Bob Newhart, the beacon of humor, turned his natural stammer into a trademark of his comedic repertoire, drawing laughter and admiration on the screen. With his dry wit & the unassuming charm of a next-door neighbor, the late actor donned the hat of a bewildered psychologist in his hit series, The Bob Newhart Show, framing a niche for himself. But his stammer, a stroke of serendipity, was the brick and mortar of an illustrious career.
It had once provoked the perfect riposte from a clueless TV producer, who failed to see the goldmine in Newhart’s stuttered gold. The latter defended his signature stutter, quipping that his stammer wasn’t merely an act, but rather the hammer with which he forged his palatial “Beverly Hills” house.
Bob Newhart’s Epic Response to Producer’s ‘No Stammer’ Request
Bob Newhart, who died on July 18, 2024, has left behind a legacy of comedic brilliance that will forever be remembered by fans around the world. From his iconic stammer to his deadpan humor, he had a unique way of making audiences laugh until their sides hurt. But did you know that the $65 million-rich actor (Celebrity Net Worth), once had to defend his trademark stammer to a producer?
In true Bob Newhart fashion, he had the perfect response when a TV producer asked him to cut down on his stammer because it was making the show run too long. James Burrows, who directed Newhart on The Bob Newhart Show, recounted a story of the late comedian’s response to executives who questioned his stammer (via Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend podcast).
One of the producers said to him, I think in the pilot, ‘Can you not stammer so much?’ He said, ‘That stammer built a house in Beverly Hill’.
This metaphorical jab at the producer’s ignorance perfectly encapsulated Newhart’s quick wit & uncompromising commitment to his unique comedic style.
Well, that is not all. Conan O’Brien then recounted another stammer story involving the late actor. According to the host, when faced with audio engineers trying to edit out Newhart’s stammers and pauses on his records, the latter stood his ground, saying:
You’re screwing with the formula here.
This defiance against those who tried to change his natural way of speaking, speaks volumes about his dedication to staying true to himself and his comedic genius.
The Gift of Laughter: Bob Newhart’s Enduring Contributions to Comedy
For the beloved and enduring entertainer Bob Newhart, much of his success, according to the man himself, hinges on a charmingly distinctive stammer. He told NPR in 2005 that the stammer suited his “minimalist” comedy style. The actor added:
I like to get laughter out of the least and I think one way you do it is by giving the audience some credit for some intelligence.
This unique mannerism played a pivotal role in his live album, The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart, which skyrocketed to the number-one spot on Billboard’s albums chart in 1960 (see Vulture). In the same chat with NPR, Newhart shared:
If you show fear, you’re dead meat. So there was a lot of bravado in the first three or four, five years of my career. … I didn’t want people to catch on to me, you know, how I really didn’t know what I was doing.
From enchanting TV audiences as Dr. Bob Hartley in his eponymous 1972 TV sitcom, The Bob Newhart Show, to eliciting chuckles as Professor Proton in The Big Bang Theory, Newhart’s stammer has been an integral thread in the fabric of his illustrious career.
In response to an NPR question about obstacles in his life—be they personal or professional—Newhart provided the following response:
No, I’ve lived in an incredible time. I’ve lived in the days of Johnny Carson, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin — incredibly rewarding times.
Anchored by his unpretentious, everyman appeal and brilliant comedic timing, Newhart’s legacy exemplifies the efficacy of authentically embracing one’s quirks.
Rest in peace, Bob Newhart; you will be dearly missed!
