Bob Newhart, legendary comedian, dead at 94
Bob Newhart, legendary comedian, dead at 94
Bob Newhart, whose stammering, deadpan unflappability carried him to stardom as a standup comedian and later in television and movies, has died. He was 94.
Jaysus. It's been a rough couple of weeks for Hollywood.
I used to love watching his Newhart show. Was the first time I'd ever seen William Sanderson, who was and always will be one of the best comedic actors ever (see E.B. Farnum on Deadwood).
Completely ignoring that, just his role on Elf alone has had a huge impact on kids for generations now.
Sloan
People don't remember it anymore, but Bob used to do standup. Most of it was one-sided conversations. The driving instructor routine was the most famous, but I like the opener to that same album (The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart) about ad execs trying to punch up Lincoln's Gettysburg Address before he gives the speech more-
shakes his cane
I remember!
Wait, what were we talking about again?
https://youtu.be/ZgdUWXf8jJk?si=hnwDV0rvBLwgTxid
I think Newhart, his second sitcom, was the OG meta, 4th wall break for a scripted show to to hit TV. Funny as hell. So much so that Bryan Cranston riffed it after breaking bad with the wife from Malcom in the middle:
https://youtu.be/oVdB36lmbII?si=fgaxy6M-IV4MRDAA
Bob really was a legend.
Papa Elf! Nooo
Oh, um...although, you know I-I started my career several years before, uh, Bob, so you know, I could never really learn anything directly from him...uh, still, I think in a way, in a very meaningful way, that I....uh....uh, all of us, have, uh, have learned from him. You know, that is, by....being a man on television for....for....for so many years, even, even though many of us, we, we didn't, we didn't watch his show. Th-thank you.
Bob Newhart, everybody!
Just discovered (and am now watching) that Judd Apatow made a 20 minute documentary on the friendship between Don Rickles and Bob Newhart- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3cs7PyXPsU
This is my brother Darryl, and my other brother Darryl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yyB06HvAjI
dude was something else, I remember being a little boy and laughing so much my mother came into the room to see what was on. then she looks at me and smiles "what is so funny to you? thats an old folks show?"
I always found his humor and I am glad he lived a long and fruitful life.
My favorite Bob Newhart comedy skit:
For those wondering, it was from an episode of MadTV, which was pretty uneven, but had some really good sketches like this one.
There are very very few entertainers that have ever choked me up, but damn Richard Simmons and Newhart are definitely on that list. Rest well.
I'm sad he's gone, but I can't be too sad because he lived a good, long, happy and very successful life, with a loving marriage, great friends, and terrific kids.
May we all be so lucky to have a life like his.
i have bob on vinyl... i just dont have words for this passing
Bob told this story.
It was the first time he ever met Richard Pryor. Pryor told him that the first thing he'd ever stolen was Bob's album "The Button Down Mind..."
Aw. Sad to hear. How is Darrel doing?
Larry, his bother Daryl, and his other brother Daryl are all alive and well, though they’ve each retired in the last five years. Larry’s 80, his brothers are both in their 70’s.
Which Darryl?
Apes, and ape's toes.
i will always remember his phone converstations...what a performer...RIP
Use a coin then, Willie.
Damn, I was just thinking about his show from the 80s (this is my brother Daryl, this is my other brother Daryl) less than a week ago. It was the first time I had thought about him or that show in decades and it was totally random. Everybody stay clear of my brain waves.