This is a list of episodes for The Bob Newhart Show, which was originally broadcast on CBS from 1972 to 1978, spanning six seasons and 142 half-hour episodes.
Series overview
The first four seasons were released on DVD by 20th Century Fox, while seasons 5 and 6, along with The Bob Newhart Show: The Complete Series, have been released through Shout! Factory. Seasons 1–3 of the show were also made available for streaming and download in the digital format.
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | |||
| 1 | 24 | September 16, 1972 | March 10, 1973 | |
| 2 | 24 | September 15, 1973 | March 2, 1974 | |
| 3 | 24 | September 14, 1974 | March 8, 1975 | |
| 4 | 24 | September 13, 1975 | February 28, 1976 | |
| 5 | 24 | September 25, 1976 | March 19, 1977 | |
| 6 | 22 | September 24, 1977 | April 1, 1978 | |
Episodes
Season 1 (1972–73)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Fly the Unfriendly Skies" | Jay Sandrich | David Davis & Lorenzo Music | September 16, 1972 (1972-09-16) | 7251 |
| Bob brings Emily to his "fear of flying" therapy group to help her overcome her own fear of flying. Penny Marshall has a minor role in this episode as a stewardess. | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Tracy Grammar School, I'll Lick You Yet" | Jay Sandrich | Carl Gottlieb & George Yanok | September 23, 1972 (1972-09-23) | 7258 |
| Bob tries to impress Emily's students, who find his job boring. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Tennis, Emily?" | Alan Rafkin | David Davis & Lorenzo Music | September 30, 1972 (1972-09-30) | 7253 |
| Bob is worried when a handsome, womanizing tennis pro (Peter Brown) praises Emily's beauty. | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Mom, I L-L-Love You" | Alan Rafkin | Dick Clair & Jenna McMahon | October 7, 1972 (1972-10-07) | 7252 |
| Emily urges Bob to tell his mother (Martha Scott) that he loves her. | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Goodnight, Nancy" | Jay Sandrich | Susan Silver | October 21, 1972 (1972-10-21) | 7254 |
| Emily is unexpectedly jealous of Bob's old girlfriend Nancy (Penny Fuller). | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Come Live with Me" | Alan Rafkin | Jerry Mayer | October 28, 1972 (1972-10-28) | 7256 |
| Carol considers co-habitating with her boyfriend. | ||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Father Knows Worst" | Alan Rafkin | Tom Patchett & Jay Tarses | November 4, 1972 (1972-11-04) | 7255 |
| Howard is crushed when his son Howie prefers spending time with Jerry. | ||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Don't Go to Bed Mad" | Alan Rafkin | Gene Thompson | November 11, 1972 (1972-11-11) | 7262 |
| When the Hartleys have a fight, they resolve not to go to sleep until they've settled their differences. | ||||||
| 9 | 9 | "P.I.L.O.T." | Jay Sandrich | David Davis & Lorenzo Music | November 18, 1972 (1972-11-18) | 5536 |
| The Hartleys try to adopt a child and meet with a woman (Louise Lasser) from the adoption agency. (Note: This is the original unaired pilot of the show, with some scenes added or re-shot.) | ||||||
| 10 | 10 | "Anything Happen While I Was Gone?" | Jay Sandrich | Martin Cohan | November 25, 1972 (1972-11-25) | 7260 |
| Jerry announces his engagement to a woman he's only just met. | ||||||
| 11 | 11 | "I Want to Be Alone" | Alan Rafkin | Jerry Mayer | December 2, 1972 (1972-12-02) | 7261 |
| Bob goes to a hotel for a few days to get some time alone, leading Howard to fear that the Hartleys are breaking up. Bernie Kopell has a role in this episode as a philandering doctor. | ||||||
| 12 | 12 | "Bob and Emily and Howard and Carol and Jerry" | Peter Baldwin | Charlotte Brown | December 9, 1972 (1972-12-09) | 7263 |
| Howard and Carol start dating. Pat Morita has a minor role in this episode as a bartender. | ||||||
| 13 | 13 | "I Owe It All to You... But Not That Much" | Alan Rafkin | Martin Cohan | December 16, 1972 (1972-12-16) | 7257 |
| Jerry starts going to Bob for therapy, which hurts their ability to be friends. | ||||||
| 14 | 14 | "His Busiest Season" | Peter Baldwin | David Davis & Lorenzo Music | December 23, 1972 (1972-12-23) | 7268 |
| Bob invites his patients to a Christmas party at his apartment. | ||||||
| 15 | 15 | "Let's Get Away from It Almost" | Jay Sandrich | Tom Patchett & Jay Tarses | January 6, 1973 (1973-01-06) | 7265 |
