R.I.P., Suzanne Pleshette
January 20, 2008 5:00 PM Subscribe
I remember her smoky-voiced laugh best. I can't believe I'm the first person to post about Suzanne Pleshette's untimely death. I came to MetaFilter after not having visited in many months to post a respectful '.' and there wasn't a link up yet. So I'm starting one.*
As much as I loved her in Newhart, I remember her most from her appearances on talk shows, mostly her flirting with Johnny Carson. I was a little surprised when I read that she'd married Tom Poston, who also passed away recently. He seemed kinda square on The Newhart Show, and she seemed so hip. Apparently I confused their TV personae with their real ones.
That they died within 8 months of each other somehow makes their whole met-40-years-ago, married-after-being-widowed story a whole lot more romantic.
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*Please don't flame me if I did something wrong like not enough links or something -- this is my first MeFi post ever. Be gentle.
That they died within 8 months of each other somehow makes their whole met-40-years-ago, married-after-being-widowed story a whole lot more romantic.
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*Please don't flame me if I did something wrong like not enough links or something -- this is my first MeFi post ever. Be gentle.
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The Secret Career of Suzanne Pleshette (coralized, seems to be a home server on cable).
posted by mwhybark at 5:07 PM on January 20, 2008
The Secret Career of Suzanne Pleshette (coralized, seems to be a home server on cable).
posted by mwhybark at 5:07 PM on January 20, 2008
70 and she'd been in chemotherapy for lung cancer in 2006, so perhaps not entirely untimely -- somewhat resembles my own mom's demise.
Back in the heyday of the Bob Newhart Show she was a secret crush (one of man) to a precocious barely-teenager. What a face & sultry voice...rowrrrr!
(critique of fpp: might want to say relatively more after the [more inside], but I've seen far worse first-ever posts and a lot of worse ones from people who've been posting here a while -- myself included. )
posted by pax digita at 5:10 PM on January 20, 2008
Back in the heyday of the Bob Newhart Show she was a secret crush (one of man) to a precocious barely-teenager. What a face & sultry voice...rowrrrr!
(critique of fpp: might want to say relatively more after the [more inside], but I've seen far worse first-ever posts and a lot of worse ones from people who've been posting here a while -- myself included. )
posted by pax digita at 5:10 PM on January 20, 2008
mwhybark, could ya try that one more time pls.?
posted by pax digita at 5:11 PM on January 20, 2008
posted by pax digita at 5:11 PM on January 20, 2008
There was such a disconnect between Newhart's bumbling self and her sultry affect, I knew that eventually she would move out of that old B&B and come and find me....
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posted by HuronBob at 5:14 PM on January 20, 2008
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posted by HuronBob at 5:14 PM on January 20, 2008
mwhybark's link (probably):
The Secret Career of Suzanne Pleshette
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 5:17 PM on January 20, 2008
The Secret Career of Suzanne Pleshette
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 5:17 PM on January 20, 2008
Oh, brother.
s/man/many.
*blush* Not too many man fantasies to speak of, then or now....
/me checks emails to see if getting propositioned alla sudden
posted by pax digita at 5:22 PM on January 20, 2008 [1 favorite]
s/man/many.
*blush* Not too many man fantasies to speak of, then or now....
/me checks emails to see if getting propositioned alla sudden
posted by pax digita at 5:22 PM on January 20, 2008 [1 favorite]
HuronBob, you've got good taste, but Suzanne Pleshette did not play Bob's wife on "Newhart"--the 80's sitcom based on the Vermont B&B--That was the late Mary Frann.
In any event, "." to you, Suzanne. Loved you in "The Birds" and everything else. You were the husky voice of reason.
posted by applemeat at 5:26 PM on January 20, 2008
In any event, "." to you, Suzanne. Loved you in "The Birds" and everything else. You were the husky voice of reason.
posted by applemeat at 5:26 PM on January 20, 2008
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this is my first MeFi post ever. Be gentle.
You did just fine. Congratulations on losing your Mefi virginity. You always remember your first post... :)
posted by miss lynnster at 5:28 PM on January 20, 2008
this is my first MeFi post ever. Be gentle.
You did just fine. Congratulations on losing your Mefi virginity. You always remember your first post... :)
posted by miss lynnster at 5:28 PM on January 20, 2008
Yeah, pax digita, I kicked myself after I posted. I was afraid if I spent too much time polishing up my post I might end up with *gasp* the dreaded newbie double-post.
