The Challenge with Bob Newhart

Bob Newhart, the beloved “everyman” who has been honoured with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, tests his mettle in “The Challenge.” In it, he will attempt to do “what many people think is one of the most difficult tasks in modern society” – opening a new DVD.

4 Swirlies

“I stabbed myself.”

“The Challenge,” like “With the Angels,” which we’ve also reviewed on here was made for Strike.TV, which provided ad revenue to the Writers Guild of America members who were suffering from the 2007 writers strike in Hollywood.

The site actually led to quite a number of web series, all with a reasonably slick look. Unfortunately, most of them, at least most of the ones I saw, weren’t very good.

Even at only one episode, “The Challenge” stood above the rest for one reason and one reason only – Bob Newhart. Although the script is “written” by someone else, the part is clearly Newhart’s – as he rambles on into old paper cut war stories from his days as a clerk typist during the Korean War after stabbing himself with a paper clip.

The video isn’t a bust-a-gut laugh riot, but you feel at ease watching Newhart struggle with the DVD package for his copy of Barefoot in the Park. And his trademark stuttering delivery makes the show charming.

Newhart is, after all, one of the funniest comedians of all time.

Disagree? Bite me. – er I mean tell us who you think the funniest comedians are – living or dead.