Bob Newhart

 

As you may have guessed by now I watch a lot of old TV shows. Occasionally but not often, the joy in these never-ending encore presentations is slightly tempered by the realization that almost all of the talented people responsible for their success, both in front of and behind the cameras, are no longer with us. Which only makes us treasure even more those still around.

 

Last week we lost one of the greats. Bob Newhart starred in two successful situation comedies, in which he basically played himself, or at least the persona he had developed earlier through stand-up routines, sketches on variety series like The Dean Martin Show, and in a Grammy-winning comedy album: a mild-mannered fellow reacting to strange and silly circumstances. 

 

 

Said reactions were dry and subtle, rarely if ever loud and confrontational. That’s why I liked him so much, I think. I’ve never been someone drawn to loud people. The guy shouting into his cell phone so his is the only voice you hear, even in a crowded restaurant? That’s the guy I can’t get away from fast enough. I prefer quiet people. They tend to be smarter, more thoughtful, and more considerate of others. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have a sense of humor: Bob Newhart offers compelling evidence to support that hypothesis.

 

We are currently confronted with no shortage of strange and silly circumstances – lately they seem to be coming at us from all sides – and my reaction to them tends to be much like Bob’s – somewhat bemused, somewhat befuddled, but we take them and the world as it comes, hoping that sanity will win out in the long run.

 

Some obits described Newhart as a “deadpan master of sitcoms.” But he was not deadpan. Steven Wright is deadpan. Buster Keaton was deadpan. Bob Newhart’s reactions were clearly written on his face even before he spoke, in that slight stammer utilized for maximum comic effect. A blank expression would not have made Newhart’s famous phone routines so brilliant. You never heard the voice on the line – his reactions provided all the insight into the conversation that the audience needed. 

 

 

I know Newhart was a great show, but I will leave it to others to sing its praises. Same with his appearances in Elf and The Big Bang Theory. Here, I just want to reflect on The Bob Newhart Show (1972-1978).

 

I’ve said it before, here and elsewhere: the 1970s gave us many classic situation comedies, and all of them can still be enjoyed 50 years later, but the one that holds up the best, at least for me, is The Bob Newhart Show.

 

Like The Mary Tyler Moore Show, which aired prior to his series in a fondly remembered Saturday night line-up, it derived laughter both at home and at the workplace, and surrounded its top-billed star with sharper-tongued and lovably eccentric characters.

 

As Emily, the sassy, sexy Suzanne Pleshette was the perfect counter to Newhart’s more laid-back persona. 

 

I wasn’t as big a fan of Bill Daily as Howard Borden, who by the final season should have been institutionalized – or at least never trusted again with the navigator’s seat on a commercial flight. Yet he remained Bob’s best friend, and Bob always accepted him for what he was. There’s grace in that.

 

At work Bob could trade barbs with Peter Bonerz as the orthodontist down the hall, and Marcia Wallace as receptionist Carol Kester, but it was the patient group therapy sessions, and his one-on-one appointments with Mr. Carlin (Jack Riley) that were usually the highlights of every episode. And no other series mined more laughs from telephone calls or elevators than The Bob Newhart Show.  

The Christmas episodes were wonderful – annual holiday viewing in my house. And the Thanksgiving episode (“Over the River and Through the Woods”) is one of the ten best situation comedy episodes of all time. 

 

And long after the series had ended, it received an unforgettable encore in the final moment of the final episode of Newhart’s second series. That scene has now become as iconic as any moment in scripted television, a rare example of an inspired idea (by Newhart’s wife, Ginny) perfectly executed.

 

I’m glad Bob kept working into his 90s so new generations could see why he was so popular. I’m glad he got to watch his beloved Chicago Cubs win a World Series in 2016 – something many of his fellow fans (myself included) feared we’d never see. 

 

 

Most of all, I’m glad I have all 142 episodes of The Bob Newhart Show sitting on my shelf, waiting to remind me of my own Chicago roots, to pick me up when I’m feeling down, and to help me realize that, compared to Bob’s regular patients, I’m nowhere near as nuts as I sometimes think.

