Suzanne Pleshette Movies
Glamorous, down-to-earth leading lady Suzanne Pleshette was the daughter of the managing director of Brooklyn's Paramount Theater. She attended Performing Arts High School, Finch College, and Syracuse University. After some TV experience, she made her film debut in Jerry Lewis' The Geisha Boy (1958), then went on to replace Anne Bancroft as star of Broadway's The Miracle Worker. During her years at Warner Bros., Pleshette successfully avoided simpering ingénue roles, holding out for parts requiring beyond-her-years emotional depth. Her flair for comedy was delightfully tapped during her subsequent tenure with Disney in such films as The Ugly Dachsund (1967) and The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin (1968). Pleshette's film work, however, has never struck so responsive a chord with the fans as her television work, notably her portrayal of Emily Hartley on The Bob Newhart Show (1972-1978) -- a role that she briefly and hilariously reprised on the very last episode of Newhart's subsequent series, Newhart. She then starred in several short-lived TV series, including Maggie Briggs (1984), Bridges to Cross (1986), and The Boys Are Back (1994), and was also a ubiquitous presence in such made-for-TV movies as Leona Helmsley: The Queen of Mean. And yes: Incredible as it may seem, Suzanne Pleshette was once married to Troy Donahue. Pleshette died of respiratory failure in January 2008. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1977
With the help of Bob and a bottle, henpecked Mr. Petersen (John Fiedler) stands up to his wife. The consequences are enormous, not only for the Petersens, but also for Bob. Toni Lamond appears as the much-discussed but seldom-seen Doris Petersen, while Larry Goldman is cast as the cop. Scripted by Glen and Les Charles and directed by the series' comedy consultant, Dick Martin, "Who Was That Masked Man?" first aired on October 15, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Two separate plot strands are loosely entwined in this episode. At the office, Bob consuls a ventriloquist named Danny James (Sam Kwasman), whose dummy wants to break up the act. And on the domestic front, Jerry is terrified of being dumped by his "perfect" girlfriend, Jackie Windsor (Hope Alexander-Willis). Also in the cast are Roger Etienne as the waiter, Sondra Theodore as Girl #1, and Jordan Michaels as Girl #2. First telecast on October 8, 1977, "A Jackie Story" was written by Lloyd Garver. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, (more)
- 1977
For only the second time in five years, Bob is forced to raise his rates. Likewise for the second time in five years, his patients react unfavorably to the increase; not only do they boycott his Christmas party, but also Mr. Carlin puts out a "contract" on Bob by hiring a professional pie thrower (Rik Pierce). Meanwhile, Jerry and Howard are likewise having trouble entering into the spirit of the season, due to an argument sparked by a misguided hockey puck. The supporting cast features Ben Freedman as a Santa named Saul. First telecast on December 24, 1977, " 'Twas the Pie Before Christmas" was written by Phil Davis. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, (more)
- 1977
Once again breaking his self-imposed rule of never consulting his friends, Bob offers advice to Carol's husband, Larry Bondurant (Will Mackenzie). Suggesting that the discouraged Larry open his own travel agency, Bob never dreamed that his advice would be acted upon so quickly. Nor did he imagine in his wildest dreams that Larry would set up his new agency in Bob's medical building, converting the reception area into a Polynesian paradise. Written by future Family Ties creator Gary David Goldberg, "The Mentor" originally aired on March 5, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, (more)
- 1977
Saddled with a close-mouthed patient named Twillmer (Richard Libertini), Bob encourages the man to open up and "let it all out." Unfortunately, Twillmer reveals that he has embezzled an enormous sum of money -- and Bob is bound by his doctor-patient confidentiality oath to keep mum about this little indiscretion. Others in the cast include Frank Maxwell as Sgt. O'Conner and J. Jay Saunders as Williams. Written by Earl Pomerantz, "Shallow Throat" first aired on November 26, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, (more)
- 1977
Mildred Natwick guest stars as the Hartley's next-door neighbor, Grace Dubois, who has retreated into her own little fantasy world. When Grace's relatives move to have her shipped to a nursing home, Emily intervenes. First telecast on December 3, 1977, this was one of several sixth-season Bob Newhart Show episodes to do without the services of star Newhart, who was unhappy with recent CBS scheduling decisions. "A Girl in Her Twenties" was written by Laura Levine. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Suzanne Pleshette, Bill Daily, (more)
- 1977
It seemed like only yesterday that Bob and Emily celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary (actually, it was in an episode which aired approximately ten months earlier, in February of 1977). And now here they are, blowing out the candles on their tenth anniversary cake. On this momentous occasion, both Bob and Emily wonder what life would have been like had they married other people -- and a brace of fantasy sequences shows them what life would have been like. The supporting cast features Morgan Fairchild as Linda Bianca and E. William Parker as Marcus. Written by Lloyd Garver, "Grand Delusion" first aired on December 17, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, (more)
