Poor Stephanie always getting disciplined by Joanna

I get what you're saying. And yes, if it was real life, nobody would stay at an inn where the maid was so obnoxious. It would lead to such bad word of mouth, that the Loudons would be forced to fire her. So obviously the writers are exaggerating her character flaws for humor and she is probably the least realistic character on the show.

But given the context of that, where Stephanie's actions are excusable-- it just seems like if Joanna is going to help humanize her, Joanna could be a little more tactful. Instead, Joanna is like a hovering mother in many scenes, waiting for Stephanie to foul up so she can come down hard on her. It makes Stephanie someone the viewer ironically sympathizes with (when we shouldn't sympathize with her behavior at all); and it makes Joanna come across as the heavy.

As I said, they don't write Dick and Michael this way. Dick gives Michael a bit more latitude (maybe because Michael is his producer and technically over him). But back at the inn, Joanna is over Stephanie and she keeps making sure poor Stephanie never forgets it. Joanna is on a big power trip. She also pulls rank over George, too; whereas Dick has a much more casual approach with George than Joanna does.

I love Mary Frann, but I am finding Joanna to be the least likable character on Newhart. I watched this show first-run as a kid in the 80s and I didn't remember Joanna being such a hard-nose.

Send Her Ella comes to mind. That is one near the end of season two where Stephanie isn't able to go to the Maple Syrup Beauty contest (like Cinderella and the ball) because Joanna makes sure she stays back at the inn to finish her work. In fact, when I think about it, Joanna is kind of like the wicked stepmother in that episode.

But there are many episodes throughout the show's run where Joanna gets after Stephanie for setting a guest's breakfast plate down too hard on the table, or when she hurries with the dusting in the lobby. In these moments, Joanna always says 'Stephanie! like a scolding parent.

I agree that there are other episodes where Stephanie is kind of vicious to Joanna, usually behind Joanna's back-- but in a way, it is almost like a necessary retaliation or venting, because of how Joanna is hovering over her at the inn all day.

A really great episode is Season 4's The Shape of Things, where they go into business together running an exercise studio. But because Stephanie invested more money, she gets to boss Joanna around. Then, when they get back to the inn, Joanna takes it out on her and gets even.

Another line about Stephanie was in the episode when a couple opened an inn nearby the Stratford. Dick and Joanna go to visit, and they meet the maid who has a pleasant personality and seems to take pride in her work. Dick turns to Joanna and says "When God was handing out hired help, I bet he said 'Watch what I do to the Loudons'"

The only time where I thought Joanna was too overbearing was the episode when she thought the Stratford had received a low rating in a tourist guide. Other than that, Joanna just wanted Stephanie to do her job. Hardly unreasonable, especially since the job included free living accomodations and meals. Without rent, bills or groceries to worry about, what Stephanie made there was spending money for whatever she wanted.

Stephanie was a terrible employee, especially compared to Leslie. Most people would've fired her long ago. But Dick and Joanna didn't have the heart to let her go. So Dick seemed to shrug off her behavior and accept it, while the responsibility for making sure Stephanie did her job fell to Joanna.

Interestingly enough, the episode I'm watching now has Joanna asking Dick why they've kept Stephanie around for so long, to which Dick replies, "Because we're idiots."


The episode you are referring to is season 8's 'Lights Cameras Contractions' right before Stephanie goes into labor.

Thanks Sally for your interesting comments. Glad you are enjoying the show. It's been a few weeks since your post, and I am guessing you have finished all the episodes by now.

I still feel Joanna is too bossy in some of the episodes. In a way, I think Joanna is one of the least explored characters on the show. She seems frustrated with Stephanie sometimes, but maybe she is frustrated in general-- with the town and the climate, and with being stuck in Vermont without much chance to leave.

We know that if Stephanie wants to play by her parents' rules, she can leave and go back to the good life. But for Joanna, this is as good as it gets, by Dick's side running an inn in the middle of nowhere.