The Bob Newhart Show – The Complete Second Season
Picture: C
Sound: C+ Extras: C+ Episodes: B
After The Mary Tyler Moore Show, no non-spin-off
series was more of a hit for MTM Productions than The Bob Newhart Show,
which entered its second season in 1973 and it was a strong as the first. The Complete Second Season is again
offered on three double-sided DVDs in another set of nice slender cases in a
nicely illustrated box. This time, we
get some extras! First, the show.
To recap, the classic cast headed by Suzanne Pleshette,
Peter Bonerz, Bob Daily, Marcia Wallace, Patricia Smith, John Fiedler and
others in this David Davis/Lorenzo Music created show which became an instant
classic. With everything set up, the
comedy about a psychologist (something that had never been done on TV before)
became even more well rounded and the creators really ran with it. The comedy never humiliated the persons
suffering mental illness, while actually exposing such problems for the first
time in a way TV had never seen before.
In this season, guest stars included Michael Conrad (later
of Hill Street Blues), Teri Garr, Mariette Hartley, Ron Glass, Jeff
Corey, Katherine Helmond, Julius Harris, Ann Rutherford, Raul Julia, Sharon
Gless, Henry Winkler, and Ron Rifkin.
This was often before these actors became recognized and found success
of their own. MTM had a knack for
casting the best talent n the business and it paid off as this show continued
to build and build in the ratings after a rough start.
I have much more to say about the entire show in my review
of the previous season, but am happy it was still sticking to its big city feel
at this time, though I did complain about the theme song being cut in all the
prints in the last set. This time, that
has not happened, but the theme was altered a bit by this time, so that leaves
no shows with the original credits and original theme music in tact. A minor complaint, but one important enough
to address, especially for fans.
The 1.33 X 1 image a bit softer throughout than the last
set for whatever reason, including a little more grain, Video Black limits and
color that is getting faded somewhat. A
comparison to the first set quickly reveals the subtle differences. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono is also adequate,
though it still sounds a tad small. The
music was by Pat Williams, with the original title song by Lorenzo and
Henriette Music. Extras include five
very funny commentary tracks with Newhart participating in all of them. He is joined by Jack Riley on Last TV
Show, Marcia Wallace & David Davis on Mister Emily Hartley, solo
on Blues For Mr. Borden, Wallace and Davis again on T.S. Elliot
and The Modernization Of Emily.
A brand new 13:41 featurette about this season in particular, but the
series overall that is most welcome. The
Bob Newhart Show - The Complete Second Season is another great set. Now if they can just get more good prints
and more good extras by the next set together.
- Nicholas Sheffo
