America 2-Night
America 2-Night | |
---|---|
Created by | Norman Lear |
Starring |
Martin Mull Fred Willard Frank De Vol Tommy Tedesco |
Country of origin | United States |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 65 |
Production | |
Running time | 22–24 minutes |
Production company(s) | TAT Communications Company |
Distributor | Sony Pictures Television |
Broadcast | |
Original channel | Syndication |
Audio format | Monaural |
Original run | April 10, 1978 – July 7, 1978 |
Chronology | |
Preceded by | Fernwood 2 Night |
America 2-Night is the continuation of the talk-show parody series Fernwood 2 Night. It ran from April to July 1978. As in Fernwood, Barth Gimble (Martin Mull) was the host and Jerry Hubbard (Fred Willard) was his co-host. Happy Kyne (Frank De Vol) and the Mirth-Makers was the band.
Premise
The setting of the show was moved from the fictional Fernwood, Ohio, to the fictional "Tri-City" area of Alta Coma, El Tijo, and the City of Merchandise in California. According to Hubbard's announcement at the beginning of every show, Alta Coma was "the unfinished furniture capital of the world". This new setting made it easier for celebrities to come on the show as themselves.[1] Among the celebrities who guested are Charlton Heston, Carol Burnett, Burt Lancaster, Steve Allen, Milton Berle, Rita Moreno, Rob Reiner, Mark Hamill, Gary Coleman, Sherman Hemsley and Anne Murray. In the final episode, Mull and Willard guested as themselves.
The show was broadcast on the fictional UBS network whose logo featured an ear (a takeoff on CBS's "Eye" logo) and whose slogan was "We put U before the BS".
In 2001, Martin Mull and Fred Willard reprised their roles in a stage appearance and retrospective at the US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado.
Recurring characters
- William W.D. 'Bud' Prize (Kenneth Mars)
- Tony Rolletti (Bill Kirchenbauer)
- Virgil Simms (Jim Varney)
- Jason Shine (Robin Williams)
- Chuck Emmitt Saugis (Paul Willson)
Syndication
Reruns of America 2-Night aired on Nick at Nite from 1990 to 1993.
See also
- List of late night network TV programs
References
- ↑ Rabin, Nathan (2010-01-06). "Random Roles: Alan Thicke". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2012-06-19.