Bob Newhart Statue

Towards the end of Navy Pier is a statue honoring Bob Newhart, star of the Bob Newhart Show which took place in the city of Chicago in 1970.

On the show, Newhart played psychologist Bob Hartley. Smart and funny, the show took simple, everyday situations and made them funny through Newhart’s deadpan comedic delivery. It was an instant TV hit, despite going up against some of the most popular comedies of the day; Newhart’s subtle, thinking comedy made it a hit with fans and critics alike. 

The show catapulted Newhart, the former accountant turned stand-up comedian, into a television mainstay, leading to further success with the show Newhart. Consistently ranked as one of the greatest comedies, Newhart was twice nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy over its six-year run.

The statue, commissioned by TV Land in 2004, features Hartley in his familiar position at the end of his couch, inviting visitors to come have a seat and tell him what’s on their mind.