Ep 12. Breaking Up is Hard to Do

Dr. Bob Hartley, a psychologist and his wife Emily Hartley, an elementary school teacher, are the protagonists of The Bob Newhart Show. They live in Chicago, Illinois. The show is renowned for its humorous take on various aspects of life.

In season 5 episode 12, titled "Breaking Up is Hard to Do," the main theme is centered around Bob's patient, Mr. Morrissey, who is having trouble ending a long-term relationship.

As the episode begins, Mr. Morrissey comes in for his session with Bob looking down and agitated. Bob immediately sees the signs that something is wrong with his patient. In true Bob Hartley fashion, he prods Mr. Morrissey to talk about his problem. Reluctantly, Mr. Morrissey agrees to talk.

He then tells Bob that he hasn't been able to sleep properly for weeks. Bob asks him what's been on his mind and Mr. Morrissey reveals that he's planning to break up with his girlfriend of three years. Bob nods understandingly and asks him what the issue is.

Mr. Morrissey explains that he loves his girlfriend, but is no longer in love with her. He says that he's tried to shake off his feelings, but he simply cannot make himself feel the way he did when they first met. Bob, being the insightful psychologist he is, recognizes that Mr. Morrissey is struggling to end his relationship because he's afraid of being alone.

Bob tries to reassure Mr. Morrissey that it's perfectly normal to feel afraid and that ending a relationship is always difficult. However, he's quick to add that it's better to end things sooner rather than later. Mr. Morrissey is not quite convinced and Bob realizes he needs to take a more drastic course of action.

Bob then looks for a way to show Mr. Morrissey that he's not alone in his feelings. He turns to his friends Jerry and Howard for help. Jerry, the dentist, and Howard, the pilot, are hilarious supporting characters who often get into their own humorous escapades. In an effort to get Mr. Morrissey to see that breaking up is hard for everyone, Bob invites Jerry and Howard to share details of their own breakups.

The ensuing conversations are funny and heartwarming, making Mr. Morrissey realize that he's not as alone as he thought. Bob then advises Mr. Morrissey to take his time and really think about what he wants from life and relationships before making any decisions.

Meanwhile, Emily is dealing with her own insecurities about her age. She feels that she's not aging very gracefully and starts panicking about how she looks. While talking to her friends, she remarks that she feels like a has-been, and despairs that she's losing her looks.

Her friends try to reassure her that she's beautiful, but she's unable to shake her doubts. Her mood only worsens when she hears that a young girl has called her "ma'am." However, Bob's support and reassurance eventually work their magic on Emily and she starts to feel better.

The real highlight of the show is the hilarious subplot. Emily's colleague Carol, an English teacher, is dating a new guy. She's head-over-heels in love and can't stop talking about him, but her dates always seem to be accompanied by some sort of awkward incident.

In this episode, Carol's date is with Bob's old college buddy, Howard Borden, who is more interested in watching a basketball game than talking to her. The awkwardness only increases when a pizza delivery guy arrives and Howard tries to pay for the pizza in coins.

As the episode winds up, Mr. Morrissey comes in for his next session and Bob is pleased to see him looking much better than before. Mr. Morrissey thanks Bob for his advice and tells him that he's already feeling better about his upcoming breakup. Emily is also feeling more confident about herself and is grateful to Bob for being such a supportive husband.

Overall, season 5 episode 12 of The Bob Newhart Show is a perfect example of the show's humor and wit. It's an entertaining and heartwarming episode, with relatable themes and great performances by the cast.