| The Hartleys spend an unpleasant vacation at a ski lodge. | ||||||
| 16 | 16 | "The Crash of Twenty-Nine Years Old" | Alan Rafkin | Charlotte Brown | January 13, 1973 (1973-01-13) | 7269 |
| Depressed at turning twenty-nine, Carol decides to quit her job and do something new with her life. | ||||||
| 17 | 17 | "The Man with the Golden Wrist" | Alan Rafkin | Bill Idelson | January 20, 1973 (1973-01-20) | 7270 |
| Bob is too nervous to wear the expensive watch that Emily bought him. | ||||||
| 18 | 18 | "The Two Loves of Dr. Hartley" | George Tyne | Gene Thompson | January 27, 1973 (1973-01-27) | 7264 |
| One of Bob's patients (Emmaline Henry) falls in love with him. | ||||||
| 19 | 19 | "Not with My Sister You Don't" | Alan Rafkin | Frank Buxton | February 3, 1973 (1973-02-03) | 7266 |
| Howard is extremely protective of his visiting sister Debbie (Heather Menzies). | ||||||
| 20 | 20 | "A Home Is Not Necessarily a House" | Peter Baldwin | David Davis & Lorenzo Music | February 10, 1973 (1973-02-10) | 7271 |
| Bob and Emily consider moving out of their apartment and into a house. | ||||||
| 21 | 21 | "Emily, I'm Home... Emily?" | Rick Edelstein | Martin Cohan | February 17, 1973 (1973-02-17) | 7273 |
| Emily is rarely home for Bob after she finds a full-time job. | ||||||
| 22 | 22 | "You Can't Win 'Em All" | Jerry London | Bill Idelson | February 24, 1973 (1973-02-24) | 7272 |
| Bob becomes a local hero when his therapy helps a Chicago Cubs pitcher end a losing streak. | ||||||
| 23 | 23 | "Bum Voyage" | Martin Cohan | Austin & Irma Kalish | March 3, 1973 (1973-03-03) | 7274 |
| Bob is reluctant to go on an ocean voyage with Emily and abandon his therapy group. | ||||||
| 24 | 24 | "Who's Been Sleeping on My Couch?" | Alan Rafkin | Jerry Mayer | March 10, 1973 (1973-03-10) | 7275 |
| Jerry starts making a nuisance of himself while recovering from a bad breakup. | ||||||
Season 2 (1973–74)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 1 | "The Last TV Show" | Jay Sandrich | Charlotte Brown | September 15, 1973 (1973-09-15) | 7355 |
| At the prodding of his patients, Bob reluctantly accepts an offer to allow TV cameras into a group therapy session. | ||||||
| 26 | 2 | "Motel" | Jay Sandrich | Tom Patchett & Jay Tarses | September 22, 1973 (1973-09-22) | 7360 |
| Bob and Jerry go to a motel in Peoria so they can watch a football broadcast that's not available in Chicago. | ||||||
| 27 | 3 | "Backlash" | George Tyne | Susan Silver | September 29, 1973 (1973-09-29) | 7352 |
| The Hartleys have to cancel their planned vacation in Mexico because of Bob's back pain. | ||||||
| 28 | 4 | "Somebody Down Here Likes Me" | Jerry London | Peter Myerson | October 6, 1973 (1973-10-06) | 7357 |
| A Minister (John McMartin) decides to leave the Church because of Bob's advice, leaving Bob overcome with guilt. | ||||||
| 29 | 5 | "Emily in for Carol" | Alan Rafkin | Jerry Mayer | October 13, 1973 (1973-10-13) | 7356 |
| When Carol is on vacation, the other doctors on Bob's floor hire Emily as the new receptionist. | ||||||
| 30 | 6 | "Have You Met Miss Dietz?" | George Tyne | Bill Idelson | October 20, 1973 (1973-10-20) | 7353 |
| Howard and Jerry compete for the affections of an attractive recent divorcée (Mariette Hartley) | ||||||
| 31 | 7 | "Old Man Rivers" | Martin Cohan | Martin Cohan | October 27, 1973 (1973-10-27) | 7359 |
| Carol starts dating a much older man (Jeff Corey). | ||||||
| 32 | 8 | "Mister Emily Hartley" | Jerry London | Charlotte Brown | November 3, 1973 (1973-11-03) | 7363 |
| Bob feels humiliated when Emily turns out to have a higher I.Q. than he does and is invited to join a high-I.Q. group. | ||||||
| 33 | 9 | "Mutiny on the Hartley" | Peter Baldwin | Tom Patchett & Jay Tarses | November 10, 1973 (1973-11-10) | 7365 |
| Bob's patients revolt against him when he raises his hourly rates. | ||||||
| 34 | 10 | "I'm Okay, You're Okay, So What's Wrong?" | George Tyne | Earl Barret | November 17, 1973 (1973-11-17) | 7364 |
| Fearing that their marriage has lost its spark, Bob and Emily go to a marriage counselor (Katherine Helmond). | ||||||
| 35 | 11 | "Fit, Fat and Forty-One" | Peter Baldwin | Bill Idelson and Harvey Miller | November 24, 1973 (1973-11-24) | 7358 |
