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Evening Shade
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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.
Highest-rated episodes all ranked
- 01
Miss Emily's Wild RideWhilst Evan is babysitting baby Emily, he accidentally loses her. - 02
A Day in the Life of Wood NewtonOn his birthday/wedding anniversary, an innocent Wood is photographed with a stripper; and Prosecuting Attorney candidate Ava discovers she's pregnant despite Wood's vasectomy. - 03
There Once Was A Boy Named WoodFrieda babysits, and fills in for Evan on poker night when he has a date with Miss Beausoleil.
Castfull cast & details
Episodes by season
Season01
- S01E01
A Day in the Life of Wood NewtonSeptember 21, 1990On his birthday/wedding anniversary, an innocent Wood is photographed with a stripper; and Prosecuting Attorney candidate Ava discovers she' - S01E02
There Once Was A Boy Named WoodSeptember 28, 1990Frieda babysits, and fills in for Evan on poker night when he has a date with Miss Beausoleil. - S01E03
Whatever Happened to Clutch Newton?October 5, 1990—On seeing an old game film, Wood discovers his most celebrated high school touchdown catch was actually out of bounds. - S01E04
Sadie Hawkins DanceOctober 16, 1990—During Sadie Hawkins week, the football team begins a seven-day series of pranks on Coach Newton. - S01E05
Fast WomenOctober 29, 1990—Ava asks Wood to talk with both their son, Taylor, and her father about their choice in dates. - S01E06
The Moustache ShowOctober 2, 1990—Ava's high-school flame visits; Will shaves off half of Wood's moustache. - S01E07
All for CharityNovember 9, 1990—Hoping to win Wood's favour, Herman, at a fundraiser, bids for and wins a weekend with Wood and his family. - S01E08
Something to Hold OntoNovember 19, 1990—Wood and the rest of town tutor the football players in algebra so they won't fail their classes and be barred from a big game. - S01E09
Mr. MomNovember 26, 1990—With Ava's prosecutorial work taking her away from her household duties, a miserable Wood has to take up the slack. - S01E10
Hooray for WoodDecember 10, 1990—Wood gets a bit part when a movie company and its temperamental star arrive to shoot a Civil War mini-series. - S01E11
The Wood Who Stole ChristmasDecember 17, 1990—Tired of his kids' materialism, Wood gives their presents to a needy family. - S01E12
Wood and Ava and Gil and MadelineJanuary 7, 1991—Wood and Ava are asked to dinner by a married couple—who turn out to be swingers into spouse-swapping. - S01E13
Wood's Thirtieth ReunionJanuary 21, 1991—At his 30-year high school reunion, Wood hooks up with two old pals and one old flame. - S01E14
Vote Early and Vote OftenJanuary 28, 1991—Wood and Ava recall how friends rallied to help her get elected Prosceuting Attorney over her opponent Jim Guy Puckett. - S01E15
Chip Off the Old BrickFebruary 4, 1991—Herman's big, blustery father comes to visit, but talks football with Wood and chases after Frieda more than he sees his son. - S01E16
The Trials of Wood NewtonFebruary 11, 1991—Wood must testify against Evan, who's being defended by his daughter Ava. - S01E17
Into the WoodsFebruary 18, 1991—On Wood's annual deer-hunting trip, a local legend deer drops dead in front of his cabin—outside official hunting grounds. - S01E18
Nothing to Fear But Harvey LujackFebruary 21, 1991—A convict who'd threatened prosecutor Ava when she had him put away escapes and heads toward town. - S01E19
Gambler AnonymousMarch 4, 1991—Wood tries to keep secret the presence of his guest: old acquaintance country-music singer Kenny Rogers. - S01E20
Sex EducationMarch 24, 1991—An in-over-his-head Herman substitute teaches a class in sex education, and calls in ""expert"" Wood. - S01E21
I am Wood, Hear Me RoarApril 1, 1991—Two female students attempt to join the football team. - S01E22
Herman and Margaret Sitting in a TreeApril 8, 1991—Herman's relationship with Margaret hits a snag when she refuses to be seen with Herman on a formal ""date"". - S01E23
Far from the Madden CrowdApril 29, 1991—Ava goes into labor the night of the Booster Club Sports banquest, to which Wood has invited his football archrival Terry Bradshaw. - S01E24
The Baby ShowMay 6, 1991—Ava rides in the back of Ponder's catering truck on a chaotic ride to the hospital.