 

Bye Bob – and thanks for all the laughter. We’ve never needed it more.

Seven TV Characters That Are Only Tolerable On Television

 

A few weeks ago, this blog celebrated (or, more accurately, overlooked celebrating) its ten-year anniversary. At first that seemed like a good topic for a piece, but then it began to feel too self-aggrandizing, especially since I am one of my least favorite subjects. So instead I’ll just say thank you to everyone who has stopped by, who visits often, who comments on the posts, and who bought any of my books. You are all very much appreciated. Now let’s get back to business as usual.

 

There is an interesting subset of television characters that viewers enjoy watching, but would never want to associate with if those characters were real.

 

Those that fit this description are almost always supporting characters, since building a series around a potentially unlikable lead rarely if ever works (see: My World and Welcome To It, Buffalo Bill). But it’s always more interesting when characters we like run into nosy neighbors or sponging friends or annoying coworkers. Like whom, you ask? Glad you asked…

 

Eddie Haskell

Leave it To Beaver

If there were an official name for these types of characters, it would be Haskells, after the young man that first personified them to the classic TV landscape. 

 

Wally’s ne’er-do-well friend Eddie was a lecherous instigator and troublemaker, who rarely calls anyone by their actual names. But as soon as Wally’s mom appears he turns into a perfect young gentleman. “Good morning, Mrs. Cleaver. That’s a lovely dress you’re wearing. I was just telling Wallace how delightful it would be if Theodore could accompany us to the movies.” He appears in about half of the show’s episodes and was always good for a laugh – as long as he stays on his side of the television screen.

 

Lt. Philip Gerard

The Fugitive

Whenever Gerard shows up in a Fugitive episode it means, as it’s said in the modern parlance, sh** just got real. Dr. Kimble is going to have to suffer even more and work that much harder to avoid the clutches of the police detective obsessed with his capture. But that quest, as we see throughout the series, risks destroying Gerard’s marriage and his relationship with his son. 

 

Anyone that single-minded is not going to be good company for very long – you can just imagine him bringing every conversation around to the one crusade that gives his life meaning.

 

You: “Hi, Phil, good to see you. We just got back from California. The kids loved spending time at the beach.”

 

Gerard: “The beach…I once tracked Kimble to Santa Barbara, he was using the name Jeff Cooper then….”

 

You: “Then we went to this amusement park…”

 

Gerard: “That reminds me of when Kimble was working at a gift shop at Santa Monica Pier. I was too late then….”

 

You: “Yeah…okay. Good seeing you, Phil.”

 

Gerard: “Kim-BLE!”

 

And so it goes. The episodes he’s in are usually guarantees of an exciting hour. Hanging out with the guy…not so much.

 

Wally Plumstead

The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet

Everybody likes Wally, David and Ricky’s college fraternity brother on The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet, but it’s hard to figure out why. 

 

He never has any money, despite never paying back the money he borrows from everyone. He’s a bad student, he bullies the freshmen in his fraternity, he eats like a horse on everyone else’s dime, and he treats his girlfriend Ginger horribly. But as a viewer it’s impossible to hate the guy, cause actor Skip Young is just too likable. His infectious laugh can be heard in more than 120 episodes of this treasured series, and I’m always happy to see him. But if I saw Wally coming my way on the sidewalk, I’d hide my wallet and run for the hills.

 

Ann Marie

That Girl

I know I said in the intro to this piece that characters fitting this description are rarely leads, but in this case it’s not that Ann Marie was unlikable – she was often effervescent and delightful – but she was also exhausting. Would I enjoy lunch with her? Sure. But looking back at what she put poor Donald through in five seasons would give any guy pause about a closer relationship. 

