About Christmas TV History

Monday, December 13, 2010

Chicago Christmas in the Snow

left to right: Bob, Howard, Carol, Jerry and Emily on The Bob Newhart Show


As I sit here snowed-in because of a blizzard currently dumping on Northeast Ohio, I'm reminded of the second season Christmas episode of The Bob Newhart Show. In 1973's "I'm Dreaming of A Slight Christmas," Dr. Bob Hartley and his wife, Emily, anticipate spending Christmas Eve together. Unfortunately, Bob finds himself stuck at the office--comforting an anxious Mr.Peterson and controlling the drunken office party. A power outage brought on by a blizzard adds further complications to the evening. Bob finally makes it home only to sleep through Emily’s ruined dinner.


Carol is enjoying her holiday Irish coffee!

You can watch this episode on Hulu. Click here for that link.

Fans of the Bob Newhart Show may be delighted to know that there are six Christmas episodes--one each year the series was made:

1972's "His Busiest Season"
1973's "I'm Dreaming of A Slight Christmas"
1974's "Home Is Where the Hurt Is"
1975's "Bob Has to Have His Tonsils Out, So He Spends Christmas Eve in the Hospital"
1976's "Making Up is the Thing To Do"
and 1977's "'Twas the Pie Before Christmas"

This series also produced an incredibly funny Thanksgiving episode (and my all-time favorite Bob Newhart Show episode)--the 1975's "Over The River and Through the Woods." This fourth season episode is available for viewing on DVD and on Netflix.

Speaking of Chicago: I'll be signing copies of both of my books at The Book Cellar in Chicago on Wednesday, Dec. 15th at 7pm. See you there!

2 comments:

  1. Don't know if this qualifies as a "Christmas" episode, but Ronnie Spector will be on Letterman tonight(12/15) singing Christmas songs from her new CD.

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  2. Very fond memories of this show as a kid. One of my recently departed Dad's favorites. He was a big fan of Newhart... having all the Newhart comedy albums etc. as well as being a dermatologist himself so he could relate to the wacky patients etc.

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