Fernwood 2 Night
Fernwood 2 Night

Fernwood 2 Night (1977)

5.71 seasonsComedy, Talk

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.

📺 Seasons & Episodes

Season 165 episodes
Talk to a Jew

1. Talk to a Jew

30 min

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?"")

Leisure Suits Cause Cancer

2. Leisure Suits Cause Cancer

30 min

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.

The Wonderblender

3. The Wonderblender

30 min

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,

Corporal Punishment I

4. Corporal Punishment I

30 min

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.

Corporal Punishment II

5. Corporal Punishment II

30 min

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.

Fernwood Fascinating Females

6. Fernwood Fascinating Females

30 min

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

Hearing Ear Dogs for the Deaf

7. Hearing Ear Dogs for the Deaf

30 min

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

Congressman Chambers

8. Congressman Chambers

30 min

No description available.

No-frills Hospitals

9. No-frills Hospitals

30 min

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

Ethnic Myths

10. Ethnic Myths

30 min

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

Lillian Dunbar

11. Lillian Dunbar

30 min

Grandmother Lillian Dunbar and presidential namesake James Earl Carter.

Uncle Sam, Jr (I)

12. Uncle Sam, Jr (I)

30 min

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

Tony Rolletti and Susan Cloud

13. Tony Rolletti and Susan Cloud

30 min

No description available.

Breeding Athletes

14. Breeding Athletes

30 min

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.

Animal Sexuality

15. Animal Sexuality

30 min

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

Garth Gimble Memorial Tennis Classic

16. Garth Gimble Memorial Tennis Classic

30 min

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.

Dating Service for Dogs

17. Dating Service for Dogs

30 min

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

Lou Moffatt on Land Deals

18. Lou Moffatt on Land Deals

30 min

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.

Uncle Sam Jr. II

19. Uncle Sam Jr. II

30 min

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

Comedy Sales Techniques

20. Comedy Sales Techniques

30 min

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

Tom Waits

21. Tom Waits

30 min

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

Dumbness measuring machine

22. Dumbness measuring machine

30 min

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.

no info

23. no info

30 min

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

Singers and salesmen

24. Singers and salesmen

30 min

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

Criminal Justice

25. Criminal Justice

30 min

Gilbert Ulysses Nelson discusses the treatment of criminals.

Still a Dream

26. Still a Dream

30 min

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

Fernwood Blood Drive

27. Fernwood Blood Drive

30 min

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

Ratings Week

28. Ratings Week

30 min

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

Barbershop Trio

29. Barbershop Trio

30 min

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

Two Ladies Against Pornography

30. Two Ladies Against Pornography

30 min

Nettie and Barbara Forman on the elderly.

Church of the Devine Lemonade

31. Church of the Devine Lemonade

30 min

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

Roger Bellman

32. Roger Bellman

30 min

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

The Fitness Twins

33. The Fitness Twins

30 min

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

You Are You

34. You Are You

30 min

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

The Barber

35. The Barber

30 min

Hair stylist Sal Magglione and Presidential namesake James Earl Carter.

X-Rated Shopping Mall

36. X-Rated Shopping Mall

30 min

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

Tony Rolletti's autobiography

37. Tony Rolletti's autobiography

30 min

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

Getting the most from your warranty

38. Getting the most from your warranty

30 min

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.

Nudists

39. Nudists

30 min

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

Wrestling

40. Wrestling

30 min

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

Tony and Chance Rolletti

41. Tony and Chance Rolletti

30 min

No description available.

Solving Water Shortages

42. Solving Water Shortages

30 min

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

Sex Therapy

43. Sex Therapy

30 min

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

Real Estate Tips

44. Real Estate Tips

30 min

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

Skateboard Angel

45. Skateboard Angel

30 min

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

Mobile Home Daredevil

46. Mobile Home Daredevil

30 min

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

Rev. Chung Hee

47. Rev. Chung Hee

30 min

No description available.

Pot Sniffing

48. Pot Sniffing

30 min

Impressionist Reggie Morrison; Principal Marshall Petty; Susan Cloud.

Pet Mating Service

49. Pet Mating Service

30 min

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.

Harrison Edwards' Moon

50. Harrison Edwards' Moon

30 min

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

Behind Hollywood

51. Behind Hollywood

30 min

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

Etiquette Guidelines

52. Etiquette Guidelines

30 min

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.

Aunt Edity

53. Aunt Edity

30 min

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.

no info

54. no info

30 min

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.

no info

55. no info

30 min

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.

Theological Correspondence Course

56. Theological Correspondence Course

30 min

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

Singles Mingles Club

57. Singles Mingles Club

30 min

No description available.

Lattimore Diet Program

58. Lattimore Diet Program

30 min

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

Battery Powered Car

59. Battery Powered Car

30 min

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

Harry Shearer

60. Harry Shearer

30 min

Harry Shearer discusses his work in TV news.

Amusement and Healing Parks

61. Amusement and Healing Parks

30 min

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

Indian Princess

62. Indian Princess

30 min

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

Fan Club President

63. Fan Club President

30 min

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

The Ransom

64. The Ransom

30 min

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.

Save "Fernwood 2Night" Telethon

65. Save "Fernwood 2Night" Telethon

30 min

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

Cast

Fred Willard

Fred Willard

Jerry Hubbard

Frank De Vol

Frank De Vol

Happy Kyne

Martin Mull

Martin Mull

Barth Gimble

Tommy Tedesco

Tommy Tedesco

Tommy Marinucci

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