Evening Shade: Season One (1 Viewer)

[David Rain]

I'm assuming there's little to no interest in this show since there doesn't seem to be another thread about it. I think that's a shame because this is a great little show with one of the best casts in TV history. Are people staying away from it because of the Burt Reynolds scandals of the time ? Or because the series has a decidedly southern flavor ? If so you're really missing out.

I've made my way through the first disc of the box set and am enjoying it quite a lot. The packaging says that some eps may be edited in both running time and musical content. Not sure if that means that all the eps are syndie cuts or not. Some definitely seem to be. But so far I haven't come across any glaring musical omissions. They managed to include the regular Evening Shade theme song along with Blueberry Hill, The Lady In Red and Atlantic Starr's Always.

Anybody else have this set and know anything more about edits ?

 

[ahollis]

I am on disc 4 of this gem of a show. You are so right on the excellent casting, even the guest stars such as Brian Keith playing Michael Jeter’s father and Doug McClure as one of Burt’s friends is outstanding. I was also surprised that the original music does appear intact which certainly gave the show its feeling.

The comedy is great and each of the cast members from Hal Holbrook to Ann Wedgeworth to Charles Durning to Ossie Davis is cast to their character perfectly.

It lasted four seasons on CBS but was never in the top 10 despite the cast and producers, the same as Designing Women. I hope that CBS/Paramount will continue with releasing the other seasons. Since Friday Night Lights is also finding it hard to find an audience, maybe it is the High School Football back story that Evening Shade has that turns people off.

 

[Malcolm R]

Didn't stop "Coach" from running for years.

 

[ahollis]

I forgot about Coach. It was a good show. I really think that Evening Shade was a laid back comedy and while Burt Reynolds was surrounded by some of the greats in Television and Films, he struggled a little with the show. His character had to be subdued among the crazies, while his successful film characters were a little overboard and crazy. The show was kind of like Smokey settles down and has kids. It is still very funny and has a lot of laugh out loud lines from Elizabeth Ashley, Michael Jeter and Charles Durning. And let’s don’t forget about Linda Gehringer as Fontana Beausoleil, the local exotic dancer dating Hal Holbrook’s character.

 

[David Deeb]

I didn't even know this was coming out. This was a great show. I'll definitely pick it up.

What scandals? He's got a unique history in Hollywood, but I don't remember any scandals.

 

[David Rain]

Well, Burt was going through a divorce at the time that got the slightest bit of attention. As did his behavior on and off set afterwards.

I'm guessing the show's not-so-great ratings, drop in quality and high costs were part of the reason it was unceremoniously dumped. I believe by the end of the series it's creator Harry & Linda Bloodworth-Thomason (of Designing Women) had left the series.

I'm surprised that Hearts Afire and now Evening Shade have made it out before Designing Women.

 

[Malcolm R]

There was a "Best of..." set released for DW a few years ago. I assume it didn't sell, so they shelved the full season releases.

I'll have to check into picking up ES sometime. Though I'm afraid every season one set I buy lately is going to be the only set released (Newhart, Benson, Maude, etc., etc.)

 

[ahollis]

While watching TBS last night Paramount/CBS had an ad for Evening Shade Season One. This surprised me since I cannot recall seeing any ads for shows on DVD in the past. It also had a quick bump at the end for Gomer Pyle and Walker Texas Ranger sets. I found the Walker bump out of character for the other two. At least there is a push to sell this title.

The ad was placed during Everybody Loves Raymond of course.