Newhart

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American television sitcom (1982–1990)

title: "Newhart" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1980s-american-sitcoms", "1980s-american-workplace-comedy-television-series", "1982-american-television-series-debuts", "1990-american-television-series-endings", "1990s-american-sitcoms", "1990s-american-workplace-comedy-television-series", "american-english-language-television-shows", "cbs-sitcoms", "television-series-about-marriage", "television-series-about-television", "television-series-by-mtm-enterprises", "television-series-set-in-hotels", "television-shows-about-dreams", "television-shows-set-in-vermont"] description: "American television sitcom (1982–1990)" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newhart" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American television sitcom (1982–1990) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox television"]

FieldValue
imageNewhart (title card).png
runtime24 minutes
creatorBarry Kemp
developerSheldon Bull
starringBob Newhart
Mary Frann
Jennifer Holmes
Julia Duffy
Tom Poston
Steven Kampmann
Peter Scolari
William Sanderson
Tony Papenfuss
John Voldstad
theme_music_composerHenry Mancini
composerNelson Riddle
companyMTM Enterprises
20th Television
languageEnglish
countryUnited States
networkCBS
executive_producerBarry Kemp
Mark Egan
Mark Solomon
Dan Wilcox
Douglas Wyman
David Mirkin
producerSheldon Bull
first_aired
last_aired
num_seasons8
list_episodesList of Newhart episodes
num_episodes184
::

::callout[type=note] the 1982–1990 television series ::

| image = Newhart (title card).png | runtime = 24 minutes | creator = Barry Kemp | developer = Sheldon Bull | starring = Bob Newhart Mary Frann Jennifer Holmes Julia Duffy Tom Poston Steven Kampmann Peter Scolari William Sanderson Tony Papenfuss John Voldstad | theme_music_composer = Henry Mancini | composer = Nelson Riddle | company = MTM Enterprises 20th Television | language = English | country = United States | network = CBS | executive_producer = Barry Kemp Mark Egan Mark Solomon Dan Wilcox Douglas Wyman David Mirkin | producer = Sheldon Bull | first_aired = | last_aired = | num_seasons = 8 | list_episodes = List of Newhart episodes | num_episodes = 184 | related =

Newhart is an American television sitcom that aired on CBS from October 25, 1982, to May 21, 1990, with a total of 184 half-hour episodes spanning eight seasons. The series stars Bob Newhart and Mary Frann as an author and his wife, respectively, who own and operate the Stratford Inn in rural Vermont. The small town is home to many eccentric characters. TV Guide, TV Land, and A&E named the Newhart series finale as one of the most memorable in television history. The theme music for Newhart was composed by Henry Mancini.

Premise

Bob Newhart plays Dick Loudon, an author of do-it-yourself and travel books. He and his wife Joanna move from New York City to a small town in rural Vermont to operate the 200-year-old Stratford Inn.

Dick and Joanna initially run the inn with the help of sweet-natured but simple handyman George Utley and Leslie Vanderkellen, a bright, cheerful Dartmouth College student and heiress who takes a job as a maid to find out what it is like to be "normal". Next door to the inn is the Minuteman Café, owned by Kirk Devane, a petty opportunist and compulsive liar. Leslie leaves before season two to continue her studies abroad, to be replaced by her cousin Stephanie, who, unlike Leslie, is vain, lazy, and spoiled. Awkward, uncultured backwoodsman brothers Larry, Darryl and Darryl are seen with increasing frequency as work-for-hire odd-job men in the first two seasons, and take over the Minuteman Cafe when Kirk leaves at the start of season 3.

Near the end of season two, Dick becomes the host of a local television show, Vermont Today, where he interviews an assortment of bizarre and colorful guests. His vapid, neurotic producer, Michael Harris, falls in love with Stephanie, their relationship providing a satire of 1980s excess.

The final episode of the series reveals that the entire series was a dream of Dr. Robert Hartley, Newhart's character in The Bob Newhart Show.