- 1977
Mr. Carlin is in love again; this time the lucky (?) woman is one Andrea Duff (Mary Ann Chin). Hoping to appear more exciting to the new woman in his life, Carlin enlists Bob's aid in fabricating a spectacular "life story." The result is a wide-ranging farrago of a resumé which claims, among other things, that Carlin invented gravy. Written by Gary David Goldberg, "Love Is the Blindest" first aired on January 8, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, (more)
- 1976
In this thriller, an amnesiac woman hires a young detective to investigate the two men who seem to be trying to kill her. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1976
About to embark upon an out-of-town trip, Bob tries to divest himself of the dependent Howard by foisting his friend off on a fellow psychologist, Dr. Ned Podbillion (Leonard Stone), whose unorthodox methods invariably yield positive results. Upon his return, Bob is confronted by the new Howard -- and he's not altogether delighted with what he sees. This episode was the return of future WKRP in Cincinnati maven Hugh Wilson. "Still Crazy After All These Years" originally aired on October 9, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, (more)
- 1976
There is no question that Carol is deeply and sincerely loved by her new husband, Larry Bondurant (Will Mackenzie). Only one problem: Larry is smothering Carol with affection, and she's having a lot of trouble coming up for air. Meanwhile, Bob tries to convince a patient that a weekly bingo game isn't fixed -- or is it? Written by Gordon and Lynne Farr, "Carol at 6:01" (the title was a play on a popular art film of the 1970s) first aired on January 10, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, (more)
- 1976
Although the opening episode of The Bob Newhart Show's fifth season was not the first of that season to be filmed, "Enter Mrs. Peeper" was a logical extension of the final episode of season four. Tom Poston makes another appearance as Bob's fun-loving college buddy, Cliff Murdock, aka "the Peeper." Having remarried, Cliff insists that he's a changed man. Jean Palmerton appears as Corinee Murdock, with Charles Thomas Murphy as the messenger and series story consultant Jay Tarses as the waiter. Written by Gordon and Lynne Farr, "Enter Mrs. Peeper" originally aired on September 25, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, (more)
- 1976
In anticipation of Howard's big Fourth of July Bicentennial celebration, Bob and Emily scurry down to the basement storage locker to get supplies. Alas, Emily locks both herself and Bob into the locker -- and there they remain until July 5th. This minor mishap has major repercussions on the Hartleys' relationship. Will Mackenzie makes another appearance as Carol's husband, Larry Bondurant. Written by Gordon and Lynne Farr, "Caged Fury" first aired on October 2, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, (more)
- 1976
Gail Strickland makes a return appearance as Courtney Simpson, Jerry's free-spirited former girlfriend. When Courtney announces her desire to marry Jerry, he is delighted. But then he discovers that Courtney merely needs a husband so that she can adopt an eight-year-old orphan named Richie (Matthew Laborteaux). Written by Sy Rosen, "My Boy Guillermo" made its network TV bow on January 24, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, (more)
- 1976
It seems that even before Dennis Rodman, the Chicago basketball world was plagued with showboaters who thought that they were the center of the universe. In this episode of The Bob Newhart Show, Anthony Costello is cast as Dwayne Granger, aka "The Duke of Dunk," a star basketball player. Upset that Dwayne's monumental ego has resulted in a drop in morale and a long losing streak, the team's coach goes to Bob for help. Written by Douglas Arango and Phil Doran, "Duke of Dunk" originally aired on January 31, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, (more)
- 1976
A new detective is hired to find out why an amnesia victim is being targeted by 2 gunmen. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1976
The fifth season of The Bob Newhart Show offers even more fun, laughs, and neuroses with Chicago psychologist Bob Hartley (Bob Newhart), his wife Emily (Suzanne Pleshette), the Hartley's airline-pilot neighbor Howard Borden (Bill Daily), Bob's dentist friend Jerry Robinson (Peter Bonerz), and Bob and Jerry's newly married receptionist Carol Kester Bondurant (Marcia Wallace). Some of the season-five episodes are among the series' best, and several are acknowledged classics in the situation-comedy field. "Caged Fury" is the one in which the Hartleys miss their neighbors' Fourth of July Bicentennial celebration when they're trapped in a storage locker; "The Slammer" finds Bob and his school buddy Cliff Murdock (Tom Poston) reliving old times and landing behind bars as a result; "Here's to You, Mrs. Robinson" focuses on the newly retired Jerry Robinson's efforts to locate his birth parents; "The Ironwood Experience" has Bob agreeing to give a lecture at a sex seminar, little imaging that his audience will show up naked as jaybirds; "Death Be My Destiny" is the famous "epiphany" episode in which Bob has a heart-to-heart with Death (played by series producer Tom Patchett) after nearly perishing in an elevator mishap; and "Desperate Sessions" finds Bob taken hostage by the nicest bank robber in TV history. The season ends with the "teaser" episode "You're Having My Hartley," in which Emily announces that she is pregnant. This was intended as the last-ever Bob Newhart Show episode, inasmuch as the star planned to hang it up after five seasons; however, at the last minute the series was renewed forcing the writers to figure out a way to "un-impregnate" Emily. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, (more)
