The Complete Second
Season includes all twenty-two episodes. This season features some
excellent guest stars including a couple of the actors from WKRP In Cincinnati, as well as Ruth
Gordon (who stars in my all-time favorite film, Harold And Maude). This was also the season that introduced the
character of Michael Harris (Peter Scolari). The reason I started watching Newhart when I was a kid was that I had
enjoyed Mork & Mindy and Bosom Buddies. So I’d begun watching it
for supporting cast members Tom Poston and Peter Scolari. But I got hooked on
it even as a kid. And I’m actually enjoying the show much more this time
around.
I love Bob Newhart’s casual, understated delivery. And I
like that the actions of one episode do have some bearing on other episodes.
It’s not like so many sitcoms (particularly of the time) where each episode is
a completely isolated event with no causal connections. And this season has one
of the best sitcom weddings I’ve seen (the final image is great, and it
includes Stephanie’s line “I’ve always
been a bride, never a bridesmaid”). The final episode of the season has a
reference to the Red Sox (two, if you include the mug in the background in one
shot), which I totally appreciate.
The second season opens with a two-part episode titled “It
Happened One Afternoon,” in which Dick pursues a book assignment writing a
biography of an actress (an actress who then flirts with him). Meanwhile,
Stephanie (a character who appeared in only one episode the previous season)
arrives, having ended her marriage with Carl. Joanna tells her, “Oh, Stephanie, I’m so sorry to hear that.”
Stephanie responds, “Yeah, so was Carl.”
There are lots of great lines, some of which, interestingly, do not get a laugh
from the studio audience - such as Dick: “All
I can be is myself.” His agent: “You
could be better at it.”
"Animal Attractions"
One of the best episodes is “Animal Attractions.” George
finds a dog, and two guests seem to be trying to sneak off without paying their
bill. Some of the humor comes from Dick having never had a dog. And the rest
comes from Julia Duffy’s excellent performance as Stephanie. Stephanie’s
husband shows up, and he’s much older than everyone assumed. George keeps the
dog, naming him Lucky, leading to one of the funniest lines. George says to
Stephanie, “If you’re ever feeling
lonely, you can always come up to my room and get Lucky.” What’s brilliant
is that he says it as he leaves upstage, and Stephanie is left standing there,
looking after him, her back to the camera, which actually works as a much
better reaction shot than if they’d gone for the normal close-up.
Another excellent episode is “Cats,” in which rich
newlyweds Ted and Tisha, two of Stephanie’s high school classmates, arrive at
the Inn. Tisha looks at Stephanie and tells her, “You haven’t changed a bit,” then asks her, “Why?” She’s absolutely horrid to Stephanie. Stephanie explains to
the Loudons that they were always rivals, and that Stephanie dated Ted in high
school. As always, there is some wonderful dialogue, such as this exchange...
Stephanie: “Trish,
you don’t have to feel sorry for me.”
Trisha: “But I want
to.”
Peter Scolari as
Michael Harris
“Book Beat” is the episode that introduces Michael Harris
(Peter Scolari). He is a producer of a local television program, Book Talk, which has Dick as a guest.
Michael asks Dick to be the show’s new host. Dick’s first program is one of the
funniest bits of the season. This episode is hilarious, due in large part to
Dick’s reactions, and because it includes the great phrase, “At the risk of sounding realistic.”
Michael Harris returns in “Vermont Today,” offering a new
show for Dick to host. Titled Vermont
Today, it’s a show to celebrate the state of Vermont. Dick is promised
cultural and important guests. His first guest is a small horse. Stephanie
meets Michael in this episode.
Guest Stars
Include Frank Bonner, Richard Sanders and Ruth Gordon
“Kirk Pops The Question” features Frank Bonner (Herb
Tarlek on WKRP) as a man suffering
from a fear of hotels and who of course needs a room. He suffers from a few
other phobias. Meanwhile Kirk asks Cindy (Rebecca York) to marry him. Richard
Stahl is excellent as the waiter having to deal with Kirk.
And then “Leave It To The Beavers” features Richard
Sanders (Les Nessman on WKRP) as Cecil,
a guest at the inn who has a make-believe wife, Evelyn. This episode actually
features another excellent guest star. Alan North (from Police Squad!) plays the president of the Beavers, a local club
that George invites Dick to join. This episode also has this bit of dialogue…
Dick: “You know, I
have half a mind to do that.”
George: “And I’ve
got the other half. Let’s go.”
But my favorite episode is “Go, Grandma, Go” because of
its guest star. Ruth Gordon (Harold And
Maude) stars as Blanche, Kirk’s grandmother. She missed Kirk’s wedding
because she met a man on the way to Vermont. Blanche asks Joanna how Kirk’s
wife is. Joanna tells her she’s wonderful, that she’ll like her. Blanche says:
“I know I will. And if I don’t, it won’t
matter ‘cause I live two thousand miles away.” Joanna offers her some
lunch. “Would you like anything special?”
Blanche responds, “Something special
would be fine.” Ruth Gordon makes every line work so well. She is
completely awesome, as always. Blanche lends Kirk her car so he and Cindy can
go on their honeymoon. But, like Maude in my favorite film, Blanche has a
penchant for stealing cars, which gets Kirk in trouble.
Newhart: The
Complete Second Season is scheduled to be released on February 11, 2014
through Shout! Factory. There are no special features.
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