Newhart (TV Series) Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Loudon (1987) User Reviews

Dick becomes an angry talk show host

[Jimmy_the_Gent4 · 15 May 2018]

The ratings for Vermont Today soar when Dick loses his temper with a guest, Michael wants to keep up the confrontational image going.

Hilarious episode and one of the best of Season 5. It starts with Dick interviewing a phony psychic and Dick becoming so frustrated he calls the guy a "weenie" which becomes a catchphrase. This was a satire on the then current craze of confrontational talk shows like Wally George and Morton Downey Jr. which involved name calling and screaming matches. Dick has another guest in a very funny scene with a pro nuclear war activist (played by the great British comic actor Simon Jones). Legendary newsman Edwin Newman guests for the final scene when he berates Dick and walks off the show before Dick can even open his mouth. Don't miss this one.

Dick in Weenieland

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 23 March 2023]

Let's face it. Because of Michael and Dick's bland presentation, Vermont Today is a really dull show. That, of course, leads to some great bits over time. When Edwin Neumann cancels, Dick can't think of anything to say off the top of his head, and so a phony psychic comes on who bends spoons with his hands. The following week a pro-nuclear war promoter shows up and Dick calls him a weenie. Soon, Dick begins to gain traction in the lowlife talk show world. Soon Michael comes up with a little studio audience and they encourage Dick to mistreat his guests. But the consequences of his animus come come home to bite him. There is a fairly funny bit with Stephanie trying to get a vanity license plate for her car when someone else already is using it.