Newhart has quietly become one of the more dependable comedies currently available. Every one of its 8 seasons holds up. Its 7/10 TMDB score, built from 60 ratings, reflects a title that consistently delivers. Bob Newhart leads a cast with real comic timing. There is no real reason to keep putting it off.

Newhart is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. The jokes in Newhart land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. Dick Loudon and his wife Joanna decide to leave life in New York City and buy a little inn in Vermont. Dick is a how-to book writer, who eventually becomes a local TV celebrity as host of "Vermont Today." George Utley is the handyman at the inn and Leslie Vanderkellen is the maid, with ambitions of being an Olympic Ski champion; she is later replaced by her cousin Stephanie, an heiress who hates her job. Her boyfriend is Dick's yuppie TV producer, Michael Harris. Between them, Bob Newhart and Mary Frann carry the comedy without ever forcing it. 8 seasons (1982–1990) gave the story room most shows never get. What keeps Newhart from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

If you need a comedy that actually makes you laugh, Newhart is a strong candidate. Fans of Episodes will recognise the sensibility here immediately. 8 seasons is a lot, but the quality holds all the way through. Bob Newhart's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.

Newhart wrapped up in 1990, created by Barry Kemp and Sheldon Bull — and 8 seasons are available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.