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 (Season 2)
Three Naked Men (Part 1) (Episode 1)
Writer: Linda Bloodworth-Thomason
Air date: 1991-09-16
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: 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 whacked with a shovel—and culminates with the women abandoning the men during their ritual skinny-dipping. (Part 1 of 2)
Three Naked Men (Part 2) (Episode 2)
Writer: Linda Bloodworth-Thomason
Air date: 1991-09-23
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: The women begin to feel guilty about having abandoned the men naked in the woods. (Part 2 of 2)
I'm With Stupid (Episode 3)
Air date: 1991-09-30
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Molly caves in under pressure from her boyfriend and agrees to take part in a beauty contest.
Tying the Knot (Episode 4)
Air date: 1991-10-07
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: 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 vasectomy.
Miss Emily's Wild Ride (Episode 5) 8.0
Writer: Michael Ross
Air date: 1991-10-14
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Whilst Evan is babysitting baby Emily, he accidentally loses her.
The Road Trip (Episode 6)
Air date: 1991-10-21
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Wood, Ava, Taylor, his girlfriend Amy, Harlon, Marlene, Hermon and Fida take a road trip in an RV.
Winning Isn't Everything (Episode 7)
Air date: 1991-10-28
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: 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.
Where's My Watch? (Episode 8)
Air date: 1991-11-11
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: At Marlene's insistence, Harlon retires.
I Do, I Don't (Episode 9)
Air date: 1991-11-18
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Taylor and Aimee decide to marry.
The Thanksgiving Show (Episode 10)
Air date: 1991-11-25
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Wood's black-sheep, ex-con cousin Alvin comes for Thanksgiving.
Busted (Episode 11)
Air date: 1991-12-09
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Ava threatens to shut down Fonana's strip show.
Rear Window (Episode 12)
Air date: 1991-12-16
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Wood gets stuck in the bathroom window.
The Getaway (Episode 13)
Air date: 1992-01-06
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Wood and Ava go away for a romantic break.
Herman In Charge (Episode 14)
Air date: 1992-01-13
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Wood and Ava leave Herman alone with the kids.
The Au Pair Affair (Episode 15)
Air date: 1992-01-27
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Ava feels displaced by the Newstons' talented au pair girl.
Goin' To the Chapel (Part 1) (Episode 16)
Writer: Linda Bloodworth-Thomason
Air date: 1992-02-03
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Wood must express the family's concern over Evan's wedding. (Part 1 of 3)
Goin' To the Chapel (Part 2) (Episode 17)
Writer: Linda Bloodworth-Thomason
Air date: 1992-02-24
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Fontana calls off the wedding. (Part 2 of 3)
Goin' to the Chapel (Part 3) (Episode 18)
Writer: Linda Bloodworth-Thomason
Air date: 1992-03-02
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Fontana decides to proceed with the wedding; Merleen meets her daughter. (Part 3 of 3)
Play Herman For Me (Episode 19)
Air date: 1992-03-09
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Herman discovers he has a secret admirer.
Callous Hearts of Rage (Episode 20)
Air date: 1992-03-23
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Not everyone thinks imitation is the greatest form of flattery, when Taylor writes a play about the people of Evening Shade.
Taylor Buys A Car (Episode 21)
Air date: 1992-04-06
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Herman sells Taylor his old car.
Hasta la vista, Baby (Episode 22)
Air date: 1992-05-04
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Herman takes humiliating work after losing his teaching job due to budget cuts.
Cousin Readith (Episode 23)
Air date: 1992-05-11
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Wood learns his bully cousin plans to visit.
No Pain, No Gain (Episode 24)
Air date: 1992-05-18
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: Wood throws his back out the night before he's set to bowl against an old rival.
The Perfect Birthday Party, Sort Of (Episode 25)
Air date: 1992-05-18
Runtime: 30 min
Overview: The Newton's try to throw the perfect birthday party for Will.
Seasons
Episodes 24
Episodes 25
Episodes 25
Episodes 26