Suzanne Pleshette

Sometime in the mid 70s Lorenzo Music, one of the creators of The Bob Newhart Show (and voice of Carlton the Doorman and Garfield the cat) and his wife Henrietta starred in a pilot. I went to the taping. For the big finale Lorenzo & Henrietta were joined on stage by the MTM all-stars. All the cast members from The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show, Rhoda, Phyllis, maybe even Paul Sands' Friends and Lovers was that year. It was quite dazzling. Idols like Bob Newhart, Mary Tyler Moore in her absolute prime. But the thing that struck me was how Suzanne Pleshette was so stunningly beautiful that it was almost like she was in color and everyone else was in black in white. She was simply radiant. Shimmering. Breathtaking. And all she did was just stand there.

If there is such a thing as star presence Suzanne Pleshette had it.

She passed away on Saturday. She was only 70. Don't smoke.

I'm sure when you think of her you think of Emily Hartley, Bob Newhart's wife on The Bob Newhart Show. Words you might use to describe her -- in addition to gorgeous -- are funny, sophisticated, smart, compassionate, definitely sexy. And these would all be accurate. But there's one more.

Raunchy.

Yes, dear sweet Emily Hartley could drop F-bombs with the best of 'em. And every other word and expression you might hear on Deadwood. But God was she funny. Used to maximum effect, and in that deep husky voice, Suzanne could shock and pulverize you almost instantly. And somehow she always managed to be racy without being vulgar. How do you do that? I guess that's why the Tramp is still a Lady.

Maybe the most thankless role in sitcoms is the star's wife. Usually they're relegated to the voice of reason, the wet blanket. Not Suzanne. She was Bob's partner, his equal. Bob and Emily didn't have to fight to be funny. They didn't have to be opposites. They were grown-ups. Their comedy sprung from how real and relatable they were. You always bought them as a couple -- even if the "Bob Newharts" of the world don't usually get the "Suzanne Pleshettes." You just knew they had a good sex life. And you knew they'd be together forever (even if Bob did have this bizarre dream where he was running an inn and married to someone else).

I will always think of Suzanne Pleshette as she was that night at the pilot. We lost a gifted comedienne, a first class beauty, and one helluva broad.

You can read more from Ken at kenlevine.blogspot.com

Comments

[Massenet]

01:40 AM on 01/23/2008

I loved her voice - and her great beauty.

[provgrays]

04:02 PM on 01/22/2008

She had a unique, yet timeless beauty. That voice! The capper is that she had the wit and humor to go with it. She really made her mark.

[shaggles]

02:02 PM on 01/22/2008

I agree with everything you say. She was one of my all time favorites.

[lizbunz]

09:37 AM on 01/22/2008

I stood right next to her once a long time ago. She was flawless and absolutely beautiful. Kind of short, actually. My husband met her too and didn't see her at first but heard her voice from behind him say, "That f...ing heater....­" He said he knew the voice immediatel­y. F bomb and all. I didn't even know she was sick. Sad.

[pennythecat]

09:05 AM on 01/22/2008

If you'd like to see what a great actress she was, check out her performanc­e in Steve McQueen's movie Nevada Smith. She plays the role of Pilar an Indian girl who Steve's character uses to escape from prison--he­r last scene in the canoe is a master's class in acting. Check it out.

[sassafra]

06:07 AM on 01/22/2008

lovely sentiments­.
i met her once years ago. a supremely classy lady, and the perfect foil to the best "uh man" in the business.

[FogBelter]

11:24 PM on 01/21/2008

I had a tremendous crush on her ... I always fought for control of the TV when the Bob Newhart show was on.

Really sad to see her pass on ... she was one of a kind.

[realpolitic]

11:11 PM on 01/21/2008

Suzanne Pleshette was incredibly beautiful, did have a wonderfull­y deep and husky voice, and was very classy, indeed. Yes, I guess in real life the Bob Newharts of the world don't get the Suzanne Pleshettes­, but thankfully we have the Newhart show for so many memories of her sophistica­ted, dazzling, dark beauty. Even her name has a certain ring to it!

[grisgris]

10:24 PM on 01/21/2008

"The Birds" is on television tonight. So far, in every scene involving Suzanne (except in the school), she is smoking. Such a shame to lose her. Young people everywhere should take note: Her generation didn't understand the dangers of smoking the way we do now. If you smoke, stop now.

[Stranded]

09:59 PM on 01/21/2008

I love her in those Disney movies. She and Dean Jones had great chemistry together, and really elevated the banal material. I really miss that style of acting.

[Melissa]

09:13 PM on 01/21/2008

Great tribute. She was also wonderful with Johnny Carson. The last time I saw her she was on Will & Grace, still beautiful and talented. She will be missed.

[mirandaK]

09:00 PM on 01/21/2008

Yes, beautiful sentiments "and all she did was just stand there". I've had a crush on her since I was a kid, I think I'll always have one.

Radiant, shimmering­, breathtaki­ng, may I add stunning. I found her to be stunning.

[schmuckwithearlaps]

08:29 PM on 01/21/2008

People will struggle, even on this web site, to think of a bad word to say about SP. I was thinking about the famous last scene in Bob Newhart's "Inn in New England" series, in which he and S. wake up in their Hartley bed from Bob's "dream". As wonderful as it was to see her then it is painful to think that we will not again be surprised in such a wonderful way.

[NeoAmerican]

07:43 PM on 01/21/2008

She was truly beautiful as well as a real pro. She understood the meaning of, "There are no small parts, only small players".

[cblcar]

07:40 PM on 01/21/2008

Thanks for writing such a great tribute. She will be missed.