 

Take the episode “Secret Ballot,” in which Ann and Donald arrive in New York City after a two-hour drive from her parents’ home in Brewster, and then have to drive right back up because Ann forgot her purse. Ann’s parents are out for a walk when they arrive, and the house is locked. Ann decides to climb a tree and enter through her bedroom window on the second floor – and then she gets stuck up the tree. She tells Donald to trek over to the fire station to get a ladder. He begins to leave, stops, and then looks up at Ann and asks, “If I were to turn and walk away from here, never to return, would you understand?” Yes, Donald, we would.

 

Howard Borden

The Bob Newhart Show

I’ve never lived in an apartment building, so I don’t know how common it is for tenants living next to each other to drop by unexpectedly at any time, day or night. But even where this might be routine, a neighbor like Howard abuses the privilege. Usually he enters Bob and Emily’s apartment without knocking, and usually he’s either there to borrow something or to get a free meal. Bob’s soft-spoken tolerance of his neighbor’s numerous quirks was certainly a product of the understanding way he handles his patients. Only a qualified psychologist could live next door to Howard and not lose his marbles. He even let the guy date his sister! Thankfully, she eventually dodged that bullet. 

 

 

Hank Kimball

Green Acres

I’ve always described Hooterville county agent Hank Kimball as a personification of government bureaucracy. 

 

He ostensibly serves as a source for important information, but offers nothing of value. He has a lot to say but none of it is helpful. As a fan of this series I smile every time Alvy Moore arrives to raise Oliver’s blood pressure with his nonsensical ramblings. His scenes are never not funny. But if I were a farmer who needed help with planting or harvesting or pest control, and he was the best local source of professional assistance available, I’d probably want to strangle him as much as Oliver does. 

 

 

Angel Martin

The Rockford Files

This is the one time when viewers might get as fed up with the character in question as Rockford does. Personally I never liked the Angel episodes but I know plenty of fans that do, and Stuart Margolin won two Emmys for his portrayal of Jim’s old cellmate. Angel was a weasel, pure and simple.  Smart people would avoid him like Monkeypox. But Rockford just can’t quit him, as much as he probably wishes he could. 

 

 

Classic TV Statues: Leave Them Alone

We are either in the midst of a cultural revolution or a crime wave, depending on your perspective. And while the damage to real people and property embodies the most regrettable aspect of these uprisings, there have been other victims as well.

Statues. Lots of statues.

I know – this isn’t the place for politics. “Save it for your book!” Okay – I will. And that book will be out next year. Details to follow in another month or two.

But as this is Comfort TV let’s talk about the statues that have been erected to honor performers and characters from many of television’s most memorable series. Thus far they have escaped the carnage. But who knows what tomorrow might bring? This could be a good time to plan a road trip to visit some of these monuments before they meet their fate.

Jackie Gleason as Ralph Kramden

New York City

Erected: 2000

This was the first statue commissioned by TV Land – hard to believe it’s already 20 years old. And what better place to honor Ralph Kramden than at New York’s bustling Port Authority Bus Terminal? It’s a wonderful likeness of Ralph, with lunch box in hand, chest out proudly, ready to start another shift. Or as Alice would say, “That’s not his chest, that’s his stomach, and it’s always out!”

Could it Come Down?

No statue in New York appears to be off limits at the moment. Fortunately, Its Port Authority location means it will be seen primarily by those traveling to or from work – and most rioters have an aversion to honest employment.

Mary Tyler Moore as Mary Richards

Minneapolis

Erected: 2001

Few classic TV freeze frames are as famous as the one at the end of the opening credits to The Mary Tyler Moore Show. A jubilant Mary flings her cap into the air, while a sourpuss woman in the background scowls in contempt. 

That was the moment the sculptor attempted to recreate, with a statue located near the place where that scene was shot – the corner of 7th and Nicollet in Minneapolis. On the base is written, “Who can turn the world on with her smile?” 

Sadly, the artist who created the bronze statue, Gwendolyn Gillen, died just two days after Mary Tyler Moore passed away in January of 2017.

Could it Come Down?

Minneapolis was the epicenter for the ongoing national protests, so anything is possible.

