What about Bob?
Posted on February 26th, 2008 – 11:21 AMBy Randy A. Salas
Today brings the release of the first season of the ’80s sitcom Newhart on DVD, but what has happened to the other classic Bob Newhart show on disc? It’s not only fans of the big ’70s hit The Bob Newhart Show who are asking that question but also its star, Bob Newhart, whom I talked to Monday.
Bob Newhart stars with the late, great Suzanne Pleshette on “The Bob Newhart Show.”
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Four seasons of The Bob Newhart Show have been released to date on DVD. But it has been a year and a half since Season 4 came out, and there are still two seasons left. Apparently, Newhart is coming out now because online retailer Amazon told Fox Home Entertainment of all the requests it had received for the ’80s show. But while he’s happy that Newhart has been released, a frustrated Bob Newhart said he doesn’t want Fox to forget about his previous show.
“I assumed Fox was going to put out all six years of The Bob Newhart Show and then put out Newhart,” he said by phone from his home in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Ironically, he added, it’s his understanding that Amazon also has urged Fox to release Seasons 5 and 6 of the older show, too.
“The fifth and sixth seasons of The Bob Newhart Show are in limbo as far as I am concerned, as far as Fox’s attitude toward them,” Bob said. “I think Fox has an obligation to put something out and not quit after the fourth year.”
He said he feels bad for fans, many of whom have contacted him through his website to ask what’s up.
“I think it hurts because people don’t want to start collecting if they’re not sure they’re going to have the whole collection,” he said, adding with a laugh: “There were eight years of Newhart. Now, how many they are going to put out, I don’t know.”
Fox, which did not respond to a request for a status report on The Bob Newhart Show on DVD, has an odd history with classic sitcoms on DVD. The Mary Tyler Moore Show was put on hold after its high-priced first season flopped, then started up again and now is back on hold. WKRP in Cincinnati, whose first season sold more than 100,000 copies last time I asked for stats from an industry tracker, infamously had much of its integral music cut due to licensing issues. And Bob reminded me that Fox put out a barebones first-season set of The Bob Newhart Show without even his knowledge. Once he found out, he insisted on recording commentary and other extras for Seasons 2-4. By the way, he has done no extras for Seasons 5 and 6, an indication of how firmly in limbo they are. He added that Fox stipulates at least a six-month window between releases, so he hopes to hear in June or July about future plans for either of his shows on DVD.
As far as what Bob is up to, he said now that the Hollywood writers’ strike is over, he’ll be returning to do his third The Librarian made-for-TV film and a few Hallmark telemovies. He also plans to do 10 to 12 stand-up comedy concert appearances this year and is on the verge of doing an unnamed film project that’s set to film in New Zealand. I asked him if he was going to play the lead role in The Hobbit, which prompted a laugh and lots of jokes about how The Lord of the Rings has spawned an entire film industry in New Zealand, including his production. “Yeah, I think they got a good price on the rental,” he said with a laugh.
Coming Sunday: Twin Cities native Julia Duffy, who played stuck-up maid Stephanie on Newhart, discusses her work on the ’80s sitcom in the A&E section of the newspaper and at www.startribune.com/tv online.
23 Responses to "What about Bob?"
Fox strikes again. They’re dropping the ball here and also with Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. That show ran 4 seasons and Fox has stopped at 3. To date, repeated emails to Fox have gotten nothing but “no release is scheduled at this time.”
This is like Columbia House all over again.
I agree that the practice of releasing only half or less of a series’ run is annoying for fans, but if sales aren’t there for early seasons, should we really expect companies to release product even if the demand doesn’t justify it?
The worst case of this practice? For me, that four seasons of SCTV remain unreleased. And what about the last couple years of Cheers?
It seems to me, as collector of sitcom sets, Fox and all the companies are guilty of overcharging on TV sitcom sets … period. Their sales are affected strongly by customers seeing a new set of their favourite [ English spelling, folks ] show being made available at the $40 - $60 range … and then a half year later the same sets are “on” at Walmart, etc for $14.99 a season. Personally, I now pull up on the reins and wait till prices drop after initial releases.
The reality is simply that Fox and others should put out ALL their season box sets at a “fair” price of approx. $20 or less on release … then customer resistance will drop like a rock, sales will rocket for all tv sets, and collectors can be happy.
Not only are we all waiting for Bob’s shows to be completely released … I can think of many other glaring examples of the same … HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL seasons 1 - 3 are still waiting for their buddies of 4 - 6 to be released … sadly the market prices of approx. $40 - $50 for the first three are still the norm.
