NEWHART NECESSITIES
Favorite comedian: “The most influential comedian to me for the past 50 years has been Richard Pryor. I don’t find anything offensive in the words he uses. What I do find offensive is when those same words are used gratuitously. I don’t expect ,ichard Pryor to say, ‘Oh, gosh, darn it, gee whiz.’ He’s being honest to his upbringing. And in a way, I rank Richard Pryor with Mark Twain. I think they both did the same thing: They reflected their times.”
What he’s watching: “What We Do in the Shadows. Ginny loves NCIS and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. loves all those] so we sit and watch ’em together.”
What he’s reading: “Directed by James Burrows, and it’s wonderful. Jim [the director of some 50 TV pilots and the co-creator of CheersR did 11 episodes of [The Bob Newhart ShowR] then] of course] he went on to do Taxi and Cheers.”
Music he’s listening to: “Sinatra at the Sands with Count Basie and his orchestra. Ginny and I and the kids spent 20 years in Vegas. It was a great time in our life] and it’s an incredible album. Listening to Count Basie and Duke Ellington just takes you back to those wonderful times.”
The Marx Brothers, Laurel and Hardy or the Three Stooges? “Laurel and Hardy. Their humor struck a note in me. I got to meet Stan [LaurelR. Of course] he looked different; he was quite a bit older] but he still had that familiar laugh. [Laurel and HardyR just made you laugh. They were so] so innocent. And of course] Stan was a writer. He was multitalented.”
Favorite topic to joke about: “Probably myself? [LaughsR Audiences immediately identify with it.”
She
Favorite episode of The Bob Newhart Show: ‘‘ ‘Over the ,iver and Through the Woods]’ where we do the best job we can] having drunk a lot of alcohol] trying to pronounce moo goo gai pan. But then there’s another one [‘A Jackie Story’R: I go into my office] and there’s a ventriloquist there with his dummy. I say] ‘Well] how can I help you?’ And he says] ‘I wish you’d speak to Danny.’ That’s the name of the dummy. ‘Danny wants to break up the act and go out on his own.’”
Favorite way to spend a Sunday morning: “Oh, I’m not the dumbest guy in the world] so my favorite thing on Sunday is reading Parade magazine.”