So here, a couple of things I could have (but sadly, didn't) put in the "more inside" section: Apparently they couldn't find any Italians with a voice as sexy as Suzanne's (check out the dubbing), and here's another one from the same movie, "Rome Adventure", of Suzanne with her first husband, Troy Donahue. Although the clip is only a few seconds of Suzanne and is mostly Angie Dickinson, it's worth a quick view. (I mean, it's a young Angie Dickinson, so it's not really time wasted if you know what I mean. And I bet you do.)
I've never seen "Rome Adventure" but I'll be renting it if I can figure out where to find it around here. I'm currently living abroad. Anyone have any ideas about where I could go to find old Suzanne Pleshette movies? (I'm in Germany if that makes a difference.)
posted by jenii at 5:30 PM on January 20, 2008
So here, a couple of things I could have (but sadly, didn't) put in the "more inside" section: Apparently they couldn't find any Italians with a voice as sexy as Suzanne's (check out the dubbing), and here's another one from the same movie, "Rome Adventure", of Suzanne with her first husband, Troy Donahue. Although the clip is only a few seconds of Suzanne and is mostly Angie Dickinson, it's worth a quick view. (I mean, it's a young Angie Dickinson, so it's not really time wasted if you know what I mean. And I bet you do.)
I've never seen "Rome Adventure" but I'll be renting it if I can figure out where to find it around here. I'm currently living abroad. Anyone have any ideas about where I could go to find old Suzanne Pleshette movies? (I'm in Germany if that makes a difference.)
posted by jenii at 5:30 PM on January 20, 2008
Her romance with Poston gave all us funny geeky guys hope--maybe a sense of humor really is the most attractive thing in a man.
posted by MrMoonPie at 5:33 PM on January 20, 2008
posted by MrMoonPie at 5:33 PM on January 20, 2008
The NYT obit ends by referencing the "Newhart" finale and citing the Onion headline: "Universe Ends as God Wakes Up Next to Suzanne Pleshette."
posted by veggieboy at 5:33 PM on January 20, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by veggieboy at 5:33 PM on January 20, 2008 [1 favorite]
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The first truly erotic dream I ever had was about me, Suzanne Pleshette and prison. It still makes me blush today.
(Her being cast as Karen's mother on Will & Grace was genius.)
posted by ltracey at 5:36 PM on January 20, 2008
The first truly erotic dream I ever had was about me, Suzanne Pleshette and prison. It still makes me blush today.
(Her being cast as Karen's mother on Will & Grace was genius.)
posted by ltracey at 5:36 PM on January 20, 2008
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posted by Smart Dalek at 5:39 PM on January 20, 2008
posted by Smart Dalek at 5:39 PM on January 20, 2008
Earlier today I was trying to see if anyone had put the Newhart finale on youtube. That really was one of the best endings to a TV series ever. She had a great voice.
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posted by fuse theorem at 5:41 PM on January 20, 2008
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posted by fuse theorem at 5:41 PM on January 20, 2008
I imagine her passing away gently in her sleep... and waking up in Heaven, next to Tom Poston.
posted by Faint of Butt at 5:46 PM on January 20, 2008
posted by Faint of Butt at 5:46 PM on January 20, 2008
Aw. I missed the news of both her and Mr. Poston. That is sad; but boy, either they were a lot older than I expected them to be or I am.
posted by yhbc at 5:48 PM on January 20, 2008
posted by yhbc at 5:48 PM on January 20, 2008
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I kicked myself after I posted.
Absolutely no need. Your post was fine, and I personally prefer the shorter one-or-two-link kind to the overstuffed extravaganzas that are all the rage these days. You did good. And thanks for the post; I loved her in the Bob Newhart Show, like every other being with a pulse.
posted by languagehat at 5:51 PM on January 20, 2008
I kicked myself after I posted.
Absolutely no need. Your post was fine, and I personally prefer the shorter one-or-two-link kind to the overstuffed extravaganzas that are all the rage these days. You did good. And thanks for the post; I loved her in the Bob Newhart Show, like every other being with a pulse.
posted by languagehat at 5:51 PM on January 20, 2008
My father fought hard with my mom to name me after Suzanne Pleshette. He said that she's a knock-out. My dad won and I am indeed named Suzanne.
