If you're a fan of The Bob Newhart Show, then you know Bob's married to the beautiful Emily (Suzanne Pleshette), and they're both 'married' to Howard Borden (Bill Dailey), their friend and neighbour.
I've always been a fan of Bill Dailey - I really think he's unappreciated for his very specific humour. He first did a variation of his stock character, as Roger Healey, on I Dream of Jeannie (LOVE it!), but, that character wasn't as ...'spacey', and was Tony's partner in picking up the babes.
Here, on The Bob Newhart Show, Dailey takes that character, and simplifies it - so, in a real sense, 'Howard Borden' is a true 'man-child'.
While watching this episode, I realised, that - in the entire run of the series, Howard never does anything mean to anyone - he may cause problems, but, he's a true 'innocent'; naive, gentle, and there's no 'hidden meanings' in anything Howard says - no matter how odd it might sound. Howard says exactly what he means, and feels.
A Love Story brings Pat Finley into the family, as she plays Bob's sister, Ellen (Ms. Finley was also appearing as Dennis's wife, on The Rockford Files, at the same time).
Ms. Finley first appeared about 2 years earlier, on The Mary Tyler Moore Show - as 2 unrelated, but, wonderfully 'kooky' characters. As The Bob Newhart Show is also from MTM Productions, I think the creator's of The Mary Tyler Moore Show liked Ms. Finley, but, they didn't see how she could fit in to that series, as a regular, so, when this character came to fruition on The Bob Newhart Show, they must've had her in mind.
If you didn't see Pat in either of the Mary Tyler Moore Show episodes, I'll just say her character here is 180 °s different than those.
This episode, truly is Bill Dailey's chance to shine. Howard's not stupid - he's just not paying attention (in fact, in this episode, when Bob tries to tell Howard a parable, Howard - instead of 'getting it', say to Bob he wasn't paying attention).
There isn't any 'mean-ness' to Howard Borden. In this episode, he meets and falls - instantly in love with Ellen - who's in town to get married, to her fiancée of 5 years, John (we never see him) in less than a week.
This doesn't put Howard off. It only makes him try that much harder - and faster - to win Ellen's heart.
Bill Dailey's comic gifts are on display, and for those who write him off as being a 'jester-type', he really isn't. Some of his humour is verbal - and not just 'fish-out-of- water' humour, but, his verbal humour also has to do with word play, malapropisms, as well. But, Dailey also is terrific with physical comedy - not the broad Lucille Ball- type, but, in one scene, when he's trying to woo Ellen over breakfast, he sits there totally incapable of figuring out, or how to open a Kellogg's little single breakfast box, which ultimately, Ellen does it for him.
There's no 'Forrest Gump' to him - it's a pure innocence, as though Howard just wasn't paying attention - well, for a lot of things.
But, after Ellen opens and pours the cereal, a smile comes over her face - not a look of annoyance, and Howard quietly says 'that was very nice of you', with a real, pure tenderness.
Howard then tries to woo Ellen by telling the things he hates about being single, such as ironing, and he starts to move his seat closer to hers. Even though Ellen tells Howard how she likes him, but she's getting married in a couple of days, Howard pays no mind, and, instead, tries to occupy as much time with here that day - from taking her to pick up her wedding dress (he even offers to pick up John - her fiancée - which Ellen says 'no' to).
Bob thinks Howard might just be in lust, or, as he says 'confusing love with loving her ...b-b-body.'
But, Howard is really in love. ' I love her soul. I love her mind. I love her guts', he says, and he really does.
It is a cock-eyed tribute to the talents of this terrific, unsung comedian, as he thinks of ways he can 'get rid of John.'
Even though it's a comedy, it hurts to see Howard - have to face that he can't stop what is (supposedly) inevitable).
We almost always see Howard walking in to Bob and Emily's apartment - it's as though his 'apartment' is really just his 'wing' of a 'combined' apartment.
But, on the night of John's Bachelor party, with Bob not around, Howard's home - alone - ironing. Emily comes over to try and console him. But, as he's so wrapped up in his single thought, there isn't anything anyone can do, and she tells Howard she's there if he needs some company.
Then, Howard's left all alone - and he puts on some jazz, as he walks around his apartment - getting gumballs out of his gumball lamp.