Andy Griffith and Ronny Howard as Andy and Opie Taylor

Raleigh

Erected: 2003

There are two statues depicting the same famous moment of Andy and Opie going fishing, as shown in the opening credits of The Andy Griffith Show. After TV Land erected the original in Raleigh’s Pullen Park, residents of Mount Airy protested the location. They had a point – Mount Airy was Griffith’s hometown and the city that inspired Mayberry. So a second version went up there, in front of the Andy Griffith Playhouse. I think they did a wonderful job with this one. 

Could it Come Down?

Let’s see – which side did North Carolina support in the Civil War? Uh-oh. Maybe this should be the first stop on your tour.

Bob Newhart as Bob Hartley

Chicago

Erected: 2004

This subject always struck me as an odd choice, though I have always loved The Bob Newhart Show. Certainly the interactive quality is fun – how many thousands of people have taken a seat on the couch next to Dr. Hartley and shared their problems? After it first appeared on Michigan Ave. it was moved to Navy Pier, one of Chicago’s most popular spots for tourists and locals.  

Could it Come Down?

I doubt it will get torn down. But it might get shot.

Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha Stevens

Salem

Erected: 2005

From a distance, this nine-foot, 3,000-pound bronze of Samantha astride her broom looks pretty amazing. 

But it loses a little something up close. Still, we should be happy it’s still there in Lappin Park, as some local residents thought it was a disrespectful reminder of those who were persecuted at the actual Salem witch trials. See? People who don’t know the difference between fantasy and reality are nothing new. 

Could it Come Down?

Salem survives on tourism, and even the grumblers have noticed how many visitors enjoy taking selfies with Sam. She should be safe.

James Garner as Bret Maverick

Norman

Erected: 2006

This may be the biggest statue on the list, standing more than 10 feet tall. Norman, Oklahoma was James Garner’s hometown, and this was an appealing tribute to both a favorite son and a classic TV character. 

Could it Come Down?

The Old West? Do we really need to honor another intolerant historic era? Thankfully, very few professional agitators live in Oklahoma.

Henry Winkler as Arthur Fonzarelli

Milwaukee

Erected: 2008

The Fonz in bronze! TV Land was going to move forward on this but changed its mind, probably around the same time they stopped airing any TV shows worth watching. So the city’s tourism board stepped in, raised $85,000, found a local artist that knew cool when he saw it, and the rest is history. I’m still not sure if the coloring on the leather jacket and jeans was a nice touch or an overreach. 

Thankfully, despite the Riverwalk location, he’s not wearing water skis.

Could it Come Down?

Does he represent the oppressive 1950s? Those weren’t happy days for everyone, you know.

Noel Neill as Lois Lane

Metropolis

Erected: 2010

Yes, Metropolis, as in Metropolis, Illinois. The statue immortalizes The Daily Planet’s ace reporter, as played by Noel Neill on The Adventures of Superman. Neill was pushing 90 when it was unveiled, but she was there to see it. That’s awesome. 

 

Could it Come Down?

Try it and you’ll have to answer to you-know-who.

Lucille Ball as Lucy Ricardo

Jamestown

Erected: It’s Complicated

At last, a statue that disappeared and no one, regardless of race, creed or political affiliation, ever missed it. The original Lucille Ball statue by Dave Poulin was so hideous it was dubbed “Scary Lucy,” and even the rioters and the pigeons wouldn’t go near it. 

Poulin died at the too-young age of 58, and it’s sad that this became his best-known work, as he really was quite talented.

Still, that version had to go, and a much more flattering bronze sculpted by Carolyn Palmer was unveiled on August 6, 2016, Lucy’s 105^th birthday. 

Could it Come Down?

I Love Lucy may be the most iconic situation comedy ever created, but one of its running gags was having Lucy mock Ricky’s Cuban accent. People now lose their jobs for doing that.

Who needs a statue next? My nominees:

Maxwell Smart

How many times does a man have to save the world from the forces of KAOS to get a little respect? Besides, Washington D.C. is going to need something to fill all those empty pedestals.

