Badmovies.org Forum

While looking for unrelated Tom Waits clips I stumbled across this fantastic appearance from the cult TV show, Fernwood 2 Night.  The look on Mull's face as Waits performs is priceless.  This is also where Tom gets off his famous Groucho-esque one liner, "I'd rather have a..." (No spoliers--watch the clip). 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_0E7x3Nqys

The series only lasted 2 seasons, I believe.  I caught it on reruns on Nick at Night in the early 90s and was blown away by how funny and ahead of it's time this fake talk show was. 

Who else remembers this?

Oh, hell, I watched it all the time -- That and "Mary Hartman!  Mary Hartman!", which it spun off from.  People forget that both of these shows preceed "Soap" --

Kip King, who played the Rabbi in 12 episodes of "Fernwood" was the mad scientist in "ROBO-C.H.I.C", and is Chris Kattan's father -- I also worked with Claudia Lamb, "Mary . . ."'s daughter, in Denver.

I used to laugh until I hurt over how gormless (Brit word meaning clueless/brain-dead) Fred Willard could be!!  Brilliant improv all around.  Martin Mull deserves more respect from posterity.

peter mull/denny martin

I love this show as well. When Mull is allowed to do his own thing, he is indeed a wonder to behold. And Willard is always a pleasure to watch. Yes, he pretty much does the same schtick repeatedly, but he does it so well that it just never gets old. And seeing Jim Varney as someone other than Ernest makes me wish he had never been typecast; his stuntman character was inspired, jumping 18 wheelers (jumping in 18 wheelers, not over them). I've wished for a good DVD release of this gem, but I haven't seen one yet.

who didn't love Barth Kimball?  And they had the guy who had the thing pulling his chin back.  Hilarious show, not surprised it didn't make it.