Evening Shade

Evening Shade

  • 1990
  • 4 Seasons
  • 100 Episodes
  •  5.6  (12)
  •   Ended

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.

Evening Shade
Seasons
I Left My Ring in Evening Shade
26. I Left My Ring in Evening Shade
May 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 Frieda to return his grandmother's ring so he can give it to his new spouse.
The Odder Couple
25. The Odder Couple
May 16, 1994
To avoid becoming infected with chicken pox, Wood moves in with Taylor.
Mama Knows Best
24. Mama Knows Best
May 09, 1994
Mutual attraction develops between Ava's college pal and Taylor.
Wood Climbs to New Heights
23. Wood Climbs to New Heights
April 11, 1994
A suitor professes his love for Molly on the town's water tower.
Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wood?
22. Who'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.
Mr. Newton Goes to Hot Springs
21. Mr. Newton Goes to Hot Springs
March 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.
I Did, I Did
20. I Did, I Did
March 07, 1994
On their anniversary, Ava and Wood plan to reaffirm their vows—a plan that includes bachelor and bachelorette parties.
The Fabulous Frazier Girls
19. The Fabulous Frazier Girls
February 28, 1994
Merleen's sisters ask her to join their singing act.
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad Wood
18. It's a Mad, Mad, Mad Wood
February 07, 1994
Wood must humiliate himself in order to inherit $1 million.
The Perfect Woman
17. The Perfect Woman
January 31, 1994
The town gets an eyeful when Merleen takes up painting nudes—using Harland and Wood as her first subjects.
Paint the Town Nude
16. Paint the Town Nude
January 17, 1994
Merleen finds her calling by painting nudes--starting with husband Harlan.
Educating Calvin
15. Educating Calvin
January 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.
The People's Choice
14. The People's Choice
January 03, 1994
Disaster is on the ballot when Harlan and Ima both run for mayor.
The Proof is in the Pudding
13. The Proof is in the Pudding
December 20, 1993
Ava is upset when she is forced to imprison her own father for refusing to divulge a journalistic source.
Sleepless in Arkansas
12. Sleepless in Arkansas
December 13, 1993
Ava and Wood accompany a nervous Herman to a singles bar.
Chain of Fools
11. Chain of Fools
November 29, 1993
A new restaurant threatens Ponder's business, so the gang agree to participate in a serious of bizarre commercials.
Where There's Smoke
10. Where There's Smoke
November 22, 1993
Freida returns from her health farm jaunt determined to stop smoking, with Herman's help.
Small Town Girl
9. Small Town Girl
November 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.
Wood and Evan's Excellent Adventure
8. Wood and Evan's Excellent Adventure
November 08, 1993
With Nub out sick, Wood and Evan takes over his newspaper route as the ladies run his other errands.
The Dance
7. The Dance
November 01, 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.
Night of the Living Newtons
6. Night of the Living Newtons
October 25, 1993
Wood tries to allay Emily's fear of scary costumes by letting her pick out his Hallowe'en attire.
Kiss of the Ice Cream Woman
5. Kiss of the Ice Cream Woman
October 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 kissing the ice cream woman—but only after Margaret confesses to kissing a man during her trip to Greece.
Witness for the Prosecution
4. Witness for the Prosecution
October 11, 1993
Ava and Harlan go head to head in court when he is a witness for an insurance company.
One Hot Game
3. One Hot Game
October 04, 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.
One Down, Three to Go
2. One Down, Three to Go
September 27, 1993
Ava has a hard time adjusting when Taylor moves out ioto his own apartment.
Four Naked Women
1. Four Naked Women
September 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 costumes.
Description
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.
  • Premiere Date
    September 21, 1990
  • Rating
    5.6  (12)