A guest-spot on a local cable TV show called Book Beat lands Dick a potential new career; Kirk convinces Joanna to star in a commercial for the Minuteman Café.
Dick Loudon (Bob Newhart) and his wife Joanna (Mary Frann) decide to leave life in New York City and buy a little inn in Vermont. Dick is a how-to book writer, who eventually becomes a local television celebrity as host of "Vermont Today". George Utley (Tom Poston) is the handyman at the inn, and Leslie Vanderkellen (Jennifer Holmes) is the maid, with ambitions of being an Olympic Ski champion; she is later replaced by her cousin Stephanie (Julia Duffy), an heiress who hates her job. Her boyfriend is Dick's yuppie television producer, Michael Harris (Peter Scolari). There are many other quirky characters in this fictional little town, including Dick's neighbors Larry (William Sanderson), Darryl (Tony Papenfuss), and Darryl (John Voldstad)...three brothers who buy the Minuteman Café from Kirk Devane (Steven Kampmann). Besides sharing a name, Darryl and Darryl never speak, until the final episode.Written by
Jim Wiley <jgwiley@wayoutwest.org>
Bob's Inn Trouble! Running a 200-year old inn is Bob's way of getting back to nature. But it's really nature's way of getting back at him. Looks like Bob's open for laughs year round. Starring Bob Newhart. Also starring Mary Frann and Tom Poston. (season 1)
Julia Duffy was pregnant during several episodes of the show and had to hide her condition by wearing baggy clothes and standing behind furniture. See more »
Goofs
Joanna and Stephanie always appear in full makeup, even in bed. See more »
The opening credits are expanded slightly on a handful of episodes. After Bob Newhart's credit the picture switches to a boat slowly coming to the shore for about five seconds as the theme adds an extra stanza, afterward the credits return to normal for Mary Frann's credit. See more »
Alternate Versions
In episode #6, "No Tigers at the Circus," Dick is seen watching a TV show, and only the theme song is heard. In the original run, it was the theme from "Mister Ed" (1961), but in reruns it was changed to the theme from "Bob Newhart Show, The" (1972). See more »
After the success of his other sitcom from the 1970's, the character of Robert Hartley changed from the streets of Chicago to the scenary setting of rural Vermont. It also changed his title from a psychologist in a high rise building in Chicago to his status as the owner of a innkeeper as well as a novelist.
It also gave him a new leading lady as well, leaving his other TV wife Emily (Suzanne Pleshette) on the cutting room floor. "Newhart" did just that too. Newhart played Dick Loudon, a well known novelist with his wife Joanna (Mary Frann) who owned an inn in the majestic grounds of Vermont. It had that brilliant brand of humor that kept the show going, along with some of the characters that made it happen. The show itself was in the top ten ratings during the eight years it ran on CBS, making Bob Newhart one of the funniest comedians of the 1980's.
6 of 9 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
| Report this
After the success of his other sitcom from the 1970's, the character of Robert Hartley changed from the streets of Chicago to the scenary setting of rural Vermont. It also changed his title from a psychologist in a high rise building in Chicago to his status as the owner of a innkeeper as well as a novelist.
It also gave him a new leading lady as well, leaving his other TV wife Emily (Suzanne Pleshette) on the cutting room floor. "Newhart" did just that too. Newhart played Dick Loudon, a well known novelist with his wife Joanna (Mary Frann) who owned an inn in the majestic grounds of Vermont. It had that brilliant brand of humor that kept the show going, along with some of the characters that made it happen. The show itself was in the top ten ratings during the eight years it ran on CBS, making Bob Newhart one of the funniest comedians of the 1980's.