Season02
- S02E01
Three Naked Men (Part 1)September 16, 1991—War breaks out between the women and the men on a segregated camping expedition after Wood scares the girls with his bear costume and gets w - S02E02
Three Naked Men (Part 2)September 23, 1991—The women begin to feel guilty about having abandoned the men naked in the woods. (Part 2 of 2) - S02E03
I'm With StupidSeptember 30, 1991—Molly caves in under pressure from her boyfriend and agrees to take part in a beauty contest. - S02E04
Tying the KnotOctober 7, 1991—Wood accompanies Will to the hospital when the boy needs a tonsillectomy—and decides that while he's there he might as well have a vasecto - S02E05
Miss Emily's Wild RideOctober 14, 1991Whilst Evan is babysitting baby Emily, he accidentally loses her. - S02E06
The Road TripOctober 21, 1991—Wood, Ava, Taylor, his girlfriend Amy, Harlon, Marlene, Hermon and Fida take a road trip in an RV. - S02E07
Winning Isn't EverythingOctober 28, 1991—Wood faces a dilemma when his football team finally wins a game but he later finds out that his star player is ineligible to play. - S02E08
Where's My Watch?November 11, 1991—At Marlene's insistence, Harlon retires. - S02E09
I Do, I Don'tNovember 18, 1991—Taylor and Aimee decide to marry. - S02E10
The Thanksgiving ShowNovember 25, 1991—Wood's black-sheep, ex-con cousin Alvin comes for Thanksgiving. - S02E11
BustedDecember 9, 1991—Ava threatens to shut down Fonana's strip show. - S02E12
Rear WindowDecember 16, 1991—Wood gets stuck in the bathroom window. - S02E13
The GetawayJanuary 6, 1992—Wood and Ava go away for a romantic break. - S02E14
Herman In ChargeJanuary 13, 1992—Wood and Ava leave Herman alone with the kids. - S02E15
The Au Pair AffairJanuary 27, 1992—Ava feels displaced by the Newstons' talented au pair girl. - S02E16
Goin' To the Chapel (Part 1)February 3, 1992—Wood must express the family's concern over Evan's wedding. (Part 1 of 3) - S02E17
Goin' To the Chapel (Part 2)February 24, 1992—Fontana calls off the wedding. (Part 2 of 3) - S02E18
Goin' to the Chapel (Part 3)March 2, 1992—Fontana decides to proceed with the wedding; Merleen meets her daughter. (Part 3 of 3) - S02E19
Play Herman For MeMarch 9, 1992—Herman discovers he has a secret admirer. - S02E20
Callous Hearts of RageMarch 23, 1992—Not everyone thinks imitation is the greatest form of flattery, when Taylor writes a play about the people of Evening Shade. - S02E21
Taylor Buys A CarApril 6, 1992—Herman sells Taylor his old car. - S02E22
Hasta la vista, BabyMay 4, 1992—Herman takes humiliating work after losing his teaching job due to budget cuts. - S02E23
Cousin ReadithMay 11, 1992—Wood learns his bully cousin plans to visit. - S02E24
No Pain, No GainMay 18, 1992—Wood throws his back out the night before he's set to bowl against an old rival. - S02E25
The Perfect Birthday Party, Sort OfMay 18, 1992—The Newton's try to throw the perfect birthday party for Will.
Season03
- S03E01
First HeroesSeptember 21, 1992—Taylor returns, transformed by his three months in Amsterdam; Wood's late father's store is slated to be demolished. - S03E02
The Diary of Molly NewtonSeptember 28, 1992—Wood is having trouble dealing with Molly's growing womanhood— even before he discovers her erotic diary. And he totally overreacts to her - S03E03
You Scratch My Back, I'll Arrest YouOctober 5, 1992—Ava sends Wood to investigate when Harlan rents property to a massage parlor. - S03E04
What A NightOctober 12, 1992—Dumped by his girlfriend, Taylor quits the football team. - S03E05
Father-Child CampoutOctober 19, 1992—Wood cajoles Will into a father/son camping trip. - S03E06
The Hole StoryOctober 26, 1992—Events get out of hand when a hole in a bedroom wall resembles Abraham Lincoln. - S03E07
Harlan Deals A MealNovember 9, 1992—Harlan fibs about his weight loss to Richard Simmons, then persuades Herman to impersonate him. - S03E08
The Resurrection of Wood NewtonNovember 16, 1992—Ava is voted ""Arkansas Prosecuting Attorney of the Year."" - S03E09
The NFL on CBSNovember 23, 1992—Wood forgets his anniversary when he gets a chance to be on ""The NFL Today."" - S03E10
The Really Odd CoupleDecember 7, 1992—Herman moves in with Freida when his building goes condominium. - S03E11
Carl the MuleDecember 14, 1992—A frustrated Wood resigns as team coach, and is replaced by Herman. - S03E12
I'll Be Home For ChristmasDecember 21, 1992—...but Wood and Herman may not be, as they are stranded when their car breaks down on the way home from being Will an elusive gift available - S03E13
Freida and the PreacherJanuary 4, 1993—Freida falls for a man at the ice cream parlour, only to discover that he is the new preacher. - S03E14
Private SchoolJanuary 18, 1993—The Oakwood Academy, an exclusive private school Molly wants to attend, scrutinizes Wood and Ava, who discover they must pass an exam before - S03E15
Ava Takes a Shower (1)February 1, 1993—Ava hosts Fontana's baby shower, and wants Herman, who has joined Reba McEntire's security team, to get her to entertain. - S03E16
Ava Takes a Shower (2)February 8, 1993—Rebuffed by Reba McEntire, Ava still persists in planning the baby shower all by herself. - S03E17
They Can't Take That Away From Me (1)February 15, 1993—Ava invites sixties civil rights leader Aurelia Danforth to a Martin Luther King commemoration, then discovers that the guest has a past inv - S03E18
They Can't Take That Away from Me (2)February 15, 1993— - S03E19
She What?!March 1, 1993—Taylor's girlfriend elopes with the school hunk. - S03E20
Another Baby ShowerMarch 15, 1993—Fontana goes into labour, but Evan can't be reached. - S03E21
Cousins Behind BarsMarch 22, 1993—Troublesome Cousin (Billy Bob Thornton) comes to town and manages to get himself and Wood thrown into jail, and for some reason Burt Reynold - S03E22
Mommy Goes AWOLApril 12, 1993—Fontana despairs of her mothering abilities when only Evan can quiet baby Scout. - S03E23
Teaching Is A Good ThingMay 3, 1993—Herman is ashamed to tell his mentor that he has lost his teaching job. - S03E24
Saint BobbyMay 10, 1993—Wood thinks a college footbal coach is interested in Taylor. - S03E25
The GraduationMay 17, 1993—Herman books John Denver for Taylor's graduation but gets Bob Denver instead.
