Bob Newhart Was One Of A Kind, Here’s Why
We lost a legend yesterday. Bob Newhart died at his Los Angeles home after a “series of short illnesses.” He was 94. Newhart was the king of deadpan comedy, over a career…
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 10: Actor Bob Newhart poses for a portrait at the Broadcast Television Journalists Association’s Third Annual Critics’ Choice Television Awards on June 10, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for CCTA)
We lost a legend yesterday. Bob Newhart died at his Los Angeles home after a "series of short illnesses." He was 94. Newhart was the king of deadpan comedy, over a career that spanned more than SIX DECADES.
Losing Bob Newhart is like losing a part of my childhood. I remember watching his original show on CBS back in the 70's as a kid, The Bob Newhart Show. Even then, I knew that he was very different from other comedians. He wasn't loud or brash, he was quiet, reserved and above all, nice.
How many comedians of today can you say that about? The bulk of them are trying to be loud or whacky and edgy, Bob Newhart was none of those.
The Buttoned Down Mind Of Bob Newhart
Bob worked in Chicago in the 50’s as an accountant and was probably the last person you would have thought would end up being one of the most successful sitcom stars ever. His first comedy album was called the Buttoned Down Mind Of Bob Newhart and it was a smash back when comedian sold lots of albums of their live performances.
From that success his career took off and he found himself on many tv shows of the 60’s including working with the likes of Carol Burnett.
Despite everything he's done over those years, he's probably best known these days as Papa Elf from the Will Ferrell movie "Elf" . . . a role he once said, quote, "outranks, by far, any role I may have ever played."
Bob was also the star of "The Bob Newhart Show" from 1972 to 1978 . . . and then "Newhart" from 1982 to 1990.
He's also appeared on shows like "Desperate Housewives", "The Big Bang Theory", "ER", and "Hot in Cleveland".
Bob was best friends with Don Rickles . . . whose comedy style couldn't have been more different from his. Judd Apatow made a documentary about their friendship that you really should watch.
Rickles passed away in 2017.
9 Fine TV Shows From The 80’s And 90’s That Are Worth A Rewatch
Strike! Strike! Strike!
In case you have missed the news, the writers of our TV shows and movies our are on strike. This means that there are no new scripts being written until the writers can make a deal with the networks and production companies.
This happens every few years when the SAG/AFTRA union contracts run out. Writers are not happy with the compensation they’re receiving and are on strike until a better deal comes along. This has happened many times.
Things have changed in LaLa Land
Things have certainly changed in Hollywood over the past decade or so. With the advent of streaming and the proliferation of outlets in need of creative work such as what writers provide. The demand has never been bigger but unfortunately according to the writers the compensation has never been worse.
Who knows how long this one will last?
These drugs usually happen in the summer and will carry on into the fall season when networks typically want to have their new shows on. So it remains to be seen if a deal can be worked out before September. In the meantime, maybe it’s time to look back at some of TVs greatest shows from the 80s and 90s that are certainly worth another rewatch. Of course as they say in TV if you’ve never seen it it’s not a rerun to you.
Let’s go back to the heyday of sitcoms and dramas
Of course everybody thinks their era would be the golden age of television so let’s focus on the 80s and 90s, you could argue that this was the best time for sitcoms. It was also a great time for TV dramas.
It would be nearly impossible to come up with a list of the so-called best but the mission here is to focus on nine shows that maybe you have seen or maybe you haven’t but either way definitely worth your eye’s time.