| Bob goes on a diet, determined to keep his resolution to lose weight before his forty-first birthday. | ||||||
| 36 | 12 | "Blues for Mr. Borden" | Jerry London | Tom Patchett & Jay Tarses | December 1, 1973 (1973-12-01) | 7366 |
| Howard's ex-wife is getting married again—and this time, she's marrying a pilot. | ||||||
| 37 | 13 | "My Wife Belongs to Daddy" | Jerry London | Jerry Mayer | December 8, 1973 (1973-12-08) | 7362 |
| A visit from Emily's parents (John Randolph and Ann Rutherford) has Bob feeling intimidated by his father-in-law. | ||||||
| 38 | 14 | "T.S. Elliot" | Peter Baldwin | Gerry Renert & Jeff Wilheim | December 15, 1973 (1973-12-15) | 7368 |
| Mr. Carlin goes on a date with Carol. | ||||||
| 39 | 15 | "I'm Dreaming of a Slight Christmas" | Peter Baldwin | Tom Patchett & Jay Tarses | December 22, 1973 (1973-12-22) | 7370 |
| Bob is trapped in his office on Christmas Eve. | ||||||
| 40 | 16 | "Oh, Brother" | Peter Baldwin | Martin Cohan | January 5, 1974 (1974-01-05) | 7367 |
| Jerry's brother (Raul Julia) starts stealing his patients. | ||||||
| 41 | 17 | "The Modernization of Emily" | Peter Baldwin | Charlotte Brown | January 12, 1974 (1974-01-12) | 7371 |
| Shaken after meeting a former student who's all grown up, Emily tries to recapture her youth with an embarrassing new wardrobe. | ||||||
| 42 | 18 | "The Jobless Corps" | Peter Baldwin | Tom Patchett & Jay Tarses | January 19, 1974 (1974-01-19) | 7374 |
| After Howard is laid off, he joins Bob's therapy group for unemployed people. | ||||||
| 43 | 19 | "Clink Shrink" | Peter Bonerz | Paul B. Lichtman and Howard Storm | January 26, 1974 (1974-01-26) | 7369 |
| Bob gets a suspiciously expensive gift from a client (Henry Winkler) who is an ex-convict. | ||||||
| 44 | 20 | "Mind Your Own Business" | Alan Rafkin | Tom Patchett & Jay Tarses | February 2, 1974 (1974-02-02) | 7351 |
| To help manage his money, Bob hires a business manager (Ron Rifkin) who puts him on a budget of $50 a week. | ||||||
| 45 | 21 | "A Love Story" | Peter Bonerz | Martin Cohan | February 9, 1974 (1974-02-09) | 7375 |
| Howard falls in love with Bob's sister Ellen (Pat Finley) even though she's engaged to another man. NOTE: First appearance of Ellen. | ||||||
| 46 | 22 | "By the Way... You're Fired" | Peter Baldwin | Barbara Gallagher & Sybil Adelman | February 16, 1974 (1974-02-16) | 7372 |
| Distracted by a new boyfriend, Carol neglects her duties at the office and is fired by Jerry for incompetence. | ||||||
| 47 | 23 | "Confessions of an Orthodontist" | Peter Baldwin | Tom Patchett & Jay Tarses | February 23, 1974 (1974-02-23) | 7376 |
| Bob temporarily takes over a practice for another psychologist (Roger Perry), including a ditzy secretary (Teri Garr). One of his first patients is Jerry, who confesses he's in love with Emily. | ||||||
| 48 | 24 | "A Matter of Principal" | Don Bustany | Arnie Kogen & Ray Jessel | March 2, 1974 (1974-03-02) | 7373 |
| Emily stands on her principles and defies an order to let an unqualified student skip a grade. | ||||||
Season 3 (1974–75)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49 | 1 | "Big Brother Is Watching" | Robert Moore | Charlotte Brown | September 14, 1974 (1974-09-14) | 4052 |
| Bob disapproves of the idea of his sister Ellen moving in with Howard. | ||||||
| 50 | 2 | "The Battle of the Groups" | Alan Rafkin | Tom Patchett & Jay Tarses | September 21, 1974 (1974-09-21) | 4051 |
| Bob unwisely brings two of his therapy groups together at a weekend retreat. | ||||||
| 51 | 3 | "The Great Rimpau Medical Arts Co-op Experiment" | George Tyne | Coleman Mitchell & Geoffrey Neigher | September 28, 1974 (1974-09-28) | 4056 |
| Jerry organizes all the doctors on his floor into a medical co-op arrangement. | ||||||
| 52 | 4 | "The Separation Story" | Peter Bonerz | Story by : Bob Garland Teleplay by : Tom Patchett & Jay Tarses | October 5, 1974 (1974-10-05) | 4054 |
| Emily moves out of the apartment and into a college dorm so she can study to get her Master's degree. | ||||||
| 53 | 5 | "Sorry, Wrong Mother" | Jay Sandrich | Charlotte Brown | October 12, 1974 (1974-10-12) | 4067 |
| Ellen tries to get Howard's son Howie (Moosie Drier) to like her. John Ritter plays a waiter at an ice cream shop. | ||||||
| 54 | 6 | "The Grey Flannel Shrink" | Peter Bonerz | Jerry Mayer | October 19, 1974 (1974-10-19) | 4064 |
