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Evening Shade
"YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND LAUGHTER... IN A PLACE CALLED EVENING SHADE!"
Overview
Evening Shade is an American sitcom television series that aired on CBS from 1990 to 1994. The series stars Burt Reynolds as Wood Newton, an ex-professional football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who returns to rural Evening Shade, Arkansas to coach a high school football team with a long losing streak. Reynolds personally requested to use the Steelers as his former team because he is a fan. The general theme of the show is the appeal of small town life. Episodes ended with a closing narration by Ossie Davis summing up the events of the episode, always closing with "... in a place called Evening Shade." The show's final episode saw the guest appearances of Willie Nelson and Buzz Aldrin as escaped convicts on the run from authorities, the final scene being a spectacular shoot-out reminiscent of the final scene of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The opening segment included clips from around Arkansas, including the famous McClard's Bar-be-que, which is situated on Albert Pike Blvd. and South Patterson St. in Hot Springs National Park.
Status
Ended
Created By
Linda Bloodworth-Thomason
Network
CBS
Seasons & Episodes
Season 4
Episodes
Four Naked Women
After the women play a joke on them, the guys get even by locking them out of Fontana's house—while they're clad in Fontana's stripper costumes.
One Down, Three to Go
Ava has a hard time adjusting when Taylor moves out ioto his own apartment.
One Hot Game
Wood and Frieda get locked inside a sauna while everyone else in Evening Shade sweats out the football team's first game of the season.
Witness for the Prosecution
Ava and Harlan go head to head in court when he is a witness for an insurance company.
Kiss of the Ice Cream Woman
Herman has some bad news for the returning Margaret (who has some for him in return). Herman confesses that he cheated on Margaret by kissing the ice cream woman—but only after Margaret confesses to kissing a man during her trip to Greece.
Night of the Living Newtons
Wood tries to allay Emily's fear of scary costumes by letting her pick out his Hallowe'en attire.
The Dance
Wood is more than a wee bit upset when he has to deal with Molly dating boys; meanwhile, Herman discovers that he's Scottish.
Wood and Evan's Excellent Adventure
With Nub out sick, Wood and Evan takes over his newspaper route as the ladies run his other errands.
Small Town Girl
A Hollywood movie star takes a liking to Evening Shade—and decides to buy the whole town and turn it into a tourist attraction.
Where There's Smoke
Freida returns from her health farm jaunt determined to stop smoking, with Herman's help.
Chain of Fools
A new restaurant threatens Ponder's business, so the gang agree to participate in a serious of bizarre commercials.
Sleepless in Arkansas
Ava and Wood accompany a nervous Herman to a singles bar.
The Proof is in the Pudding
Ava is upset when she is forced to imprison her own father for refusing to divulge a journalistic source.
The People's Choice
Disaster is on the ballot when Harlan and Ima both run for mayor.
Educating Calvin
When Wood's delinquent cousin Calvin returns to Evening Shade, he decides to stay at the Newtons' until he earns his high school diploma.
Paint the Town Nude
Merleen finds her calling by painting nudes--starting with husband Harlan.
The Perfect Woman
The town gets an eyeful when Merleen takes up painting nudes—using Harland and Wood as her first subjects.
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad Wood
Wood must humiliate himself in order to inherit $1 million.
The Fabulous Frazier Girls
Merleen's sisters ask her to join their singing act.
I Did, I Did
On their anniversary, Ava and Wood plan to reaffirm their vows—a plan that includes bachelor and bachelorette parties.
Mr. Newton Goes to Hot Springs
The town is bankrupt and it's up to Mayor Wood to fix the problem; and he starts by attending a mayors conference in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wood?
Wood fields an offer from an old football chum who wants him as the new quarterback coach for the Atlanta Falcons.
Wood Climbs to New Heights
A suitor professes his love for Molly on the town's water tower.
Mama Knows Best
Mutual attraction develops between Ava's college pal and Taylor.
The Odder Couple
To avoid becoming infected with chicken pox, Wood moves in with Taylor.
I Left My Ring in Evening Shade
Nub becomes a chimney sweep. Meanwhile, Frieda's ex-husband returns with an unusual proposal: he wants to get married again, and wants Frieda to return his grandmother's ring so he can give it to his new spouse.
Top Cast
Burt Reynolds
Wood Newton
Marilu Henner
Ava Evans Newton
Hal Holbrook
Evan Evans
Charles Durning
Harlan Elldridge
Ann Wedgeworth
Merleen Elldridge
Michael Jeter
Herman Stiles
Jay R. Ferguson
Taylor Newton
Ossie Davis
Ponder Blue
Candace Hutson
Molly Newton
Elizabeth Ashley
Freida Evans
Jacob Parker
Will Newton
