Last night's college football national championship game between Ohio State and Oregon was notable not just for the domination of Buckeyes running back Ezekiel Elliott, but also for the uncanny resemblance a referee had to comedy legend Bob Newhart.
Twitter users following the game quickly pointed out the similarities between the game's head referee Greg Burks and the 85-year-old star of classics like The Bob Newhart Show.
The similarities are undeniable -- Burks essentially is Newhart, perhaps after a few hundred pushups.
Tonight's ref is Bob Newhart!!!! #CFPChampionship #OregonVsOhioState pic.twitter.com/FPbODNfocc— Cliff Saunders (@cliffsaunders) January 13, 2015
Is it just me or does the referee in this #OSUvsORE game look like Bob Newhart? pic.twitter.com/MjRSE2ENSk— Paul Singer (@singernews) January 13, 2015
It's not just you.
The comic himself responded to his flag-throwing doppelgänger within just a few hours.
In regards to my new career as head ref for #OSUvsORE - Hey, I don't have a series any more - I had to do something. #OSUvsORE— Bob Newhart (@BobNewhart) January 13, 2015
For Burks, all this attention isn't anything new. A quick Twitter search reveals that he's been compared to the deadpan actor since 2012.
Nice dude RT @EricBurak: Great to see @BobNewhart found a new career. Referee at the #USCvHawaii game. pic.twitter.com/IHbjayKa2t— Bill Battin (@DUBL_B) August 30, 2013
Congratulations to Mr. Newhart on his new career move.