by Steve Ivings
Republished by Permission
I feel I have to comment, as so many people have, about Bob Newhart. I am a student of comedy and, like so many people in the comedy biz, I have to acknowledge Newhart’s incredible uniqueness and creativity. Shelley Berman and others did the telephone routine but Newhart did it better. I got to interview him on the radio once when he was coming to Victoria and came on the Joe Easingwood show to promote it. Joe didn’t know that much about Bob so asked me to co-host with him. I asked Bob a few general questions but what I remember most was discussing the finale of the Newhart series which brought Susie Pleshette back to do the bedroom scene where Bob talks about his dream. Best series finale ever. The idea came from Bob’s wife Ginnie. On the air Bob took his time telling the story, (of course he did) and the 11:00 news got on at 11:02. There was panic in Joe’s eyes but I figured, hey, its Newhart, the news can wait. One other thought: there is an episode of the Bob Newhart show when he played Bob Hartley and he and his wife Emily, played by Susie Pleshette, go to a convention or something. Emily goes off to talk to people and when Bob finds her she’s all excited about this guy she met who has this amazing talent. He can, instantly, repeat your name backwards. Emily is Ylime. Next door neighbour Howard, who is there, is Drawoh. Then the guy says to Bob, “what’s your name?”. Newhart just stands there. The audience laughs their faces off. They have already got the bit but then he says, stammeringly, “B…bob”. And gets another huge laugh. They already got the joke but laughed again when Bob delivered the punchline. That is comedy gold. RIP Mr. Newhart. You were one of a kind.
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Bio courtesy of Gord Lansdell of Vancouver Broadcasters
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Steve Ivings – Stand-up comedian and MC; Part of CKWX morning team/ creative director CKWX/ CJAZ-FM/ CKKS-FM Vancouver 1986-92; CKDA Victoria 1994-95; morning host CFAX Victoria 1997-2002; freelance 2002-current; comedian /producer/ director/ writer Studio 60 Theatre Toronto 2011-current. LinkedIn profile |
