The “Newhart” finale should be on nearly all of those lists.
For its last few minutes alone, “Newhart” deserves emeritus status on every roundup of best TV endings, best TV moments, funniest pranks, you name it.
For eight seasons — from 1982 to 1990 — Bob Newhart entertained millions on “Newhart,” playing Dick Loudon, a how-to book author and the co-owner of a quaint Vermont inn with his wife Joanna (Mary Frann).
The success of “Newhart” was especially remarkable given that Newhart had already had a long run on TV in “The Bob Newhart Show,” which ran for six seasons, also on CBS, from 1972 to 1978.
He had spent those six years playing Bob Hartley, a Chicago psychologist who coped with his kooky patients with the help of his loving wife Emily (Suzanne Pleshette).
Persons:
Newhart, “ Newhart ”, Bob Newhart, ”, Dick Loudon, Joanna, Mary Frann, Bob Hartley, Emily, Suzanne Pleshette
Organizations:
CBS
Locations:
Vermont, Chicago, Hartley