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 you know 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

Bob's parents are briefly uprooted while their house is being painted. While Dad Hartley (Barnard Hughes) goes off on a fishing trip, Mom Hartley (Martha Scott) stays with Bob and Emily -- and the viewers brace themselves for another round of concentrated maternal smothering. Meanwhile, Bob has to mediate between elderly patient Edward T. Vickers Sr. (Lucien Scott) and his fractious son, Edward Jr. (William Daniels). Written by Arnold Kane, "Father & Sons & Mothers" first aired on November 29, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The name of this Bob Newhart Show episode is proof incarnate that the series' producers were growing tired of coming up with clever titles that would never show up on screen. Yes, Bob is in the hospital on Christmas Eve, and he's not the only one who is miserable. Merie Earle makes another appearances as octogenarian Mrs. Loomis, while Graham Jarvis plays Dr. Bickwell. Written by Tom Patchett and Jay Tarses, the episode originally aired on December 20, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Bob is persuaded to appear on a TV interview show hosted by soft-spoken Ruth Corley (Jennifer Warren). But the moment the cameras are turning, Ruth transforms into a barracuda, aggressively attacking both Bob and his profession. Unnerved, Bob is trapped into revealing that he has been treating a prominent local politician -- and then the fur really begins a-flying. Also appearing are Alan Manson as Congressman Avery and Claudette Duffy as Sister Mary Catherine. Written by Bruce Kane, "Who Is Mr. X?" first aired on November 8, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Emily is convinced that Bob is in a rut. As a result, Emily and Bob switch household responsibilities: She handles the budget while he does the shopping. Bob's misadventure with a grocery-store box boy (Bryan Byers) is a highlight. Written by Gordon and Lynne Farr, "Change Is Gonna Do Me Good" made its first network appearance on October 4, 1975, as the 77th episode of The Bob Newhart Show. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Bob's plans to hold a surprise party for his therapy group are messed up by the non-arrival of one patient, Mr. Gianini. Somewhat miffed, Bob exiles Gianini in absentia. Expressing long-withheld hostility towards the missing member, the rest of the group applauds Bob's action, but they quickly change their tune (and the target for their animosity!) when they discover that Gianini has been killed in a freak accident -- buried under a ton of zucchini. Written by Tom Patchett and Jay Tarses, "Death of a Fruitman" originally aired on September 27, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Bob and his colleagues gear up for their annual doctor's tennis tournament. Naturally, Emily assumes that she will be teamed with Bob. What she hadn't counted on was Bob's overriding desire to win -- a desire that, so far as he is concerned, may be unfulfilled with Emily around. Others in the cast are Paula Shaw as Tammy Ziegler and Howard Platt as Dr. Newman. Written by Jerry Mayer, "Serve for Daylight" originally aired on December 14, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Bob's first mistake is to allow his all-female consciousness-raising group to hold a session in his apartment. His second mistake is to let Emily sit in during the discussion. His third mistake is not to duck when his patients, enraged at Emily's "unliberated" marriage, kick Bob out of his own group. Featured in the cast as Rhoda Gemignani as Joan Rossi, Ann Weldon as Adele Sinclair, Inge-Maria as Ingrid, and Joan Tompkins as Mrs. Cowens. First shown on November 30, 1974, "We Love You...Good-Bye" was written by Charlotte Brown. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Carol's new fiancé, Don Felzer (Richard Schaal), is, for want of a better word, weird. Not only is he an unpublished poet (and not without reason), and without a job, but he also has bad feet. But while love is blind, Carol's friends and associates are not, and all of them hope that she'll come to her senses before it's too late. Written by Jerry Mayer, "Life Is a Hamburger" was originally broadcast on November 16, 1974 -- hanging on by its fingernails opposite the first network airing of The Godfather. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In addition to his usual duties, Bob takes on a job as staff psychiatrist for a major Chicago insurance company. Bolstered by a huge salary and better working conditions, Bob performs his job well -- all too well, in fact. John Anderson guest-stars as Colton, with Edward Winter as Wes Greenfield, Jerry Fogel as Paul Hollander, and Mary Robin Redd as Susan Wick. Originally telecast on October 19, 1974, "The Gray Flannel Shrink" was written by Jerry Mayer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Already a mass of neuroses to begin with, Howard's self-esteem suffers another punch in the gut when he loses his job as a jet plane navigator. Hoping to find some purpose in life, Howard joins Bob's unemployed therapy group, "The Out-of-Work Workshop." It is not for nothing that Bob has a rule against treating his friends. The guest cast includes Howard Hesseman as Mr. Plager, the worst TV program planner in history. Written by Tom Patchett and Jay Tarses, "The Jobless Corps" originally aired on January 19, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Raul Julia guest stars as orthodontist Jerry Robinson's younger brother, Greg. Fresh out of dental school, Greg accepts Jerry's invitation to move in with him. Before long, Greg has not only taken over Jerry's life, he has also stolen most of his older brother's patients. Rhoda Gemignani rounds out the guest cast as Miss Rossi. Written by Martin Cohan, "Oh, Brother" made its first network appearance on January 5, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

It's another year of deadpan hilarity for Chicago psychologist Bob Hartley (Bob Newhart), his schoolteacher wife Emily (Suzanne Pleshette), and all their friends and co-workers as The Bob Newhart Show enters its third season. In addition to such familiar supporting characters as neurotic airline pilot Howard Borden (Bill Daily), swinging bachelor dentist Jerry Robinson (Peter Bonerz), and scatterbrained receptionist Carol Kester (Marcia Wallace), a number of other well-known faces dot the guest-star landscape during season three. Among these are Daniel J. Travanti (in the episode "The Battle of the Groups"), John Ritter ("Sorry, Wrong Mother"), Barnard Hughes ("An American Family") and Fred Willard ("Tobin's Back in Town"). Episode highlights this season include "Life Is a Hamburger," in which Carol announces her engagement to would-be poet Don Fezler (Richard Schaal); "Jerry Robinson Crusoe," wherein Jerry's latest romance may inspire him to pull up roots and move to Tahiti; "Think Smartly--Vote Hartley," which finds a reluctant Bob dragooned into running for the chairmanship of the school board; "The New Look," outlining the chilling aftereffects when Emily decorates the apartment with antiques; and "The Separation Story," in which Bob and Emily conduct an experiment with separate residences. The season ends with a trilogy of episodes unified only by (almost) common titles: "Bob Hits the Ceiling," wherein Bob comes to grief when he agrees to treat a family friend; "Emily Hits the Ceiling," a tale of summer camps and silly nicknames; and "The Ceiling Hits Bob," or what happens when Bob is forced into a change of scenery. Though The Bob Newhart Show dropped from 12th to 17th place in the ratings during season three, the series was still among the most popular of CBS' sitcoms. ~ All Movie Guide