Bob Newhart always had the funniest of conversations. He could effortlessly make audiences laugh. He didn’t even need another person to talk to, as with his phone call.
On his show, Newhart became a charming guest on a book show. The interviewer still got the book’s merchants wrong, but he holds firm with his humor. After the show Book Talk finishes filming, the producer speaks with Bob.
The producer brings up how Bob has a keen insight. He then states that the show needs a replacement and recommends Bob take the job.
Bob is reluctant, but the producer assures him the job is easy. All he needs to do is arrange a guest and read the book they’re promoting. The producer also says Bob can get anybody he likes on the show.
After accepting the job, Bob says he never expected to be the host of a show he was invited on for. Bob then jokes he hopes Carson doesn’t have him on The Tonight Show.
After the producer leaves, Bob comes over to the previous host, Paul. He says he’s sorry that the host is leaving. Paul, not having known about his departure, is shocked.
Bob tries to confirm with the producer what’s going on with Paul. The producer then asks if Bob told Paul, and he says yes. ‘How’d he take it,’ asks the producer.
Bob says Paul is crushed and that he can’t accept this job. The producer states this decision comes from the channel president. Bob asks if there’s any way for Paul to get his job back, and the producer says it’s already done.
Reluctantly, Bob accepts, dedicating the first episode to Paul. At home, Bob discusses with his wife how hard it is to find authors for the show. He brings up how he almost got Norman Mailer.
Bob hopes his literary agent can come through for him. His wife offers to help. He says she can only help if she can write a book by the end of the week.
On the set of the program, Bob speaks with the producer. Bob says he only found one author at the last minute. The producer asks who the author is.
Bob says the author wrote a book called The Complete History of the Universe. The producer then asks what the problem is. Bob showcases the skinny book by the author.
As the producer leaves, Bob finishes getting makeup put on his face. He then visits Lloyd, who says he’s the guest today. Bob brings up how the author he should be interviewing is called Donald.
Lloyd says Donald couldn’t make it. Lloyd then reveals his book. It’s called Up The Amazon, about a canoe trip he took in the Amazon.
Lloyd also states that he’s a retired colonel. Bob asks if Lloyd can talk about his book for ten minutes. Lloyd says he can, and the two take their seats on the Book Talk set.
Bob starts the show by talking about Paul. He says Paul will enter a great career, ‘Doing something else.’ He then introduces Lloyd.
Bob then gets Lloyd to talk about his trip. Lloyd speaks in great detail about his journey and trying to find the river’s source. Lloyd then says about exploring on foot.
As Lloyd describes his journey, he finds a land of plentiful vegetation. And then comes his most surprising discovery that defies all logic: he discovered prehistoric dinosaurs.
‘Uh, what,’ asks Bob. Lloyd then describes the many dinosaurs he found. Bob looks around, uncertain how to continue this interview.
Bob tries to confirm that Lloyd found dinosaurs in South America. Lloyd says this is correct and that he has proof. He showcases a photo he has, but it’s a series of shadows that Bob can’t see.
Lloyd says the photo was taken in the air. This confuses Bob, who asks how he was in the air. Lloyd says he got a lift from aliens. The audience is laughing incredibly hard now.
Again, Bob confirms what he heard. Lloyd says the aliens are ball-shaped and communicate through telepathy. Bob then says the show will return after a commercial break.
Bob wants a word with the producer, but the show is already starting again. Bob slowly introduces Lloyd again, talking about dinosaurs and aliens in Brazil. He tells Lloyd that he’s made some extraordinary claims.
Bob brings up how nobody else has reported on this. Lloyd says he’s been in hiding from the government. He believes the CIA is trying to kill him for learning these secrets.
Bob then questions why Lloyd is coming out now. Lloyd states he couldn’t communicate this info anywhere else. He believes the Soviet Union controls channels like PBS.
Bob says that’s all the time he has on the show today. A producer says the show has four more minutes. ‘Not for me, pal,’ says Bob dryly before the episode ends.
