This Probably Is Condemned

I plan on reviewing all of the episodes of the first and second seasons of Newhart plus an additional four episodes in the series that I feel are worth reviewing.

This episode is called This Probably is Condemned.

Even in these first two seasons before the show became completely unwatchable with the exception of 4 episodes after season 2, a lot of these episodes do not really give one much to talk about. That is the case with this episode.

As for the positives, Bob Newhart gives a good performance. Tom Poston gives a good performance as George Utley. The inn setting is maintained and that dependable laugh track is on hand. The main positive however, is the fantastic performance of Steven Kampmann as Kirk Devane. He is the best part of this episode and any episode in which he is included. Speaking of which, it's great that this episode give us some back story on Kirk. This is the first episode of many to come later that wisely put the main focus on Steven's character. The script is decent this time around due to the fact the episode achieves quite a few laughs. This is due to them using Dick"s aggravation with Kirk to elevate the humor. Despite their differences, Steven Kampmann and Bob Newhart have great onscreen chemistry.

The two main negatives here are the performances of Mary Frann and Jennifer Holmes. Mary just does worse than awful. Jennifer Holmes is beautiful but is given basically nothing to work with.

Next up, I'll be reviewing the sixth episode called No Tigers at the Circus.

Stay tuned!

This spotlight-on-Kirk episode sits at a mighty low 6.6 rating with 97 voters as of this writing. And the previous review has five thumbs up and none down for saying good riddance to Kirk at season's end. Why all the hate on Kirk?

Yeah, one's enjoyment of this particular episode will depend heavily on whether one likes Kirk or at least loves to hate on the insufferably vain and pompous pathological liar. Me, I like the character and thought this episode was hilarious.

I suspect the producers created Kirk to be this series' answer to Mr. Carlson from THE BOB NEWHART SHOW. Mr. Carlson was more abrasive than Kirk, yet he was beloved by audiences (of all Bob Hartley's patients he persisted the longest and boasted the most series appearances).

Okay, ducking out of a day's dirty work in his own cafe to slip over to Boston for a day's playing video games and eating ice cream was rotten. But it was so over the top rotten that it's laugh out loud funny when he confesses it and then brags about the catharsis he feels for being so honest. And yes, I know his day of Donkey Kong and double-dipped butter brickle was funded by the money Bob gave him to buy breakfast for the cast. He's a rotten guy--but one who is hard to hate because he is so devoid of malice.

Ted Baxter was a vain and pompous character who was also beloved because he too was like a child acting out and never really wanting to hurt anyone. How can you hate Kirk when he finally returns and is stunned and humbled by the extreme makeover of the Minuteman Cafe? He notes this kind of loving attention to detail sprang from friendship not duty.

I admit Kirk's heartwarming speech and promised repentance was undermined by his outrageous (and outrageously funny) whopper about what happened to that sixty-dollar bottle of champagne! Please be patient, God isn't finished with Kirk yet!

Something subtle that made me enjoy this episode even more was the irony. The show opens with Dick playing a portable Pac Man game when he was supposed to be working. And what was Kirk's crime? Let he who is without sin cast the first stone!

I dedicate this report to little Adrienne and Francoise Devane, who by the grace of God never were and thus never were subjected to being read Proust at bedtime (arguably a fate far worse than nonexistence!).

Kirk Devane is the one character that I never missed after he left. In this episode, an inspector comes and looks over the Stratford. He leaves with Kirk and Kirk tells everyone that the guy condemned the restaurant. So everyone, except Kirk, pitches in, trying to make it up to code. There is so much unfairness in this episode that it's just too raw. He is such an unlikable character that it actually makes one feel sorry for the regulars. There are a few funny takes along the way, but he is too mean and insensitive to be a positive force on the show.