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NEWHART: VERMONT TODAY (TV)

Summary

One in this series of comedies about Dick and Joanna Loudon, who run a country inn in Vermont.

In this episode, Dick ponders accepting a dull writing assignment about glass-blowing as Kirk arrives with some odd souvenirs from Niagara Falls. Television producer Michael Harris stops by and proposes that Dick should host his own local series, and he immediately hits it off with a smitten Stephanie. Dick, highly skeptical about the idea, visits the studios. There, he receives an on-air dressing-down from no-nonsense TV cook Pearl Reskoff, who does not appreciate studio "chatterboxes." Michael then explains that Dick's show, "Vermont Today," will highlight notable Vermont figures in a "classy" interview format. Dick changes his mind and accepts the position, though Joanna quickly realizes that he has failed to ask a number of essential questions about the series.

Michael and Stephanie return from their highly successful first date, with Michael assuring Dick that he has lined up a series of "awesome" and intellectual interviewees for his initial shows. On the first day of shooting, however, Dick is annoyed to hear that there has been a last-minute change and he will now be sitting down with "the world's smallest horse," rather than an eminent professor. The horse's decidedly non-Vermont-based owner, Jocko Braverman, refuses to offer any proof that his horse is indeed the world's smallest. Dick soon receives several on-air calls from "challengers." Michael encourages Dick to go along with it, sure that viewers will enjoy the surprises; several other colorful characters arrive on the set with animals of various size and age as Dick struggles to handle the chaotic scene with "dignity." Commercials deleted.

Details

  • NETWORK: CBS
  • DATE: March 19, 1984 9:30 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:24:06
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: B:65153
  • GENRE: Comedy
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Vermont; Television production and direction
  • SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1982-1990
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Barry Kemp … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
  • Stephen C. Grossman … Coordinating Producer
  • Sheldon Bull … Producer, Developed by, Writer
  • Jay Kleckner … Associate Producer
  • John Tracy … Director
  • Emily Marshall … Writer
  • Nelson Riddle … Music by
  • Henry Mancini … Theme Music by
  • Bob Newhart … Cast, Dick Loudon
  • Mary Frann … Cast, Joanna Loudon
  • Steven Kampmann … Cast, Kirk Devane
  • Julia Duffy … Cast, Stephanie Vanderkellen
  • Tom Poston … Cast, George Utley
  • Peter Scolari … Cast, Michael Harris
  • Anne Haney … Cast, Pearl Reskoff
  • Britt Leach … Cast, Jocko Braverman
  • John C. Lawlor … Cast, Director of Vermont Today
  • Lucy Lee Flippin … Cast, Bassett Hound Lady
  • Hennen Chambers … Cast, Horse Owner #1
  • John C. Becher … Cast, Horse Owner #2