The Sophisticated Comedy continues for The Bob Newhart Show Season Three
by
Kristin Battestella
The
Bob Newhart Show rolls into its
1974-75 Third Year with more sophisticated wit, progressive topics,
and at home or at work humor for Dr. Robert Hartley and his wife
Emily, navigator neighbor – and potential brother-in-law – Howard
Borden, receptionist Carol Kester, and orthodontist Jerry Robinson.
Family,
work, patients, and sisters collide to start the season as ensemble
episodes and the notion of unmarried couples moving in together
provide innovative head spinning. The Bob Newhart Show even
tackles healthcare in “The Great Rimpau Medical Arts Co-op
Experiment” when Bob objects to being charged for a wart removal
after counseling another doctor. Who's services are more valuable
than others are? Jerry decides the building needs a plan to treat
each other for free, but it only takes a week for the gynecology
double entendres, group sessions, and taking advantage grandmothers
to clash amid bantering oomph, crisp writing, and natural, every man
conversations. Bob's busy with patients in “The Separation Story,”
but it's Emily's taking courses for her master's degree that puts the
dent into their home schedule. It won't be easy and Emily debates
quitting, but the couple agrees to make sacrifices. Bob insists she
stay in the dorm for a full time push while he's at a hotel for work
– a great compromise decided on together with respect for what each
needs. This is another ahead of its time episode of The Bob
Newhart Show giving the pair
time to miss each other while everyone else ironically takes
the separation for marital trouble. Likewise, “The Grey Flannel
Shrink” has Bob reluctant to use a collection agency for his unpaid
patients so he becomes the staff psychologist at an insurance
company. The money is too much to pass up – not to mention a luxury
office and Mercedes with a driver. Unfortunately, Bob helps the
employees too much, and happy, well-adjusted salespeople don't worry
about their quotas. Visual jokes accent another progressive half
hour, and considering the welfare of one's workers is something we
still don't quite have a handle on yet. Poor Bob struggles with
kitchen simplicities and girdle free, au natural “sisters” in “We
Love You... Good-bye” when Emily takes over his women's therapy
group. The ladies are tired of being unappreciated and want a break
from their household grind, but can The Hartley's perfect marriage
stand up to the test? A wife not meant to serve her husband? What a
provocative notion! Bob thinks he views women as equals with a
couple's duties shared, however a little women's lib flummoxes his
set in his ways nitpicking. Fortunately, Emily's glad their marriage
averages out – she is able to do her own things while Bob gets the
ladies their coffee.
The
annual Rimpau Urology charity tennis tournament comes around again in
“Serve for Daylight.” Carol was Bob's bad partner last year, but
this time he's stuck with twelve lessons and she still can't serve
Emily. Superstitious Bob wants to win, polishes the waiting trophy,
and goes all out with sweatbands and a yellow blazer. Look at those
old rackets! Thirty-four double faults for Emily, but nooo,
competitive Bob wasn't keeping track. His hypocritical calls for
sportsmanship when he was not playing just for fun lead to a right
proper little marital rift, but Emily supports Bob in running for the
school board elections in “Think Smartly – Vote Hartley.” Can
Bob a smart psychologist with no political experience run for school
office? He hopes to do some good, but his unqualified run gets out of
hand thanks to humorous advice, put on personalities, rhetoric
speeches missing details on the issues, terrible debates with
screeching microphones, and woefully premature bumper stickers. The
Bob Newhart Show shrewdly puts
the politics in the safety of the classroom while winking at
then silly political ads – and it's all the more hysterical now in
light of our recent elections. After all, who knew Bob was such a
smooth operator and romanced another woman up until the week before
he married Emily? “The Way We Weren't” spills the beans on Bob's
past, leaving him pointing fingers at Emily's past to cover his
tracks. Howard's happy to know there is something to be had on Bob
for a change, but our usually so put together doctor flubs left,
right, and center in another wonderfully ahead of its time episode.
