By now you know that Monday's episode of "Newhart" will be the last.
You probably also know that a number of surprises are supposed to be in store for the series' longtime fans. It's been confirmed that:-With the exception of Dick Loudon (Bob Newhart), the entire town will sell out to a Japanese developer, who turns the quaint Vermont site into a golf course.
-After bidding Stephanie, Michael, George, Larry, Darryl and Darryl farewell, the series will flash ahead five years to find Joanna dressed as a geisha and a Japanese maid and handyman at the inn.
-Getting the nearly obligatory reunion show out of the way early, Stephanie, Michael, George, Larry, Darryl and Darryl return to the inn for a little get-together.
It's been reported - but not confirmed - that:
-Darryl and Darryl will finally end their eight years of silence.
-His inn now just a golf hazard, Dick will step outside and be killed by an errant golf ball.
-Moving to the "other side," Dick will meet his maker.
Well, get ready for another surprise. The Los Angeles Times reports that in the final scene, Bob wakes up in bed with . . . Suzanne Pleshette, who played Emily Hartley, Bob's wife on the old "Bob New-hart Show."
Shades of "St. Elsewhere" and "Dallas."
THE BOB: It's official. Even before the final episode of "Newhart" airs, its star has signed to headline a third CBS sitcom, beginning in the fall of 1991.
Newhart has an interesting dilema, however. His 1972-78 show was entitled "The Bob Newhart Show." And he's just used "Newhart." What's left?
"While no premise has been set for my new show, I've been very impressed by (CBS Entertainment President) Jeff Sagansky's leadership and I am seriously considering his suggestion that it be called `Bob,' " Newhart said. "I am also huddling with creative advisers and studying the possibility of calling it `The.' "
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NO DICE: Andrew Dice Clay's appearance lifted "Saturday Night Live" to its highest rating of the season, but that may not be good for the Diceman.
The foul-mouthed comic displayed just how talentless and unfunny he really is before a large audience. He managed to throw out a few naughty words, sexist cracks and lewd references, but the guy just wasn't funny.
And it doesn't say much for "SNL" that the writers couldn't do better than that with all the publicity the show received.
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NBC NEWS: In a surprise move, the network has hired former "Today Show" executive producer to start running things on the third-place "NBC Nightly News."
The boisterous and boasterous Friedman took "Today" to the top, then left three years ago to produce the ill-fated "USA Today on Television." He was out within a matter of weeks after "USA" premiered to disastrous reviews and ratings.
Current rumor is that Friedman will bring long-time pal Jane Pauley aboard to co-anchor the news with Tom Brokaw. Friedman denies the reports.
HAVE FAITH: When Faith Daniels returns from maternity leave, she won't be going back to the "CBS Morning News." She's on her way to NBC's "Today" as the news anchor.
Daniels' hiring is of particular note because "Today's" ratings have plummeted since Deborah Norville replaced Jane Pauley - and the network is reportedly already considering replacing Norville.
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HEEERE'S JOHNNY: Late-night king Johnny Carson has signed still another contract to continue as star of the "Tonight Show."
The new pact begins in September and will carry Carson into his 29th year with NBC. The financial terms and length of the deal were not announced.
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CBS IS NO. 1: Mr. Spud was surprised when CBS finished just behind NBC in the ratings last week. He's shocked to discover that the Big Eye was on top of the heap this week.
It's the first time CBS has won a week outright since June 1988, although it did tie NBC for first in February 1989 on the strength of the miniseries "Lonesome Dove."
CBS won the week an 11.7 rating and a 20 share. Perennial front-runner NBC fell to second with an 11.5 rating and a 20 share, while ABC had an 11.0 rating and a 19 share.
With no miniseries help this time, CBS did it despite having just one show in the Top Ten - the Sunday movie "Shattered Dream" came in seventh. The Eye also won the Sunday night movie battle for the third time in the three weeks of the sweeps period. ABC's "Platoon" was 27th and the first half of NBC's mini "People Like Us" was a dismal 59th.
ABC found a show that held on to at least some of No. 1 "America's Funniest Home Videos" big audience: "America's Funniest . . . Part II" was No. 3 for the week, although it lost about 4 million viewers from its lead-in.
Connie Chung is finding Monday nights much more to her liking. Her "Face to Face" special last week was 20th, while her regular "Saturday Night with Connie Chung" tied for 77th.
Oprah Winfrey is finding prime time a bit more difficult than daytime. Her "Brewster Place" placed 27th in its Tuesday showing - but that's not good when it followed No. 2 "Roseanne" - then moved into its regular Wednesday night slot and plummeted to 56th.
THE TOP TEN: 1. "America's Funniest Home Videos" (ABC); 2. "Roseanne" (ABC); 3. "America's Funniest . . . Part II" (ABC); 4. Cheers (NBC); 5. (tie) "The Cosby Show" (NBC) and "Empty Nest" (NBC); 7. "CBS Sunday Movie: Shattered Dreams;" 8. "A Different World" (NBC); 9. "Wonder Years" (ABC); 10. "Golden Girls" (NBC).