7.4/10230 votes#1 - In the Beginning...
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 10/25/1982
Dick and Joanna Loudon purchase the Stratford Inn, a remnant of colonial times in scenic Vermont. Their caretaker, George Utley, and his family have tended the inn for decades. Dick hires a maid, Leslie, and meets their next-door neighbor (and habitual liar) Kirk. The inn opens for business amid myriad start-up problems.
Director: John Rich
Writer: Barry Kemp
8.1/10212 votes#2 - Mrs. Newton's Body Lies A'Mould'ring in the Grave
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 11/1/1982
Dick and Joanna learn that there's a body buried in the basement. The Loudons try to get the body moved to the church cemetery, only to find that she was a witch.
Director: Will Mackenzie
Writer: Katherine Green
7.6/10171 votes#3 - Hail to the Councilman
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 11/8/1982
Dick gets his hopes up after two city officials suggest he run for town council.
Director: Will Mackenzie
Writer: N/A
7.4/10160 votes#4 - Shall We Gather at the River?
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 11/15/1982
Joanna falls through the ice at the annual River Day festival. Dick is on the outs when Joanna blames him for everything bad that happens in her life.
Director: Will Mackenzie
Writer: N/A
6.8/10155 votes#5 - This Probably is Condemned
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 11/22/1982
Dick and the gang pitch in to help Kirk get the Minuteman up to code after its shut down.
Director: Will Mackenzie
Writer: N/A
7.2/10119 votes#6 - No Tigers at the Circus
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 11/29/1982
Dick spirals into a profound depression after the Stratford is denied in its bid to be classified an historic landmark.
Director: Will Mackenzie
Writer: N/A
6.9/10133 votes#7 - The Perfect Match
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 12/6/1982
Leslie's high school sweetheart returns from far off places to ask for her hand in marriage, to Kirk's obvious displeasure.
Director: Dick Martin
Writer: Stuart Silverman
6.9/10134 votes#8 - Some are Born Writers...Others Have Writers Thrust Upon Them
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 12/13/1982
Dick praises an aspiring writer's work to avoid hurting her feelings. The writer's enthusiastic husband quits his job to allow his wife to write full time. It's up to Dick to secure her an agent and teach her to write, all before their savings runs out in a month and a half.
Director: Will Mackenzie
Writer: N/A
7.9/10136 votes#9 - No Room at the Inn
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 12/20/1982
The inn is swamped when 24 guests are snowed in on Christmas Eve. While Kirk tries to keep the guests entertained, Dick tries to find room for a traveller named Joseph and his pregnant wife.
Director: Dick Martin
Writer: Barry Kemp
6.7/10131 votes#10 - The Senator's Wife Was Indiscreet
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/27/1982
A U.S. Senator's wife checks into the inn and holds a press conference to announce she's divorcing her inattentive husband.
Director: Dick Martin
Writer: N/A
7.3/10131 votes#11 - Sprained Dreams
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 1/3/1983
Dick jeopardizes Leslie's lifelong dream of becoming a world-class skier when he accidentally falls on her.
Director: Will Mackenzie
Writer: N/A
7.3/10126 votes#12 - The Way We Thought We Were
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 1/10/1983
George's old flame visits the inn. Both are disappointed when the other isn't as they remember.
Director: Will Mackenzie
Writer: N/A
7.2/10126 votes#13 - The Visitors
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 1/17/1983
Dick and Joanna cant wait for their 'fun' friends to visit, but soon become perturbed after their friends treat the Loudons not as friends, but innkeepers.
Director: Michael Zinberg
Writer: N/A
7.4/10139 votes#14 - What is This Thing Called Lust?
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 1/31/1983
Leslie's attractive cousin Stephanie visits Vermont to settle her emotions as she nears her wedding day. Stephanie soon finds herself lusting after Kirk.
Director: Will Mackenzie
Writer: N/A
6.4/10130 votes#15 - Breakfast Theater
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 2/7/1983
Washed-up comic Manny Silver visits the Stratford, reminding Dick of the 'debt' he owes Manny for starting his writing career. Manny shames Dick into letting him perform in the inn, over Joanna's strenuous objections.
Director: Will Mackenzie
Writer: N/A
7.8/10134 votes#16 - Ricky Nelson, Up Your Nose
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 2/14/1983
Kirk goes into the hospital for surgery to remove a foreign object from his nose, leaving Larry, Darryl and a very svelte Darryl in charge of the cafe. Dick and Joanna, about to go to New York for a writer's conference have to bail out the boys when an unexpected crowd turns up at the cafe.
Director: Will Mackenzie
Writer: N/A
7.8/10130 votes#17 - A View from the Bench
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 2/21/1983
Dick, Kirk, and George go to Boston to use their bench passes for a Celtics game. Dick loses his pass. Meanwhile, Leslie and Joanna wait at the inn for incoming guest, Daniel J. Travanti.
Director: Will Mackenzie
Writer: N/A
7.8/10125 votes#18 - The Boy Who Cried Goat
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 3/13/1983
When Kirk's cafe is robbed, his history of deception comes back to haunt him as the insurance investigator refuses to believe his story.
Director: Will Mackenzie
Writer: Barbara Hall
7.5/10134 votes#19 - Heaven Knows Mr. Utley
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 3/20/1983
George is the town laughingstock when he claims to have spied an UFO.
Director: Will Mackenzie
Writer: N/A
7.4/10122 votes#20 - You're Homebody 'til Somebody Loves You
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 3/27/1983
Dick inadvertently insults Joanna, calling her a homebody. Joanna takes a job with a travel agency in an attempt to assert herself.
Director: Will Mackenzie
Writer: N/A
7.4/10125 votes#21 - Grandma, What a Big Mouth You Have
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 4/3/1983
Kirk's grandmother visits on the same night he finally gets a date with Leslie.
Director: Will Mackenzie
Writer: N/A
8.2/10144 votes#22 - I Enjoy Being a Guy
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 4/10/1983
Dick loves being 'just one of the guys' when Chester and Jim invite him to join their golf foursome. Dick is distressed to find that their gambling habit and lousy golfing abilities make him the big winner. Dick tries to figure out a way to give the money back without breaking 'the guy code'.
Director: Will Mackenzie
Writer: Bob Perlow, Gene Braunstein
The Best Episodes of Newhart Season 1
Every episode of Newhart Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Newhart Season 1!
Dick Loudon and his wife Joanna decide to leave life in New York City and buy a little inn in Vermont. Dick is a how-to...
Genres:ComedyDrama
Network:CBS
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"In the Beginning..." is the best rated episode of "Newhart" season 1. It scored 7.4/10 based on 230 votes. Directed by John Rich and written by Barry Kemp, it aired on 10/25/1982. This episode is rated 0.7 points higher than the second-best, "Mrs. Newton's Body Lies A'Mould'ring in the Grave".