Product Details

• Actors: Burt Reynolds, Dominic Messina
• Directors: Richard Kline, Michael Jeter, Dennis Erdman, Charles Frank, Robert Ginty
• Format: Box set, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 5
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Paramount
• DVD Release Date: June 24, 2008
• Run Time: 540 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005JOXR
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #22,043 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Evening Shade - Season One" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The sun set on Evening Shade in 1994, but it's morning again for this charmingly laid-back series set in a small Arkansas town populated by a gallery of colorful characters. Evening Shade gave Burt Reynolds what Look Who's Talking gave John Travolta; a career bump after his star had somewhat dimmed. Reynolds would earn a People's Choice Award, an Emmy and a Golden Globe for his tailor-made role as Wood Newton, a former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback who returns to his small town to serve as the high-school football coach. As the series begins, the team is mired in a 30 games-and-counting losing streak. His wife, Ava (Marilu Henner), whom Wood married when she was 18, no sooner launches her campaign for prosecutor, than she learns she is pregnant. Evening Shade was created by Clinton cronies Harry Thomason and Linda Bloodworth-Thomason (it is said that Hillary suggested the show's setting and title), but the show is a Red Stater's dream; a celebration of small town America and the three F's; family, friends, and faith. In the pilot, Wood bemoans the replacement of the local eatery's jukebox and the substitution of Milli Vanilli and "Me So Horny" for the cherished songs of his youth, like "Blueberry Hill." In "Gambler's Anonymous," get out your tissues when guest star Kenny Rogers sings the stirring "20 Years Ago." Reynolds anchors the series (he also directed eight episodes) and snaps one-liners with his flip panache, but he generously cedes the spotlight to the stellar ensemble of estimable character actors, including Hal Holbrook as Evan, Ava's father and the crusty publisher of the local newspaper, Ossie Davis as Blue, the sage owner of the local barbeque hangout, and whose Our Town-esque narration frames most of the episodes, Charles Durning as the outsized family physician, Michael Jeter, an Emmy-winner as the wimpy-looking math teacher who signs on as Wood's new assistant coach, and Elizabeth Ashley as southern diva Frieda, Ava's aunt. Adding more local color are Nub (Charlie Dell), the slow-witted paperboy (a character that would barely pass PC muster today), Ann Wedgeworth as Merleen, the doc's sexy wife, and Linda Gehringer as Fontana Beausoleil, a striptease artist with a heart of gold. Evening Shade has its own easy-going rhythm, and the same smart and sassy humor the Thomasons brought to Designing Women. In the episode, "Hooray for Wood," a movie crew is in town to film a Civil War miniseries. When a producer mentions they don't have enough blacks for slaves, Blue dryly replies, "Age-old problem." --Donald Liebenson

Product Description

Wood Newton (Burt Reynolds) is a retired pro American Football player who has returned to his childhood home - the small town of Evening Shade, Arkansas. He's now the coach of the local high school Football team, which brings him closer to the other residents of the town.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Cast in a Classy Show, May 9, 2008

By	Movie Mania "DVD Collector" (Southern Calfornia) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Evening Shade was the comeback show for Burt Reynolds and the follow-up show for Marilu Henner. As a rule these shows are usually a disaster but Evening Shade was beautifully written with a supporting cast to die for. Produced by Linda Bloodworth Thomason at the height of her Designing Women success.

The show focuses on Wood Newton (Reynolds), a former pro football player who has returned to his home town of Evening Shade, Arkansas to be the town's high school football coach and his wife Ada (Henner), a lawyer who becomes the town's DA. The following cast of supporting characters round out the show:

Herman Stiles (Michael Jeter)- Wood's assistant coach

Frida Evans (Elizabeth Ashley) - Ada's free thinking sister

Ponder Blue (Ossie Davis) - The owner of the local bar and grill

Evan Evans (Hal Holbrook) - Ada's father

Merleen Eldridge (Ann Wedgeworth) - Evan's younger girlfriend

Dr. Harlan Elldridge (Charles Durning) - The town doctor

Burt Reynolds received an Emmy Award fot this season - his only career Emmy. Plus Charles Durning, Michael Jeter and Elizabeth Ashley receive nominations for this season.

This show brought together some of the finest actors from Broadway including five Tony Award winners.

Michael Jeter was fresh off his emotional Tony Award win for Grand Hotel and this show made him a star. He won the Emmy for the second season.

Charles Durning also was fresh off his Tony win but he had been a major character actor in all mediums for the last twenty years. He received two Oscar nominations in 1982 & 1983. And prior to the show, received 4 Emmy nominations.

Ashley had been a confirmed Broadway star since her 1975 Tony Award win.

Ann Wedgeworth also received a Tony Award for Neil Simon's Chapter Two.

And And of course Holbrook (Tony winner in 1966) has been working in all mediums for longer - including working with his wife, Dixie Carter, on Designing Women.

Ossie Davis was a two time Tony award winner with over 30 years on Broadway, Films and Television when he joined this show. Prior to this show he received two Emmy nominations.

As you can see, this show brought together a great cast of stars.

The DVD set contains all 24 episodes of this charming comedy series' first season.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Burt Reynolds' Finest Hour, May 25, 2008

By	Joanne Covington - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The cast on this show is superb. Every small town has a version of "Nub",mine has 5. I have waited years to revisit this wonderful show and have checked regularly to see its availability. I can't wait until my episodes arrive and I can get the popcorn ready for a marathon viewing.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Soak up the SHADE, June 1, 2008

By	Bennet Pomerantz "Bennet Pomerantz, AUDIOWORLD" (Seabrook, Maryland) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Evening Shade is a 1980's throw back to the great TV of the 1960's. Burt Reynolds leads a cast veteran actors in a modern day Andt Griffith show.

Wood Newton (Reynolds) is a former pro American Football player who has retired and returned to his childhood home with his wife (Marilu Henner) and his kids, the small town of Evening Shade, Arkansas. He's now the coach of the local high school football team. His assistant Herman Stiles (Micheal Jeter) acts like a Barney Fife to Wood's Andy. There is his friend Ponder Blue (Ossie Davis, who looks like he is having a ball doing this), The town Doctor and his wife (Charles Durning and Ann Wedgeworth) and Wood's Father in Law (Hal Holbrook)

One could wish this DVD would have Reynolds, Holbrook, Durning or Henner doing an audio commentary track. However this aint happening

We have lost the talents of Micheal Jeter and Ossie Davis. This show is a showcase to their acting talents.

so go get some shade and bask in its laughter

Bennet Pomerantz Audioworld