I thought this was an excellent show. It featured a happly married, successful, professional couple who seemed to be perfectly happy with no children. I am not sure if the subjects of infertility or adoption were ever even brought up. Most other sitcoms that I can think of are too focused on families, which is good too; but this show took things in another direction and was one of its kind - especially for the time period it was in.
shareThe very first episode had the plot of them attempting to adopt. There were plenty of episodes where they were trying to conceive.
shareBob Newhart made it clear that he did NOT want the Hartleys to have children. He didn't want it to become a show about kids saying "cute" things.
shareThat would also explain why in his 2nd successful series (Newhart) there were no children (including the childless marriage of Peter Scolari & Julia Duffy).
shareActually, Stephanie and Michael DID have a child, a daughter named Stephanie, born in the episode "Lights! Camera! Contractions!" Admittedly, this was the final season, Season 8, so they managed the "no children" part for a long time.
*** The trouble with reality is there's no background music. ***
Bob, the character, may have attempted to have children. Bob, the actor, was adamantly against the idea.
shareI agree
shareThere was a later episode where we found out that Carol was in fact preagnet but it was never brought up again and she never showed or gave birth
shareThe Hartleys may not have had any children, but Howard did have a young son who appeared from time to time, so the show wasn't completely child free.
shareAlthough when Little Howie *did* make the occasional appearance, the effect was to make you really glad that the show was child-free otherwise. Bob had the right idea.
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At the same time Carol found out she was pregnant, didn't Emily find out she was also pregnant? But then that turned out to be a dream or something. Must have been in the last season.
If they would just release those last 2 seasons, many mysteries would be solved!
Yes, Bob dreamed that Emily and Carol were pregnant. But after he woke up, Emily informed him that Carol actually was pregnant (but thankfully Emily wasn't). Season 5, Episode 24 You're Having My Hartley.
share...when Little Howie *did* make the occasional appearance, the effect was to make you really glad that the show was child-free...Haha!! Boy, ain't that the truth? I never could stand that kid who NEVER stopped 'smiling'. Every line, every gesture no matter the dramatic/ comedic context was accompanied by that annoying grin. Indeed, Bob had the right idea.
I remember reading that Bob was adamant about Bob and Emily Hartley not having children during the course of The Bob Newhart Show. When writers submitted a script in which Emily is pregnant, Newhart praised its quality, then said he had one question: "Who's going to play Bob?" The writers obviously dropped the idea!
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I am a little surprised Bob Newhart was such a stickler to this concept since he is an apparently devoted father to several children in true life. However, the show worked both for this show, and later for Newhart.
Dini
Bob has said that he didn't want the kind of sitcom where the cute kids say precocious things. It becomes all about the kids then.
Bob and Emily apparently do want kids, but they are perfectly happy DINKs.
Lots of people are happy with no children. Too many sitcoms feature boring or obnoxious children. This one was refreshing without them.
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