So one . for Suzanne and one . for my dad
posted by czechmate at 6:00 PM on January 20, 2008 [6 favorites]
So one . for Suzanne and one . for my dad
posted by czechmate at 6:00 PM on January 20, 2008 [6 favorites]
applemeat...
thanks for the correction... of course you're right, and my mind is losing cells right and left...
posted by HuronBob at 6:26 PM on January 20, 2008
thanks for the correction... of course you're right, and my mind is losing cells right and left...
posted by HuronBob at 6:26 PM on January 20, 2008
Patty Duke c.1988 on co-starring with Suzanne Pleshette in the original Broadway production of "The Miracle Worker":
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posted by nakedcodemonkey at 6:38 PM on January 20, 2008
"She was a flashy, very glamorous young woman, with great hairdos, lots of makeup, and long fingernails... She had things like brocade-lined mink coats and six-inch-high heels that she let me try on; it was real dress-up time, and that was a lot of fun. And, though there was something cute and very disarming about the way she did it, Suzie was into real profanity. Whew! If Helen Keller could have heard her, Suzie could have cursed her into the miracle. She was a tough cookie but a good soul..."Sounds about right. If god is waking next to Suzie Pleshette right now, she's giving him an earful. And he's relishing every minute of it.
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posted by nakedcodemonkey at 6:38 PM on January 20, 2008
My dad wanted to name me after Suzanne Pleshette too. Thank God for Moms.
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posted by ZachsMind at 6:39 PM on January 20, 2008
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posted by ZachsMind at 6:39 PM on January 20, 2008
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posted by evilcolonel at 7:41 PM on January 20, 2008
posted by evilcolonel at 7:41 PM on January 20, 2008
HuronBob, you've got good taste, but Suzanne Pleshette did not play Bob's wife on "Newhart"
Sure she did. Just, you know, only for about 60 seconds.
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posted by phearlez at 8:04 PM on January 20, 2008
Sure she did. Just, you know, only for about 60 seconds.
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posted by phearlez at 8:04 PM on January 20, 2008
Her appearance in the final scene of the series finale of Newhart was one of TV's finest moments.
posted by Neiltupper at 8:05 PM on January 20, 2008
posted by Neiltupper at 8:05 PM on January 20, 2008
The first woman on TV I ever had a crush on, closely followed by Elizabeth Montgomery. I would give all that I have ever earned to time travel back to 1971 & have a threesome with them. Emily Hartley lowering my inhibitions by fixing me a drink as I walked through the door, and Samantha Stevens magicking all of our clothes off with a twitch of her nose... uh hang on. I'll be in my bunk.
posted by jonson at 8:05 PM on January 20, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by jonson at 8:05 PM on January 20, 2008 [1 favorite]
Suzanne was one of my first celebrity crushes, and I think she started my life-long attraction to strong, funny women. Just about any time I saw her interviewed she seemed cool as hell and incredibly classy. Along with the Bob Newhart Show and various talk shows, I fondly remember her in Support Your Local Gunfighter and I recall her being the only thing that made watching the Shaggy DA more than once worth it.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 8:07 PM on January 20, 2008
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 8:07 PM on January 20, 2008
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posted by maggiemaggie at 8:11 PM on January 20, 2008
posted by maggiemaggie at 8:11 PM on January 20, 2008
She's one of the first people I remember seeing on TV and wanting to be her.
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posted by pointystick at 8:39 PM on January 20, 2008
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posted by pointystick at 8:39 PM on January 20, 2008
Dr. Robert Hartley: [final lines, Dick wakes up as Bob from "The Bob Newhart Show"] I just had had the strangest dream. I just dreamt that I was married to a beautiful blonde and we owned an inn that was going to be turned into a golf club.
Emily Hartley: [wakes up, turns the light on] That's it, no more shrimp before bed.
[turns light off]
Emily Hartley: [turns light back on, jealous] Beautiful blonde?
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posted by jonp72 at 8:48 PM on January 20, 2008
Emily Hartley: [wakes up, turns the light on] That's it, no more shrimp before bed.
[turns light off]
Emily Hartley: [turns light back on, jealous] Beautiful blonde?
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posted by jonp72 at 8:48 PM on January 20, 2008
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posted by lupus_yonderboy at 8:58 PM on January 20, 2008
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 8:58 PM on January 20, 2008
I remember her smoky-voiced laugh best.
King Tobacco takes another victim.
posted by Dave Faris at 9:06 PM on January 20, 2008 [1 favorite]
King Tobacco takes another victim.
posted by Dave Faris at 9:06 PM on January 20, 2008 [1 favorite]
King Tobacco takes another victim.