Emma Peel

London loves its statues. They’re everywhere – from Sir Thomas More to Sherlock Holmes, Prince Albert to Paddington Bear. So why not honor the English rose that has been described as the ultimate ‘60s style icon? Diana Rigg would look great in bronze, because she looked great in everything. 

Captain James T. Kirk

Max saved America – Kirk saved the whole galaxy, and slept with half of it too. There’s probably a statue of him already on Rigel II, aka the “pleasure planet,” but we need one on earth as well.

The Ten Funniest Situation Comedy Episodes By Decade: the 1970s

The 1970s are still my favorite Comfort TV comfort zone, not because the shows were inherently better but because they were the ones that I watched through my formative years.

It was an era that introduced some of television’s best situation comedies, including several that pushed the envelope on what could be said, shown or implied in prime time. Here are my picks for the decade’s ten funniest episodes.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

“Chuckles Bites the Dust” (1975)

“A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants”

I’ve never read the script David Lloyd wrote for this episode, but for the funeral scene I can’t imagine it gave Mary Tyler Moore any more to work with than “Mary tries to suppress her laughter.” And look at the magic she created from such a simple directive. That scene is justifiably famous but the whole episode is brilliant, from Lou and Murray swapping tasteless jokes about Chuckles’ demise to Ted’s on-air obituary: “I'd like to think that somewhere, up there tonight, in his honor, a choir of angels is sitting on whoopee cushions.”

All in the Family

“Sammy’s Visit” (1972)

When high profile stars visit a situation comedy, they tend to pull so much focus that the episode becomes more about them than the show’s regular characters. One of the great achievements of “Sammy’s Visit” is how it brings Sammy Davis. Jr. and the working class Bunkers together in a believable way, and then finds the right balance to distribute the content and the laughs equally. Kirk and Uhura may have shared TV’s first interracial kiss, but the one in this episode is much more memorable.  

The Bob Newhart Show

“Over the River and Through the Woods” (1975)

“More goo to go!”

It’s regrettable that drunk scenes have become yet another casualty of our enlightened age. Once they were to great comic actors what a hanging curve ball was to a .300 batter – a golden opportunity to hit one out of the park. That’s what happened when Bob Newhart, Bill Daily, Jack Riley and Peter Bonerz were handed a scene in which their characters get sloshed over Thanksgiving. They hit their rhythm early and for ten minutes set-ups and punch lines are served and volleyed with perfect timing and precision. When it all comes together like this, there’s nothing better. 

Fawlty Towers

“Gourmet Night” (1975)

I’m not sure if a British show should be eligible, but how can Fawlty Towers be left off any list of the funniest situation comedies? The question then becomes which of its 12 amazing episodes to select. “The Germans” might be the most obvious choice, with Basil’s constant references to the war he’s not supposed to mention, and that unforgettable long-limbed goosestep, but I’ve always been partial to “Gourmet Night.” It’s a classic farce that builds to a feverish climax in which Basil yells at and then beats up his car. The final line is perfect. 

The Odd Couple

“Password” (1972)

“Aristophanes…”

Oscar is invited to be a celebrity guest on Password, and self-proclaimed expert Felix, who owns two copies of the Password home game (one for his car) pleads to be picked as his partner. The results are predictably disastrous (and hilarious), and are made even more memorable by the range of reactions from guest stars Allen Ludden and Betty White. 

 Taxi

“Reverend Jim: A Space Odyssey” (1979)

“What…does…a…yellow…light…mean?”

When an episode is so funny that even the cast can’t contain their laughter, it deserves to be here. During the famous driving test scene, Christopher Lloyd and Jeff Conaway keep repeating the "What does a yellow light mean?" joke and it kills every time. By the third run-through, Marilu Henner and Tony Danza can clearly be seen laughing when their characters are supposed to be frustrated.

