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The Best Episodes of The Bob Newhart Show

Every episode of The Bob Newhart Show ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Bob Newhart Show!

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The Bob Newhart Show is an American situation comedy produced by MTM Enterprises, which aired 142 original episodes on CBS from September 16, 1972, to April 1, 1978. Comedian Bob Newhart portrays a psychologist having

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Bob Newhart Show Season 4 Episode 11 - Over the River and Through the Woods
    8.9/10(271 votes)

    S4:E11

    It's a stag Thanksgiving for Bob when Emily flies off to join a family reunion, leaving Bob to share the holiday with his male buddies.

    Director:James Burrows
    Writer:Bruce Kane

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  2. The Bob Newhart Show Season 6 Episode 22 - Happy Trails to You
    8.3/10(133 votes)

    S6:E22

    Bob gives up his psychological practice in Chicago to become a professor at a small college in Oregon.

    Directors:Peter Bonerz, Michael Zinberg
    Writers:Les Charles, Glen Charles, Lloyd Garver

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  3. The Bob Newhart Show Season 2 Episode 8 - Mister Emily Hartley
    8.2/10(165 votes)

    S2:E8

    Bob suffers an inferiority attack when a test reveals that Emily's IQ is higher than his.

    Director:Jerry London
    Writer:Charlotte Brown

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  4. The Bob Newhart Show Season 5 Episode 19 - Death Be My Destiny
    8.2/10(132 votes)

    S5:E19

    Bob strikes out against a friend's fear of falling, but succumbs to the same phobia himself when he is subjected to a harrowing elevator experience.

    Director:Michael Zinberg
    Writer:Sy Rosen

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  5. The Bob Newhart Show Season 6 Episode 12 - 'Twas the Pie Before Christmas
    8.2/10(112 votes)

    S6:E12

    Bob finds himself with unhappy and hostile patients who refuse to attend his Christmas party when they are mistakenly informed of a rate increase at the height of the Yuletide season. One patient is moved to hire a pie-throwing service.

    Director:Dick Martin
    Writer:Phil Davis

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  6. The Bob Newhart Show Season 1 Episode 1 - Fly the Unfriendly Skies
    8.1/10(343 votes)

    S1:E1

    Bob invites Emily to join his fear of flying group on a trip to New York City. Much to Bob's surprise he finds that Emily also has a fear of flying and refuses to go. After a conversation with Howard she decides to go only to back out after boarding the plane.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writers:Lorenzo Music, David Davis

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Bob Newhart Show

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  7. The Bob Newhart Show Season 2 Episode 14 - T. S. Elliot
    8.1/10(138 votes)

    S2:E14

    Bob's patient Elliot Carlin parades all his phobias and insecurities as he prepares to ask Carol Kester for a date. He then finds it even harder to accept her answer—which is "yes."

    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writers:Gerry Renert, Jeff Wilhelm

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  8. The Bob Newhart Show Season 3 Episode 11 - An American Family
    8.1/10(158 votes)

    S3:E11

    Emily's plans for a wonderful turkey dinner go downhill when Bob's mother and Emily's father begin insulting one another the night before Thanksgiving.

    Director:Peter Bonerz
    Writer:Charlotte Brown

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  9. The Bob Newhart Show Season 3 Episode 24 - The Ceiling Hits Bob
    8.1/10(132 votes)

    S3:E24

    Bob becomes the "oldest permanent psychologist in Chicago" when the ceiling in his office collapses and he has to set up shop wherever he can find the space.

    Director:Alan Rafkin
    Writers:Jay Tarses, Tom Patchett

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  10. The Bob Newhart Show Season 6 Episode 6 - A Day in the Life
    8.1/10(115 votes)

    S6:E6

    Bob's impulsive decision to leave town for a week is received with disastrous emotions by his patients, who seemingly can't make it without him.

    Director:Dick Martin
    Writers:Kathy Donnell, Madeline Di Maggio

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  11. The Bob Newhart Show Season 3 Episode 20 - My Business is Shrinking
    8.0/10(125 votes)

    S3:E20

    With his confidence fading as fast as his list of patients, Bob decides to follow Emily's advice and see a psychiatrist about his problem.

    Director:Alan Rafkin
    Writers:Arnie Kogen, Ray Jessel

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  12. The Bob Newhart Show Season 4 Episode 15 - Bob Has to Have His Tonsils Out, So He Spends Christmas Eve in the Hospital
    8.0/10(141 votes)

    S4:E15

    Christmas Eve finds Bob in the hospital with tonsillitis and an impending operation. Meanwhile, his friends are all suffering from an attack of Christmas-itis.

    Director:James Burrows
    Writers:Jay Tarses, Tom Patchett

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  13. The Bob Newhart Show Season 1 Episode 12 - Bob and Emily and Howard and Carol and Jerry
    7.9/10(196 votes)

    S1:E12

    Howard "floats" into Bob's office on Cloud Nine after having a tooth pulled. He is so poetic that Carol tells Emily, "I want him." Emily agrees to help Carol get him, and the two have an up-and-down romance.