If you've never seen the series, I can't tell you what happens, but, I can say this; it's a wonderful combination of gentle comedy, and a bit of love.
I've always been a fan of Bill Dailey - I really think he's unappreciated for his very specific humour. He first did a variation of his stock character, as Roger Healey, on I Dream of Jeannie (LOVE it!), but, that character wasn't as ...'spacey', and was Tony's partner in picking up the babes.
Here, on The Bob Newhart Show, Dailey takes that character, and simplifies it - so, in a real sense, 'Howard Borden' is a true 'man-child'.
While watching this episode, I realised, that - in the entire run of the series, Howard never does anything mean to anyone - he may cause problems, but, he's a true 'innocent'; naive, gentle, and there's no 'hidden meanings' in anything Howard says - no matter how odd it might sound. Howard says exactly what he means, and feels.
A Love Story brings Pat Finley into the family, as she plays Bob's sister, Ellen (Ms. Finley was also appearing as Dennis's wife, on The Rockford Files, at the same time).
Ms. Finley first appeared about 2 years earlier, on The Mary Tyler Moore Show - as 2 unrelated, but, wonderfully 'kooky' characters. As The Bob Newhart Show is also from MTM Productions, I think the creator's of The Mary Tyler Moore Show liked Ms. Finley, but, they didn't see how she could fit in to that series, as a regular, so, when this character came to fruition on The Bob Newhart Show, they must've had her in mind.
If you didn't see Pat in either of the Mary Tyler Moore Show episodes, I'll just say her character here is 180 °s different than those.
This episode, truly is Bill Dailey's chance to shine. Howard's not stupid - he's just not paying attention (in fact, in this episode, when Bob tries to tell Howard a parable, Howard - instead of 'getting it', say to Bob he wasn't paying attention).
There isn't any 'mean-ness' to Howard Borden. In this episode, he meets and falls - instantly in love with Ellen - who's in town to get married, to her fiancée of 5 years, John (we never see him) in less than a week.
This doesn't put Howard off. It only makes him try that much harder - and faster - to win Ellen's heart.
Bill Dailey's comic gifts are on display, and for those who write him off as being a 'jester-type', he really isn't. Some of his humour is verbal - and not just 'fish-out-of- water' humour, but, his verbal humour also has to do with word play, malapropisms, as well. But, Dailey also is terrific with physical comedy - not the broad Lucille Ball- type, but, in one scene, when he's trying to woo Ellen over breakfast, he sits there totally incapable of figuring out, or how to open a Kellogg's little single breakfast box, which ultimately, Ellen does it for him.
There's no 'Forrest Gump' to him - it's a pure innocence, as though Howard just wasn't paying attention - well, for a lot of things.
But, after Ellen opens and pours the cereal, a smile comes over her face - not a look of annoyance, and Howard quietly says 'that was very nice of you', with a real, pure tenderness.
Howard then tries to woo Ellen by telling the things he hates about being single, such as ironing, and he starts to move his seat closer to hers. Even though Ellen tells Howard how she likes him, but she's getting married in a couple of days, Howard pays no mind, and, instead, tries to occupy as much time with here that day - from taking her to pick up her wedding dress (he even offers to pick up John - her fiancée - which Ellen says 'no' to).
Bob thinks Howard might just be in lust, or, as he says 'confusing love with loving her ...b-b-body.'
But, Howard is really in love. ' I love her soul. I love her mind. I love her guts', he says, and he really does.
It is a cock-eyed tribute to the talents of this terrific, unsung comedian, as he thinks of ways he can 'get rid of John.'
Even though it's a comedy, it hurts to see Howard - have to face that he can't stop what is (supposedly) inevitable).
We almost always see Howard walking in to Bob and Emily's apartment - it's as though his 'apartment' is really just his 'wing' of a 'combined' apartment.
But, on the night of John's Bachelor party, with Bob not around, Howard's home - alone - ironing. Emily comes over to try and console him. But, as he's so wrapped up in his single thought, there isn't anything anyone can do, and she tells Howard she's there if he needs some company.
Then, Howard's left all alone - and he puts on some jazz, as he walks around his apartment - getting gumballs out of his gumball lamp.
If you've never seen the series, I can't tell you what happens, but, I can say this; it's a wonderful combination of gentle comedy, and a bit of love.