Cast

Main

  • Bob Newhart as Dick Loudon, a NYC transplant, owner of the Stratford Inn, author of do-it-yourself books, as well as the host of Vermont Today
  • Mary Frann as Joanna Loudon, Dick's wife; co-proprietor of the Stratford Inn, who also works as a realtor
  • Tom Poston as George Utley, the sensitive, dutiful, trustworthy, but slow-witted handyman at the Stratford Inn, a position passed down through his family for generations
  • William Sanderson, Tony Papenfuss, and John Voldstad as brothers Larry, Darryl and Darryl, three often-soiled, socially-awkward backwoodsmen, who work various odd jobs before taking over the Minuteman Cafe from Kirk (recurring season 1, main season 2-8)
  • Steven Kampmann as Kirk Devane (seasons 1–2), the insensitive, opportunist owner of the Minuteman Cafe next door, who considers the Loudons his best friends. His character was written out in the premiere episode of season 3
  • Jennifer Holmes as Leslie Vanderkellen (season 1), a wealthy but sweet-natured student who works as the Stratford's maid. She's an Olympic-level skier, an honors student, and successful at anything she tries, but she's still down-to-earth.
  • Julia Duffy as Stephanie Vanderkellen (guest season 1, main seasons 2–8), Leslie's spoiled, coddled, socialite cousin who replaces her as the Stratford's maid. Unlike her cousin, Stephanie is self-centered, unambitious and incompetent.
  • Peter Scolari as Michael Harris, the aspiring yuppie producer of Vermont Today; Stephanie's boyfriend and later husband (recurring season 2, main seasons 3–8)

Recurring

  • William Lanteau as Chester Wanamaker, the town's fussbudget mayor (1982–90)
  • Thomas Hill as Jim Dixon, Chester's wild-eyed best friend (1982–90)
  • Rebecca York as Cindy Parker-Devane, a professional clown, Kirk's girlfriend and later wife (1983–84)
  • Jeff Doucette as Harley Estin, a barely competent, Beaver Lodge brother of George's, who is perpetually unemployed (1983–88)
  • Fred Applegate as J. J. Wall, the sarcastic director of Dick's television show (1984–87)
  • Ralph Manza as Bud, the assistant director of Dick's television show (1984–90)
  • Linda Carlson as Bev Dutton, the television station manager (1984–87)
  • Todd Susman as Officer Shifflett, the town's self-important police constable (1984–90)
  • José Ferrer as Arthur Vanderkellen, Stephanie's aristocratic father (1985–87)
  • Priscilla Morrill as Marian Vanderkellen, Stephanie's mother (1985–89)
  • Melanie Chartoff as Dr. Mary Kaiser, Stephanie and Michael's therapist (1987–90)
  • Kathy Kinney as Prudence Goddard, the town librarian (1989–90)
  • David Pressman as Mr. Art Rusnak, the local shoe store manager (1989–90)

Reception

Newhart was a solid ratings winner, finishing its first six seasons in the Nielsen top 25. Despite not finishing in the top 30 for its last two seasons, Bob Newhart stated in an interview with the Archive of American Television that CBS was satisfied enough with the show's ratings to renew it for a ninth season in 1990. However, Newhart, who was anxious to move on to other projects, declined the offer, promising CBS that he would develop a new series for the network, which he was under contract to do. This resulted in the 1992 series Bob, which lasted two seasons.

::data[format=table title="''Newhart'' season rankings in the U.S. television market"]

SeasonEpisodesOriginal air datesTV seasonNielsen ratingsSeason premiereSeason finaleRankRatingHouseholds / Viewers (in millions)
122October 25, 1982April 10, 19831982–1983#1220.016.66
222October 17, 1983April 16, 19841983–1984#2318.015.08
322October 15, 1984May 28, 19851984–1985#1618.4
424September 30, 1985May 12, 19861985–198619.616.84
524September 29, 1986April 13, 19871986–1987#1219.517.04
624September 14, 1987April 9, 19881987–1988#2516.5rowspan="2"
722October 24, 1988May 22, 19891988–1989#5012.8
824September 18, 1989May 21, 19901989–1990#4813.119.34
::

Awards

Nominations

Emmy Awards

The show was nominated for 25 Emmy Awards but never won.

