The Late Great Bob Newhart

Bob Newhart has been part of the entertainment landscape nearly as long as I can remember. The Bob Newhart Show debuted when I was only eight years old. As I got older I learned of his comedy albums. When I was in my twenties I was a faithful viewer of his sitcom Newhart. Bob Newhart was one of those people who seemed to have always been around and it seemed as if he always would be. Sadly, he died yesterday morning, Thursday, July 18, at the age of 94.

Bob Newhart was born George Robert Newhart on September 5 1929 in Oak Park, Illinois. His father was also named "George," so he went by the diminutive of his middle name, "Bob," to avoid confusion with him. Growing up he was a huge fan of the Chicago Cubs, and in 1945 he even took part in the Cubs' victory parade when they won the National League pennant in 1945. He attended St. Catherine of Siena Grammar School in Oak Park, and then St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago. He graduated from Loyola University with a degree in business management. Following his graduation, he was drafted into the U.S. Army where he served as a clerk stateside. He attended Loyola University Chicago School of Law, but did not graduate. During this whole time he never thought about a career in entertainment.

Afterwards he worked as an accountant at U.S. Gypsum and later the Glidden Co. Bob Newhart decided he was not suited to being an accountant, and he later worked as a copywriter for Fred A. Niles, a Chicago based film and television producer. To pass the time he and a coworker would make prank calls, which would evolve into one-sided phone conversations on sometimes absurd topics. Bob Newhart and his friend eventually recorded some of these comedy routines and sold them to radio stations for $7.50 a week. In 1959 another friend in Chicago, Dan Sorkin, who was a disc jockey, introduced Bob Newhart to a Warner Bros. Records executive. He wound up signing a contract with Warner Bros. Records.

The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart proved to a success. It became the first comedy album to reach no. 1 on the Billboard album chart and the first to win the Grammy for Album of the Year. It would be followed six months later by The Button-Down Mind Strikes Back, which also proved to be a hit. In the Sixties Bob Newhart would record several more albums, including Behind the Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart, The Button-Down Mind on TV, Bob Newhart Faces Bob Newhart, The Windmills Are Weakening, and This is It!. He recorded one last comedy album, Button-Down Concert, which was released in 1997.

Bob Newhart's success with comedy records would lead to television appearances. In 1960 alone he appeared on Tonight Starring Jack Paar, The Ed Sullivan Show, Teh Garry Moore Show, and Playhouse Penthouse. He had his own variety show, The Bob Newhart Show, during the 1961-1962. With Carol Burnett and Caterina Valente, he was one of the stars of the variety show The Entertainers, which ran during the 1964-1965 season. During the Sixties he appeared on such variety shows, talk shows, and game shows as The Dinah Shore Show, Dateline, Here's Hollywood, What's My Line?, House Party, The Judy Garland Show, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Fractured Flickers, Password, The Jack Paar Program, The Celebrity Game, The Andy Williams Show, The Perry Como Show, The Hollywood Palace, The Dean Martin Show, Personality, The Jackie Gleason Show, Laugh-In, The Jackie Gleason Show, George Jessel's Here Come the Stars, Playboy After Dark, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, It's Your Bet, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, and The Jim Nabors Show. He guest starred on the shows The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, and Captain Nice. He appeared in the movies Hell is for Heroes (1962), Hot Millions (1968), On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970), and Catch-22 (1970).

In the Seventies Bob Newhart starred as Chicago psychologist Dr. Bob Hartley on The Bob Newhart Show. The show proved to be a hit and would persist in syndication for years. He guest starred on The Don Rickles Show and Insight. He appeared on such variety shows, talk shows, and game shows as The Don Knotts Show, The David Frost Show, The Carol Burnett Show, The Dick Cavett Show, The Vin Scully Show, The Dean Martin Show, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Merv Griffith Show, The Mike Douglas Show, and Tattletales. He appeared in the movies Cold Turkey (1971), Little Miss Marker (1980), and First Family (1980),. He ws the voice of Bernard in the Disney animated movie The Rescuers (1977).

Throughout the Eighties Bob Newhart played innkeeper Dick Loudon on the hit TV show Newhart. He guest starred on It's Gary Shandling's Show. He reprised the voice of Bernard in The Rescuers Down Under (1990). In the Nineties he starred as comic book artist  Bob McKay on the sitcom Bob. Later in the decade he starred on the short-lived sitcom George & Leo with Judd Hirsch. He reprised his role as Dr. Bob Hartley in an episode of Murphy Brown and played himself on an episode of The Simpsons. He appeared in the movie In & Out (1997).