    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writer:Charlotte Brown

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  14. The Bob Newhart Show Season 1 Episode 14 - His Busiest Season
    7.9/10(205 votes)

    S1:E14

    Christmas becomes a sad memory for Bob's group therapy session, and it's evident that "'tis not the season" for everyone to be jolly. Bob decides to invite the group over for Christmas Eve.

    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writers:Lorenzo Music, David Davis

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  15. The Bob Newhart Show Season 2 Episode 3 - Backlash
    7.9/10(158 votes)

    S2:E3

    One of Bob's more masculine patients enthusiastically slaps him on the back—and, unfortunately for Bob, it throws his back out. Even more unfortunately, Bob and Emily were supposed to be going to Mexico for a vacation.

    Director:George Tyne
    Writer:Susan Silver

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  16. The Bob Newhart Show Season 2 Episode 4 - Somebody Down Here Likes Me
    7.9/10(165 votes)

    S2:E4

    Rev. Dan Bradford seeks professional advice from Bob then makes a startling announcement in his Sunday sermon.

    Director:Jerry London
    Writer:Peter Meyerson

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  17. The Bob Newhart Show Season 2 Episode 9 - Mutiny on the Hartley
    7.9/10(141 votes)

    S2:E9

    Bob decides to meet the rising cost of living by raising his rates. But the members of his therapy group revolt when he picks the most inappropriate moment to tell them.

    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writers:Jay Tarses, Tom Patchett

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  18. The Bob Newhart Show Season 2 Episode 11 - Fit, Fat, and Forty-One
    7.9/10(143 votes)

    S2:E11

    Determined to lose eight pounds from around his middle, Bob goes on a strict diet. With Jerry's help, he joins a weight-reducing class that seems to be populated mostly by women.

    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writers:Bill Idelson, Harvey Miller

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  19. The Bob Newhart Show Season 2 Episode 15 - I'm Dreaming of a Slight Christmas
    7.9/10(161 votes)

    S2:E15

    Christmas Eve is almost spoiled when Bob is trapped in the office because of a power failure.

    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writers:Jay Tarses, Tom Patchett

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  20. The Bob Newhart Show Season 2 Episode 17 - The Modernization of Emily
    7.9/10(150 votes)

    S2:E17

    Emily decides to update her image with a kicky new wardrobe that she says is youthful and Bob says is childish.

    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writer:Charlotte Brown

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  21. The Bob Newhart Show Season 2 Episode 19 - Clink Shrink
    7.9/10(149 votes)

    S2:E19

    Hoping to make a contribution to society, Bob offers his psychological counseling services free to a parolee out on an armed-robbery conviction. But Bob seems to be more influenced by his patient's manner than the patient is by Bob's therapy.

    Director:Peter Bonerz
    Writers:Howard Storm, Paul Lichtman

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  22. The Bob Newhart Show Season 3 Episode 7 - Dr. Ryan's Express
    7.9/10(136 votes)

    S3:E7

    Bob's office routine becomes a wreck when Jerry hires a temporary receptionist. She's a very nice but very vague woman who can't even get Bob's name straight.

    Director:Alan Rafkin
    Writers:Jay Tarses, Tom Patchett

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  23. The Bob Newhart Show Season 4 Episode 3 - Death of a Fruitman
    7.9/10(136 votes)

    S4:E3

    Bob's patients observe tradition by planning a surprise party to honor the fourth year of the group's therapy sessions. When an unseen member, a Mr. Gianelli, threatens to turn the party into a disaster, Bob kicks him out of the group. His decision meets with instant group approval until Mr. Gianelli dies under a ton of zucchini.

    Director:Peter Bonerz
    Writers:Jay Tarses, Tom Patchett

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  24. The Bob Newhart Show Season 4 Episode 9 - Who is Mr. X?
    7.9/10(148 votes)

    S4:E9

    Bob accepts a seemingly innocent invitation to appear as the guest on a TV discussion program. He winds up in the jaws of a dilemma when the show host turns out to have the disposition of a shark.

    Director:Peter Bonerz
    Writer:Bruce Kane

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  25. The Bob Newhart Show Season 5 Episode 2 - Caged Fury
    7.9/10(126 votes)

    S5:E2

    The Hartleys miss their friend's gala Fourth of July Bicentennial party celebration when they become trapped in a storage locker.

    Director:Michael Zinberg
    Writers:Gordon Farr, Lynne Farr

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Best Episodes Summary

"Over the River and Through the Woods" is the best rated episode of "The Bob Newhart Show". It scored 8.9/10 based on 271 votes. Directed by James Burrows and written by Bruce Kane, it aired on 11/22/1975. This episode scored 0.6 points higher than the second highest rated, "Happy Trails to You".