Bob Newhart

Chicago native Bob Newhart started in comedy when humor was dominated by quick-witted one-liners. Guys like Bob Hope would come out with polished finesse, shooting through jokes like clay pigeons. Then enters this soft-spoken bald dude with a phone in his hand. Instead of acknowledging the adoring public waiting to laugh, he takes his time speaking with a nonexistent person on the other end of the phone line. It was this oddball approach that distinguished Newhart as a must-see act, so different from others at the time. Suddenly, comedy started shifting to fit his style. While modern stars like Ellen Degeneres and Garry Shandling emulate him, Newhart’s comedy is still one of a kind. 

Updated 10/09/2011