I’ve always enjoyed the work of Bob Newhart. Even growing up I used to listen to his comedy albums. I think what I liked the best about his style was that it was clean. Unlike most comics working today, who have throw expletives around in order to get laugh, guys like Newhart (or Shelley Berman, or Bill Cosby) had a more anecdotal method of tickling our funny bone. They would tell stories or act out situations on stage that were actually humorous. We weren’t shocked into laughter, we laughed because it was funny. Needless to say, my love of Bob Newhart’s dry sense of humor made me a fan of all of his TV shows, starting of with “The Bob Newhart Show”, then “Newhart”, then… just “Bob.” Of course, those of you who might remember these shows, probably also remember the final episode on “Newhart”, which had the distinction of having one of the funniest and most memorable final scenes of any sitcom in TV history.

I think it’s safe to mention it here, because it would be hard to consider it a spoiler after so many years. In the series “Newhart”, he played Dick Louden, the owner of a small Vermont Inn. In that very last scene, Newhart wakes up in the exact bedroom set from the earlier “The Bob Newhart Show” (where he played psychiatrist Bob Hartley), lying next to Suzanne Pleshette (who played his wife) and he says he just had the strangest dream…

Anyhow, I’m completely off the track. I’m actually here to talk a little about the DVD set for the 4th season “The Bob Newhart Show.” Newhart made the early transition to TV and turned in a bona fide hit. The series ran from 1972 – 1978 and featured Newhart as Dr Robert Hartley, a successful Chicago psychiatrist. The show mainly took place around his office, where dealt with his wise-cracking receptionist Carol (Marcia Wallace) as well as a veritable cornucopia of patients. He also had the ‘good’ fortune of having a best friend in Howard Borden (Bill Daily) who was not really the sharpest of tacks, and would cause him no end of headaches. Fortunately, he could always count on spending a nice evening at home with his lovely wife Emily (Pleshette)… as long as Howard didn’t show up to eat all their food.

“The Bob Newhart Show” was a perfect example of how good a comedy series could be if it took the time to deliver smartly written comedy. The banter between the characters was always very was always sharp, and watching Newhart try to match wits with those around him, when everyone around him suffers from a lower score on the I.Q. scale, was always a treat. I think in some ways I identified with his quick, often misunderstood comments, because I generally spend my days around those who aren’t quite as bright and creative as I am. This is not meant to be a high and mighty statement on my part, just a statement of fact considering I live in Texas, where the population has the collective intelligence of topsoil. I make little sarcastic remarks all the time, and usually the people they are directed at don’t get it. I love it…

The 4th season of “The Bob Newhart Show” continued the focus on his therapy group, which really began to take shape in the 2nd season. Most notably we were treated to the comic genius that is Jack Riley. He played Mr. Carlin, on of Hartley’s most neurotic characters. Carlin became so popular that he ended up as a recurring character in over half the episodes produced for the series.

When Fox released the 1st season set of "The Bob Newhart Show", there were no special features at all. I love special features, especially for shows that I loved so much. The 2nd season set made up for it by including some commentaries and a short 'Making of' featurette. They followed with 5 commentaries in the 3rd season set. And now with the 4th season set, we are treated to another 5 commentaries. The only problem is that they are not listed anywhere. You have to work through the disc to find them. I went ahead and listed them below to help you out. All of the commentaries make for a great listen.

Additionally, Fox included a featurette where Bob Newhart talks at length about some of his favorite sequences, and in some cases what they did to make them work. But the best featurette is a 5 minute blooper reel.

I consider “The Bob Newhart Show” to be a landmark series in many ways. It was one of the great comedy series of the 70’s, featured a bright and funny cast and some of the most sharply written scripts of the time. The comedy featured here is timeless, even if the home furnishings and clothes are severely dated.

Episodes:
The Longest Good-Bye (Commentary by Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, Director James Burrows and Tom Poston)
Here's Looking at You Kid
Death of a Fruitman
Change is Gonna Do Me Good
The Heavyweights
Carol's Wedding
Shrinks Across the Sea
What's it All About, Albert?
Who is Mr. X? (Commentary by Bob Newhart and Marcia Wallace)
Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time
Over the River and Through the Woods (Commentary by Bob Newhart, Jack Riley and Director James Burrows)
Fathers and Sons and Mothers
The Article
A Matter of Vice-Principal
Bob Has to Have His Tonsils Out, So He Spends Christmas Eve in the Hospital
No Sale
Carol at 6:01
Warden Gordon Borden
My Boy Guillermo (Commentary by Bob Newhart, Marcia Wallace and Writer Sy Rosen)
Duke of Dunk
Guaranteed Not to Shrink (Commentary by Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, Marcia Wallace and Director James Burrows)
Birth of a Salesman
The Boy Next Door
Peeper-Two

Starring: Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, Bill Daly, Peter Bonerz
Extras: Audio Commentary on Selected Episodes, A Second Family Featurette, Gag Reel
Specifications: Full Screen
Studio: Fox
Release Date: 9/5/2006
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website

We'll give Bob Newhart: Season 4 a B.