Bob!

""Well, Johnny, I'd already done The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart, so we had a choice of ether calling the new show Bob! or The Show. I think we made the right call.""

- Bob Newhart on The Tonight Show.

Bob Newhart's fourth series and third comedy, Bob! was a 1992–93 CBS series which starred Newhart as Bob McKay, a graphic artist who started out as a comic book artist and currently works at a greeting card company. When Ace Comics contacts him with an offer to revive his 1950s superhero comic Mad Dog, he quits his greeting card job and accepts the job to help relaunch his comic. Unknown to him, however, is that his partner, Harlan Stone, envisions a darker, edgier Mad Dog for the 1990s.

Not to be confused with the 2012 sitcom ¡Rob!


 * As Himself: "Hey! It's the guy from Cheers!" (A running joke that none of Bob's co-workers knows "Norm's" real name.)
 * The Danza: "Hi, Bob!"
 * Defictionalization: During the run of the series, Marvel Comics printed a Mad Dog comic, complete with Ace Comics logo. In reflection of the series plot, the book was divided into two sections, one half a parody of Golden Age comics with the 1950s version of the character, the other half a parody of Dark Knight-style comic reboots. Also included were a Letters section, and a "From Our Publisher" page authored by Bob McKay.
 * Excited Show Title!: For the first season. Once the setting changes to the greeting card company, Bob! becomes just Bob.
 * Only Sane Man: As with his previous two shows, Newhart surrounded himself with oddballs.
 * Retool: The most disasterous second season retool since AfterMASH. Despite high praise from the critics for its first season, Executive Meddling reared its ugly head. The comic book is cancelled, 90% of the cast is replaced, the title loses its exclamation mark, and Bob goes back to his old job at the greeting card company. Not even new co-star Betty White could save this one.
 * Short Runners
 * Work Com