Parents' Guide to

The Bob Newhart Show

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Clean-cut classic comedy still pleases decades later.

TV Online Comedy 1972
The Bob Newhart Show Poster Image

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Newhart's celebrated comic genius shines in this timeless character as he delivers zingers with his trademark deadpan facade amid the flurry of activity that often surrounds him onscreen. Between balancing his work and home life, coming to the aid of his hapless friend Howard time and again, and filling the needs of his parade of patients, Bob's life is a recipe for comical misadventures. And while he never seems to recognize the humor in them as they're happening, you certainly will.

The Bob Newhart Show is a sitcom from another era, when sex didn't sell and jokes didn't need shock value to garner laughs. You'll see reflections of its place in history in subtle ways -- Emily portrays a new generation of working wives, which brings certain challenges to a marriage; Carol embodies the single, working woman with options in life and love; and some episodes touch on issues becoming more widely accepted in the '70s, including homosexuality and divorce. Even so, despite the time lapse, the situations are still relatable today, and age hasn't tarnished the show's superb casting and sharp writing that so aptly plays to each character's strengths.

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