Bob: I'm Getting Re-Married in the Morning

This episode features Cynthia Stevenson as Bob's daughter Tricia. She has a plan to throw her parents a surprise second wedding for their 25th anniversary--but realizes it's time and isn't ready. She really goes berserk in the episode--it's hilarious. At one point, they are in a convenience store when a stick-up happens--she grabs the gun and throws it out the door, then yells at them to get back in the car. Stevenson went on to her own series, "Hope and Glory", and has been working on various shows since. There's also a number of references on how to best reach the Wisconsin Dells (The Kennedy Expressway or the Old Milwaukee Road)--an argument I've heard from my wife and in-laws. There's a scene where hungry wedding guests begin cutting off pieces of wedding cake from the bottom, leaving each of them with a disk of cake in their hands. 

The Complete Series DVD is available on Amazon.

Bob: The Man Who Killed Mad Dog

From Newhart's early 90's TV series "Bob" (see my previous entries). I had expected to do more entries on this, but I wan't as impressed with the series as I remembered it. 

This episode references the infamous Senate hearings on the comic book industry, which came out of a hysteria generated by psychologist/flim-flam man Dr. Fredric Wertham and his book "Seduction of the Innocent". Comic books were almost made illegal (Wertham was convinced they were destroying America's youth). They were only saved when the comic industry implemented "The Comics Code Authority"--you can hear more about it in Episode 140 of the How I got My Wife to Read Comics podcast. Bob was traumatized by his run in with his version of the Senate hearings--he shows films of the event, with Bob in glasses, a wig and goatee. He has a chance run-in with his accuser who's now an old man yet manages to bamboozle Bob again.

The Complete Series DVD is available on Amazon.

Bob: Drawing a Blank

From Newhart's early 90's TV series "Bob" (see my recent entry)--

The second episode of the series really establishes Bob's new comic book partner and antagonist Harlan Stone, plated by John Cygan. Harlan is essentially playing Todd McFarlane who led the charge for "grim and gritty" comics in the 90's.  He's an egomaniac and bi-polar at the same time.  I'm surprised Cygan never went on to bigger things (he's doing voice work for Pixar, Warner, and video games now).

The episode spends most of it's time in their office as they try to hammer out the first issue of the new "Mad-Dog" comic. They run into writer's block and come up with various excuses to avoid working, including repairing an air conditioner. At one point, Bob has to literally talk Harlan off the ledge of the building. In the end, they are forced to improvise a story when Bob's wife and daughter arrive to see how things are going.

The Complete Series DVD is available on Amazon.

Bob!

I've always loved the work of Bob Newhart. A missed gem is the appropriately named "Bob" series (1992-93), and the Complete Series DVD finally came out late last year.

Bob plays a greeting card artist who once published comic book "Mad-Dog", and gets a chance to do it again. It's actually a critique of the comic book industry of the 90's, when heroes were turned into gritty vigilantes, and sales were at their zenith with gimmicky covers and "events" such as the "Death of Superman". Of course, it's also a Newhart series, with Bob trying to relate to bizarre characters. 

I think it's interesting that almost none of his supporting cast (at least for the first season) went onto bigger things. I really thought Cynthia Stevenson (who played his daughter) was a revelation and would make it big, but despite starring vehicle "Hope and Gloria" and steady work since then, never became a household name.

Bob's classic bit is the "telephone call", where Bob relates both side of the call in his halting manner. This is updated as a speakerphone call from the unseen "Mr. Terhorst" character, played by Michael Cumpsty.  He's the CEO of the AmCanTranConComCo corporation that owns the comic book company, and apparently has time to personally OK all creative decisions.

Industry legends Jack Kirby, Bob Kane, and Sergio Aragones have cameos on the series.  

The show never got great ratings, and the second season reversed the whole point of the show--the comic was cancelled, and he went back to greeting cards and a mostly new cast including Jere Burns and veteran Betty White.

I'll cover a few key episodes in future entries. The Complete Series DVD is available on Amazon.