Ep 6. The Gray Flannel Shrink

The Bob Newhart Show season 3 episode 6, titled "The Gray Flannel Shrink," follows the hilarious antics of Dr. Bob Hartley (Bob Newhart) as he faces a new challenge - a patient who refuses to open up to him.

The episode opens with Bob taking on a new patient, a young executive named Gary (played by Robert Walden), who is experiencing stress and anxiety at work. However, despite Bob's friendly and accommodating approach, Gary remains closed off and reluctant to engage in conversation.

As Bob struggles to break through Gary's defenses, he turns to his wife Emily (Suzanne Pleshette) for advice. Emily, a former schoolteacher, suggests that Bob try using some of his old teaching techniques to get Gary to open up. Bob is skeptical, but he's willing to give it a try.

Throughout the episode, we see Bob trying out various teaching methods on Gary - from giving him an assignment to write about his feelings, to asking him to draw pictures. But despite Bob's best efforts, Gary remains aloof and unresponsive.

Meanwhile, at the office, Bob's receptionist Carol (Marcia Wallace) is dealing with her own set of problems. She's been enlisted by the building's janitor (John Fiedler) to help him find a lost canary. Though reluctant at first, Carol eventually gets caught up in the search and spends much of the episode scampering around the office with a net, trying to catch the elusive bird.

As Bob's frustration with Gary mounts, Emily suggests that perhaps he's being too pushy with his patient. She tells Bob that sometimes people just need time to open up on their own, and that he should be patient and wait for that to happen.

Eventually, Bob takes Emily's advice and decides to give Gary some space. And it's not long before Gary starts coming out of his shell - albeit in unexpected ways. During a session, Gary suddenly launches into a monologue about his childhood, revealing that he was a child prodigy who skipped several grades and went on to attend an Ivy League university. Bob is stunned, but also somewhat relieved - he's finally made a breakthrough with Gary.

By the end of the episode, both Bob and Carol have learned important lessons about patience and perseverance. Bob realizes that not every patient is going to be easy to reach, and that sometimes the best thing to do is just to wait and let them come to you. And Carol discovers that sometimes even the most seemingly insignificant task (like finding a lost bird) can turn out to be deeply satisfying and fulfilling.

Overall, "The Gray Flannel Shrink" is a delightful episode that showcases the show's trademark blend of clever writing, witty humor, and heartwarming moments. It's a perfect example of why The Bob Newhart Show remains a beloved classic, even all these years later.