| Bob accepts an offer to become the in-house therapist for a major corporation. | ||||||
| 55 | 7 | "Dr. Ryan's Express" | Alan Rafkin | Tom Patchett & Jay Tarses | October 26, 1974 (1974-10-26) | 4059 |
| When Carol is away again, Jerry hires an incompetent temp. | ||||||
| 56 | 8 | "Brutally Yours, Bob Hartley" | Alan Rafkin | John Rappaport | November 2, 1974 (1974-11-02) | 4062 |
| Bob vows to be completely honest with everyone, which soon leaves everyone hating him. | ||||||
| 57 | 9 | "Ship of Shrinks" | Alan Rafkin | Coleman Mitchell & Geoffrey Neigher | November 9, 1974 (1974-11-09) | 4066 |
| Because of an embarrassing article published under his byline, Bob has second thoughts about attending a psychology conference in Hawaii. | ||||||
| 58 | 10 | "Life Is a Hamburger" | George Tyne | Jerry Mayer | November 16, 1974 (1974-11-16) | 4068 |
| Carol announces her engagement to her weird poet boyfriend (Richard Schaal). | ||||||
| 59 | 11 | "An American Family" | Peter Bonerz | Charlotte Brown | November 23, 1974 (1974-11-23) | 4069 |
| Bob and Emily's Thanksgiving plans are threatened when Bob's mother gets into an argument with Emily's father. | ||||||
| 60 | 12 | "We Love You... Good-bye" | Peter Bonerz | Charlotte Brown | November 30, 1974 (1974-11-30) | 4061 |
| Emily's revelations about Bob's chauvinism get him kicked out of his own therapy group for women. | ||||||
| 61 | 13 | "Jerry Robinson Crusoe" | Alan Rafkin | Erik Tarloff | December 7, 1974 (1974-12-07) | 4055 |
| Jerry decides to leave everything behind and move to a South Seas island with his new girlfriend (Gail Strickland). | ||||||
| 62 | 14 | "Serve for Daylight" | Alan Rafkin | Jerry Mayer | December 14, 1974 (1974-12-14) | 4071 |
| Bob wants to win a tennis match but doesn't think his doubles partner, Emily, is good enough to win. | ||||||
| 63 | 15 | "Home Is Where the Hurt Is" | Alan Rafkin | Tom Patchett & Jay Tarses | December 21, 1974 (1974-12-21) | 4065 |
| The Hartleys have to spend Christmas Eve listening to Carol talk about her depressing family and personal relationships. | ||||||
| 64 | 16 | "Tobin's Back in Town" | Peter Bonerz | Michael Zinberg | January 4, 1975 (1975-01-04) | 4057 |
| Ellen's ex-fiancé (Fred Willard) tries to win her back from Howard. | ||||||
| 65 | 17 | "Think Smartly—Vote Hartley" | Bob Finkel | Coleman Mitchell & Geoffrey Neigher | January 11, 1975 (1975-01-11) | 4070 |
| Emily gets Bob to run for a spot on the school board. | ||||||
| 66 | 18 | "The Way We Weren't" | James Burrows | Roger Beatty | January 18, 1975 (1975-01-18) | 4063 |
| Emily finds out a secret about the girl Bob was dating before he met her. | ||||||
| 67 | 19 | "A Pound of Flesh" | Alan Rafkin | Jerry Mayer | January 25, 1975 (1975-01-25) | 4074 |
| Jerry is angry at Bob for refusing to lend him money. | ||||||
| 68 | 20 | "My Business Is Shrinking" | Alan Rafkin | Arnie Kogen & Ray Jessel | February 1, 1975 (1975-02-01) | 4053 |
| Bob himself joins a therapy group to get some help for his recent depression. | ||||||
| 69 | 21 | "The New Look" | Peter Bonerz | Gordon & Lynne Farr | February 8, 1975 (1975-02-08) | 4073 |
| Bob's routine is disrupted after Emily gets new furniture for the apartment. | ||||||
| 70 | 22 | "Bob Hits the Ceiling" | Jay Sandrich | Phil Davis | February 15, 1975 (1975-02-15) | 4072 |
| Bob reluctantly agrees to a therapy session to help Emily's friend (Cynthia Harris) with her marriage problems. | ||||||
| 71 | 23 | "Emily Hits the Ceiling" | James Burrows | Jerry Mayer | February 22, 1975 (1975-02-22) | 4075 |
| Emily talks Bob into being a counselor at the summer camp she's organizing. | ||||||
| 72 | 24 | "The Ceiling Hits Bob" | Alan Rafkin | Tom Patchett & Jay Tarses | March 8, 1975 (1975-03-08) | 4076 |
| Everything's collapsing around Bob: Howard and Ellen announce they're moving to New York, Carol announces she's looking for a new job, and the ceiling literally collapses in his office. | ||||||
Season 4 (1975–76)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 73 | 1 | "The Longest Good-bye" | James Burrows | Tom Patchett & Jay Tarses | September 13, 1975 (1975-09-13) | 5054 |
| Bob gets a visit from his old college buddy, the Peeper (Tom Poston). | ||||||
| 74 | 2 | "Here's Looking at You, Kid" | Peter Bonerz | Gordon & Lynne Farr | September 20, 1975 (1975-09-20) | 5052 |
