SHORT TAKES : ‘Newhart’ Finale May Be a Killer

Bob Newhart, master of deadpan comedy, may give new meaning to the term in a possibly fatal finale to his CBS series, “Newhart.”

Newhart’s character, Dick Loudon, may get killed by an errant golf ball in the last episode, according to TV Guide’s April 21 issue.

Tom Poston, who plays handyman George Utley in the 8-year-old series, told TV Guide that his script for the May 21 finale has a Japanese businessman buying the Vermont town where the series is set to build a golf course. Loudon refuses to sell out, and his Stratford Inn ends up on the 14th hole. He steps outside one day, and . . .

“We’d like to keep the suspense up till the episode airs,” executive producer Mark Egan said. “We have a surprise in the final show,” was Newhart’s only comment.