Tennis, Emily?

Chicago psychologist Dr. Bob Hartley PhD (Bob Newhart) makes the same trek back and forth from work each day on the LRT all year long. His breathtaking wife Emily (Suzanne Pleshette) however teaches grammar school and has not adequately planned for what to do with her summer days after the school year ends. Bob and their wacky neighbour Howard (Bill Daily) suggest various forms of sporting exercise none of which strike her immediate fancy but provide food for thought.

Bob returns home to find Emily has decided she wants to learn to play tennis and has shelled out for attire and equipment engaging the services of an instructor at a local club. His pleasant surprise that she has found a healthy pass-time is short-lived. Her instructor Stan Connors (Peter Brown) is a beefcake and stereo-typically a prime candidate for an affair. If Bob were not sedate and level-headed, as his PhD in psychology suggests, he might let possible scenarios cause him worry. The people he shares an office floor with are not particularly effective in assuaging his concerns.

No sooner has Emily begun her lessons when she gives her husband's business card to her instructor. The tall, athletic man with a great head of hair is in Bob's office the very next day hoping for help with his issue. The issue relates to his attractive physical appearance - a horrific calamity Stan a little bit too readily identifies as one Bob would not have first-hand experience with. Stan is under a constant siege of female attention and has trouble saying 'no' drifting from meaningless affair to meaningless affair. The level of pity, and sympathy Stan elicits from men everywhere due to his difficulty is, understandably, off the charts.

Bob, as a professional is, of course, determined to give this unfortunate man all the help he may require. The fact that Stan has identified Bob's wife as the most beautiful woman (Yep!) he has ever seen is added incentive. With every reason to be jealous, Bob of course has to be. A logical man, he is still far from coldly detached, which is what makes him a good psychologist, a fine husband and a profoundly sympathetic potential cuckold.

In this instance, where does that leave Bob? The position is far from flattering and the schadenfreude is side-splitting for the audience. Bob Newhart looked like what he was - an accountant from Oak Park. For whatever reason, the women who starred as his wives on his sitcoms were younger and beautiful. Mining that as a form of sight gag was a no-brainer and the fact they did it in the third episode of this series shows how obvious that was.

That they executed this teleplay so well illustrates the difference between this sitcom and others. Bob Newhart was not just funny, he was exceptionally intelligent in choices selecting what worked for him as a performer. He realized much of the potential of the premise by maintaining a solid working relationship with with MTM productions and CBS. They got writers that knew the act of the performer and played to his strengths.

What they delivered consistently was an adult comedy (Utilizing old-fashioned subtlety and discretion) that the whole family could watch. It tended to resonate more with older audiences but not to the complete exclusion of young adults.

Emily is wasting her summer and is trying to find something she is interested in. She turns to Tennis. Of course, a hot tennis pro goes along with the package. He is handsome and draws women of every shape and form. Of course, Bob is immediately jealous. But the guy is kind and understands his attraction to the opposite sex. It is soon a matter of some counseling which really does no good. While there are a few decent lines in this episode, it doesn't click that well. The funny part of this is Carol's efforts to buy a new coffeemaker. Jerry is already exhibiting his ego. Not all that much to do.

A very odd lazy weak script. An unfunny character and actor (Peter Brown as Stan Conners) with an episode's creepy theme doomed it. Classic sitcoms one theme episodes would sink like this one pounding an unfunny premise.

Highlights were a wonderful performance by stunning Suzanne Pleshette. The Hartley's honest strong marriage surviving an attack was touching. Funny and pretty Pat Lysinger as Marci and Barbara Barnett as Cheryl were great.

Better casting of Stan Connors might of helped. An actual talented comedic actor who nailed the part might of portrayed the character less creepily and with more class.