| Howard decides it's time to propose to Ellen. | ||||||
| 75 | 3 | "Death of a Fruitman" | Peter Bonerz | Tom Patchett & Jay Tarses | September 27, 1975 (1975-09-27) | 5063 |
| One of Bob's patients dies after being crushed by a truckload of zucchini. This episode about a recurring character's unusual death aired one month before the famous Chuckles Bites the Dust episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. | ||||||
| 76 | 4 | "Change Is Gonna Do Me Good" | John Erman | Gordon & Lynne Farr | October 4, 1975 (1975-10-04) | 5058 |
| Emily and Bob decide to get out of their rut by taking on each other's household chores. | ||||||
| 77 | 5 | "The Heavyweights" | Bob Claver | Tom Patchett & Jay Tarses | October 11, 1975 (1975-10-11) | 5053 |
| Carol is stuck with one of Bob's overweight patients (Cliff Osmond) on a date. | ||||||
| 78 | 6 | "Carol's Wedding" | Michael Zinberg | Gordon & Lynne Farr | October 18, 1975 (1975-10-18) | 5060 |
| Carol marries Larry Bondurant (Will Mackenzie) despite knowing him for less than a day. | ||||||
| 79 | 7 | "Shrinks Across the Sea" | Bob Claver | Phil Doran & Douglas Arango | October 25, 1975 (1975-10-25) | 5061 |
| The Hartleys play host to a supercilious French psychologist (René Auberjonois). | ||||||
| 80 | 8 | "What's It All About, Albert?" | Michael Zinberg | Phil Davis | November 1, 1975 (1975-11-01) | 5059 |
| After realizing that he's not actually helping any of his patients, Bob goes to his old mentor (Keenan Wynn) for guidance. | ||||||
| 81 | 9 | "Who Is Mr. X?" | Peter Bonerz | Bruce Kane | November 8, 1975 (1975-11-08) | 5056 |
| In an interview with a vicious TV talk show host (Jennifer Warren) Bob lets it slip that one of his patients was a prominent politician. | ||||||
| 82 | 10 | "Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time" | Richard Kinon | Tom Patchett & Jay Tarses | November 15, 1975 (1975-11-15) | 5051 |
| In an episode framed as an homage to The Sting, Bob enters into an uncomfortable new partnership with an upscale psychologist. | ||||||
| 83 | 11 | "Over the River and Through the Woods" | James Burrows | Bruce Kane | November 22, 1975 (1975-11-22) | 5065 |
|
Bob spends a depressing Thanksgiving with Jerry, Howard and Mr. Carlin, getting drunk, watching football and ordering "Moo Goo Gai Pan." In 1997, TV Guide ranked this episode #9 on its list of the 100 Greatest Episodes. In 2009, it moved to #37. | ||||||
| 84 | 12 | "Fathers and Sons and Mothers" | James Burrows | Arnold Kane | November 29, 1975 (1975-11-29) | 5057 |
| Bob's mother (Martha Scott) comes to visit and won't leave him alone. | ||||||
| 85 | 13 | "The Article" | Michael Zinberg | Erik Tarloff | December 6, 1975 (1975-12-06) | 5062 |
| The doctors in Bob's building regret giving Ellen permission to write an article about them. | ||||||
| 86 | 14 | "A Matter of Vice-Principal" | Peter Bonerz | Gordon & Lynne Farr | December 13, 1975 (1975-12-13) | 5069 |
| Emily is promoted to Vice-Principal over another teacher who's been at the school longer. | ||||||
| 87 | 15 | "Bob Has to Have His Tonsils Out, So He Spends Christmas Eve in the Hospital" | James Burrows | Tom Patchett & Jay Tarses | December 20, 1975 (1975-12-20) | 5068 |
| Bob has to... well, the title pretty much says it all. | ||||||
| 88 | 16 | "No Sale" | Eddie Ryder | Michael Zinberg | January 3, 1976 (1976-01-03) | 5055 |
| Bob and Jerry invest in Carlin's real estate deal, but discover that it involves evicting an old man (Malcolm Atterbury). | ||||||
| 89 | 17 | "Carol at 6:01" | Peter Bonerz | Gordon & Lynne Farr | January 10, 1976 (1976-01-10) | 5066 |
| Carol finds that her new husband, Larry, is giving her more attention than she can handle. | ||||||
| 90 | 18 | "Warden Gordon Borden" | James Burrows | Gordon & Lynne Farr | January 17, 1976 (1976-01-17) | 5070 |
| Howard gets a visit from his brother Gordon Borden the Game Warden (William Redfield), who becomes his romantic rival for Ellen (Pat Finley). NOTE: Final appearance of Ellen. | ||||||
| 91 | 19 | "My Boy Guillermo" | Alan Myerson | Sy Rosen | January 24, 1976 (1976-01-24) | 5071 |
| Jerry's free-spirited ex-girlfriend Courtney (Gail Strickland) returns, offering to let him marry her and help raise her son. | ||||||