Does dishonesty then or how serious previous relationships were
matter in a five years strong marriage now? Naturally, the men and
women have different perspectives on the answer. It all comes
crashing down – literally – in the Season Three finale “The
Ceiling Hits Bob” when the ceiling caves in on Bob's office. After
trying his sessions in Jerry's dental chair, Bob tries appointments
at home, leaving everything happening at once on top of multiple
storylines coming to a head. Chicken Little Bob, thankfully, is able
to put his foot down so he and his patients can play Monopoly.
Our
titular The Bob Newhart Show straight
man gets tossed in the den when his sister comes to stay, leaving him
not entirely objective about her relationship with Howard. Between
his cranky Over Sixty therapy group, trouble hiring a temp
receptionist, and new $390 curtains cut too short – the messes are
too much in “Dr. Ryan's Express.” Bob is supposed to be
the decision maker who fixes everything but he's had it with people
who won't do anything for themselves. If a smooth psychologist can
snap over so many mundane things, what hope is there for the rest of
us? He gets obsessed with a giant new camera in “Brutally Yours,
Bob Hartley” – taking inopportune snaps with obnoxious flashes
much to Emily's dismay. Bob has no problem intruding with his gadget,
however his patients' call for total honesty makes the try hard, new
in town school teacher couple over for dinner too much to bare.
People trying to be polite then with hypocritical fakery or two faced
with the best intentions makes for an interesting perspective on
today's social media – where virtual presentations don't always
reflect reality. Bob take the upfront too far, but gets it on the
chin when his twenty page chapter in a newly published psychology
collection is cut in “Ship of Shrinks.” Emily wanting a shocking
new bikini for the celebratory conference in Hawaii can't even lift
Bob over his now two page “The Importance of Office Furniture in
Psychology.” Psychological needs never stop but Bob's business
lulls in “My Business Is Shrinking.” He doesn't have an
appointment until “Day after tomorrow, at three,” and debates on
whether the seventies were crazier than the fifties and times being
too tight for patients to pursue therapy make for intriguing new
retrospectives. Bob, meanwhile, is home reading cereal box labels,
watching game shows, and oh my word calling the operator for the
correct time. Though a slight retread on earlier workforce
episodes, Bob humorously addresses his professional ability to
communicate with people in need – a provocative angle leading the
shrink to get shrunk. Today we have numerous shows centered on quirky
neuroses, but The Bob Newhart Show allows
its male star to doubt, get depressed, and admit it. Of
course, Bob's advice to Emily's friend in “Bob Hits the Ceiling”
leads to her leaving her husband before Novocaine lisps, hunky gym
teachers, mistaken identity, and macho I love yous cure all.
Suzanne
Pleshette's Emily often sides with Bob's sister Ellen this season,
taking her in and mothering her by trying to make her life nice and
perfect. Emily also tries to make Bob's office more homey by
replacing his diplomas on the wall with a picture of him fishing.
While her hair seems to change from her shorter pixie to a growing
out fullness from episode to episode – probably due to shows airing
out of production order – Emily remains business stylish with
sophisticated pantsuits and still in vogue coats. Although her
Hartley chemistry anchors many episodes of The Bob Newhart Show
and there are several more Bob
and Emily two-handers, sadly, it seems like Emily doesn't
really have a solo spotlight episode in this year of martial ebb and
flow. Fortunately, another one of my favorite
episodes “The New Look” has Emily's redecorating efforts
compromising Bob's comforts. He says he doesn't want to see samples
and leaves it to her to design as she wants – but Bob gets stuck
lugging a clunking grandfather clock
and isn't exactly happy with the resulting furniture. It definitely
puts a halt in his “Honey, I'm home!” Is the house the wife's
domain and the man an uncomfortable guest rather than king of the
castle? Or should the husband put his foot down and demand his cozy
chair? Pizzazz and physical comedy add to the debate – good thing
all their stuff is merely a step away in Howard's apartment! Emily
doesn't want to be separated from Bob for summer vacation in “Emily
Hits the Ceiling,” but her summer camp job conflicts with his busy
July season. Bob tries to reschedule his calendar so he can also be a
camp counselor, however the planning for the camp goes overboard and
into the mud. Emily's good intentions can't overcome the lack of
finances much less the pathetic, humorous absurdities.
