My Other Brother Daryyl

If you’re familiar with the TV show Deadwood, you know there was an ensemble cast that included past and future icons of the silver screen. I wasn’t really introduced to these actors through the show because I’ve seen them in other shows, but Deadwood came out more than 20 years ago, and it was part of the movement that helped to raise the bar on acting quality for all TV shows to come.

When I watched the show for the first time (very recently), I recognized actor after actor from their later or previous work. A new face would appear, and then I’d try to place them in whatever show or movie I’d seen them in.

Suddenly, one of these faces triggered a deep connection inside me. I flashed back to the mid-80s almost instantly.

It was this fellow:

If you grew up in the US during the 80s, you might already recognize this face. If not, there’s a recurring gag on the show where he introduces himself the same way every time that might trigger your memory, the way seeing William Sanderson did for me.

Hi, I'm Larry. This is my brother Darryl, and this is my other brother Darryl.

This is from a TV show called Newhart, which was itself a spin-off from a previous show called the Bob Newhart Show. Okay, it wasn’t exactly a spin-off, but I can’t really tell you what I mean without heavy spoilers.

Bob Newhart himself was famous for his ultra-deadpan style of humor. He would deliver a joke’s punch line, often taking a very unexpected approach or surprising the audience with something shocking or absurd—but with absolutely zero inflection in his voice.

He kept his mannerisms flat, bored, and cynical no matter what was going on. I must have picked up on some of this unflappability myself, because I was impressed whenever I saw it out in the world among my peers.

This shrug-of-the-shoulders at danger was also very on-brand for Generation X. We were taught to survive by not letting anyone know that anything bothered us. I’m sure Newhart’s ability to wisecrack in the face of trauma appealed to me.

Newhart wasn’t just devil-may-care, though. His character on the show tended to do the right thing, while also allowing you to see things the way his character, Bob, experienced them. Because he wasn’t loud or brash, you got a chance to see how he patiently worked through complex problems that arose in his business or home life.

In other words, there was a bit of wisdom to be gleaned from the show.

Newhart was one of those rare shows I could still watch with my parents as puberty took hold of my body and brain for a few years. Somehow, the snark and unflappability were more than enough to keep me engaged. Somehow, Newhart’s brilliant humor and a core message to treat others well resonated with my parents as much as it did with me.

The only other show remotely like this was Star Trek: the Next Generation. Like with TNG, Newhart allowed us to share an experience of facing and solving serious problems, whether personal or astronomical.

It’s probably no surprise that seeing William Sanderson triggered this feeling and memory in my mind. He’s not an actor I see frequently, so when Deadwood reminded me of the existence of Larry, my mind immediately traveled back 40 years.

Has this ever happened to you? Have you flashed back to childhood or puberty in an instant, just by seeing a face you haven’t seen in a long time?