The first episode of the popular 70s comedy sitcom follows psychologist, Robert Hartley (Bob Newhart), as he prepares his "Fear of Flying" patient group for their final test: an airplane trip from Chicago to New York City. What Bob doesn't realize is that his wife, Emily (Suzanne Pleshette), is also afraid to fly, learning this after relaying to her the news he booked her on the flight with him for a weekend in New York City. The format for this show often included neighbors, busybody Margaret (Patricia Smith) and airplane pilot, Howard (Bill Daly) coming over to visit at times, and time spent with Bob and his practice which includes some unique patients (and their various neuroses). In his building in Chicago, there is the unflappable secretary, Carol (Marcia Wallace) and the dentist, Jerry (Peter Bonerz), who works nearby (Jerry has access to Carol's secretarial duties as well).
In this episode, even Penny Marshall (Laverne & Shirley) pops up as a stewardess. The phone conversation between Bob and an airline booking agent is classic (having to describe how many will be on the flight, the name of the flight, and the date of the flight all kind of get Bob nearly tongue-tied). Bill Daly is such a scene-stealer as the nervy pilot who has his own way of calming those needing the reassurance of flying, but at the same time he can say the wrong things that often inadvertently ruin what Bob set out to dissolve particularly in the case of his own wife. There's an amusing scene where Bob can't help but giggle when Carol goes all "sitcom weepy" over humiliating her husband in front of his patients when insisting the plane turn around and allow her off. The elevator comment by Howard is hilarious as it immediately created another fear Bob will have to help his patients overcome! Bob realizing that the honeymoon spent in Gary, Indiana, was because of the fear of flying is a hoot. But Bob stutteringly and discomfortingly trying to divert situations that escalate into something worse is what I always loved about the show.
My new interest in the show stems from nostalgia: I used to watch this when I would come home late from one of my first jobs. It'd be on Nick at Night (except much earlier in the morning when I would watch it in my late teens), and the cast of characters that were featured on the show just made it a delight. Being that Bob's practice deals with eccentricities and analyzing the quirks of those looking for answers to the ailments of their psyche opened up unlimited comic possibilities. This show took advantage and some real classic sitcom moments resulted.
In this episode, even Penny Marshall (Laverne & Shirley) pops up as a stewardess. The phone conversation between Bob and an airline booking agent is classic (having to describe how many will be on the flight, the name of the flight, and the date of the flight all kind of get Bob nearly tongue-tied). Bill Daly is such a scene-stealer as the nervy pilot who has his own way of calming those needing the reassurance of flying, but at the same time he can say the wrong things that often inadvertently ruin what Bob set out to dissolve particularly in the case of his own wife. There's an amusing scene where Bob can't help but giggle when Carol goes all "sitcom weepy" over humiliating her husband in front of his patients when insisting the plane turn around and allow her off. The elevator comment by Howard is hilarious as it immediately created another fear Bob will have to help his patients overcome! Bob realizing that the honeymoon spent in Gary, Indiana, was because of the fear of flying is a hoot. But Bob stutteringly and discomfortingly trying to divert situations that escalate into something worse is what I always loved about the show.
My new interest in the show stems from nostalgia: I used to watch this when I would come home late from one of my first jobs. It'd be on Nick at Night (except much earlier in the morning when I would watch it in my late teens), and the cast of characters that were featured on the show just made it a delight. Being that Bob's practice deals with eccentricities and analyzing the quirks of those looking for answers to the ailments of their psyche opened up unlimited comic possibilities. This show took advantage and some real classic sitcom moments resulted.