;1983

  • Outstanding Comedy Series – Sheldon Bull, Producer; Barry Kemp, Executive Producer
  • Outstanding Video Tape Editing For a Series – Andy Ackerman ;1984
  • Outstanding Comedy Series – Sheldon Bull, Producer; Barry Kemp, Executive Producer
  • Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Tom Poston
  • Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Julia Duffy ;1985
  • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series – Bob Newhart
  • Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Julia Duffy ;1986
  • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series – Bob Newhart
  • Outstanding Sound Mixing For a Comedy or Drama – Andrew MacDonald, Sound Mixer; Bill Nicholson, Sound Mixer; Craig Porter, Sound Mixer; Richard Wachter, Sound Mixer
  • Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Tom Poston
  • Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Julia Duffy ;1987
  • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series – Bob Newhart
  • Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series:
    • Tom Poston
    • Peter Scolari
  • Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Julia Duffy
  • Outstanding Writing For a Comedy Series – David Mirkin ("Co-Hostess Twinkie") ;1988
  • Outstanding Editing For a Series (Multi-Camera Production) – Michael Wilcox, Editor
  • Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Peter Scolari
  • Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Julia Duffy ;1989
  • Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series – Eileen Brennan
  • Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Peter Scolari
  • Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Julia Duffy ;1990
  • Outstanding Editing For a Series (Multi-Camera Production) – Michael Wilcox, Editor
  • Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Julia Duffy
  • Outstanding Writing For a Comedy Series – Bob Bendetson, Mark Egan and Mark Solomon ("The Last Newhart")

Golden Globe Awards

Newhart earned six nominations for Golden Globe Awards.

  • Television Series – Musical or Comedy (1984)
  • Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy: Bob Newhart (1983–1986)
  • Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: Julia Duffy (1988)

Other awards

Newhart was nominated for one Casting Society of America award and four nominations for TV Land Awards. Newhart won a total of four Viewers for Quality Television Awards.

Home media

20th Century Fox released season one of Newhart on DVD in Region 1 on February 26, 2008.

In November 2013, Shout! Factory announced it had acquired the rights to the series. It has since released the remainder of the series in individual season sets.

::data[format=table]

DVD nameEp. No.Release date
The Complete First Season22February 26, 2008
The Complete Second Season22February 11, 2014
The Complete Third Season22April 22, 2014
The Complete Fourth Season24August 19, 2014
The Complete Fifth Season24May 10, 2016
The Complete Sixth Season24September 13, 2016
The Complete Seventh Season22December 13, 2016
The Complete Eighth Season24March 14, 2017
::

References

References

  1. King, Susan. (May 20, 1990). "Bye Bye, Bob : There's No One Left at the Inn as 'Newhart' Signs Off". [[Los Angeles Times]].
  2. (February 12, 2014). "How the second season of Newhart proves sitcoms need time to learn".
  3. (October 22, 2021). "Peter Scolari, 'Newhart' and 'Girls' Actor, Is Dead at 66". The New York Times.
  4. "Newheart: Season Six".
  5. "Newheart: Season Seven".
  6. "Newhart – The Complete 8th and Final Season".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

1980s-american-sitcoms1980s-american-workplace-comedy-television-series1982-american-television-series-debuts1990-american-television-series-endings1990s-american-sitcoms1990s-american-workplace-comedy-television-seriesamerican-english-language-television-showscbs-sitcomstelevision-series-about-marriagetelevision-series-about-televisiontelevision-series-by-mtm-enterprisestelevision-series-set-in-hotelstelevision-shows-about-dreamstelevision-shows-set-in-vermont