Newhart's monologues involving an average man trying to deal with our brave new world were an instant hit, selling millions of records, earning two gold records and three Grammy Awards. 

By 1962 Newhart's third album was released and his new television variety show "The Bob Newhart Show" on NBC was on its way to winning an Emmy for outstanding achievement in humor and a Peabody for television excellence. 

With bookings nationally, a television show, a movie deal, and his comedy albums turning to gold Bob took a wife, Ginny Quinn and they began their family. 

Performing with other entertainers like Smothers Brothers, Dan Rowan Dick Martin, Don Rickles,  Buddy Hackett, Dean Martin, Johny Carson, and the list goes on, Newhart continued on the upward path of his success. 

Tommy Smothers compared Bob Newhart to a straight man. "great straight men are the ultimate listeners."  But Newhart, with his one-sided dialogues was perhaps the best.  He was on stage entertaining the audience by listening to and setting up straight lines for someone who was only there in the audience's imagination.  Smothers would later call Newhart, "A one-man comedy team."  Basically doing a doubles routine with just one guy?  

David Hyde Pierce (from Frazier) said Newhart caused his audience to imagine what was being said on the other side.

And who does Bob Newhart pick for a best friend?  Who does "Mr. Nice Guy," "the last sane man in America" pick for a best friend?  Don Rickles?  

Talking about Newhart's first night club job, recording "The Button Down Mind of Bob Newhart" before a live audience in Texas, Tom Poston Once asked Bob, "were you frightened?" To which Newhart answered, "Do you mean, still?"

Bob Newhart's records have blown Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and everyone else off the charts.  The only Elvis Presley album that outsold Newhart was Blue Hawaii.  Newhart's albums outperformed every record recorded by the Beatles in the ‘60's (and there's just one of him). 

Peter Bonners, who played Jerry the dentist on "The Bob Newhart Show," said that Newhart seemed to step into the crown as King of Comedy, overnight. 

Bob Newhart went from being an unknown to staring on the Ed Sullivan show in just months.  His Grammies included "album of the year," and  "best new artist,"  

Many of Newhart's comedy routines are still classics, like: The Grace L. Ferguson Airline and Storm Door Company.  

Fred Willard recalled seeing Newhart for the first time performing at Carnegie Hall.  When Bob walked on stage, he looked around at the audience, and said, "Well, at least they can’t take this away from me."   Willard later remembered thinking, "How tough a business is this?"  

Suzanne Pleshette called Bob Newhart a skilled actor.  Portraying the every-man image is deceptive.  People really don’t see the skill Bob brings. 

Perhaps one of the greatest moments in comedy was the last episode of Newhart's eight-year television series Newhart.  Jack Benny had, "Your money or your life."  Babe Ruth "called his shot."  Neil Armstrong walked on the moon.  And Bob Newhart had the last episode of "Newhart."

But who came up with the idea?

The last scene of the television series, "Newhart," begins with Bob getting hit in the head with A golf ball and passing out.   Waking in a dimly lit room, he turns on the light and, begins telling about the incredible dream he had.  He was managing an inn in Vermont, with an heiress working as their maid, a confused handy man, three woodsmen (but only one talked).  And just when the audience couldn't take it any longer, Newhart's television wife sits up and turns on the lights.  But it's not his wife from "Newhart."   Instead it is the radiant Suzanne Pleshette, His wife from "The Bob Newhart Show,"  telling him, "Go back to sleep Bob."   

"I was an innkeeper in this crazy little town in Vermont."

"I’m happy for you, goodnight."

"Nothing made sense in this place, the housekeeper was an heiress, her husband talked an alliteration, the handyman kept missing the point of things. Then, there were these three woodsman, but only one of them talked." 

"That settles it, no more Japanese food before we go to bed."

"And I was married to this beautiful blonde."

"Go back to sleep, Bob."

Newhart turns off his light, but then Susan turns hers back on.

"Whattaya mean, beautiful blonde."

"Go to sleep, Emily," Newhart says.  "You know, you really should wear more sweaters."

The episode was actually kept secret from the cast, crew and the media. 

Bob Newhart made hundreds of television appearances through out his career and is still going strong.  He hosted "The Tonight Show Starring Johny Carson" 87 times, appeared on "The Dean Martin Show" 24 times, and on "The Ed Sullivan Show"  8 times. 

And now Bob Newhart appears on The Horace J. Digby Report  . . . 

Newhart was nominated again in 2007 for a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for his album based on his new book, "I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This!".

His book is on sale where ever fine books are sold, including Newhart's website along with his albums, at www.Bobnewhart.com.

The citizens of Chicago erected a statue in Bob Newhart's honor (memorializing his role as psychologist, Dr. Robert Hartley, from "The Bob Newhart Show."   Bob's friend Don Rickles claims the statue's real purpose is to distract pigeons from other people. 

One of Bob Newhart's major inspirations has been American humorist and writer, Robert Benchley.  Dan Martin of the comedy team Rowan and Martin said that Newhart is not a standup comic as such, not a joke teller, but a humorist,  comparing Newhart's work to Mark twain's gentle humor, and then to Robert Benchley.  "I can remember riding the street cars in Detroit on my way to school, laughing out loud at something Robert Benchley had said, but before there was Benchley, there was Mark Twain."  "Bob Newhart is a Humorist, I guess Dave Barry would be like that.  I'm not sure.  But there are damn few of them," Martin said. 

If you would like to learn more about Bob Newhart and his incredible career, the first place to go is his new book, "I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This!" for Hyperion Press, New York.  You can get your copy where ever fine books are sold, including Bob's website,  www.bobnewhart.com. 

Bob' comedy albums and CDs are also on his website. 

You can also follow links to Bob Newhart and his works from our site, www.lexingtonfilm.com