Love that Bob

A couple weeks ago, we erroneously reported that button-down genius Bob Newhart would share the Benaroya Hall stage with the Seattle Symphony. Though Newhart is indeed an amateur drummer, we regret to inform there’ll be no such onstage mashup. However, it is true that Bob and Bob alone will perform his standup comedy act at Benaroya -- where in 1999 we attended his last Seattle performance -- Friday night at 8 and Saturday afternoon at 3.

Newhart sold zillions of comedy albums in the '60s, and in the ‘70s he starred in the most kickass sitcom of all-time. (Trivia: the character of Newhart’s wife -- played by the sultry Suzanne Pleshette -- grew up in Seattle.) Newhart starred in another long-running ‘80s sitcom and a pair of shorter-lived shows in the ‘90s, with diminishing returns.

In the last decade he’s had some small-but-memorable film parts, played recurring roles on ER and Desperate Housewives, and played himself in a funny Simpsons cameo. Now, between his regular standup gigs and penning his memoirs, the tireless 76-year-old continues to rack up various career-achievement awards and appear in scads of TV retrospectives. We’ve also found his likeness in a posse and on a tube top.

For this weekend’s shows, in light of a recent epic blockbuster, we predict he’ll perform his classic “King Kong” routine. Available tickets, ranging from $34 to $58, may be purchased here. Though highly recommended, we’re gonna sit this one out. Instead, we’ll apply our $34 to $58 to The Bob Newhart Show on DVD.