A Tribute to Bob Newhart: Revisiting His Most Beloved Sitcoms and Film Roles

A Tribute to Bob Newhart: Revisiting His Most Beloved Sitcoms and Film Roles

Bob Newhart once said, “Meow.”

Bob Newhart, the original comedy genius, has been gracing our screens (and our hearts) with his deadpan and droll humor for over 60 years now. His standup comedy, his sitcoms, his movie roles and him, never failed to make us laugh.

First, we got his recorded one-sided conversations as a “straight man”, then we got his stand-up and then we struck gold with his roles in his long-airing sitcoms.

Fifty two years ago, in 1978, his first sitcom, The Bob Newhart Show, re-defined comedy on-screen by being one of the first American sitcoms to ever come out. The show sees the famous comic playing a frustrated Chicago psychologist dealing with crazy patients, his wife and his crazier friends.

Feeling nostalgic yet? Lets refresh your memory a little bit more, and let’s revisit all the times that Bob Newhart made us laugh with his tasteful sense of humor.

Dr. Bob Hartley

‘The Bob Newhart show’ had a show running record of 6 seasons; it ran from 1972 to 1978. Newhart played Dr. Bob Hartley, the psychologist, living with his occasionally sarcastic wife, and dealing with his patients and his friends, which always led to hilarious interactions. The show won two Emmy nominations, and two Golden Globe nominations.

Dick

In the comedian’s popular MTM sitcom, “Newhart,” he played Vermont innkeeper and Talk Show host, Dick. Dick and his wife, Joanne (Mary Frann) are trying to keep their inn from the hands of a Japanese tycoon who buys the entire town to turn it into a golf course.

Spoiler alert: Remember the iconic last scene of the Newhart finale? To the screams of the entire audience, the last scene of the sitcom shows Newhart in bed as his character, but, next to him isn’t Joanne, but Emily (Suzanne Pleshette), i.e., Dr. Bob Hartley. And it’s revealed that the entire eight year series was actually one dream of Dr. Bob Hartley. Yes, that’s the peak of comedy (and plot twist) right there.

The ending credits of Newhart, where the MTM logo was presented below a cat, is where Newhart’s iconic “meow,” comes from.

Papa Elf

“I don’t need the elf outfit to play an elf, I could just play an elf.”

And he ended up doing it too. But with the outfit. 

For younger generations, Bob Newhart will always be remembered as Papa Elf. Playing Ferrell’s adoptive dad in the Will Ferrell 2003 comedy, Elf, Bob Newhart once again won our hearts. It’s absurd to think that the younger generation first met Newhart as a Keebler elf wearing those adorable mustard yellow tights, that kelly green suit and hat, instead of as witty, sarcastic, downright frustrated psychologist named Dr. Bob Hartley.

Professor Proton:

All Big Bang Theory fans would remember Bob from his role as Professor Proton in the hit CBS sitcom. Arthur Jeffries, aka, Professor Proton was introduced to us in the sixth season as a former science TV show host turned children’s party entertainer. He was also awarded a Primetime Emmy Award for his role as Proton.

On The Tonight Show following the cancellation, Newhart joked he had now done shows called The Bob Newhart Show, Newhart and Bob so his next show was going to be called The. Just goes to show you how well-deserved all the standing ovations he received over the years were.

Bob Newhart was one of the true, inimitable greats. On the occasion of his death, we’re sure that we’re not the only ones who never got the chance to witness his genius live. But we can rewatch all his most iconic moments over the years, and howl like we have.