The Big Bang Theory has seen many cameos over the years but one of them has remained favourite for loyal fans of the series. Emmy winner Bob Newhart, aka comic legend joined the show in season six for episode twenty two, The Proton Resur- gence. The episode had a similar impact on the comedy community, as Stephen Hawking’s first appearance did for The Big Bang Theory with the scientific community. Newhart’s involvement in the show made it one of the best comedy series of all time. The makers (Chuck Lorre) in the book talking about behind the scenes revealed that his role was ‘years in making’.
Chuck Lorre And Bob Newhart’s Connection
The book (The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit) revealed that Chuck was determined to work with the legend and designed the role specifically for Newhart. Talking about Bob Newhart he said, “When I was first getting started in the busi- ness in the ’80s, I was at the CBS Radford lot-which is where Newhart was filmed-and I would sneak onto that set when no one was there. I would just sit there, taking it in because it was iconic to me. He is one of the inventors of modern American stand-up and comedy. He didn’t tell jokes, he told stories. So when he said he would con- sider The Big Bang Theory, I was all over it. I was like, We have to make this happen.”
Late Bob Newhart also opened up about working on the show and with Chuck. He recalled how the two ended up becoming friends over the years and Chuck would always approach him to appear on his shows. He added, “In 2013, he called me up and said, ‘Well, I’m here for my annual turndown!’ And I said, ‘You know Chuck, I really am enjoying The Big Bang Theory. I think it’s very well written, and you have a great cast. I still have my fastball. It’s more like forty-two miles an hour instead of ninety-eight,’ which it never was ninety-eight. [Laughs] I said, ‘I’d like to do that.'”
Bob Newhart’s Two conditions To Take On A Role
Chuck recalled being “over the moon and ecstatic tobe able to know him and call him a friend,” he called it “quite an honor” but added that the comedian had a few conditions for taking on a role which included performing in front of a live audience. Bob revealed that he had once performed without live audience “and hated it because I thought it was very sterile. The audience drives you, so you come up with things maybe you wouldn’t have come up otherwise.” he also revealed the other condition as, “that it wasn’t a one-shot, meaning that it would be a recurring char- acter.”
The Role Bob Newhart Was Offered
Steve Molaro is a writer and producer of the show, came up with the idea of Arthur Jeffries, who hosted a children’s science show as “Professor Proton.” The character was based on Molaro’s childhood hero that he would watch regularly as a kid. It was inspired by Uncle Floyd on The Uncle Floyd Show from the 70s and 80s. The idea came from Molaro wanting to hang out with Uncle Floyd after finding out “he was still around and available for benefits and parties.” He added, “What if Leonard and Shel- don have something like that with a science show and wanted to hang out with him as grown-ups?”
Bob Newhart “loved the character, I loved the script” and “loved the writing.” He also talked cast and added. “wonderful ensemble cast, Jim Parsons was so great to work with and so generous.” Bob has many scenes with Jim during his appearances on the show. The character also went through many changes and different looks which were explored over the last few seasons, but producer Chuck Lorre revealed that the was anxious on the first day on set, “I had a leg- end of television on the set, and I wanted to make damn sure that he was enjoying himself.”
Fans Reaction To His First Apperance – First Standing Ovation
Mark Cendrowski revealed that the elevator area outside the apartments was covered so when Newhart appeared it would be a surprise for the audience. But on finding out Newhart was kind of concerned and said, “Do you want to go to all that trouble? Do you think people are going to remember me?” We were taken aback, but in his mind it was like, I’m older, and this is a younger audience. And then when we did reveal him, the audience went nuts. It was like a two- minute standing ovation, and he got misty-eyed.”
Jim Parsons’ Reaction To Bob Newhart’s Debut In The Big Bang Theory
He added that the shot needed to be retaken several times as it was hard to continue after the overwheiling experience. Weighing on the same, Jim Parsons realled, “It literally stopped the show. We sat there while the audience applauded and applauded and couldn’t believe they were seeing him. And honestly, I couldn’t believe he was in the flesh-and-blood in front of me and we were in the same room together. And he was doing a scene with me!”
Jim added that Bob and Mary Tyler Moore are the two actors that he learned as much from as anybody-and from their shows, especially. Praising Newhart’s work he added, “Bob’s timing is so impeccable. And without naming names, we’ve all met or worked with people who are there as much for their past glories as they are for what they are actu- ally still capable of delivering. But Bob was quicker than a good deal of our own cast, frankly, and I don’t just mean with come- dy, but he’s so quick. And that’s all still there.”
Other TBBT Cast On Bob Newhart’s Debut
Johnny Galecki aka, Leonard Hofstadter also was stumped. He added, “He’s (Newhart) always been a hero of mine, and a fellow Chicago boy. That’s who I wanted to be as an actor, and so to work with him was just a dream. We even became friends. He wrote me a scathing email because I had posted on Instagram for his ninety-first birthday about what a nice guy he is, and he asked me to please stop telling people that he’s a nice guy. [Laughs] There were many expletives in the email that I won’t share, but it was just brilliant.”
Simon Helberg aka Howard Wolowitz wanted to know why Newhart refused to go for hot yoga with him. But added that despite not getting enough scenes with him but filled in during table reads. He said, “I love him, I filled in for him at the table read when he couldn’t be there. To actually try and replicate his timing was one of the most challenging and incredible experiences that I had had. But with him, the trick is just to pause for an hour and a half between words.”
Bob Newhart’s Big Emmy Win And Second Standing Ovation
One other than Newhart received standing ovation with The Big Bang Theory was when he was awarded an Emmy. Newhart was nominated by the Television Academy that year for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. Newhart had previously been nominated for seven Emmys but had never won before. It changed when on September 15, 2013, Newhart’s name was called as the winner, and he received a standing ovation. Backstage, he told Chuck, “I was totally unprepared for that.”
Recalling the standing ovation, Bob Newhart said, “Everybody loves a standing ovation. I looked out when it was starting to happen, and I was seeing stars-people-that I had never met. And they were standing up for me. I couldn’t believe it. Stand-up comedians have not really been recognized as actors, you know, because the con- ceit was Well, that’s just Bob doing Bob, and That’s just Jerry Seinfeld doing Jerry Seinfeld. I always said, “Well, if they’re not your words and you have to hit marks on the floor, then it’s acting!” But anyway, I kiddingly said to Chuck, “Can you send me an audio of, of the two standing ovations because I’d like to play that in the morning when I get up.””
After over six decades of long career in show business, the renowned entertainer best known for his appearances in the CBS shows The Bob Newhart Show (1972-1978) and Newhart (1982-1990), passed away at the age of 94. The Big Bang Theory was just one of his many well known iconic characters. He appeared on six total episodes of the sitcom before making special appearances on its spinoff. All the cast members shared beautiful tributes after his passing in 2024.
