‘BOB’S’ A BARKER NOW

In his third TV sitcom, low-keyed Bob Newhart has developed not only a bark, but a bite as well.

Newhart starred from 1972 to 1978 as the sympathetic and understanding psychologist in “The Bob Newhart Show.” In 1982, he returned for eight years as the mild-mannered innkeeper on “Newhart.”

In those shows, Newhart seldom raised his voice or lost his temper. Now he has a lot to bark about in “Bob” on CBS. A new partner who has been foisted upon him is trying to teach tricks of the ‘90s to Bob’s old dog.

Newhart plays Bob McKay, a comic book artist whose long-dormant, superhero creation “Mad Dog” is revived and given a new look. How new that look should be is the bone of contention between McKay and his new partner, Harlan.

“Bob McKay gets madder,” Newhart says. “He’s more fun to play because he’s petulant and petty. He’s defending his view of ‘Mad Dog’ against Harlan. His anger comes out of a real principle: not letting someone tamper with his vision.”

Newhart’s show stars Carlene Watkins as his wife, Cynthia Stevenson as his daughter, John Cygan as his partner, and Ruth Kobart, Andrew Bilgore and Timothy Fall as workers at the comic book company. The show was created by Cheri Steinkellner, Bill Steinkellner and Phoef Sutton, who formerly produced “Cheers.”

Newhart says his new comedy speaks of today.

“Although they have similarities, I view the three characters from the three shows as different people,” he says. “In the first one I was a reactor. I reacted to my patients. I had to treat them with kid gloves. The 1970s was a time of introspection when we looked at ourselves. For the second show we tried to capitalize on the character. The guests at the hotel were like patients.

“The 1980s was a time to get out of the rat race, run a hotel in Vermont. In this one he’s broader and more flawed and probably closer to who I really am. And the 1990s is a time for defending what you believe in and sticking with values that have endured.”

Newhart developed his low-key, understated humor after a try at law school and brief stints as a copywriter, clerk and accountant. During that time he acted in a Chicago theatrical stock company, and he and a friend began to amuse themselves making up comical telephone calls.

He and Ed Gallagher did the routines on radio in 1956-58. “We were on three stations,” he recalls. “We’d record it on equipment at the advertising agency where Ed worked. It was great discipline for me because it forced me to write five routines a week. They were just outlines and we’d ad-lib the rest. I was forced to become a single when Ed moved to New York.”

Newhart’s first album, “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart,” sold 750,000 copies and became the first comedy album to be No. 1 on the LP chart. From there he appeared on “The Garry Moore Show,” “The Ed Sullivan Show” and became a regular on “The Tonight Show.”

“The Bob Newhart Show” in 1962 won a Peabody Award, and on the variety show he became famous for the line “Same to you, fella.” He starred in such movies as “Hot Millions,” “Catch 22,” “Cold Turkey,” “Thursday’s Game,” “Little Miss Marker” and “The First Family.”

His last movie was for television, “The Entertainer.” He played a second-rate performer who appeared with a chimpanzee. The movie was a flop.