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Fernwood 2 Night

6.1(7)
First Aired:July 4, 1977
Seasons:1 season
Episodes:65
Status:Ended

Fernwood 2 Night was a comedic television program that ran from July 1977 – September 1977. It was created by Norman Lear and produced by Alan Thicke as a spin-off/summer replacement from Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. It was a parody talk show, hosted by Barth Gimble and sidekick/announcer Jerry Hubbard, complete with a stage band, Happy Kyne and His Mirthmakers. Barth was the twin brother of Garth Gimble from Mary Hartman. Like Mary Hartman, Fernwood 2 Night was set in the fictional town of Fernwood, Ohio. The show satirized real talk shows as well as the sort of fare one might expect from locally-produced, small-town, midwestern American television programming. Well-known actors usually appeared playing characters or a contrivance had to be written for the celebrity to appear as themselves. After one season of Fernwood, the producers revamped the show the following year as America 2-Night. In this second version, Barth and Jerry's show moved to California and was broadcast nationally on the fictional UBS network, whose slogan was "We put U before the BS". This change allowed the show to now have well-known actors on the show as themselves.

Cast

Fred Willard

Fred Willard

Jerry Hubbard

Frank De Vol

Frank De Vol

Happy Kyne

Martin Mull

Martin Mull

Barth Gimble

Tommy Tedesco

Tommy Marinucci

Seasons

E1Talk to a Jew

30m

Jul 4, 1977

Barth talks about his unusual day-to-day contract. Howard Palmer, a man in an iron lung, plays the piano. ""Talk to a Jew"" -- Morton Rose answers audience questions. (""When is Barbra Streisand's next movie coming out?"")

E2Leisure Suits Cause Cancer

30m

Jul 5, 1977

Barth thanks the viewers for their support that got him renewed for another episode. Rocket to Stardom: Baby Irene sings ""I Didn't Know the Gun Was Loaded"". Barth talks to her about gun control. Happy talks about his nostrils. From Fernwood Commmunity College: Doctor Richard Osgood has proof that leisure suits cause cancer. (You see, they dress up the mice in tiny leisure suits... No, really!) Bury the Hatchet: Iris and Joseph Case want their son, a Catholic priest, to come back to them. Howard Palmer plays, while Baby Irene dances.

E3The Wonderblender

30m

Jul 6, 1977

Barth introduces his dad. The body language of April McTear -- contortionist. Lou Moffatt plugs Blendermatic, the Wonderblender. The owner of the Butterfly Deli, Susan Cloud (""...the body _requires_ burgers""). Barth's father Garth Sr. and his idiot dog perform,

E4Corporal Punishment I

30m

Jul 7, 1977

Hula hoopist Darius Washington. South Vietnamese gardener Mein Ko Thein (?) plugs his book: ""Yankee Doodle Gook"". The Other Side of the News:High School Principal Marshall O. Petty discusses corporal punishment by demonstrating it on Debbie Dunbar. Lastly, Garth Sr. and his dumb dog.

E5Corporal Punishment II

30m

Jul 8, 1977

Barth talks with Debbie Dunbar's mother. Since ""last weeks"" on-air spanking, Debbie has gotten several lucrative modeling jobs. Russ Tuttle, the Fernwood coroner talks about cut rate funeral alternatives; Mrs. Dunbar appears with both of her daughters, shamelessly plugging the phone number for her ""talent agency"". Jerry rambles on about families. Barth sings ""Feelings"" while Debbie does cheerleader stuff. Once again, Garth and Louie.

E6Fernwood Fascinating Females

30m

Jul 11, 1977

Vernon Taylor (AKA ""Uncle Sam, Jr"") reads one of his poems, Candy Lee Hargrove talks about the Fernwood Fascinating Females League.

E7Hearing Ear Dogs for the Deaf

30m

Jul 12, 1977

Pet control center director Connie Bushman on Hearing Ear Dogs for the Deaf. Also: dancer Lisa Martin; Garth Gimble, Sr. and his dog.