The
charming Pat Finely joins The Bob Newhart Show on
a recurring basis as Bob's sister Ellen in a season long arc
romancing Bill Daily's golly gee navigator Howard Borden. Another
young, educated female pushing the workplace or relationship envelope
and Howard having more to do seems like a fine storyline. However,
I'm not sure where the series intended to go with this back
and forth pairing – what seems like it should be resolved in
several episodes limps through the year and lingers into next season.
Ellen asks Bob's permission to move in with Howard in the “Big
Brother Is Watching” premiere, leaving him caught in the middle
with the taboo idea before Ellen finds her own place. Howard
continues to have his bungling individual moments, and he's still
seen mooching of the Hartleys, dining alone, or flirting with no
mention of Ellen during the Christmas episode. He has mice and a bare
tree as if her character is already written off yet Howard also
becomes stifling and desperate not to make the same mistakes of his
first marriage in “Sorry, Wrong Mother.” Little Howie meets
Ellen, but they don't really like each other and a wild ice cream
shop adds to awkward situation – using quality comedy and serious
interference to create more cracks for the are they/aren't they
betrothed. Although previous antique businesses and newspaper work
are tossed in for Ellen, she never seems like a fully developed
character, relying rather on Howard connections and childhood
references with Bob. This uneven treatment makes her potentially
likable plot seem worse than it is, noticeably not as on the ball as
the rest of The Bob
Newhart Show. With dark hair and a similar name, at times Ellen
feel like an unnecessary Emily clone. It's odd to have her conflicted
over two men when her ruggedly suave ex-fiance Fred Willard (Best
in Show) tries to win Ellen again in “Tobin's Back in Town”
when the season finale leaves them right back where they started.
Thankfully, a little competition makes room for Howard's
sophisticated aviation hysterics.
Co-star
and director Peter Bonerz's orthodontist Jerry Robinson isn't going
to sit on his laurels – he wants to write a kids' dental book
called Tooth or Consequences. He also dates a Swedish girl who
doesn't speak English before his world traveling ex Gail Strickland
(Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman) makes him question his dull,
comfortable life in “Jerry Robinson Crusoe.” She's taken ten
years to see the world in alphabetical order and invites Jerry along
to Tahiti, but also insists he does important work that helps people
when he doubts his plastic bubble. It's an interesting episode
addressing a contented working life versus adventurous, free spirited
risks, and Jerry chooses to sell everything and take to the traveling
whim. Sure, mentions of it being a month later have him returned by
the next episode, but it's neat to see a character really go
somewhere, do something, and take a chance on a dream rather than
remain stagnant or in the background where he is most of the season.
Of course, Jerry has a selfish reset when he loses stock money in “A
Pound of Flesh” and wants Bob to loan him a hefty $1500 for a
motorcycle. He suspects Bob must ask Emily if it is okay, an
intriguing equality instead of breadwinner macho – and Bob does
indeed ask her opinion on declining Jerry rather than putting a price
on their friendship. Besides, Howard loaning the money to Jerry costs
him $1600. Marcia Wallace's receptionist Carol Kester has one
zany apartment, too – complete with a barking dog doorbell and bean
bag chairs. She takes a cooking class and ponders another job offer
until she gets a proper raise, but Carol also seems to wear the same
clothes several episodes in a row. Fortunately, she does get some
sparkling denim “boss threads” and considers a marriage proposal
from her on/off selfish writer boyfriend in “Life Is a Hamburger.”
Nobody else, however, is all that thrilled, but a saloon themed
restaurant and some really bad poetry add to the awkward conversation
and the potential romantic conflict between Jerry and Carol. Instead
of romantic retreads, Carol dreads her plane ticket home to family in
Iowa for “Home Is Where the Hurt Is” and on Christmas Eve unloads
some relatable complaints about her family's back-handed ways.
