Another Disastrous Christmas on ‘The Bob Newhart Show’

“Holidays With the Hartleys” continues.

On December 24, 1977, CBS aired “’Twas the Pie Before Christmas,” a “Bob Newhart Show” episode in which Chicago psychologist Bob Hartley (Newhart) and his wife Emily (Suzanne Pleshette) throw a Christmas Day party that no one wants to attend.

The Hartleys’ friends Jerry and Howard (Peter Bonerz, Bill Daily) are in no mood to celebrate after they attend a hockey game together and a puck flies into the stands: Jerry says he gets to keep the puck because he ended up with it; Howard says he’s the rightful owner because it struck him in the head first.

Bob’s patients don’t want to party after they receive Bob’s Christmas card – which not only includes season’s greetings, but also the news that he’s raising his rates.

And Bob’s receptionist Carol (Marcia Wallace) doesn’t want to attend the Hartleys’ party because he blames her for announcing the rate-hike at Christmastime.

In the end, everyone forgives each other and shows up at the Hartleys’ – along with the “hit man” that Bob’s patient Mr. Carlin (Jack Riley) hired to throw a pie in Bob’s face.

See for yourself: “’Twas the Pie Before Christmas” is not (legally) available online or on video.

 

On TV

Here’s the prime-time lineup for Saturday, December 24, 1977:

8: “Tabitha” (ABC), “Bob Newhart Show” (CBS), “Bionic Woman”* (NBC)

8:30: “Operation Petticoat” (ABC), “We’ve Got Each Other” (CBS)

9: “Starsky & Hutch”* (ABC), “Jeffersons” (CBS), “In Search of Noah’s Ark”* (NBC)

9:30: “Tony Randall Show” (CBS)

10: “Love Boat” (ABC), “Kojak” (CBS)

* Repeat

 

The Record

For the week of December 18, 1977:

Top novel: “The Silmarillion” by J.R.R. Tolkien

Top song: “You Light Up My Life” by Debby Boone

Top movie: “Saturday Night Fever”

In the news: Record numbers of blacks held elective office

 

 

Captions: Bob and Emily receive a Christmas tree from Howard – in a wrapped box (top); Bob’s patient Jerry, Mr. Peterson – played by John Fiedler – and Mr. Carlin each get hit with pies meant for Bob (middle); an illustration of Bob Newhart from TV Guide’s December 24, 1977, issue (bottom).