Season04
- S04E01
Four Naked WomenSeptember 20, 1993—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 cos - S04E02One Down, Three to GoSeptember 27, 1993—Ava has a hard time adjusting when Taylor moves out ioto his own apartment.
- S04E03One Hot GameOctober 4, 1993—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.
- S04E04Witness for the ProsecutionOctober 11, 1993—Ava and Harlan go head to head in court when he is a witness for an insurance company.
- S04E05Kiss of the Ice Cream WomanOctober 18, 1993—Herman has some bad news for the returning Margaret (who has some for him in return). Herman confesses that he cheated on Margaret by kissin
- S04E06Night of the Living NewtonsOctober 25, 1993—Wood tries to allay Emily's fear of scary costumes by letting her pick out his Hallowe'en attire.
- S04E07The DanceNovember 1, 1993—Wood is more than a wee bit upset when he has to deal with Molly dating boys; meanwhile, Herman discovers that he's Scottish.
- S04E08Wood and Evan's Excellent AdventureNovember 8, 1993—With Nub out sick, Wood and Evan takes over his newspaper route as the ladies run his other errands.
- S04E09Small Town GirlNovember 15, 1993—A Hollywood movie star takes a liking to Evening Shade—and decides to buy the whole town and turn it into a tourist attraction.
- S04E10Where There's SmokeNovember 22, 1993—Freida returns from her health farm jaunt determined to stop smoking, with Herman's help.
- S04E11Chain of FoolsNovember 29, 1993—A new restaurant threatens Ponder's business, so the gang agree to participate in a serious of bizarre commercials.
- S04E12Sleepless in ArkansasDecember 13, 1993—Ava and Wood accompany a nervous Herman to a singles bar.
- S04E13The Proof is in the PuddingDecember 20, 1993—Ava is upset when she is forced to imprison her own father for refusing to divulge a journalistic source.
- S04E14The People's ChoiceJanuary 3, 1994—Disaster is on the ballot when Harlan and Ima both run for mayor.
- S04E15
Educating CalvinJanuary 10, 1994—When Wood's delinquent cousin Calvin returns to Evening Shade, he decides to stay at the Newtons' until he earns his high school diploma. - S04E16Paint the Town NudeJanuary 17, 1994—Merleen finds her calling by painting nudes--starting with husband Harlan.
- S04E17The Perfect WomanJanuary 31, 1994—The town gets an eyeful when Merleen takes up painting nudes—using Harland and Wood as her first subjects.
- S04E18It's a Mad, Mad, Mad WoodFebruary 7, 1994—Wood must humiliate himself in order to inherit $1 million.
- S04E19The Fabulous Frazier GirlsFebruary 28, 1994—Merleen's sisters ask her to join their singing act.
- S04E20I Did, I DidMarch 7, 1994—On their anniversary, Ava and Wood plan to reaffirm their vows—a plan that includes bachelor and bachelorette parties.
- S04E21Mr. Newton Goes to Hot SpringsMarch 14, 1994—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.
- S04E22Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wood?March 28, 1994—Wood fields an offer from an old football chum who wants him as the new quarterback coach for the Atlanta Falcons.
- S04E23Wood Climbs to New HeightsApril 11, 1994—A suitor professes his love for Molly on the town's water tower.
- S04E24Mama Knows BestMay 9, 1994—Mutual attraction develops between Ava's college pal and Taylor.
- S04E25
The Odder CoupleMay 16, 1994—To avoid becoming infected with chicken pox, Wood moves in with Taylor. - S04E26I Left My Ring in Evening ShadeMay 23, 1994—Nub becomes a chimney sweep. Meanwhile, Frieda's ex-husband returns with an unusual proposal: he wants to get married again, and wants Fried
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