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Bob (1992)
Poor Bob
As others have commented, "Bob" is a tale of two shows in one and neither getting a fair chance.
"Bob" - Take 1
In "Bob Pt 1, " Bob plays a cartoonist who created the short lived comic Mad Dog in the 50's or 60's, and for the past 20 years or so, has worked as a greeting card artist. Fast forward to 1992 and Mad Dog is resurrected by a comic publisher and Bob is now back to drawing the Mad Dog comic. Surrounded by unlikeable supporting characters in an office environment, Bob from the get go, seems perpetually annoyed to be around them. Especially his young overbearing boss, Harlan. The writers clearly sensed Harlan's hard edges were too much so mid-way through the series they softened him up (and then he has barely one scene per show thereafter.)
Others, including Chad and Alvey fair somewhat better as young Gen X-ers, complete with flannel shirts and cynical attitudes. They provided some comic relief and good generational exchanges with the older Bob, but the chemistry is just not quite there. Prior to Friends fame, Lisa Krudow shows up and dates Alvey and they were great together. Too bad they didn't keep her as a regular supporting player but maybe she knew when to get out.
And speaking of lacking chemistry, Bob, on a scale of one to ten, musters a three with his wife Kate and a four with his daughter Tricia. Bob, in previous sitcoms always had a strong independent wife who grounded him and had a career and life of her own. No such luck here. Kate apparently stays at home waiting for Bob to come home or pops in his office just to tell him she's going shopping for the afternoon. Insert groan here.
As for his daughter, Tricia has an ongoing problem of boyfriend troubles which, provides some comic relief but empathy as well. Cynthia Steveson as Tricia gives it her all in her portrayal despite the rather indifference of her parents. There may have been a good reason Bob never had children in his previous sitcoms.
But a few episodes showed true potential to bring these characters together in some entertaining way. For every show that showed promise, and some did, the next one eradicated that progress and we're back to grumpy Bob. At least the house cat, Otto provided continuous comic relief but then again, cats can't act. We were lucky Otto could react on cue.
The other problem with this show is the 90's sitcom tendencies. Characters diminish each other in insulting ways and the scenes abruptly end without context or just move on to the next scene.
"Bob" Take 2:
So, now here's the second version of "Bob" (with a new opening and extremely short theme song), that was changed mid-way through the first session. The family returns but the Mad Dog comic is discontinued and Bob is now in a completely new office environment and is now the president of the greeting card company. Betty White joins the cast as Bob's new boss and her son, Pete was supposed to get Bob's job. Pete tries to make the best of it (lots of whining yet very jealous of Bob), but can't. This character is worse then Harlan in the first version of "Bob."
Bob is less cranky here and there is more warmth between Bob and Kate (who still doesn't have much to do). Tricia still is having boyfriend problems and in one episode, Pete and Tricia go on a date much to Bob's chagrin (and ours with a preposterous dinner engagement which they all have together.)
But, the last two episodes we're actually very well written and quite funny, especially the episode with Dick Martin and Peter Bonerz (who reprised his role as Jerry Robinson, the dentist from the 70's Newhart show in a brief cameo.) For die hard Newhart fans, and I am one, this cameo is awesome and was hysterical.
So, here we have "Bob Pt. 2" appearing to find itself and maybe, just maybe, actually developing into a good show. But, like "Bob Pt. 1", the plug was pulled quickly on this version too.
The result: One show with two versions in the same year that quickly dies on the vine. There was a good show in each - somewhere. Newhart deserved better and so did his fans.
Joe's World (1979)
Pretty decent show
I remember this and it a pretty good show overall but didn't last long sadly.
Bret Maverick (1981)
Welcome back, Maverick
Not being that familiar with the original series, this was my first introduction to Garner's classic character. I did like The Rockford Files and I can see the similarities between Jim Rockford and Bret Maverick, as Garner's easy going style suits both. A little more than a western version of Rockford, here, Maverick must rely on a series of excellent supporting characters to keep his schemes from getting to far out of control. While Maverick never loses, as the great theme song reminds us, he comes awful close in each episode and it is usually played for comic effect.