Robert Stevenson, Walt Disney Productions' house director, cobbled together his 19th family film for the organization with this slapstick sequel to the Disney comedy The Shaggy Dog (produced 17 years after the fact). Dean Jones plays Wilby Daniels, a lawyer running against the villainous John Slade (Keenan Wynn) for district attorney. His campaign is cast into doubt when he comes upon an ancient ring that transforms him into a fat sheepdog. But the campaign progresses on a level playing field when the unscrupulous Slade finds himself also turned into a canine -- a disgruntled bulldog. Another sequel, The Return of the Shaggy Dog, followed. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dean Jones, Tim Conway, (more)
- 1976
Former policewoman Dorothy Uhnak wrote the book upon which this 150-minute TV movie was based. The central characters of Law and Order are the male members of an Irish-American family--three generations of police officers. The bulk of the drama concerns the conflicts between Deputy Chief of Public Affairs Brian O'Malley (Darren McGavin) and his Vietnam-vet son (Art Hindle), who has become a beat cop. In addition to his problems at home, Chief O'Malley must contend with rumors of departmental corruption. Law and Order was designed as the pilot film for a Police Story-style series with a family slant. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1976
Bob is none too happy by the service in his apartment -- or rather, the lack of service. Fed up with a furnace that won't heat and faulty plumbing, Bob stages a sit-in on the behalf of his beleaguered fellow tenants. The crisis is compounded when Bob's most neurotic patient, Mr. Carlin, purchases the apartment complex. Written by David Lloyd, "The Great Rent Strike" made its first network appearance on October 23, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, (more)
- 1976
Future WKRP in Cincinnati regular Howard Hesseman makes a return appearance on The Bob Newhart Show, this time in the role of Bob's new patient, Mr. Plager. Described as "mildly neurotic with compulsive tendencies," Plager is welcomed by the rest of Bob's therapy group with open arms. Alas, those arms quickly fold up when it is learned that Plager is gay. Written by Patricia Jones, "Some of My Best Friends Are..." first aired on October 16, 1976, as the series' 100th episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, (more)
- 1976
William Redfield guest stars as Howard Borden's brother, Gordon, a bird-sanctuary warden with a history of claiming things that rightfully belong to Howard. Arriving in Chicago to witness the mating ritual of two rare whooping cranes, Gordon makes himself right at home in Howard's apartment. Unfortunately, brother dear also begins making the usual moves on Howard's fiancée (and Bob's sister), Ellen. Written by Gordon and Lynne Farr, "Warden Gordon Borden" originally aired on January 17, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, (more)
- 1976
Carol decides to go to night school in pursuit of a degree in psychology. Not only does this upset the routine in Bob's building, but it also drives the inhabitants to distraction as Carol insists upon analyzing everyone in her immediate vicinity. But, as usual, Bob has problems that go far beyond the obvious ones. Featured in the cast are Will McKenzie as Carol's husband, Larry, and Paul and Claudia Bryar as the Firmans. Written by Sy Rosen, "Guaranteed Not to Shrink" first aired on February 7, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, (more)
- 1976
The enterprising Mr. Carlin gets Bob and Jerry involved in a shady real-estate scheme, wherein an old tenement will be razed to make room for a new development. Oh, the money is good, but the end result will be the eviction of an old man named Arbogast (Malcolm Atterbury). Will conscience once again make a coward out of Bob? Written by Michael Zinberg, "No Sale" made its first network appearance on January 3, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, (more)
- 1976
Tom Poston returns in the role of Bob's prankish college chum Cliff Murdock, aka "The Peeper." Arriving in Chicago, an uncharacteristically somber Cliff announces that his wife has left him. Bob invites Cliff to make the Hartley's home his own -- and, as usual, he does. Some of the outtakes for this episode are funnier than the episode itself, and that's saying a lot. Future Hill Street Blues co-star Veronica Hamel appears as Rosemary. Written by Tom Patchett and Jay Tarses, "Peeper-Two" originally aired on February 28, 1976, as the final episode of The Bob Newhart Show's fourth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Newhart, Suzanne Pleshette, (more)
