In addition to inspiring a college drinking game that's never gone out of style, The Bob Newhart Show gave one of America's greatest stand-up comedians a perfect sitcom showcase. This wasn't Newhart's first TV show (following the success of his comedy albums, he hosted a short-lived variety show in 1961-62), but it was the first to transfer his wry, inimitable wit to an effective alter ego, and as mild-mannered psychologist Bob Hartley, 43-year-old Newhart found a sublime character conduit for stone-faced sarcasm that was biting but never malicious.
Living in a Chicago high-rise with Emily, his wife of three years and a third-grade schoolteacher (played with underrated smartness by Suzanne Pleshette), 40-year-old Bob divides his time equally between happy (but not too happy) domesticity and time at the office, where he employs a feisty and frequently lovelorn receptionist Carol (Marcia Wallace, who later enjoyed a thriving career providing voices for The Simpsons and other animated shows) who also works for Jerry (Peter Bonerz, who became a respected TV director), a bachelor dentist and Bob's best friend.
The first season (of six, on CBS until August 1978) offered the same high quality as The Mary Tyler Moore Show (also produced by Moore's MTM Enterprises) and established many of the memorable characters who contributed to the show's enduring greatness. Bill Daily (late of I Dream of Jeannie) would thrive as the Hartley's divorced neighbor Howard (his uninvited "Hi Bob!" intrusions inspired that infamous drinking game), while married neighbor Margaret (Patricia Smith) would disappear by season's end. Among Bob's hilarious group-therapy patients, the miserable misanthrope Mr. Carlin (Jack Riley) was a comedic goldmine as the series progressed, but it's Newhart's own comic genius--including his perfected phone-call routines and deadpan reactions to everyday dilemmas--that remained the show's greatest asset.
Cast and Characters
Bob Newhart as Robert Hartley
Suzanne Pleshette a Emily Hartley
Bill Daily as Howard Borden
Peter Bonerz as Jerry Robinson
Marcia Wallace as Carol Kester Bondurant
Jack Riley as Elliot Carlin
Florida Friebus as Mrs. Bakerman
John Fieder as Mr. Peterson (1973-1978)
Renee Lippin as Michelle Nardo (1973-1976)
Pat Finley as Ellen Hartley (1974-1976)
Larry Gelman as Dr. Bernie Tupperman (1972-1976)
Broadcast History First Telecast: September 16, 1972 Last Telecast: August 26, 1978 Number of Episodes: 142
Number of Seasons: 6
Original Network: CBS
September 1972- October 1976, CBS, Saturday 9:30-10:00pm
November 1976- September 1977, CBS, Saturday 8:30-9:00pm
September 1977- April 1978, CBS, Saturday 8:00-8:30pm
Shows 
In addition to inspiring a college drinking game that's never gone out of style, The Bob Newhart Show gave one of America's greatest stand-up comedians a perfect sitcom showcase. This wasn't Newhart's first TV show (following the success of his comedy albums, he hosted a short-lived variety show in 1961-62), but it was the first to transfer his wry, inimitable wit to an effective alter ego, and as mild-mannered psychologist Bob Hartley, 43-year-old Newhart found a sublime character conduit for stone-faced sarcasm that was biting but never malicious.
