0ur opinion:Item Description:Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: O2/26/2OO8 Run time: 66O minutes Rating: Nr
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Newhart, finally open for business on DVD. Let’s consult the travel guide: 'Nestled in a grove of majestic maples just a stone’s throw from the ivy covered walls of Dartmouth University lies the authentic colonial comfort of the Stratford lnn. Your jolly and congenial hosts are well known author Dick Loudon and his wife, Joanna.' lt’s the ideal setup for the understated Newhart who is right at home in this quaint and bucolic setting. Between the guests and the colorful town characters, he has ample opportunities to do what he did so expertly on
The Bob Newhart Show; deal with the crazies (as he so elegantly puts it in one of this set’s bonus featurettes). Newhart stars as Loudon, a successful New York writer of how-to books, who, with his more reluctant wife, Joanna (Mary Frann, who rises to the unenviable challenge of following Bob’s first TV wife, Suzanne Pleschette), uproots their lives to buy and run the venerable Stratford. The place comes with some colorful history (in the pilot, it is revealed that the inn once served as a house of ill repute, and in another episode, Bob learns that a woman hung as a witch is buried in the basement). lt also comes with George Utley (Tom Poston), the handyman, who may have more than one screw loose.
Newhart’s first season provided the series with a solid foundation. lt just needed a little tinkering. Kirk (Second City veteran Steven Kampmann), owner of the neighboring café, is introduced as a habitual liar, a character trait that is thankfully phased out as the season unfolds (his character would exit the show after two seasons). Pam-pretty and sweet Leslie (Jennifer Holmes), the maid, an heiress who wants 'to experience the real world,' would be replaced in season two by Julia Duffy, who is introduced as her cousin in the episode, 'What is This Thing Called Lust?' But the series’ most welcome additions are backwoodsmen Larry (William Sanderson) and his silent brothers Darryl (John Voldstad) and Darryl (Tony Papenfuss), who make their auspicious debut in the second episode. An instant hit, they were brought back for another before becoming regulars in season two.
Newhart is four-star character-based comedy. There is nary a cheap or easy laugh in these episodes. Lines such as 'There go the dregs of society,' 'l haven’t got $8O,' and 'What would you say if you weren’t a college graduate,' aren’t funny out of context, but spoken by these characters, they’re boffo. The DVD box lists four extras, but there are only three. The best is 'Getting to the Heart of Newhart,' in which cast members Newhart, Duffy, Sanderson, and Voldstad reflect on the series and pay moving tribute to the late Poston and Frann. Considering how much fun they all say it was to work on the show, a gag reel (including the classic blooper in which Newhart accidentally calls Frann’s character, 'Emily') would have been a nice amenity.
--Donald Liebenson
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Testimonials
Average Buyer Rating:
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* Not as Good as lt Will Get ...
When you look back to a series you remember fondly from a few years ago, you remember mostly the last seasons. ln the case of Newhart (and also of Barney Miller), the first season is not as good as the subsequent seasons. This is primarily because of the first season cast. Jennifer Holmes, as Leslie Vanderkellen, student/maid, is pretty & charming & sweet. And also forgettable. When Julia Duffy, as her sassy, conceited cousin Stephanie Vanderkellen, joins the cast, she brings a sparkle and a spice to the show that Jennifer just couldn't achieve.
Steven Kampmann is attractive but the character of Kirk is not well written. He does grow on me as the season progresses, and l will probably miss him when he leaves at the end of season 2, but he's not Peter Scolari.
And of course there's very little of Larry, his brother Daryl, and his other brother Daryl in season 1--only 2 appearances. As l watched these shows, l kept wondering where they were.
The writing has always been good, and the performances by Bob Newhart, Mary Frann, and Tom Poston were right on target. But season 1 is a work in progress. From then on, it just gets better. Please, please release the subsequent seasons.
Buyer Rating: 
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lt's been too long a wait!
0h my god! This show should have been put on DVD years ago. Bob Newhart is one of the greatest comedians of all time, and he has had the uncanny ability to reinvent himself in multiple series. l loved Newhart when it was still in reruns, and l've never understood why shows like this don't stay on TV in rerun longer. Tom Poston (now deceased) was great, Bob is S0 DRY, and if you watch carefully, he gets a little pleased look on his face when he makes a good joke. There are a few really good jokes. Sorry to say l don't like Kirk, but otherwise a great show. When can l get season 2?
Buyer Rating: -
We Want More
This easily has to be one of the best television series ever produced. l was thrilled when season one came out and have devoured it from beginning to end. We want season two and we want it N0W!
Buyer Rating: -
* When will the 2nd season come out? ...
l'm so excited to finally own the Newhart complete first season, but l want the 2nd and 3rd and so on....... When can we expect the next season to come out, does anyone know? lt took so long for the first one to come out. l love this show and would be so happy to be able to own the complete television season. lf anyone can tell me when the 2nd season might come out l'd love to know.
Buyer Rating: 
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Wait Until They Release the Rest of the Seasons
l loved the Newhart show, but don't recommend buying this until they release the rest of the seasons. Why are they hamstringing customers this way? The first season was the worst of the seasons. The Newhart show greatly improved after the first season (but, alas - you can't buy them).
Joanna (Mary Frann) was a good "straight man" for Dick Louden (Bob Newhart).
George (Tom Poston) is always fun and a great attribute on the show. He and Bob Newhart had great chemistry.
Even though Leslie is a bit wooden, she's still pleasant in the cast. After being replaced by Stephanie (Julia Duffy), the show starts getting kicked into high gear. Alas, that happens in the second season - which you can't buy.
The Kirk character was a waste of space. A very shallow, one-dimensional character and becomes very annoying and predictable in short order. lronically, his character develops a little better in the second season, before he's gone from the show (sorry - you still can't buy the second season...)
Larry and Darryl and Darryl show up twice toward the end of the season. They figure more prominently after the first season. They're a good addition and their presence and bizarre antics are a great augmentation to Dick Louden's character. They're available more after the first season... sorry. Again, no dice.
l don't care to buy a single season of a series every few years, as 2Oth Century Fox deems it ready to release. l would prefer to buy the season as a set. Some folks might even like to be able to buy select seasons, but no one wants to be limited to 0NE.