Her second husband died of lung cancer, wonder if he got caught in the wake of her sexy, sexy cigarette smoke?
posted by ethnomethodologist at 9:31 PM on January 20, 2008
Can the anti-smoking Nazi's please give it a rest for one friggin ' thread?
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posted by RavinDave at 9:50 PM on January 20, 2008
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posted by RavinDave at 9:50 PM on January 20, 2008
Mick Lasalle (media critic) at the SF Chron
Completely unrelated point: Sorry to hear today about Suzanne Pleshette. I've seen this coming in slow motion for about 30 years: Every interview I read with her, she was either quitting smoking, trying to quit smoking or had just gone back to smoking after five years of quitting. When I read that she'd died at 70, I knew the cause without having to read the article. It's a shame.
posted by telstar at 10:54 PM on January 20, 2008
Completely unrelated point: Sorry to hear today about Suzanne Pleshette. I've seen this coming in slow motion for about 30 years: Every interview I read with her, she was either quitting smoking, trying to quit smoking or had just gone back to smoking after five years of quitting. When I read that she'd died at 70, I knew the cause without having to read the article. It's a shame.
posted by telstar at 10:54 PM on January 20, 2008
i knew the cause without having to read the article. it's a shame...
all hail the omniscient death avatar!
posted by bruce at 11:45 PM on January 20, 2008
all hail the omniscient death avatar!
posted by bruce at 11:45 PM on January 20, 2008
Can the anti-smoking Nazi's please give it a rest for one friggin ' thread?
You're right. After all, she lived until 70. That's longer than most smokers manage to make it before suffocating.
posted by Dave Faris at 4:48 AM on January 21, 2008 [2 favorites]
You're right. After all, she lived until 70. That's longer than most smokers manage to make it before suffocating.
posted by Dave Faris at 4:48 AM on January 21, 2008 [2 favorites]
This isn't a platform for you to demonstrate what self-righteous, patronizing twit you are. We will gladly stipulate to that, so you no longer need to keep offering more evidence. You don't know squat about the actual circumstances of her death. And rather than reminisce about her work and honor her accomplishments with a bit of dignity -- you prefer to hijack the moment, spread your cheeks and proudly show everyone the bug stuck up your dumb ass. Really ... just fuck off.
posted by RavinDave at 5:12 AM on January 21, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by RavinDave at 5:12 AM on January 21, 2008 [2 favorites]
Dave Faris, this is an obituary thread.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 5:30 AM on January 21, 2008
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 5:30 AM on January 21, 2008
It wasn't "shrimp before bed"; it was "Japanese food."
Just so ya know.
posted by grubi at 5:51 AM on January 21, 2008
Just so ya know.
posted by grubi at 5:51 AM on January 21, 2008
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posted by the sobsister at 7:00 AM on January 21, 2008
posted by the sobsister at 7:00 AM on January 21, 2008
Can the anti-smoking Nazi's please give it a rest for one friggin ' thread?
unfortunately, the rantis have no limits.
posted by brandz at 7:13 AM on January 21, 2008
unfortunately, the rantis have no limits.
posted by brandz at 7:13 AM on January 21, 2008
Can the anti-smoking Nazi's please give it a rest for one friggin ' thread?
Their please is no more restless than any other please.
posted by phearlez at 7:14 AM on January 21, 2008 [1 favorite]
Their please is no more restless than any other please.
posted by phearlez at 7:14 AM on January 21, 2008 [1 favorite]
As it happens, my wife got me the DVDs of the entire run of Wild, Wild West as a gift for Xmas (I was a big fan as a kid), and when we fired up episode 1, the femme fatale was a young and very sexy Suzanne Pleshette.
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posted by JaredSeth at 9:42 AM on January 21, 2008
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posted by JaredSeth at 9:42 AM on January 21, 2008
She was the one bright spot in the otherwise execrable waste of time and videotape that was "Good Morning, Miami." May she rest in peace.
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posted by Dreama at 6:10 PM on January 21, 2008
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posted by Dreama at 6:10 PM on January 21, 2008
Oh yeah, big crush. Anybody remember the TV show called Richie Brockelman, Private Eye? In the pilot, she played the older woman that young Richie ended up with at the end. Which sort of made fun of all us pubescent boys' fantasies while fulfilling them at the same time.
R.I.P., gorgeous.
posted by 314/ at 2:33 PM on January 22, 2008
R.I.P., gorgeous.
posted by 314/ at 2:33 PM on January 22, 2008
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