I've often commented on how I feel about most of today's comics as opposed to comics from the 50's and 60's. A lot of comics today rely of expletives or disgusting scenarios to be funny. This isn’t to say they aren't funny, I still get a good laugh out of them, it just doesn’t show any real creativity. But I miss the days of comics like Bill Cosby, Bob Newhart or Shelley Berman who all had the gift of storytelling. They relied on simply being funny. The latter two also had a knack for the 'telephone conversation' sketches, which were amongst my favorite. I still have a Shelley Berman album full of skits where he plays one side of a telephone conversation. He tackles everything from calling a department store to tell them about a woman hanging out a window to talking to a friend the day after a party where he had WAY too much to drink. Anytime I can add an album, tape or DVD to my collection of comic routines from these guys I jump on it. This month, Fox is releasing the "Bob Newhart: Button Down Concert."

The concert features Newhart returning to his stage roots by performing some of the routines that made him famous. Taped in front of an audience in Pasadena, California, Newhart reminds us just what a comic genius he is. During the hour long show, Newhart reaches down into his old bag of tricks and treats the audience to 'King Kong and the New Security Guard', 'Abe Lincoln's P.R. Man', "The School for Rude Bus Drivers', 'The Tipsy Accountant's Retirement Party', and a slew of other great bits. His timing is every bit as good as it was 40 years ago and the routines are still hilarious.

Younger audiences who have grown up watching rapid fire comics spilling their guts about their homeys or MTV might not appreciate Newhart's dead pan approach, but their problem. Comedians like Newhart always targeted a much more intelligent and sophisticated audience, so as long as we exist, he'll get a laugh. The new DVD offers up a short featurette with Newhart and comedian Don Rickles talking about the 'good old days' of comedy. Like them, I wish they would return.

Extras: Featurette, Photo Gallery
Specifications: Full Frame, English Stereo
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: 9/12/2006
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website

We'll give Bob Newhart: The Button Down Concert a B.