Wake up Studios!!! Customers will buy if you will just price-treat us fairly!!
Oh, and by the way Fox, etc … cut the bull … make deals with the actors and get those extras on disk … we love them!!! Bob isn’t going to be around forever and it would be nice to have stuff on disk that is more personal … he’s been a buddy to many people for many years …
Best,
Charles
[…] Today’s Technobabble has an interview with Bob Newhart. […]
You go, Bob! Maybe if Fox hears it from one of the stars (THE star, in his case), they’ll get off their hinders and do something. Mr. Newhart, can you put a good word in for Mary Tyler Moore too?
However, I know that it’s all about the bottom line (DVD sales) for Fox, and like it or not, we have to accept that this is a business and often art takes a backseat. I wonder if they can sell off the MTM library to Shout! Factory or some other oldies-phile company if they feel it is not profitable to them. Shout! does a good job usually with old and obscure series. Didn’t they also put out a Freaks and Geeks box set WITH all the original music? Maybe they could do a proper WKRP then!
I agree with Bob Newhart 100%. This is not the first time they have done this sort of thing A few seasons of All in the family was put out and then they put out the first season of Archie Bunker’s Place which now has been in limbo for some time now and now it’s been over a year since All in the family season 6 came out , Is it too in the land of limbo?. If this is going to be the New Tend in Dvd tv boxsets might I suggest only putting out shows that only had one season that way if you lose money your are not out much and you are not going to disappoint loyal fans of shows !
Thanks for this great interview and some knowledge into why they ended up wanting to release Newhart when the shows run was much longer than the Bob Newhart Show. i did run out and Buy NEWHART I have so far watched the first episode and thought the writing was solid, great fun and I URGE all Bob Newhart Show fans and Newhart fans alike to go out and buy this great DVD release of Newhart. Maybe we can get the two remaining seasons of The Bob Newhart show and the Final 3 Seasons of Mary Tyler Moore show released. They are all great classic shows with top notch writing and I realize today most are more interested in reality shows etc but these are great shows that deserve more respect and timely releases from FOX.
The suits at FOX I think are more interested in releasing teen hit shows and they really don’t know what they have to offer in classic TV. I have a few points on this. First is notice how they release another MTM produced show like Hill Street Blues then they say well sales arent’ great for the classic cop show that was groundbreaking at the time. Flash forward they decide to release the First season of Picket Fences.. another highly regarded cop show but my thinking is well I can’t see Picket outselling Hill Street Blues or vice/versa for that matter, yet they won’t finsih what they start and go into another season of a new show and then drop it.
Second point and those in the MN area should note. in the Best Buy advertisement this week they have in the circular and ad for The Bob Newhart Show Season 1 for $29.99 and everone automatically know well they meant NEWHART Season 1. Yet the kicker is Best Buy is NOT responsible for what is placed in the ad and or pricing. That is up to each studio i.e. Fox saw the pic ok’s it weeks to months ago and said yep looks good stamp of approval and end of story. My point being is that FOX doesn’t care that much and just think it is a petty release and moves on.
I am right there with Bob when he said… Newhart ran this many seasons How many will we see?
What you fail to realize is that many of these studios that put out a couple years worth of shows and then stop are sacrificing their long-term success for for short-term loss prevention. I mean why should anyone start buying a dvd’s in the first place if they’re not going to complete the set? As far as FOX is concerned. I’m not buying another new sitcom from them until all of the volumes are out, ala the Brady Bunch, MASH, etc.
I agree with the person above who said they were less likely to buy a series that isn’t completely out. We’ve been burned too many times with 1/2 a series.
But with sitcoms I’m less concerned. I’ll buy what is out. Especially something as good as Newhart. Thanks so much for this interview. Great stuff!
BTW…for some reason I couldn’t DIGG your site so I had to dig a post I did to link back to your site. I don’t want anyone to miss your post.
Thanks again.
I have been burned by FOX before, (as well as other dvd companies as well)& do not trust them at all!! I will not buy ANY tv show on dvd from anyone until ALL seasons have been released….I’m now stuck with only first seasons of Night Court,227,Different Strokes. just to name a few.If I enjoy a show,I want everything!
FOX is holding MTM hostage! Here’s some of the greatest shows ever made, with a combined 50 seasons, and we’ve gotten just 15 seasons’ worth on DVD: The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Bob Newhart Show, The White Shadow, Lou Grant, WKRP, Hill Street Blues, St. Elsewhere, Newhart, Rhoda. Plus enjoyable but short-lived wonders like Doc, Phyllis, Tony Randall Show, Betty White Show, Paris, Bay City Blues, Duck Factory, Beverly Hills Buntz and New WKRP in Cincinnati. Ridiculous!
