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FERNWOOD TONIGHT {FERNWOOD 2 NIGHT}: CONGRESSMAN CHAMBERS (TV)

Summary

One in this series of satirical, mock talk shows set in Fernwood, Ohio, hosted by the smarmy Barth Gimble and his dim-witted sidekick Jerry Hubbard.

Barth opens the show by refusing to respond to editor Tom Pickler's "gossipy lies" about him as printed in The Courier. Next, music manager Charlie Haggars, husband of country singer Loretta Haggars, joins the hosts and chats about the competitive music industry, and then introduces the Barlow Brothers, a two-headed harmonica duo that Barth finds less than appealing. The brothers then explain how they found their gimmick, having "always been this close." Consumer advocate Lou Moffatt returns and denounces "nostalgia albums," recommending that music fans instead buy his "Latin Goldies" record, which features a number of old-timey liturgical chants. Bandleader Happy Kyne and his band perform "Disco Duck" and lead the audience in a dance; when "co-pilot" Jerry suggests that he wants to someday take over Barth's job, Barth allows him a shot at a prestigious interview and invites him to lead a conversation with Congressman Robert Chambers, who claims to have an explosive, history-making story about various political assassinations. Jerry, however, is more interested in asking about the congressman's family and nitpicking the details of his career experience. Commercials deleted. (Martin Mull and Fred Willard reprised their roles as Barth Gimble and Jerry Hubbard in "America Tonight," telecast in syndication in 1978.)

Details

  • NETWORK: Syndicated
  • DATE: July 13, 1977
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:22:33
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: B:51102
  • GENRE: Comedy
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Parody; Talk shows
  • SERIES RUN: Syndicated - TV series, 1977
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Alan Thicke … Producer, Writer
  • Patricia Fass Palmer … Associate Producer
  • Louis J. Horvitz … Director
  • Norman Lear … Created by
  • Tom Moore … Writer
  • Jeremy Stevens … Writer
  • Happy Kyne and the Mirth Makers … Music Group
  • Martin Mull … Cast, Barth Gimble
  • Fred Willard … Cast, Jerry Hubbard
  • Frank De Vol … Cast, Happy Kyne
  • Graham Jarvis … Cast, Charlie Haggars
  • Lou Felder … Cast, Lou Moffatt
  • Crane Jackson … Cast, Congressman Robert Chambers