In the Naughts he appeared in the movies Legally Blonde 2: Red White & Blonde (2003) and Elf  (2003). He guest starred on the shows ER, Committed, and Desperate Housewives. He appeared as Judson in TNT's series of The Librarian television movies. In the Teens he guest starred on the shows NCIS, Svengoolie, Hot in Cleveland, The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon. He reprised his role as Judson on the TV series The Librarians.

With his low-key humour I always thought Bob Newhart was one of the funniest comedians of all time. What is more, his humour translated well to television. Both the sitcom The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart were hits. It was perhaps because he never aspired to working in show business when he was growing up that in both his comedy routines and on his sitcoms he always came off as an ordinary, everyday guy. In Catch-22 he played the overly mediocre Major Major.  As great as Bob Newhart was at comedy, he could play other sorts of roles as well. He guest starred on three episodes of ER as a doctor developing macular degeneration. In Hell is for Heroes  he played a green combat solider. On NCIS he played Dr. Walter Magnus, the former Chief Medical Examiner before Dr. Donald Mallard took over. Bob Newhart was one of the greatest comics of all time and a fine actor. He will never be forgotten.

I Write Books

As many of my readers already know, I have written a few books. Of course, as many of you may also know, I am also not particularly good at promoting them. Here then are the books I have available. All of them are available in paperback and Kindle. Two of them are also available on audiobooks. With any luck, I will have another book out later this year, this one on Christmas in movies and television.

Television Rare and Well Done: Essays on the Medium: This is the oldest of my books. I will confess it requires some revision. I will also say upfront that it is essentially a collection of posts from this blog. Still, it should be of interest to those who love classic television.

That Was Halloween: This is my favourite of my books. It is a short volume that covers the history of Halloween, and then addresses some of its customs as well as Halloween in the media. It is not only available on Kindle but as an audiobook as well.

Country Comedies: The Rural Comedies of the Sixties: This is a short book on the rural sitcoms that aired on American television from the late Fifties to the late Sixties. It covers the beginning of the cycle of rural sitcoms and its end with the Rural Purge. It also has an appendix that covers rural-oriented variety shows. It is also available on Kindle and in audiobook.

Anyway, if you buy any of these I hope you enjoy them! And look for my Christmas book later this year.

Godspeed James Sikking

James Sikking, who played Lt. Howard Hunter on the classic television show Hill Street Blues, died on July 13 2024 at the age of 90. The cause was complications from dementia.

James Sikking was born on March 5 1934 in Los Angeles. He attended El Segundo High School and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He attended UCLA, where he earned a degree in theatre. He made his movie debut in an uncredited bit part in the movie Five Guns West in 1955.

In the Sixties he guest starred on the shows Assignment: Underwater; Perry Mason; General Hospital; Combat; Rawhide; The Outer Limits; The Loner; The F.B.I.; O.K. Crackerby!; The Long, Hot Summer; The Virginian; Honey West; My Favorite Martian; My Mother the Car; The Fugitive; 12 O' Clock High; Run for Your Life; The Invaders; Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.; Bonanza; Adam-12; The Survivors; Here Come the Brides; The Young Lawyers; Love, American Style; and Hogan's Heroes. The Strangler (1964), The Carpetbaggers (1964), Von Ryan's Express (1965), In Like Flint (1967), Point Blank (1967), Charro! (1969), and Daddy's Gone A-Hunting (1969).

In the Seventies James Sikking had a recurring role on the short-lived sitcom Turnabout. He guest starred on the shows The Bold Ones: The New Doctors; The Immortal; The Name of the Game; Night Gallery; Cade's County; Ironside; Longstreet; Mission: Impossible; The Bob Newhart Show; Banyon; The Doris Day Show; M*A*S*H; The Streets of San Francisco; The Mod Squad; Search; The Rookies; Mannix; Room 222; The F.B.I.; Cannon; Ellery Queen; Rich Man, Poor Man-Book II; Police Story; Little House on the Prairie; Delvecchio; Eight is Enough; The Feather and Father Gang; Man From Atlantis; Rafferty; Starsky & Hutch; The Bionic Woman; The Incredible Hulk; Operation  Petticoat; The Rockford Files; Lucan; Hawaii Five-O; Charlie's Angels; The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo; and Paris. He appeared in the movies Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971), The Night God Screamed (1971), The Magnificent Seven Ride! (1972), The New Centurions (1972), Scorpio (1973), Brother on the Run (1973), Capricorn One (1977), The Electric Horseman (1979), Ordinary People (1980),  and The Competition (1980).

In 1981 James Sikking began his stint as Lt. Howard Hunter on Hill Street Blues. He began his stint as Dr. David Howser, the father of the title character, on Doogie Howser M.D.In the Eighties he guest starred on L.A. Law, Who's the Boss?, CBS Summer Playhouse, Hunter, and Cop Rock.  Mr. Sikking appeared in the mini-series Dress Gray, Brotherhood of the Rose, and Around the World in 80 Days.  He appeared in the movies Outland (1981), The Star Chamber (1983), Up the Creek (1984), Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), Morons from Outer Space (1985), Soul Man (1986), and Narrow Magin (1990).