| 92 | 20 | "Duke of Dunk" | Peter Bonerz | Douglas Arango & Phil Doran | January 31, 1976 (1976-01-31) | 5072 |
| Bob tries to help a basketball star (Anthony Costello) become better at teamwork. | ||||||
| 93 | 21 | "Guaranteed Not to Shrink" | James Burrows | Sy Rosen | February 7, 1976 (1976-02-07) | 5067 |
| Carol decides to follow in Bob's footsteps and enrolls in a night school psychology course. | ||||||
| 94 | 22 | "Birth of a Salesman" | John C. Chulay | Sy Rosen | February 14, 1976 (1976-02-14) | 5074 |
| Bob teaches the art of assertiveness to Mr. Herd, whose first act after learning to stand up for himself is to bring a lawsuit against Bob. | ||||||
| 95 | 23 | "The Boy Next Door" | Peter Bonerz | Hugh Wilson | February 21, 1976 (1976-02-21) | 5073 |
| Howard gains custody of his son Howie (Moosie Drier) , but leaves most of the actual work of taking care of him to Bob and Emily. Bob hires a gorgeous young woman (Brooke Adams) as Howie's babysitter. | ||||||
| 96 | 24 | "Peeper Two" | Michael Zinberg | Tom Patchett & Jay Tarses | February 28, 1976 (1976-02-28) | 5075 |
| The Peeper (Tom Poston) returns to Chicago after being dumped by his wife, and Jerry shows him how to live life as a swinging bachelor. | ||||||
Season 5 (1976–77)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97 | 1 | "Enter Mrs. Peeper" | Michael Zinberg | Gordon & Lynne Farr | September 25, 1976 (1976-09-25) | 6066 |
| The Peeper returns yet again, this time with a new wife. | ||||||
| 98 | 2 | "Caged Fury" | Michael Zinberg | Gordon & Lynne Farr | October 2, 1976 (1976-10-02) | 6062 |
| Emily accidentally gets herself and Bob trapped in the basement storage locker while they're preparing for their Bicentennial party. | ||||||
| 99 | 3 | "Some of My Best Friends Are..." | James Burrows | Pat Jones & Donald Reiker | October 9, 1976 (1976-10-09) | 6054 |
| Bob has to handle the prejudice in his group when Mr. Plager (Howard Hesseman) comes out as gay. | ||||||
| 100 | 4 | "Still Crazy After All These Years" | Alan Myerson | Hugh Wilson | October 16, 1976 (1976-10-16) | 6061 |
| In The Bob Newhart Show's 100th episode, Howard sees a therapist (Leonard Stone) to cure himself of his dependency on Bob and Emily, but the cure turns him into an exact clone of his doctor. | ||||||
| 101 | 5 | "The Great Rent Strike" | John C. Chulay | David Lloyd | October 23, 1976 (1976-10-23) | 6059 |
| Slumlord Mr. Carlin takes over Bob and Emily's building, leading Bob to organize a rent strike. | ||||||
| 102 | 6 | "Et tu, Carol?" | Alan Myerson | Gary David Goldberg | October 30, 1976 (1976-10-30) | 6058 |
| Bob must find a new receptionist after Carol quits. | ||||||
| 103 | 7 | "Send This Boy to Camp" | Michael Zinberg | David Lloyd | November 6, 1976 (1976-11-06) | 6067 |
| Bob and Jerry volunteer to organize a camping trip for underprivileged children. | ||||||
| 104 | 8 | "A Crime Most Foul" | John C. Chulay | Sy Rosen | November 13, 1976 (1976-11-13) | 6064 |
| Everyone, including Emily, is a potential suspect after Bob's new tape recorder vanishes. | ||||||
| 105 | 9 | "The Slammer" | Michael Zinberg | Gordon & Lynne Farr | November 20, 1976 (1976-11-20) | 6070 |
| Bob and the Peeper visit the bar they used to go to in college, and get arrested when the bar is raided. | ||||||
| 106 | 10 | "Jerry's Retirement" | Alan Myerson | Hugh Wilson | November 27, 1976 (1976-11-27) | 6051 |
| When Jerry comes into a lot of money, he decides to quit his practice and do nothing for the rest of his life. | ||||||
| 107 | 11 | "Here's to You, Mrs. Robinson" | James Burrows | Gordon & Lynne Farr | December 4, 1976 (1976-12-04) | 6056 |
| The newly wealthy and retired Jerry goes on a quest to find his biological parents. | ||||||
| 108 | 12 | "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" | Peter Bonerz | Sy Rosen | December 11, 1976 (1976-12-11) | 6068 |
| Bob is stunned when his parents announce they're separating. John Holland guest stars as Brian McDermott, the new man in the life of Bob's mother (Martha Scott). | ||||||
| 109 | 13 | "Making Up Is the Thing to Do" | Harvey Medlinsky | Gordon & Lynne Farr | December 25, 1976 (1976-12-25) | 6072 |
| Bob invites his separated parents to Christmas dinner to try to get them back together. | ||||||
| 110 | 14 | "Love Is the Blindest" | Will Mackenzie | Gary David Goldberg | January 8, 1977 (1977-01-08) | 6063 |