E8Congressman Chambers

30m

Jul 13, 1977

E9No-frills Hospitals

30m

Jul 14, 1977

Ambassador-at-large Harold Mislap talks about his efforts to bring tourism to Fernwood, Dr. Richard Osgood presents his no-frills hospital plan.

E10Ethnic Myths

30m

Jul 15, 1977

Daredevil Virgil Simms; Emanuel Kasinski on his latest findings on ethnic myths and prejudice.

E11Lillian Dunbar

30m

Jul 18, 1977

Grandmother Lillian Dunbar and presidential namesake James Earl Carter.

E12Uncle Sam, Jr (I)

30m

Jul 19, 1977

Candy discusses gynacology and the need for female gynacologists. Bart plays the guitar while Happy and Vernon accompany him.

E13Tony Rolletti and Susan Cloud

30m

Jul 20, 1977

E14Breeding Athletes

30m

Jul 21, 1977

Barth challenges Jimmy Carter to come on the show and compete with him to prove just who is a star. Lou Moffet offers tips on home music ripoffs and the presents the American Guitar Studios home study course offered by Gimblco Enterprises. Happy & band member Tommy Maranucci sit and chat.

E15Animal Sexuality

30m

Jul 22, 1977

Professional football consultant Emanual Kasinski on the breeding of large men.

E16Garth Gimble Memorial Tennis Classic

30m

Jul 25, 1977

This episode is tentatively scheduled for air on TV LAND July 20th at midnight. Original production number: 127 Barth promotes the planned Garth Gimbel Memorial Tennis Classic. W.D. ""Bud"" Prize (Kenneth Mars) returns, and bows to public demands that he reveal the secret of his chinadonture treatment. In a rebuttal to Dr. Van Moot (aka Dr. Osgood), Phil Maltby (Morgan Upton) of Phil's Fashion Funwear and Medical Research Lab explains that leisure suits, far from causing cancer, actually can help cure disease. ""Bud"" Prize is so stimulated by this revelation that he falls asleep.

E17Dating Service for Dogs

30m

Jul 26, 1977

Connie Bushman talks about her dating service for dogs. Radio personality Terry Guy plugs his disc jockey correspondence course.

E18Lou Moffatt on Land Deals

30m

Jul 27, 1977

Lou Moffatt on land deals; Bassist Eddie Thomerson. Sylvia Miller also appears and discusses how a martian violated her with a beam of blue light.

E19Uncle Sam Jr. II

30m

Jul 28, 1977

Vernon Taylor, better known as Uncle Sam, Jr. is back and as passionate as ever.

E20Comedy Sales Techniques

30m

Jul 29, 1977

Insurance salesman Elliott J. Tubbs demonstrates his comedy sales techniques. Happy Kyne on shut-ins.

E21Tom Waits

30m

Aug 1, 1977

Tom Waits. ""Bud"" Prize on using CB radio to bring in tourists.

E22Dumbness measuring machine

30m

Aug 2, 1977

A dumbness measuring machine is demonstrated. Actually, more like a dumbness alarm. Say a dumb thing, and the alarm goes off. Like every time that Jerry opens his mouth.

E23no info

30m

Aug 3, 1977

Happy Kyne shares the latest gizmo developed by the Olfactory Center of Toledo; the nose aid.

E24Singers and salesmen

30m

Aug 4, 1977

Mario Dorsett on his success as a singer; Tony Rolletti; Mrs. Walter Donker, whose husband sells cars.

E25Criminal Justice

30m

Aug 5, 1977

Gilbert Ulysses Nelson discusses the treatment of criminals.

E26Still a Dream

30m

Aug 8, 1977

Local opera singer Donny Lee Savage; Dr. Hugh Slocum on his latest scientific discovery; Amateur photographer Marianne Cox.

E27Fernwood Blood Drive

30m

Aug 9, 1977

Singing duo Doug and Diana Mitchell; Fernwood blood drive chairman Larry Guy.

E28Ratings Week

30m

Aug 10, 1977

Singer Laurie Gallagher performs, accompanied by her mother on drums. Also: Bud Prize and Sylvia Miller.

