 best remembered now as a star of two hit television shows in the 70s and 80s that bore his name newhart launched his career as a stand-up comic in the late 50s he gained nationwide fame when his routine was captured on vinyl in 1960 as the button-down mind of bob newhart which went on to win a grammy award as album of the year in 1982 the comedian launched the tv show new heart this time a successful new york writer who decides to reopen a long closed vermont inn