
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, October 2, 1993                   TAG: 9310020362
SECTION: SPECTATOR                    PAGE: S-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RICHARD HUFF NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

`BOB' RETURNS TO CBS SCHEDULE ON OCT. 22

Production began last week on the revamped Bob Newhart series, "Bob," that returns - with numerous cast and storyline changes - to the CBS schedule on Friday, Oct. 22, 9:30 p.m.

Newhart is being joined by new cast members Betty White, Jere Burns ("Dear John"), Eric Allan Kramer ("Down Home") and Megan Cavanagh (" A League of Their Own"). In addition, Carlene Watkins returns as Bob's wife, as well as Cynthia Stevenson as their daughter.

A year ago, the series storyline had Newhart playing a comic-book artist. This season, he returns as a freelance artist, his Mad Dog comic book (which he worked for last season) having gone out of business.

Needing work, Bob is convinced by the owner of the Schmidt Greeting Card company, Sylvia Schmidt (White), to take over the (dysfunctional) family business.

"Bob" debuted last season to generally good reviews but finished the season in 71st position. Initially, CBS didn't pick up the series for its fall schedule, although it did order more episodes for a midseason return.

However, a spot opened much earlier than expected when producer Linda Bloodworth-Thomason balked at the network's scheduling of her series "Hearts Afire" on Fridays - a low-rated night. CBS decided to put that show into the midseason rotation and moved "Bob" into the fall starting lineup.

by CNB