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| Newhart: The Complete First Season (REGION 1) (NTSC) | 
 enlarge | Actors: Bob Newhart, Tom Poston, Peter Scolari
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Category: DVD
Buy New: £20.25
Buy New/Used from £20.25
Avg. Customer Rating:  (1 reviews)
Sales Rank: 39047
Format: Box Set, Colour, Dvd-video, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Media: DVD
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 dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
The Second Sitcom Begins March 18, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
In 1982, Bob Newhart returned to TV with his second sitcom. In my mind, this show is even better then his first, although it got off to a slow start.
Dick Loudon (Bob Newhart) is the author of multiple how to books and travel guides. He's always dreamed of restoring an inn. Together with his wife Joanna (Mary Frann), he decides now is the time. So they buy the Stratford Inn in Vermont and go about restoring it and turning it into a bed and breakfast. Along with the inn, they get caretaker George Utley (Tom Poston). George is a bit dim and simple, but he's truly a lovable guy. They also hire Leslie Vanderkellen (Jennifer Holmes) as their maid. Unfortunately, their next door neighbor latches on to them as well. Kirk Devane (Steven Kampmann) runs the Minutemen Cafe and has the bad habit of lying about everything.
Now those familiar with the show are probably already scratching their heads at some of the cast. The show was still finding itself in the first couple of seasons, so the characters everyone associates with this sitcom aren't all here yet. Larry, Darryl, and Darryl do show up for two guest shots (and they are both great) and Leslie's cousin Stephanie (Julia Duffy) does show up for one episode as well. She's not quite the stuck up snob we'd love starting next season, but it's not a big stretch to see it in her personality.
I can see why the two characters that were replaced were replaced. It has nothing to do with the actors, everyone on the show is great. But Kirk gets old in a hurry. And Leslie, while a wonderful character, isn't that funny.
Having said that, there are some truly great moments here. The Loudons try to deal with a skeleton in their basement. Dick is disappointed when he can't get the inn declared a historical landmark. He has to delicately tell a group of women what their ancestors found when they stayed there during the Revolutionary War (hint, it wasn't a place of good repute). George meets up with his old girlfriend. A crowded Christmas gets even worse when a pregnant woman arrives about to give birth. And Kirk's lies come back to haunt him when his cafe is robbed.
There are three bonus featurettes, two really short, but "Getting to the Heart of Newhart" is about 18 minutes and includes interviews with Bob, Julia, and several of the other actors. The box lists a fourth, but it is no where to be found on the discs.
While the best was still definitely to come from this classic sitcom, there is still plenty here to please fans. I enjoyed checking into the Stratford and hope the wait isn't to long before I can book another visit.
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