In
addition to familiar guest star faces such as John Ritter, Squiggy
David Lander, and Mr. Rhoda Richard Schaal, Larry Gelman
returns as Dr. Tupperman alongside Howard Platt as Dr. Phil Newman,
Shirley O'Hara as flaky temp Debbie, and Bob Newhart's own
father-in-law Bill Quinn as Eddie the Mailman. The timeless, totally
accurate Thanksgiving episode “An American Family” also puts
Bob's dinner perfectionist mother Martha Scott up against Emily's
intruding fun loving dad John Randolph – leaving Emily's quiet mom
Ann Rutherford and Bob's no nonsense father Barnard Hughes caught
between the obsessive cleaning, tight scheduling, and petty food
insults. No, this isn't a good holiday for Howard to meet his future
in-laws! Likewise, regular patients Jack Riley as Elliot Carlin,
Renee Lippin as Michelle, John Fiedler as Mr. Peterson, and Rhoda
Gemignani as Mrs. Rossi have it out with Lucien Scott's Mr. Vickers
and Oliver Clark's Mr. Herd for “The Battle of the Groups.”
Despite Bob's fear of rushing into an explosive confrontation, his
rival therapy groups go on a weekend marathon session together –
and then Emily wants to go, too. The bickering starts before the
teams even get to the cabin, and the crabbiness spreads to the couple
as Mr. Carlin gets naked and in touch with nature. It's a wild
episode matched only by Merie Earle as feisty old Mrs. Loomis and
Howard Hesseman's struggling television writer Craig Plager's bad
ideas. Reality show producers today would totally love his game show
where celebrities play tug of war across state lines!
Of
course, The Bob Newhart Show has
so much yellow or orange and patterns upon plaid – when
everyone stands next to each other in their finest patchwork rainbow,
it makes my eyes go wonky! Styles have progressed to wide shirt
collars and flared suits with longer skirt hems, bigger bell bottoms,
high-waisted pants, neckerchiefs, and bow ties yet all of it is
plaid. Fortunately, the women
have curves, hips rather than plastic stick figures, with realistic
looks to hit home the funny realism. There's microfilm
projectors, too, and an entire plot on what kind of clock to get for
the office, you know, so everyone can look up and know what time it
is. Linebacker therapy patients make a mere $100,000 a year, a tuxedo
costs $26 to rent, and five people can go to the ice cream parlor for
$20. Thankfully, The Hartleys have finally realized their wallpaper
is ugly and upgrade with a different ugly wallpaper and new décor
late in the season. I dare say I like the original, seemingly more
recognizable as The Bob Newhart Show style
better. I miss their bookshelves and the door railing seems in the
way, but the blue stained cabinets and not one but two bright blue
couches are, well, brighter. Removing the door to the bedroom hall is
an improvement, but why do they need to get all new artwork? Wouldn't
one, you know, keep your favorite paintings? There are episode
commentaries and a ten minute chat with Bob Newhart amid the 3 discs
of Season Three as part of the Complete Series box set, however the
sound is once again poorly mixed. Future
Cheers alum James
Burrows joins The Bob Newhart Show this season alongside
frequent directors Jay Sandrich, Alan Rafkin, and Michael Zinberg,
and some of the production changes are apparent with varying credits.
At times, shorter opening titles and a different “Home to Emily”
theme is used – the phone gag is gone, and for three odd episodes,
completely new credits featuring Emily on the go are used. Who knew?
The
Bob Newhart Show shrewdly uses humor to address the ups and downs
and every day struggles of its ensemble, tugging and pulling without
earlier mid-century television restraint to test its stars with
sophisticated, timely guffaws. The progressive wit of The Bob
Newhart Show remains groundbreaking for adults today while Season
Three continues to provide laughter for the whole family.
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