 series ''
Bob
Bob, BOB, or B.O.B. may refer to:
Places
* Mount Bob, New York, United States
*Bob Island, Palmer Archipelago, Antarctica
People, fictional characters, and named animals
*Bob (given name), a list of people and fictional characters
*Bob (surname ...
'', which lasted two seasons.
Awards
Nominations
Emmy Awards
The show was nominated for 25
Emmy Awards
The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...
but never won.
;1983
* Outstanding Comedy Series – Sheldon Bull, Producer; Barry Kemp, Executive Producer
* Outstanding Video Tape Editing For a Series – Andy Ackerman
;1984
* Outstanding Comedy Series – Sheldon Bull, Producer; Barry Kemp, Executive Producer
* Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Tom Poston
* Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Julia Duffy
;1985
* Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series – Bob Newhart
* Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Julia Duffy
;1986
* Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series – Bob Newhart
* Outstanding Sound Mixing For a Comedy Series or Special – Andrew MacDonald, Sound Mixer; Bill Nicholson, Sound Mixer; Craig Porter, Sound Mixer; Richard Wachter, Sound Mixer
* Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Tom Poston
* Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Julia Duffy
;1987
* Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series – Bob Newhart
* Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series:
** Tom Poston
** Peter Scolari
* Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Julia Duffy
* Outstanding Writing For a Comedy Series – David Mirkin ("Co-Hostess Twinkie")
;1988
* Outstanding Editing For a Series (Multi-Camera Production) – Michael Wilcox, Editor
* Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Peter Scolari
* Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Julia Duffy
;1989
* Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series – Eileen Brennan
* Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Peter Scolari
* Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Julia Duffy
;1990
* Outstanding Editing For a Series (Multi-Camera Production) – Michael Wilcox, Editor
* Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Julia Duffy
* Outstanding Writing For a Comedy Series – Bob Bendetson, Mark Egan and Mark Solomon ("The Last Newhart")
Golden Globe Awards
''Newhart'' earned six nominations for
Golden Globe Awards
The Golden Globe Awards are accolades bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association beginning in January 1944, recognizing excellence in both American and international film and television. Beginning in 2022, there are 105 members of t ...
.
*
Television Series – Musical or Comedy (1984)
* Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy: Bob Newhart (1983–1986)
* Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: Julia Duffy (1988)
Other awards
Newhart was nominated for one
Casting Society of America award and four nominations for
TV Land Award
The TV Land Icon Awards was an American television awards ceremony that generally commemorates shows now off the air, rather than in current production as with the Emmys. Created by Executive Producer Michael Levitt, the awards were hosted and bro ...
s. ''Newhart'' won a total of four
Viewers for Quality Television
Viewers for Quality Television (also called "VQT") was an American nonprofit organization (under 501(c)(3)) founded in 1984 to advocate network television series that members of the organization voted to be of the "highest quality." The group's go ...
Awards.
Home media
20th Century Fox
20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...
released season one of ''Newhart'' on DVD in Region 1 on February 26, 2008.
In November 2013,
Shout! Factory announced it had acquired the rights to the series. It has since released the entire series in individual season sets.
References
External links
*
*
{{MTM Enterprises
1980s American sitcoms
1980s American workplace comedy television series
1982 American television series debuts
1990s American sitcoms
1990 American television series endings
1990s American workplace comedy television series
CBS original programming
English-language television shows
Television series about marriage
Television series about television
Television series by MTM Enterprises
Television shows about dreams
Television shows set in Vermont