A little slower and relaxed in Sweetwater, this version has Maverick settled down instead of drifting from town to town. This allows Maverick to have a real presence in town: part redeemed con artist, unofficial mayor and the guy to go to when things get rough.
NBC gave up on this series way too soon and it had decent ratings. With Garner's built in fan based, top executives were too eager to pull the plug as NBC struggled mightily during this time period (they cut short William Conrad's Nero Wolfe too soon as well). This early cancellation was a real shame. The last episode revealed a very fun con story, when, within the last minute, Jack Kelly returned as Brett's brother Bart. It was a great setup for what was supposed to be the return of Bart on a weekly basis. Instead, we get a playful brief interaction between the two of them that sadly, revealed what could have been versus the beginning of a whole new set of adventures for the lead principles. Sad.
But, it's on dvd and check it out if your a fan of Garner. He slips into the role gracefully and the show overall is well written.
Phyllis (1975)
Diminished character but still worth watching
The biggest disappointment for me with this show is how the writers diminished the main trait that made Leachman's character Phyllis so memorable from the MTM show: Her command of any situation regardless of how overbearing Phyllis acted.
By softening up Phyllis, in an attempt make her seem more vulnerable and likeable, they removed the parts that made you say "she's a busy body but well, I still like her." In her own show, she is lost, whimpering and/or begging for a job, attention, anything to be taken seriously. She has zero confidence and that's one thing Phyllis didn't have trouble with previously. Her over confidence was part of what made her so funny because deep down was very insecure.
I don't blame Leachman, she is still awesome but here, she is still playing a supporting character, looking for the lead to appear. Another odd thing is that when Phyllis' husband Lars dies, he leaves her penniless (very hard to believe but whatever) and she packs up from Minneapolis to start anew in San Francisco. She and her daughter Bess move in with her in-laws, who show no signs of sadness over recently losing their son.
Lars was everything to Phyllis and on this show, she gets no empathy or sympathy but rather, an occasional pat on the back and a "now, now, don't worry about Lars, he's in a better place" from her father in-law. Her mother in-law is portrayed for mostly comedic effect and seems oblivious to the fact that she just lost her son. Meanwhile, Phyllis is in tears. You're almost waiting for Mary Richard's to make an appearance so Phyllis would have someone to lean on and be reassured everything will be ok in due time.
The big star of this show is Judith Lowry as Mother Dexter, a prequel to Sophia from The Golden Girls with her "shoot from the hip" attitude. She s a hoot and steals every scene she's in.
But with that said, I still love Cloris Leachman's character and she makes the best of it. It does have a lot of funny lines and generally well written. The scenes with her daughter Bess are still terrific and they have great chemistry. I just wish they wouldn't have watered down the character Phyllis so much. Very similar to what happened to Valerie Harper's Rhoda, once she divorced Joe on her spin-off series. It's like drinking a flat sofa. It still has remnants of the original flavor, but it doesn't quite taste the same.
704 Hauser (1994)
Another lost Lear show!
I recall this series and enjoyed it very much. A unique concept of a new family moving into the old Bunker household. Any chance this and other rare Lear series would see the light of day again?
A Nero Wolfe Mystery (2001)
Entertaining but...
Chaykin's portrayal, at least in the first season, barks too much for my taste. Hutton's Goodwin at times is almost abusive to his boss as well. But stylistically, this show is very well done and there was no expense spared regarding costumes, sets and the like. The 90 minute format helps tremendously to allow all the pieces to come together to lead up to the final reveal of the guilty party. The jazz infused soundtrack is almost to peppy for the seriousness of the crimes committed as well but it fits ok with the era it's set in. Pretty faithful to the books as well from what I've read of them but I still prefer the cast from the Conrad series a bit more. The revolving cast of actors playing different characters in each episode sans the main principles gets a bit confusing too.
Nero Wolfe (1981)
Very well done!
Verified Purchase
I thoroughly enjoyed this show back in 1981 and so glad to own it now on DVD. It was really gaining momentum but NBC killed it before it had a fair chance. Loved Conrad and Horsley in the lead roles. My first introduction to Wolfe as well and while the hour format comprised the stories a bit, it's still my definitive version of Nero Wolfe!