I agree with your comments.
White Shadow seasons 1 and 2 came out within 6 months of each other.
On the season 2 DVD, they promoed a new documentary about the show that would be on the season 3 DVD (the final season).
That was almost 2 years ago.
I’m still waiting Fox.
Like everybody else, I am still anxiously waiting for the release of the 2 last Bob Newhart and the 3 last Mary Tyler Moore. Along with Newhart, which is my all time favorite, these 2 shows beat the crap of ANY series realized since then. We need to keep pestering Fox until they do it, sooner than later.
It is self-defeating to proclaim that you won’t buy any volumes until a whole series is released. That attitude almost assures that it won’t happen! Each potential season release is assessed by the studios according to the sales results from the previous season. If it doesn’t make economic sense to them, it won’t happen.
As for me, I enjoy watching what I DO have. I don’t need to know that “Season 8″ is coming out to enable me to enjoy seasons 1 thru 7! Frankly, I am already far behind in my TV DVD viewing. I certainly don’t have enough time to fret over future releases!
an article on tvshows on dvd.com(an excellent site by the way) had mentioned that one of the studios was looking into selling their libraries for download. all of you studios, get off your butts and get this practice going so the loyal fans of your shows can aquire everything that they want(AND DESERVE)
FOX has a terrible history of DVD releases and rarely completes releasing entire seasons of classic shows.
Picket Fences, stopped after 1 season.
WKRP, stopped after 1 season
Hill Street Blues, stopped after 2 seasons
NYPD Blue, stopped after 4 seasons
This company just sticks it to the consumer.
I am in agreement with everyone that FOX is dropping the ball yet-again. I love The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show, WKRP and Rhoda among others, and I must be the only person buying them, as I have all that is released on DVD, and I WILL buy any other seasons put out. So it’s expensive to put out extras, so don’t put them in. I personally love them, but if the extras make the DVD so high in price, I will do without them. I just think FOX should just follow through with the incomplete seasons of the ones started. THEN if there are any shows that have not made it to DVD yet (ala Rhoda), just do a nice single “BEST OF” release with great extras, ala Here’s Lucy best-of with Desi Jr. and Lucy Arnez.
I know the feeling well that is spoken of here. Too many times companies overprice and expect extravagant sales, don’t get and forget about the series. The only two releases I want (sliders season 4, finally coming) and season 3 Hardy Boys(1970″s -I’m waiting Universal) make me in the minority since I have almost every season of shows I love. I feel for those who really want to complete their collections. I don’t know why studios can’t at least make downloads available of ALL their series- how expensive could that be?
peace.
Either you wear rose-colored glasses, or you work for the studios. By the way, I think it’s more self-defeating for the studios to release shows in the manner they are doing than it is for the consumers to withhold their purchases until all seasons from a show are released. Until they start getting their act in gear I will be content to rent dvd’s from an online rental company because I am not a sucker for dvd packaging.
As Star Trek fans proved back in the 1960’s, writing to the powers-that-be works. FoxDrop@4icc.com is the email address to write Fox about series we want to see on DVD. You may get a curt “no release date” reply, but they don’t know how many of us are out here waiting for the last installments of the series we’re collecting unless we stand up and let them know. I am also waiting for season four of “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea,” and have been for several months.
I’m a huge fan of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” and would do just about anything to get Season 5 out. I just bought Bob Newhart Season 4 (I used to love that show, too!). I’ve fallen in love all over again, and I def. plan to buy the rest and help support the series. Fox is just being stupid here. If they don’t want to release it, why not sell it to someone who will? There’s got to be SOMEBODY out there who can do a better job!
Great article. I recently started watch The Bob Newhart Show for the first time and have become hooked on it. I’ve almost seen all the episodes. I will definitely write to FOX and request they release the last 2 seasons on DVD. Maybe they will listen to the public if they get bombarded with emails. This is such a great show and it would be a shame, for those of us who have never seen the show before, not to have the DVD’s available for our viewing pleasure.
I agree with everyone on this issue. So many great shows being put on hold , mostly because of slumping sales, so they claim. I’m sure Fox has the money to release these long awaited seasons & without replacing music as well, but just doesn’t want to spend it. You have to spend it to make it ! I wondered about the last two seasons of Bob Newhart show as well & why. Green Acres from MGM/Sony is another problem.
