Week of Jan. 21: Hi Bob......and Hu?

By Sylvia Gurinsky

Personal comment: I was among those disappointed with Bob Newhart's appearance on "NCIS" this week as medical examiner Dr. Walter Magnus. I thought the plotline resembled too closely a previous appearance Newhart had on "ER." And on a drama show that distinguishes itself from all others with its comedy, this would have been a great chance to showcase the classic Newhart sardonic wit.

Even the phone conversation with a Chinese restaurant fell short, but triggered memories of the classic "Moo Goo Gai Pan" scene in the 1975 episode "Over the River and Through the Woods" on "The Bob Newhart Show."

Here's Newhart in an interview with EmmyTVLegends.org talking about that scene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh2PSs6XnS8

The first four seasons of "The Bob Newhart Show" and the first season of "Newhart" are available on DVD; the first three seasons of "The Bob Newhart Show" can be found at Hulu.com. YouTube has classic clips of Newhart variety show skits, including this air traffic controller skit from "The Smothers Brothers":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD1MW-nyhxg


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The visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to the White House this week triggered memories of another classic skit, from "The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson," featuring Carson as President Ronald Reagan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuLsXHzE1t8

Hu's on the phone......

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This week, PBS kicked off a second collection of "Pioneers of Television" programs; they focus on science fiction, crime dramas, Westerns and children's programming. Check your local PBS station for time and date.

See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!