| Newhart - The Complete First Season | 
 enlarge | Directors: Jim Buck, John Tracy (ii), Ellen Falcon, Peter Scolari, Lee Shallat Chemel
Actors: Steven Kampmann, Rebecca York, Cliff Bemis, Todd Susman, Linda Carlson
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Category: DVD
List Price: $39.98
Buy New: $23.66
You Save: $16.32 (41%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  76 reviews
Sales Rank: 3923
Format: Box Set, Color, Dvd-video, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Running Time: 546 minutes
Number Of Items: 3
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.4 x 0.7
MPN: FOXD2249909D
UPC: 024543499091
EAN: 0024543499091
ASIN: B000YKYT1M
Release Date: February 26, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 02/26/2008 Run time: 660 minutes Rating: Nr
Amazon.com
Looking for the perfect getaway? Check in to 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 Inn. Your jolly and congenial hosts are well known author Dick Loudon and his wife, Joanna." It'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). It 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. It just needed a little tinkering. Kirk (Second City veteran Steven Kampmann), owner of the neighboring cafe, 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," "I haven't got $80," 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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| Customer Reviews: Read 71 more reviews...
 Still funny January 7, 2009
My husband and I used to watch this series faithfully back when it originally ran in the 1980s. We made a special effort to watch it each week and thought it was great. I was a bit nervous about viewing it again since often things aren't as funny as you remember and you end up being disappointed. That is definitely not the case with "Newhart". Not only do my husband and I still think the show is hilarious, my 14-year-old daughter who wasn't even alive back then, thinks it's great and wants to watch each episode with us. In fact, she is the one that wants to watch this between school and starting her homewwork as her break-time. What an endorsement !
The series utlizes Bob Newhart's talent to the fullest. He can be about the funniest person alive by doing absolutely nothing but standing totally still and blinking rapidly. The supporting cast gives him wonderful characters to play off of and Tom Poston is histerical as George. This is clean fun that gets its laughs through creativity and good writing -- much different that those today that depend on crude body noises for a laugh.
I am just incredibly disappointed that only the first season is on DVD --- where's the rest ???
Buy it or rent it, but just sit down with Newhart !
Newhart - The Complete First Season January 6, 2009
I forgot how funny Bob Newhart was in this series from years ago. And all the funny characters in the cast. Great fun to watch.
 Not as Good as It Will Get October 13, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
When you look back to a series you remember fondly from a few years ago, you remember mostly the last seasons. In 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 I 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 I watched these shows, I 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.
It's been too long a wait! September 19, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Oh 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. I loved Newhart when it was still in reruns, and I've never understood why shows like this don't stay on TV in rerun longer. Tom Poston (now deceased) was great, Bob is SO 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 I don't like Kirk, but otherwise a great show. When can I get season 2?
We Want More September 18, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This easily has to be one of the best television series ever produced. I was thrilled when season one came out and have devoured it from beginning to end. We want season two and we want it NOW!
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