7.1
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
Fernwood 2 Night (1977)
Fernwood 2 Night (1977)
Overview
Fernwood 2 Night was a comedic television program that ran from July 1977 – September 1977. It was created by Norman Lear and produced by Alan Thicke as a spin-off/summer replacement from Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. It was a parody talk show, hosted by Barth Gimble and sidekick/announcer Jerry Hubbard, complete with a stage band, Happy Kyne and His Mirthmakers. Barth was the twin brother of Garth Gimble from Mary Hartman. Like Mary Hartman, Fernwood 2 Night was set in the fictional town of Fernwood, Ohio. The show satirized real talk shows as well as the sort of fare one might expect from locally-produced, small-town, midwestern American television programming. Well-known actors usually appeared playing characters or a contrivance had to be written for the celebrity to appear as themselves. After one season of Fernwood, the producers revamped the show the following year as America 2-Night. In this second version, Barth and Jerry's show moved to California and was broadcast nationally on the fictional UBS network, whose slogan was "We put U before the BS". This change allowed the show to now have well-known actors on the show as themselves.
Starring Cast
Rating & Dimensions
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Leans Traditional
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
LGBTQ: Neutral
Trans: Neutral
Christianity: Negative
Viewer Rating
7.1
Overview
Fernwood 2 Night was a comedic television program that ran from July 1977 – September 1977. It was created by Norman Lear and produced by Alan Thicke as a spin-off/summer replacement from Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. It was a parody talk show, hosted by Barth Gimble and sidekick/announcer Jerry Hubbard, complete with a stage band, Happy Kyne and His Mirthmakers. Barth was the twin brother of Garth Gimble from Mary Hartman. Like Mary Hartman, Fernwood 2 Night was set in the fictional town of Fernwood, Ohio. The show satirized real talk shows as well as the sort of fare one might expect from locally-produced, small-town, midwestern American television programming. Well-known actors usually appeared playing characters or a contrivance had to be written for the celebrity to appear as themselves. After one season of Fernwood, the producers revamped the show the following year as America 2-Night. In this second version, Barth and Jerry's show moved to California and was broadcast nationally on the fictional UBS network, whose slogan was "We put U before the BS". This change allowed the show to now have well-known actors on the show as themselves.
Starring Cast
Detailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Leans Traditional
Primary
Fernwood 2 Night is a satirical talk show that primarily focuses on the absurdities of local media, small-town life, and human eccentricity. Its humor is derived from observing and exaggerating these apolitical themes, rather than promoting or critiquing specific political ideologies.
This satirical talk show from the 1970s features a predominantly traditional cast, consistent with the era's television programming. The narrative primarily focuses on parodying local talk show formats and general American culture, without explicitly critiquing traditional identities or centering on DEI themes.
Secondary
Fernwood 2 Night features Garth Gimble Jr., a groundbreaking openly gay character for its era. The show uses his identity for satirical comedy, often targeting societal ignorance rather than the character himself. While some humor relies on stereotypes, the net impact is neutral, as the visibility and critique of mainstream attitudes balance any potentially problematic comedic elements.
The show "Fernwood 2 Night" featured a transsexual character, Mona Mundy, as a guest in one episode. Her appearance served as a vehicle for the show's satirical take on local talk shows and their handling of "unusual" topics. The portrayal was neither explicitly affirming nor overtly denigrating of trans identity, with humor stemming from the hosts' awkwardness and the sensationalist interview style rather than direct malice towards the character's identity.
The show consistently satirizes Christian characters and institutions, portraying them as hypocritical, ignorant, or bigoted. While the humor targets human failings, the overall depiction of Christianity's adherents and public expressions reinforces negative stereotypes without significant counterbalancing nuance.
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
Fernwood 2 Night is an original satirical talk show featuring characters created specifically for the series. It is not an adaptation, biopic, or reboot of existing material with previously established gendered characters.
Fernwood 2 Night is an original satirical talk show and a spin-off from Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. Its characters were created for this fictional universe and are not adaptations of pre-existing characters from other source materials or historical figures. Therefore, the concept of a 'race swap' does not apply.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
User Ratings
8.6
5.7
Critic Ratings
N/A
N/A
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