| Mr. Carlin tries to impress his attractive new secretary the only way he knows how: lying. | ||||||
| 111 | 15 | "The Ironwood Experience" | Peter Bonerz | Phil Davis | January 15, 1977 (1977-01-15) | 6065 |
| Bob gives a lecture at the Ironwood Interpersonal Relationships at the invitation of its director (Max Showalter), but is surprised when his entire audience shows up naked. | ||||||
| 112 | 16 | "Of Mice and Men" | Peter Bonerz | Bruce Kane | January 22, 1977 (1977-01-22) | 6053 |
| Emily plays the wife in a role-playing game with Bob's group of henpecked men. | ||||||
| 113 | 17 | "Halls of Hartley" | James Burrows | Michael Zinberg | January 29, 1977 (1977-01-29) | 6055 |
| Bob considers leaving the city and taking a position at a college in the sticks. | ||||||
| 114 | 18 | "The Heartbreak Kid" | Dick Martin | Sy Rosen | February 5, 1977 (1977-02-05) | 6052 |
| A psychology student (Tovah Feldshuh) gets a crush on Bob while interning with him. | ||||||
| 115 | 19 | "Death Be My Destiny" | Michael Zinberg | Sy Rosen | February 12, 1977 (1977-02-12) | 6073 |
|
After a near-death experience, Bob becomes obsessed with the fact of his own mortality. In 1997, TV Guide ranked this episode #50 on its list of the 100 Greatest Episodes. | ||||||
| 116 | 20 | "Taxation Without Celebration" | Peter Bonerz | Sy Rosen | February 19, 1977 (1977-02-19) | 6060 |
| Bob has to choose between celebrating his wedding anniversary and doing his taxes on time. | ||||||
| 117 | 21 | "Desperate Sessions" | Dick Martin | Michael Zinberg & Michael Davidson | February 26, 1977 (1977-02-26) | 6071 |
| A bank robber (Robert Pine) takes Bob as a hostage. | ||||||
| 118 | 22 | "The Mentor" | Michael Zinberg | Gary David Goldberg | March 5, 1977 (1977-03-05) | 6069 |
| On Bob's advice, Carol's husband Larry opens up a travel agency—in Bob's building. | ||||||
| 119 | 23 | "Shrinking Violence" | Peter Bonerz | Sy Rosen | March 12, 1977 (1977-03-12) | 6074 |
| Emily has trouble expressing anger against an obnoxious mechanic (Robert Ridgely), so Bob tries to show her how it's done. | ||||||
| 120 | 24 | "You're Having My Hartley" | Peter Bonerz | Gordon & Lynne Farr | March 19, 1977 (1977-03-19) | 6075 |
|
Bob dreams that both Carol and Emily are pregnant. Note: This script was originally written as the series finale. When Newhart decided to return for one more season and didn't want to play a father, the episode was rewritten into a dream sequence. | ||||||
Season 6 (1977–78)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 121 | 1 | "Bob's Change of Life" | Peter Bonerz | Glen Charles & Les Charles | September 24, 1977 (1977-09-24) | 7051 |
| Bob and Emily move to a new apartment. | ||||||
| 122 | 2 | "Ex-Con Job" | Michael Zinberg | Ziggy Steinberg | October 1, 1977 (1977-10-01) | 7056 |
| Bob leads a new therapy group for ex-convicts. | ||||||
| 123 | 3 | "A Jackie Story" | Michael Zinberg | Lloyd Garver | October 8, 1977 (1977-10-08) | 7053 |
| Jerry is worried that he's not good enough for his girlfriend, while Bob treats a ventriloquist who thinks his dummy is real. | ||||||
| 124 | 4 | "Who Was That Masked Man?" | Dick Martin | Glen Charles & Les Charles | October 15, 1977 (1977-10-15) | 7058 |
| After Mr. Peterson's wife kicks him out, he bonds with Mr. Carlin. | ||||||
| 125 | 5 | "Carlin's New Suit" | Dick Martin | Andrew Smith | October 22, 1977 (1977-10-22) | 7061 |
| A single mother (Loni Anderson) brings a false paternity suit against Mr. Carlin, who goes along with it because he likes her son (Sparky Marcus). | ||||||
| 126 | 6 | "A Day in the Life" | Dick Martin | Kathy Donnell & Madelyn Dimaggio Wagner | October 29, 1977 (1977-10-29) | 7054 |
| Bob wants to go to New Orleans for a week, but first has to pacify all his patients in only one day. | ||||||
| 127 | 7 | "My Son the Comedian" | Dick Martin | David Lloyd | November 12, 1977 (1977-11-12) | 7059 |
| Howard's son (Moosie Drier) announces that he wants to drop out of school and become a stand-up comic. | ||||||
| 128 | 8 | "You're Fired, Mr. Chips" | Peter Bonerz | Lloyd Garver | November 19, 1977 (1977-11-19) | 7063 |
| Bob hires his former professor (Ralph Bellamy) to help with his practice, and soon has to fire the old man. | ||||||