In the Nineties James Sikking continued to appear on Doogie Houser, M.D. He was a regular on Brooklyn South. He was the voice of General Gordon in the show Invasion America. He was a guest voice on the animated shows Duckman: Private Dick, Aaahh!!!  Real Monsters, Batman Beyond, and Rocket Power He appeared in the movies Final Approach (1991), The Pelican Brief (1993), and Dead Badge (1995).

In the Naughts he guest starred on the show Curb Your Enthusiasm. He appeared in the movies Fever Pitch (2004), Made of Honor (2008), and American Primitive (2009). In the Teens he guest starred on The Closer. He appeared in the movie Just an American (2012).

Chances are good that James Sikking will always be best remembered as Lt. Howard Hunter (who started the show as a sergeant), the at times politically incorrect police officer who thought civilization was in decline and tends to favour militaristic solutions, but none the less has a strong streak of compassion. He will also probably be remembered well as Dr. David Howser, Doogie Howser's level-headed, compassionate father. During his career James Sikking played a wide variety of characters. In Star Trek III: The Search for Spock he played the stuffy, arrogant commander of the Excelsior, Captain Styles. In Point Blank he played a mocking hired gun. In The Pelican Brief he payed F.B.I. director F. Denton Voyles, who investigates the Pelican Brief because it could possibly hurt the President. Throughout his career, James Sikking played many different roles and played all of them well.

Shannen Dohtery Passes On

Shannen Doherty, who starred on the shows Beverly Hills, 90120 and Charmed, as well as the movie Heathers (19/88), died yesterday, July 13 2024, at the age of 53. The cause was cancer. She had been first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015.

Shannen Doherty was born on April 12 1971 in Memphis, Tennessee. Her mother operated a beauty parlour. Her father was a financial advisor. She was only ten years old when she appeared in Pepsi commercial. It was about the same time that she made her television debut in a two-part episode the short-lived show Father Murphy. She made her movie debut as a voice in the animated movie The Secret of NIMH (1982). She appeared in the movie Night Shift (1982) the same year. She guest starred on the short-lived shows The Phoenix and Voyagers! before having a regular role on the final season of Little House of Prairie.  In the Eighties she had a regular role on the show Our House. She began her stint as Brenda on Beverly Hills, 90120 in 1990 Shannen Doherty appeared as Kathleen Kennedy in the mini-series Robert Kennedy and His Times. She guest starred on the shows Magnum, P.I.; Airwolf; Highway to Heaven; Still the Beaver; Outlaws; 21 Jump Street; and Life Goes On.. She appeared in the movies Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985), and Heathers (1988).

In the Nineties Shannen Doherty continued to appear on Beverly Hills, 90120. Later in the decade she began her stint on the TV series Charmed. She appeared in such TV movies as Jailbreakers, Gone in the Night, Sleeping with the Devil, and Satan's School for Girls. She appeared in the movies Mallrats (1995), Nowhere (1997), and Striking Poses (1998).

In the Naughts she continued to appear on Charmed. She also had regular roles on the shows North Shore and 90210. She was the lead voice on the animated series Mari/Kari. She guest starred on the shows Gary & Micke and Love, Inc. She appeared in the mini-series Category 7: The End of the World. She appeared in such TV movies as Another Day, The Rendering, and View of Terror. She appeared in the movies Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001) and Burning Palms (2010).

In the Teens she had a regular role on BH90120. She guest starred on the shows Suite 7, Rock in a Hard Place, Heathers, and Riverdale. she appeared in such TV movies as Blood Lake: Attack of the Killer Lampreys and All I Want for Christmas. She appeared in the movies Bukowski (2013), Back in the Day (2016), Bethany (2017) and Undateable John (2019). In the 2020s Shannen Doherty appeared in the movies Fortress (2021), Hot Seat (2012), and Darkness of Man (2024).

Beverly Hills, 90120 debuted when I was in my Twenties, so I never watched it, but I remember Shannen Dohtery well from Our House, Charmed, and the movie Heathers. She could play a wide variety of roles, often quite different from each other. She played Kris Witherspoon on Our House, the eldest daughter trying to adjust to live in California. On Charmed she played the eldest of the Haliwell sisters, who is also the most powerful witch of the three. In the movie Heathers she played Heather Duke, the opportunistic high schooler who takes over as her clique's leader following the death of Heather Chandler. Shanen Dohtery was a very talented actress, so it's little wonder she starred on multiple TV shows and in multiple TV movies.