Newhart Season 1, Episode 4: Shall We Gather at the River?

1

In the Beginning...

Dick and Joanna Loudon purchase the Stratford Inn, a remnant of colonial times in scenic Vermont. Their caretaker, George Utley, and his family have tended the inn for decades. Dick hires a maid, Leslie, and meets their next-door neighbor (and habitual liar) Kirk. The inn opens for business amid myriad start-up problems.

30 min

2

Mrs. Newton's Body Lies A'Mould'ring in the Grave

Dick and Joanna learn that there's a body buried in the basement. The Loudons try to get the body moved to the church cemetery, only to find that she was a witch.

30 min

3

Hail to the Councilman

Dick gets his hopes up after two city officials suggest he run for town council.

30 min

4

Shall We Gather at the River?

Joanna falls through the ice at the annual River Day festival. Dick is on the outs when Joanna blames him for everything bad that happens in her life.

30 min

5

This Probably is Condemned

Dick and the gang pitch in to help Kirk get the Minuteman up to code after its shut down.

30 min

6

No Tigers at the Circus

Dick spirals into a profound depression after the Stratford is denied in its bid to be classified an historic landmark.

30 min

7

The Perfect Match

Leslie's high school sweetheart returns from far off places to ask for her hand in marriage, to Kirk's obvious displeasure.

30 min

8

Some are Born Writers...Others Have Writers Thrust Upon Them

Dick praises an aspiring writer's work to avoid hurting her feelings. The writer's enthusiastic husband quits his job to allow his wife to write full time. It's up to Dick to secure her an agent and teach her to write, all before their savings runs out in a month and a half.

30 min

9

No Room at the Inn

The inn is swamped when 24 guests are snowed in on Christmas Eve. While Kirk tries to keep the guests entertained, Dick tries to find room for a traveller named Joseph and his pregnant wife.

30 min

10

The Senator's Wife Was Indiscreet

A U.S. Senator's wife checks into the inn and holds a press conference to announce she's divorcing her inattentive husband.

30 min

11

Sprained Dreams

Dick jeopardizes Leslie's lifelong dream of becoming a world-class skier when he accidentally falls on her.

30 min

12

The Way We Thought We Were

George's old flame visits the inn. Both are disappointed when the other isn't as they remember.

30 min

13

The Visitors

Dick and Joanna cant wait for their 'fun' friends to visit, but soon become perturbed after their friends treat the Loudons not as friends, but innkeepers.

30 min

14

What is This Thing Called Lust?

Leslie's attractive cousin Stephanie visits Vermont to settle her emotions as she nears her wedding day. Stephanie soon finds herself lusting after Kirk.

30 min

15

Breakfast Theater

Washed-up comic Manny Silver visits the Stratford, reminding Dick of the 'debt' he owes Manny for starting his writing career. Manny shames Dick into letting him perform in the inn, over Joanna's strenuous objections.

30 min

16

Ricky Nelson, Up Your Nose

Kirk goes into the hospital for surgery to remove a foreign object from his nose, leaving Larry, Darryl and a very svelte Darryl in charge of the cafe. Dick and Joanna, about to go to New York for a writer's conference have to bail out the boys when an unexpected crowd turns up at the cafe.

30 min

17

A View from the Bench

Dick, Kirk, and George go to Boston to use their bench passes for a Celtics game. Dick loses his pass. Meanwhile, Leslie and Joanna wait at the inn for incoming guest, Daniel J. Travanti.

30 min

18

The Boy Who Cried Goat

When Kirk's cafe is robbed, his history of deception comes back to haunt him as the insurance investigator refuses to believe his story.

30 min

19

Heaven Knows Mr. Utley

George is the town laughingstock when he claims to have spied an UFO.

30 min

20

You're Homebody 'til Somebody Loves You

Dick inadvertently insults Joanna, calling her a homebody. Joanna takes a job with a travel agency in an attempt to assert herself.

30 min

21

Grandma, What a Big Mouth You Have

Kirk's grandmother visits on the same night he finally gets a date with Leslie.

30 min

22

I Enjoy Being a Guy

Dick loves being 'just one of the guys' when Chester and Jim invite him to join their golf foursome. Dick is distressed to find that their gambling habit and lousy golfing abilities make him the big winner. Dick tries to figure out a way to give the money back without breaking 'the guy code'.

30 min