E29Barbershop Trio

30m

Aug 11, 1977

Doctor Alexander Beach discusses his findings on marijuana. How the Humdinger Barbershop Quartet became a trio.

E30Two Ladies Against Pornography

30m

Aug 12, 1977

Nettie and Barbara Forman on the elderly.

E31Church of the Devine Lemonade

30m

Aug 15, 1977

The founder of the Church of the Devine Lemonade, Billy Jenkins. George and Sally Krepps discuss the La Fromage method of childbirth.

E32Roger Bellman

30m

Aug 16, 1977

Marin Worth reads one of his poems. Also: Susan Cloud and chauffeur Earl Simmons.

E33The Fitness Twins

30m

Aug 17, 1977

Fernwood mayor Merle Jeeter honors champion Girl scout cookie seller Wendy Price. Also: contortionist Mike Timmins and Mary Lou Bridgewater.

E34You Are You

30m

Aug 18, 1977

Alberta Cornwall on how colored clothing affects moods; poet Vernon Taylor.

E35The Barber

30m

Aug 19, 1977

Hair stylist Sal Magglione and Presidential namesake James Earl Carter.

E36X-Rated Shopping Mall

30m

Aug 22, 1977

Sportscaster Jane Tiffany and W. D. ""Bud"" Prize.

E37Tony Rolletti's autobiography

30m

Aug 23, 1977

Tony Rolletti plugs his autobiography. The Mirth-Makers perform ""Rock Around the Clock"".

E38Getting the most from your warranty

30m

Aug 24, 1977

Virgil Simms tells how to get the most out of your new-car waranty. Basically, you make sure that it goes into the shop just before that waranty expires.

E39Nudists

30m

Aug 25, 1977

Linda Barry, owner of the Fernwood Nudist Colony. Toy maker George Ellsworth.

E40Wrestling

30m

Aug 26, 1977

Jane Tiffany; Sylvia Miller; Wrestler Rock Mondo and his assisstant.

E41Tony and Chance Rolletti

30m

Aug 27, 1977

E42Solving Water Shortages

30m

Aug 28, 1977

Representative Chambers on solving water shortages with icebergs. Lucy and Ed Campbell show how they display affection.

E43Sex Therapy

30m

Aug 29, 1977

Vern Taylor; Sex therapy clinic founder Matthew Johnson; Happy sings about tooth decay.

E44Real Estate Tips

30m

Aug 30, 1977

Comic Buddy Brown; Author Dottie Ann Lee; Eddie Thomerson's real estate tips.

E45Skateboard Angel

30m

Sep 2, 1977

Larry Guy takes questions from the audience; The Mirth-Makers play ""Skateboard Angel"".

E46Mobile Home Daredevil

30m

Sep 5, 1977

Las Vegas entertainer Debbie Dunbar; Mobile home daredevil Virgil Simms.

E47Rev. Chung Hee

30m

Sep 6, 1977

E48Pot Sniffing

30m

Sep 7, 1977

Impressionist Reggie Morrison; Principal Marshall Petty; Susan Cloud.

E49Pet Mating Service

30m

Sep 8, 1977

Connie Bushman on her computer pet mating service; Sherry McCormick performs "" I Like Dreamin'""; The Birchfield, Ohio mayor tells how he spent 90 days in jail.

E50Harrison Edwards' Moon

30m

Sep 9, 1977

Historian Harrison Edwards. Also: Tony Rolletti and Jane Tiffany.

E51Behind Hollywood

30m

Sep 12, 1977

Author Duane Goff plugs his book, ""Behind Hollywood"". The Mirth-makers perform ""Fifteen and Free"".

E52Etiquette Guidelines

30m

Sep 13, 1977

Barth starts the show with a slide show of his travels around Hollywood. Guests for this episode are etiquette authority Meg Endicott and her new book, Etiquette Guidelines for the Future and U.S. Defense Department representative, Col. Morris Chandler, announcing the newly formed War Deprogramming Center, a facility that helps war veterans ease back into the civilian life by first returning them to the war.

