(Photo Courtesy of Digney & Co.)
On computers, we have a "Refresh" button option. In life, we have comedian Bob Newhart, who has never tired of making audiences laugh. For that, I am grateful.
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Saturday night, an audience in Knoxville, Tennessee will be in for a huge thrill, when Bob Newhart takes the stage for a stand up comedy appearance at The Tennessee Theatre. At age 83, he has no desire to stop doing what he loves most--making people laugh.
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In 1960, Newhart's debut comedy album, "The Button Down Mind of Bob Newhart" wound up surprising the comedian himself after it earned a Grammy Award as "Album of the Year". As I write this, I find myself laughing aloud at the idea of a Bob Newhart comedy album beating out the likes of Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and Harry Belafonte. Newhart expected the album to sell just enough copies to familiarize anyone who planned to attend one of his nightclub performances. But otherwise, he has stated that he was totally unprepared for the reception the album received.
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Newhart's comedic trademark involves his one-sided telephone call. Audiences end up mentally filling in the blanks of what they believe the person on the other end of the phone line is saying, and always with great laughter.
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Born in Chicago, Illinois, Newhart has enjoyed an amazing five-decade career. In addition to best selling comedy albums, there have been two successful situation comedies. In the 1970's, "The Bob Newhart Show" cast him as Chicago psychologist Dr. "Bob" Hartley, and during the 1980's he was Vermont innkeeper Dick Louden, in "Newhart". He has hosted "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" 87 times, and has hosted "Saturday Night Live" twice. In addition to appearing in 14 feature films with such notables as Steve McQueen, Bobby Darin, Barbara Streisand, Kevin Kline, Reese Witherspoon, Will Ferrell and Tom Selleck, Bob's work has also included a recurring role in the prime-time TV hit, "Desperate Housewives", and as a retired forensic pathologist on "NCIS". In 2006, he wrote the self-effacing memoir, “I Shouldn’t Even Be Doing This!: And Other Things that Strike Me as Funny.” Throughout his career, even during the successful run of both television series', Newhart has continued to make stand up comedy appearances.
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In a world that often requires a reprieve from so much bad news in the press, Bob Newhart makes the case for this writer that familiarity is often a comfort. He is picking up new fans every day, from college students, who watch him nightly on "Nick At Nite" to those who attend his comedy concerts. At the top of my list for 2013 is to attend a Bob Newhart performance. To my friends in Tennessee: Enjoy the show Saturday night!
13 comments:
i have liked him for many years. his deadpan delivery is one-of-a-kind. and although i've not seen him do a routine in recent years, i believe he's remained a 'clean' comic - unlike so many others that feel they have to turn to 'shock' comedy to remain modern.
I agree Theresa. Bob's truly a "Class Act" all around, and and a National Treasure. ;)
Hi Michael,
I always thought bob was very funny! I miss actors like bob on sincoms these days.
Lydia: Bob is still funny, and that's always Good News! :D)
I used to watch him on TV in the 70s and loved it. How he could voluntarily sit in a dentist's chair, I don't know!
Sandy: The one thing I DO know is that only Bob could make sitting in a dentist's chair funny! : )
Great Post Michael,
I remember the way they ended the 2nd series.
It was a riot.
Cheers Michal.
Glenn: As you might expect there's an interesting story about how that idea came about. But you're right. It WAS a riot!
Bob Newhart.. his comedy and his television shows .. he's a longtime favourite of mine. The ending of Newhart (the second show) was the very best ever, in my books.
Hilary: It was something else! :)
Thanks for stopping by!!
Hi Michael
Happy New year!
Great post!
Bob Newhart was always one of my favorite actors and gave me lots of laughs.
Great that he's still going strong!
Margie
oh, I lost my comment !
Try again.
Great post!
Glad to hear Bob Newhart is still going strong:)
He always gave me lots of laughs :)
Happy New Year to you, Michael
Margie: Happy New Year! Yes, Bob is still going strong, and has always been a favorite of mine as well!
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