Bob Newhart Special Dominates Networks
By Movieguide® Contributor
BOB NEWHART: A LEGACY OF LAUGHTER, a special celebrating the late comedian’s life and career, was the most-watched program across networks the night it aired.
The CBS special hit 4.1 million viewers, “surpassing the viewership of AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR (2.7 million viewers on NBC), THE BACHELORETTE (2.6 million viewers on ABC), NAME THAT TUNE (1.4 million viewers on Fox) and ALL AMERICAN: HOMECOMING (322,000 viewers on the CW) — and the most-watched program of the night when excluding sports telecasts,” per Variety.
The tribute to the comedian is also now the most-watched Entertainment Tonight special to date.
BOB NEWHART: A LEGACY OF LAUGHTER features behind-the-scenes footage from Newhart’s 70-year career, as well as interviews with friends and co-stars Jim Parsons, Will Ferrell, Reese Witherspoon, Jason Bateman and Michael Weatherly.
Newhart passed away earlier this month. He was 94 years old.
“Our father passed away this morning surrounded by all our family,” a statement from his family read. “We feel blessed that he is reunited with our mom and all of his friends waiting for him. Thank you for all of your well wishes. He was deeply loved by all, but especially by his children and grandchildren.”
The stand-up comedian rose to fame in the 1960s, entertaining audiences with his telephone monologues and deadpan delivery. He parlayed his comedy success into a television career, including the popular sitcoms THE BOB NEWHART SHOW and NEWHART.
He entertained a new generation of fans in the popular Christmas movie ELF, as well as on the sitcom THE BIG BANG THEORY.
Since his death, Newhart has topped the comedy charts.
“Something Like This…: The Bob Newhart Anthology debuts at No. 9 on Billboard’s Comedy Albums chart this week,” Forbes reported. “The set, which was released in 2001, brings the funnyman back to the top 10 on the list for just the second time in his career.”
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