E53Aunt Edity

30m

Sep 14, 1977

The show starts off on a somber note when Barth announces that the recently hired sportscaster, Jane Tiffany, was injured and is now in a coma, her prognosis uncertain. They proceed to hold an impromptu tribute to her which was quickly thrown together without hardly any thought or preparation and it shows. The first guest claimed to be Barth's Aunt Edith but is in fact Barth's former "patron" from Miami. This much older woman has tracked him down for the promised "services to be rendered" once she "put mirrors on every ceiling." The next guest claimed to be an accomplished dancer who defected from the Soviet Union but it becomes obvious that Serge Nabokov was kicked out because, as his mother put it, "you stink.

E54no info

30m

Sep 15, 1977

Barth says a prayer on the show before introducing former daredevil now auto mechanics instructor Virgil Simms. He talks about being an auto-mechanics instructor at the Fernwood Community College. Also appearing is Elliot J Tubbs, the newly appointed National Liquor Lobby representative furthering the alcohol industry's cause. Barth ends the show with a song about truckers and fruit.

E55no info

30m

Sep 16, 1977

The show begins with Barth and Jerry reacting to some comments made by Tom Snyder. With the band's strike over, things return to normal. Tonight's guests include Edward Bailey, a hamburger bun juggler from the Bun-N-Run, Dr. Harlen Washburn, who describes his vision of integrated education and returning guest Baby Irene performing Animal Crackers.

E56Theological Correspondence Course

30m

Sep 19, 1977

Father George Reese plugs his theological correspondence course, and accordianist Frankie ""Kid"" Carbone.

E57Singles Mingles Club

30m

Sep 20, 1977

E58Lattimore Diet Program

30m

Sep 21, 1977

Six-year-old trombonist Kevin McCormick. Mrs. Lillian Lattimore describes her diet program.

E59Battery Powered Car

30m

Sep 22, 1977

Virgil Simms introduces his battery powered car. Emanual Kasinski on Gay Liberation.

E60Harry Shearer

30m

Sep 23, 1977

Harry Shearer discusses his work in TV news.

E61Amusement and Healing Parks

30m

Sep 26, 1977

Bob and Joanne Herlick recite Shakespeare. Nelson Phipps of the Amusement and Healing Parks.

E62Indian Princess

30m

Sep 27, 1977

On the show tonight: Indian princess Shosen Rising Star and psychologist Stanley Turnbull.

E63Fan Club President

30m

Sep 28, 1977

Barth Gimble fan club president Mercedes Blyweiss presents an award to Barth.

E64The Ransom

30m

Sep 29, 1977

Happy Kyne talks about where songwriters get their inspiration. Happy and the Mirth-Makers sing ""Ice Cream Baby"". Barth interviews three heavily-disguised criminals. Barth explains to Jerry how cartoons work. Bud Prize talks about the ransom note. Somebody has his chow-chow! Barth gets a singing telegram -- actually a summons from Miami.

E65Save "Fernwood 2Night" Telethon

30m

Sep 30, 1977

Barth and Jerry stage a telethon to save the show. Final episode of the series. Continues the next summer as ""America 2Night"".

Videos

Storyline

Fernwood 2 Night was a comedic television program that ran from July 1977 – September 1977. It was created by Norman Lear and produced by Alan Thicke as a spin-off/summer replacement from Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. It was a parody talk show, hosted by Barth Gimble and sidekick/announcer Jerry Hubbard, complete with a stage band, Happy Kyne and His Mirthmakers. Barth was the twin brother of Garth Gimble from Mary Hartman. Like Mary Hartman, Fernwood 2 Night was set in the fictional town of Fernwood, Ohio. The show satirized real talk shows as well as the sort of fare one might expect from locally-produced, small-town, midwestern American television programming. Well-known actors usually appeared playing characters or a contrivance had to be written for the celebrity to appear as themselves. After one season of Fernwood, the producers revamped the show the following year as America 2-Night. In this second version, Barth and Jerry's show moved to California and was broadcast nationally on the fictional UBS network, whose slogan was "We put U before the BS". This change allowed the show to now have well-known actors on the show as themselves.

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