| 129 | 9 | "Shallow Throat" | Dick Martin | Earl Pomerantz | November 26, 1977 (1977-11-26) | 7064 |
| Bob faces the issue of doctor/patient confidentiality when a patient confesses to a robbery. | ||||||
| 130 | 10 | "A Girl in Her Twenties" | Peter Bonerz | Laura Levine | December 3, 1977 (1977-12-03) | 7055 |
|
While Bob is away, Emily meets an old neighbor (Mildred Natwick) who has never adjusted to the modern world. Note: First of five episodes this season which were shot without Newhart, who appears only in pre-recorded sequences on the telephone. | ||||||
| 131 | 11 | "Grand Delusion" | Dick Martin | Lloyd Garver | December 17, 1977 (1977-12-17) | 7067 |
| Bob and Emily both imagine what life would be like if they were married to other people. Episode features Morgan Fairchild in what is possibly her first TV guest appearance. | ||||||
| 132 | 12 | "'Twas the Pie Before Christmas" | Dick Martin | Phil Davis | December 24, 1977 (1977-12-24) | 7057 |
| Bob's patients once again boycott him over a rate increase, this time just before his Christmas party. | ||||||
| 133 | 13 | "Freudian Ship" | Peter Bonerz | Earl Pomerantz | January 7, 1978 (1978-01-07) | 7069 |
| Bob goes on a cruise with Emily to get away from work, but can't resist practicing a little psychology for free. | ||||||
| 134 | 14 | "Grizzly Emily" | Peter Bonerz | Laura Levine | January 14, 1978 (1978-01-14) | 7062 |
|
On a camping trip, Emily is annoyed by the sexist attitudes of Bob's father. Note: Second of five episodes in this season shot without Newhart. | ||||||
| 135 | 15 | "Son of Ex-Con Job" | Michael Zinberg | Emily Purdum Marshall | January 21, 1978 (1978-01-21) | 7070 |
| Bob's ex-con patients decide to start their own business. | ||||||
| 136 | 16 | "Group on a Hot Tin Roof" | Michael Zinberg | Andrew Smith | January 28, 1978 (1978-01-28) | 7068 |
| Mr. Plager writes a play based on his experiences in Bob's group. | ||||||
| 137 | 17 | "Emily Carlin, Emily Carlin" | Peter Bonerz | Laura Levine | February 4, 1978 (1978-02-04) | 7065 |
|
Mr. Carlin asks Emily to pretend to be his wife at his high school reunion. Note: Third of five episodes shot this season without Newhart. | ||||||
| 138 | 18 | "Easy for You to Say" | Dick Martin | Andrew Smith | February 11, 1978 (1978-02-11) | 7071 |
| Bob helps a man get over his stuttering problem. | ||||||
| 139 | 19 | "It Didn't Happen One Night" | Dick Martin | Laura Levine | February 18, 1978 (1978-02-18) | 7073 |
|
While Bob is away, his friends suspect Emily is up to something with a handsome old flame (David Hedison). Note: Fourth of five episodes shot this season without Newhart. | ||||||
| 140 | 20 | "Carol Ankles for Indie-Prod" | Mark Tinker | Lloyd Garver | March 4, 1978 (1978-03-04) | 7072 |
| Carol accepts an offer to become Mr. Carlin's new assistant. | ||||||
| 141 | 21 | "Crisis in Education" | Peter Bonerz | Earl Pomerantz | March 11, 1978 (1978-03-11) | 7074 |
|
The principal of Emily's school leaves town, leaving her to deal with irate parents. Note: This is the fifth and final episode that was shot this season without Newhart. | ||||||
| 142 | 22 | "Happy Trails to You" | Michael Zinberg and Peter Bonerz | Glen Charles & Les Charles and Lloyd Garver | April 1, 1978 (1978-04-01) | 7075 |
| In the series finale, Bob and Emily prepare to leave Chicago for a teaching job at a college in Oregon. | ||||||
References
- "The Bob Newhart Show on DVD, Release Info, News at TVShowsOnDVD.com". TV Shows on DVD. Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
- "The Bob Newhart Show: Season Five". Shout! Factory. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
- "The Bob Newhart Show: The Final Season". Shout! Factory. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
- "The Bob Newhart Show: The Complete Series". Shout! Factory. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
- "The Bob Newhart Show – Amazon Video". amazon.com. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
- ^ "Special Collector's Issue (100 Greatest Episodes of All Time". TV Guide (June 28–July 4). 1997.
- "TV Guide's Top 100 Episodes". Rev/Views. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
- "The Classic Sitcoms Guide". Classicsitcoms.com. Retrieved 2010-12-27.
- ^ "The Classic Sitcoms Guide, Bob Newhart, Season 6". Classicsitcoms.com. Retrieved 2010-12-27.