Laverne & Shirley

“Guinea Pigs” (1977)

The girls are invited to a fancy cocktail party but can’t afford the $20 admission. To earn the money they volunteer at the Institute for Behavioral Sciences – Shirley is only allowed to eat dirt as part of a nutrition study, while Laverne is deprived of sleep. They make it to the bash, and what follows is more than five minutes of non-stop laughs. Timeless episodes like this and “The Diner” are why, out of all the Garry Marshall ‘70s sitcoms, Laverne & Shirley has aged the most gracefully. 

Rhoda

“Rhoda’s Wedding” (1974)

This two-part episode would be memorable just for the milestone referenced in the title and the Mary Tyler Moore Show crossover cast appearances. But this is also the rare “event” show that is also among the best written of the entire series run. 

Green Acres

“The Case of the Hooterville Refund Fraud” (1970)

Green Acres just kept getting nuttier with each passing season, and yes, that’s a compliment. I could try to summarize the plot of “The Case of the Hooterville Refund Fraud” but it won’t do the episode justice: the town folk receive an unexpected (and undeserved) windfall and Mr. Haney convinces them to invest in monkey racing, in which little monkeys race around a track chasing after a wooden banana. Some things are better experienced than described.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

“Ted Baxter’s Famous Broadcasters School” (1975)

We started with this series so we’ll end here as well. The idea of Ted lending his name to a school of broadcasting is already funny; the fact it was a scheme floated by a con artist is even funnier, but the best part is when the WJM news team show up for the first class and find only one student in the room. On the short list of things that always make me laugh, there is Ted singing the school’s theme song, and Lou Grant’s Ralph Kramden-like reaction. 

Next: The 1980s

Christmas With the Hartleys: Celebrating the Season on The Bob Newhart Show

NOTE: This post is part of  A Very Merry MeTV Blogathon hosted by the Classic TV Blog Association. Click here to view the entire blogathon schedule.

The Bob Newhart Show is one of the few television series to feature a Christmas episode in every season.

I wish more shows had embraced the holidays that way, because for me Christmas shows were always special moments. Every year I looked forward to seeing familiar sets decked out in holiday finery, listening to the characters sing Christmas carols, and waiting for those little extras that you wouldn’t see in any other episode – like the Christmas wreath that appeared around the MTM Enterprises kitty logo. These are happy memories inextricably linked to my Christmases past.

So it’s wonderful to have not one but six Bob Newhart Christmas shows, which I have listed in countdown format based on personal preference, overall quality, holiday humor and Christmas-y feeling.  Don’t call it a worst-to-best list, as even the #6 episode has its moments and is better than much of today’s prime time fare.

#6:  “Making Up is the Thing to Do” (Season 5)

The holidays play a part in wrapping up this two-part story about an estrangement between Bob’s parents. 

Christmas-y Feeling: Marginal

This is the show’s only holiday episode in which Christmas seems like an afterthought, which is particularly regrettable because it originally aired on Christmas Day in 1976. However, do take a moment to appreciate the exceptional tinsel application technique on the Hartley tree.

Holiday Humor:

Bob: (on his plan to reunite his bickering parents on Christmas Eve) “The holidays have a way of bringing people closer together…they remind you of the ties that bind.”

Larry Bondurant: “Yeah. When did they separate?”

Bob: “Thanksgiving.”

Why it’s Worth Watching:

This is the best of Barnard Hughes’ three series appearances as Bob’s father.

#5: “Home is Where the Hurt Is” (Season 3)

Carol can’t face going home for the holidays, so she spends Christmas Eve relating her sad life story to Bob and Emily, just as they are getting ready to go to the symphony.

Christmas-y Feeling: Transformational

Early scenes show undecorated trees at the office and at Bob and Emily’s apartment. Later scenes show both trees covered in lights and ornaments, making for a memorable before-and-after effect.

Holiday Humor:

Bob: (explaining to Jerry why the office party was canceled) “It would just be you, me and Mr. Carlin.”

Jerry: “That’s not a party, that’s a wake.”

Why it’s Worth Watching

The Mr. Carlin scenes are the highlights, particularly the moment when he tells Bob how he always feels like everyone is laughing at him, setting up one of the show’s trademark elevator gags.

