He was most recently seen in The Big Bang Theory and made endless appearances on The Tonight Show. 

But Newhart will always be remembered for the final episode of his second series, "Newhart," that will forever enshrine him in television history. It took place in the bedroom of his first series, "The Bob Newhart Show," with his former TV wife in bed next to him, and is often called the greatest finale in sitcom history.

Bob Newhart, Comedy Icon, Dies at 94

The New York Times dissects that infamous Newhart finale, justifiably called the greatest ending of a TV show in history. 

I've always wondered how they managed to keep the secret until airtime, given that it was shot before a live audience. How could you see that and not tell everyone? But the writers managed to distract the press with a false ending that I'd also have loved to see.

"The writers included a fake ending in the script in which Dick met God after getting knocked out by the golf ball; the showbiz press ran with that news, speculating on who Newhart would get to play God. The show’s production team built the Hartley bedroom set in secret and kept it hidden until they shot the scene, knowing that as soon as the studio audience saw the décor, they would start applauding..."

"Former TV wife Susanne Pleshette said she had a code name she had to use whenever she called in to the office to arrange her appearance, so the news wouldn’t leak. On filming day, she had to hide out in a trailer for six hours so she wouldn’t be spotted by audience members."

The ‘Newhart’ Finale Was One of Bob Newhart’s Boldest TV Moments

It's incredible to think the Telemeter looked for all the world like the kind of vending machine you'd use to buy a can of pop or pay for parking. But that's how it appeared.


 

I believe both of your favourite tracks are played often in the Funny 820 rotation. Enjoy them while you can!

mace wrote:

Before his successful television career, Bob Newhart had three best selling comedy albums in the early 1960s. The Button Down Mind of Bob Newhart spent 14 weeks at #1 on the Billboard LP Chart in 1960.  His followup, The Button Down Mind Strikes Back, spent one week on top in 1961. Behind the Button Down Mind of Bob Newhart peaked at #10 in 1962. Two of my favourite tracks are The Driving Instructor and Bus Driving School.

My favourite one from those days was the one where he was Mrs Webb's driving instructor.
 

My wife didn't learn to drive until she was about 40. One Sunday, during that period of time, Gilmour's Albums was on the radio while we were driving in the car. He played Newhart's driving instuctor. Our son was just a kid back then and it broke him right up.