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My dad was one of those guys who didn’t always just say no to something we shouldn’t be doing. He would actively plan more attractive alternatives for us. If our friends were inviting us to participate in something he thought we shouldn’t be a part of, he would often plan a more constructive alternative and invite our friends to go along with us.
I was reminded of this when I heard that Bob Newhart died this week. When I was 11 years old, for Christmas I received a record player for my room. It came with several albums my dad selected for me to have. What he was doing, I realized in hindsight, was trying to my funnel my listening interest in certain directions.
One of the albums he gave me was a Bob Newhart comedy album. I had never heard of Bob Newhart, but he quickly became a go-to voice for me when I was alone in my room. I laughed until I cried. His piece on Sir Walter Raleigh trying to explain tobacco to the guys back at the home office in England had me gasping. ("I don't know Walt, I think you're going to have a hard time selling people on putting burning leaves in their mouths.")
Bob Newhart is dead at 94, and the world is going to be noticeably less funny now.
May he rest in peace.
Discussion (8)
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During the Cold War, he brilliantly portrayed the era with his treatment of a network director assigned to cover the arrival of Soviet leader Khrushchev at an American airport. As he ramps up the anxiety, under inconceivable pressure, he whips his crew to perform with the anguished cry: "I've got Guiding Light right behind me." Guiding Light being not just another soap opera, but the beast of soap operas at the time with yuge, yuge ratings and powerful sponsors. Yes, the leader of the Soviet Union was coming to America in a historic moment, but one must have priorities in the business.
Rest in peace, Mr. Newhart. I hope to enjoy your next act someday.
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What a lovely tribute to a very talented man. Thanks, Keith.
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When I was a lil kid I thought Newhart was an old, boring looking Man. Avoided Him.
Then one day I was watching a comedy program and They played His phone call being Walter Raleigh calling the queen to describe tobacco, but I didn’t know it was Him or I would have changed the channel. Man, I was laughing so hard I couldn’t breathe.
“Well, then… then You… You stick it Yer mouth and set it on fire.”
“What?! That’s Newhart?!” I got it. I watched and listened to everything Newhart after that.
I just adore Newhart.
R.I.P.
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And he was one half of Hollywood's Oddest Couples:
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Newhart had such a low-key delivery, I was surprised when I learned he and Don Rickles were good friends. In fact, the two couples would travel together. IMHO, one of the series ending was for his second show. Spoiler alert!
It was sheer genius to harken back to the original Bob Newhart Show and have him wake up in bed with Suzanne Pleshette to discover his entire Newhart show experience was only a dream. I watched a video of Pleshette explaining how they kept the surprise ending a secret from the live audience . . .
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