#4: His Busiest Season (Season 1)

Bob invites his group therapy participants to a holiday party. 

Christmas-y Feeling: Prominent

The Hartley residence looks especially festive this year, with a double-string of Christmas cards across the bookcases, a great tree and presents piled everywhere. The scene where Bob and Emily exchange gifts is heightened by a picturesque snowfall in the window behind them. All this, plus group sing-alongs of two Christmas carols, “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “Deck the Halls.”

Holiday Humor:

Emily: “What do you think I should buy your Uncle Harry and your Aunt May?”

Bob: “What did we send them last year?”

Emily: “A basket of fruit.”

Bob: “They should have eaten it by now.”

Why it’s Worth Watching

This is a quieter and subtler episode, as was typical of the show’s first season. At this point Howard Borden is merely eccentric, and not the absurd man-child he would become. I also liked the appearance of King Moody, who at the time was playing Ronald McDonald in some of my favorite Christmas commercials of that era. Does McDonald’s still have gift certificates? If they do, they’re probably not 50 cents each anymore.

#3: I’m Dreaming of a Slight Christmas (Season 2)

Bob is called back to the office on Christmas Eve by a panic-attacked  Mr. Peterson, then gets stranded when a blizzard strikes.

Christmas-y Feeling: Satisfactory

The episode opens with some brief glimpses of Chicago at Christmas, and I liked the Santa figure on the Hartley bookshelves. The office lobby went with a white tree this year, and I’ve never been a fan of those. 

Holiday Humor:

Bob: “Carol, what kind of coffee is that?”

Carol: “Irish.”

Bob: “Is it ok to drink from the water cooler?”

Carol: “Sure – if you like martinis.”

Why it’s Worth Watching

Having spent many Christmases in Chicago, I enjoyed the acknowledgement of how cold it gets, and how the weather can scuttle the best of holiday plans. This is the perfect wintery episode to watch with a cup of hot chocolate (marshmallows optional).

#2: ‘Twas the Pie Before Christmas (Season 6)

In retaliation for Bob raising his group therapy rates, Mr. Carlin hires an organization called Pie Incorporated, which specializes in hitting victims with a pie.

Christmas-y Feeling: Abundant

Christmas permeates almost every scene in this episode, with wonderful decorations and carols and many other sights and sounds of the occasion. Bob coming home with a lousy Christmas tree is a repeat gag from year two, but in the spirit of the season we’ll let that pass.

Holiday Humor:

Bob: (on his Charlie Brown-like tree) “I know it’s not as pretty as last year’s tree.”  

Emily: “I think it is last year’s tree.”

Why it’s Worth Watching

While the series’ last season is its most hit-and-miss, they pulled off a merry and mirthful final holiday episode. The running pie-in-the-face gag delivers not one but several payoffs, and the group therapy scenes are hilarious.

# 1: Bob Has to Have His Tonsils Out, So He Spends Christmas Eve in the Hospital (Season 4)

The title says it all: Bob is subjected to the indignities of peekaboo hospital gowns, Howard’s hospital horror stories, and an ancient nurse.

Christmas-y Feeling: Muted

This is the only Yuletide episode where we don’t see a tree in the Hartley apartment. But since Bob isn’t home for Christmas, that sense of missing out on the holidays is thematically appropriate.

Holiday Humor:

Howard: “I was just decorating my Christmas tree and I was wondering, is there a trick to stringing cranberry sauce?”

Why it’s Worth Watching:

This is one of the best episodes of the entire series, right up there with the classic Thanksgiving show (“More goo to go!”). There are laugh out loud moments in every scene, from the doctor’s diagnosis to a tree-trimming scene in Howard’s apartment. The dotty nurse who takes care of Bob (veteran character actress Merie Earle) gets a laugh with every line she utters, and sometimes when she’s just standing there.

To all of you who, like me, will be spending some of your holiday season with the classic Christmas shows airing on MeTV, Comfort TV wishes you a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.