Modified On September 26, 2004
Bob Newhart continues to gig. He’s appearing in Lima, OH, next month. The Lima News thought it an event worth noting.
LIMA– Bob Newhart said he’s worried people are losing their ability to laugh at themselves. The long-time comedian plans a crash course on laughter when he appears in Lima on Oct. 11.
Newhart is the featured speaker at the Allen County Visionaries annual fund-raising dinner at Veterans Memorial Civic Center.
“If there’s any message, it is we should never lose our ability to laugh at ourselves,” Newhart said from his Los Angeles office.
Newhart said it is tough for young comedians today because there are so many groups that are offended.
“I think there is a real danger of losing our ability to laugh at ourselves,” he said. “Because we’re funny. Straights are funny. Gays are funny. Women are funny. Men are funny.”
Newhart said there are some comedians who feel the pressure to ‘be on’ all the time.
“Some comedians are on all the time, others you wouldn’t guess were comedians. Once they’re off stage, they don’t feel this compulsion to be funny,” Newhart said. “Then there’s a third that are just funny. They think funny. It isn’t an attempt to be on all the time.”
Our favorite part of the story is the next to next to last paragraph:
Newhart said he has driven through Lima on his way to shows, but has never been here. American Trim will be transporting Newhart from Minnesota to Lima with its corporate jet.
Beats Greyhound. Read the rest here.