“Because of the spin-meisters and the focus groups and the way politics is run now. It's run by polls and focus groups. So it's even more true today, I think, than it was some 40 years ago.” ThinkingWayYearsRunningTodayComedyFocusGroupsYears AgoPollsFocus Groups Author:Bob Newhart
“I gave up accounting. I went in for about six months writing ad copy. I was fired from that, and then another guy and I did a kind of poor man's Bob and Ray kind of syndicated radio show. Then I decided to stick it out and see what happened. I'd give it a year, a year became two years, and then two years became three years, and then along came the record album.” MenGivingWritingYearsKindTwoShowsGuyThreePoorRecordsComedyHappenedMonthsSixDecidedSticksRadioAlbumsTwo YearsCopiesRaysAdsThree YearsBobSix MonthsGave UpOther GuysAccountingPoor Man Author:Bob Newhart
“I kind of do it in my head, then I'll try pieces of it on stage and if it looks promising, I'll put it together.” IfsTryingLooksKindTogetherComedyPiecesStage Author:Bob Newhart
“I never had an aversion because I was active in the drama club. If I had that aversion I certainly wouldn't put myself in the position of being on stage. Of course, in the drama club you're hiding behind a character.” IfsCharacterCoursesBehindsComedyStagePositionDramaClubsActiveHidingAversionDrama Club Author:Bob Newhart
“The best advice I could give someone trying to get into the comedy field is to take advantage of every opportunity you have to work to hone your skills.” GivingTryingOpportunityComedyAdviceFieldsSkillsAdvantageBest Advice Author:Bob Newhart
“I'm most proud of the longevity of my marriage, my kids, and my grandchildren. If you don't have that, you really don't have very much.” IfsKidsMarriageComedyProudLongevityGrandchildrenMy Grandchildren Author:Bob Newhart
“I was never a Certified Public Accountant. I just had a degree in accounting. It would require passing a test, which I would not have been able to do.” InspirationalHas BeensAbleFunnyComedyDegreesTestsPassingPassingsGraduationAccountingAccountantsPassing A TestCertified Public Accountant Author:Bob Newhart
“I think you should be a child for as long as you can. I have been successful for 74 years being able to do that. Don't rush into adulthood, it isn't all that much fun.” ThinkingShouldYearsChildrenLongHas BeensAbleFunSuccessfulComedyAdulthood Author:Bob Newhart
“It's getting harder and harder to differentiate between schizophrenics and people talking on a cell phone. It still brings me up short to walk by somebody who appears to be talking to themselves.” PeopleStillsWalksTalkingComedyHarderPhonesCellsCell PhoneDifferentiatePeople Talking Author:Bob Newhart
“Comedians are never really on vacation because you're always at attention... that antenna is always out there.” AttentionComedyComedianVacationAntenna Author:Bob Newhart
“I don't know how many sacred cows there are today. I think there's a little confusion between humor and gross passing for humor. That's kind of regrettable.” ThinkingKnowsKindLittlesHumorTodayKnow HowComedySacredPassingPassingsConfusionCowsGrossSacred Cows Author:Bob Newhart
“There are a lot of questions I keep asking myself about why I do comedy. I guess I laugh to keep from crying. And I guess if you ever get me crying, I might not stop. This is the way I look at tragedy or else I'll cry.” IfsWayLooksMightLaughingComedyCryTragedyAsking Author:Bob Newhart
“The first time I got up in front of an audience was terror, abject terror, which continued for another four or five years. There still is, a little bit.” YearsFirstsLittlesStillsBitsAudienceFiveComedyFourFrontsLittle BitFirst TimeTerrorFive Years Author:Bob Newhart
“When I started out in 1960, I thought it might possibly last a couple of years. I never expected it to last 42. I take great satisfaction in that longevity.” YearsMightLastsComedyCoupleSatisfactionExpectedLongevity1960s Author:Bob Newhart
“Jack Benny was, without a doubt, the bravest comedian I have ever seen work. He wasn't afraid of silence. He would take as long as it took to tell the story.” LongStoriesSilenceDoubtComedyQuietComedian Author:Bob Newhart
“I was influenced by every comedian I ever saw work. That's the only way you learn how to do it.” WaySawsComedyComedianReefs Author:Bob Newhart
“I worked in accounting for two and a half years, realized that wasn't what I wanted to do with the rest of my life, and decided I was just going to give comedy a try.” GivingTryingYearsTwoWantedHalfComedyDecidedAccountingHalf A Year Author:Bob Newhart
“It was a decision to work clean. I just prefer to work that way. I have no problem with comedians who don't work that way. There was a temptation in the early '70s to reconsider. I decided against it.” WayProblemDecisionComedyDecidedCleanTemptationComedianNo Problem Author:Bob Newhart
“The only thing I have never done is a Broadway play. I'm not sure I have the discipline necessary to do a Broadway play. I know it holds a fascination for certain actors.” KnowsDonePlayCertainActorsComedyDisciplineNot SureBroadwayFascination Author:Bob Newhart
“This stammer got me a home in Beverly Hills, and I'm not about to screw with it now.” HomeComedyHillsScrewsBeverly HillsStammering Author:Bob Newhart
“Well I was much too practical to presume to have a career in comedy.” WellsCareersComedyPracticals Author:Bob Newhart
