Cheers & Jeers: NCIS Says, "Hi, Bob!"

Cheers to Bob Newhart for his heart-rending performance on NCIS.

Want more Cheers & Jeers?Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!

The comedy legend earned an Emmy nomination in 2004 for his dramatic role as a suicidal patient on ER, and he was equally good as a former medical examiner afflicted with Alzheimer's on CBS' naval mystery. Newhart's Walter Magnus sparred memorably with Gibbs (Mark Harmon), flirted adorably with Abby (Pauley Perrette) and even got away with calling "Ducky" Mallard (David McCallum) by his real first name — Donald.

A few comic moments were sprinkled throughout the episode, most notably one of Newhart's signature phone calls, to a restaurant called "Willie Wong's Wok." And naming Walter's late wife "Ginnie" was a nice in-joke, since Newhart's real-life better half, Ginnie, is a big NCIS fan. But when his character's disease was revealed, Newhart showed that his deadpan standup style works just as effectively for dead-serious drama.

Did you love Bob Newhart on NCIS?

Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine now!