Suzanne Pleshette Movies

With Bob out of town on a lecture tour, Emily is terrified that she will succumb to the temptation of having an affair with her old flame, Steve Darnell (David Hedison). To prevent this, Emily turns to Jerry and Howard for help -- and how much help they are. Written by Laura Levine, this was one of several sixth-season episodes in which Bob Newhart did not appear. "It Didn't Happen One Night" first aired on February 18, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Bob Newhart Show ended its six-season, 142-episode run with the aptly titled "Happy Trails to You." The show opens as Bob assumes his new responsibilities as a psychology professor in a small Oregon college. In flashback, Bob recalls how he bade farewell to his friends, colleagues, and patients back in Chicago. Best scene: The impromptu rendition of "Oklahoma." Bob Newhart's real-life father-in-law, character actor Bill Quinn, appears as Dr. Wyler. Written by Glen Charles, Les Charles, and Lloyd Garver, "Happy Trails to You" originally aired on April 1, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Several of vice-principal Emily's students have gotten low scores in reading, and their parents are angry about it. Demonstrating the leadership qualities for which he is famous, Principal Bannister (Edward Andrews) goes on vacation, leaving Emily to deal with the problem all by her lonesome. The supporting cast includes Robert Costanzo as Sal Petrone, Patricia Stevens as Wanda Moss, Jan Fisher as Ms. Hunsinger, Bill Zuckert as Mr. Kreever, Delores Albin as Miss Nightingale, and Brian Miller as Billy. Written by Earl Pomerantz, this was one of several sixth-season episodes in which series star Bob Newhart did not appear. "Crisis in Edukation" first aired on March 11, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Bob hopes to get away from his work by joining Emily on a relaxing ocean voyage. Fat chance! No sooner have they cast off than Bob has offered his psychological services to a battling married couple. Featured in the cast are Jeff Donnell as Clara, aka "The Little Woman"; John Crawford as Vern; Robert Phelps as Graham; and Jack Scalici, Claudette Duffy, and Timoth Himes as three wild-eyed participants in a shipboard scavenger hunt. Written by Earl Pomerantz, "Freudian Ship" first aired on January 7, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Although Emily Hartley (Suzanne Pleshette), wife of Chicago psychologist Bob Hartley (Bob Newhart), had announced that she was pregnant at the end of The Bob Newhart Show's fifth season, it was decided to drop this plot strand when the series was unexpectedly renewed for season six. Thus, when the series returned in the fall of 1977, no mention was made of Emily's delicate condition, and the show proceeded as though the announcement had never been made. Of the 21 episodes shown during season six, several are standouts. The opener, "Bob's Change of Life," finds Bob and Emily having a lot of trouble adjusting to their new apartment. "Ex-Con Job" was the first in a handful of episodes wherein Bob treats a group of convicts who are involved in a work-release program. In "Who Was That Masked Man," Bob's habitual henpecked patient Mr. Peterson (John Fiedler) declares independence from his shrewish wife. "My Son, the Comedian" finds the Hartley's neurotic neighbor Howard Borden (Bill Daily) agonizing over his 12-year-old son's decision to become a standup comic. And in "Group on a Hot Tin Roof," another of Bob's patients writes a play featuring some disturbingly familiar characters. As part of his agreement to extend The Bob Newhart Show for a sixth season, Newhart insisted that CBS allow him to be absent from a handful of episodes. This explains why Bob Hartley is out of town "promoting his new book" in the episodes "A Girl in Her Twenties," "Emily Carlin, Emily Carlin," and "It Didn't Happen One Night." The series officially comes to an end with the extra-length finale "Happy Trails to You." But as any TV aficionado can tell you, The Bob Newhart Show did not actually have its final episode until the surprise denouement of the star's next sitcom, Newhart. ~ All Movie Guide

Having consulted his friends and patients to face up to their fears and phobias, Bob experiences an epiphany of sorts when he nearly falls down an elevator shaft. Convinced that his days are numbered, Bob can't be talked out of his conviction -- not even by those whose problems he has solved in the past. Series executive producer Tom Patchett makes a guest appearance as Mr. Death (or, to be more precise, Mr. Dave Death); others in the cast include Oliver Clark as Mr. Herd and Lieux Dressler as the Laughing Lady. Written by Sy Rosen, this classic Bob Newhart Show episode originally aired on February 12, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Weary of the exigencies of life in the big city, Bob applies for a professorial post at a small-town college. The institute, located in Iowa, is essentially a farming college, so one can guess the direction of the episode's comic thrust. The supporting cast includes Tresa Hughes as Dr. Doctor (trivia note: Newhart played Major Major in the film version of Catch 22), Richard Libertini as Dr. Pitt, Craig Wasson as Chuck Morgan, Addison Powell as Dr. Scranton, and director James Burrows as a maintenance man. Scripted by Michael Zinberg, "Halls of Hartley" first aired on January 29, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Invited to lecture before a sex seminar at the Ironwood Institute, Bob invites Emily to accompany him. Little does he suspect that the Institute is a nudist colony, but the bare facts soon become all too apparent. And what sort of effect will this have on the Hartleys' marriage. Max Showalter appears as Dr. Morgan. Written by Phil Davis, "The Ironwood Experience" was the first episode filmed for The Bob Newhart Show's fifth season, but was withheld from view until January 15, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Carol startles Bob and the rest of the doctors when she announces that she's pregnant. No sooner has Bob digested this information than Emily drops another bombshell; she, too, is expecting. Series semiregulars Tom Poston and Jean Palmerton reprise their familiar roles of Cliff and Corinne Murdock. Written by Gordon and Lynne Farr, "You're Having My Hartley" aired on March 19, 1977, as the final Bob Newhart Show of the 1976-1977 season, and incidentally, as the lead-in for the now-legendary final episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Needing a long-overdue break, Bob impulsively decides to spend a week in New Orleans. This uncharacteristic kicking over of traces has a devastating effect on Bob's regular patients. Richard Stahl appears as Mel, while Bud, Rob, and Pam Kenneally are seen as the Swerdlow family. Written by Kathy Donnell and Madeline Dimaggio, the lyrically titled "A Day in the Life" first aired on October 29, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Hoping to lighten his workload, Bob interviews several candidates for the job of his assistant. When his efforts fail to yield fruit (most of the candidates, alas, are unable to diagnose a hangnail, much less a neurosis), Bob turns to his former college professor, Alan Dreesen (guest star Ralph Bellamy), who has volunteered for the job. Not unexpectedly, Bob lives to regret taking Dr. Dreesen into his practice. First telecast on November 19, 1977, "You're Fired, Mr. Chips" was written by Lloyd Garver. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Volunteering his services, Bob heads to the local slammer to counsel five men about to be paroled. His efforts to reach out to these lost souls is stymied by the most outspoken of the cons, who refers to Bob as a "suit that's fat-mouthin'." Trouble is, Bob is in complete agreement. Taurean Blacque, Allen Case, Ric Mancini, Wyatt Johnson, and Bert Rosario are cast respectively as Arthur Tatum, Steve Kopelson, Al Brolio, Richard Hawkins, and Reubin Ortiz, while H.B. Haggerty makes an appearance as "The Hammer." Written by Ziggy Steinberg, "Ex-Con Job" first aired on October 1, 1977; it was followed in January of 1978 by a sequel of sorts, "Son of Ex-Con Job." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide