Browse episode ratings trends for Evening Shade. Simply click on the interactive rating graph to explore the best and worst of Evening Shade's 100 episodes.
Best Episodes of Evening Shade
Tying the Knot
S2 Ep4
10.0
7th Oct 1991
Wood accompanies Will to the hospital when the boy needs a tonsillectomy—and decides that while he's there he might as well have a vasectomy.
I'm With Stupid
S2 Ep3
10.0
30th Sep 1991
Molly caves in under pressure from her boyfriend and agrees to take part in a beauty contest.
Three Naked Men (Part 1)
S2 Ep1
10.0
16th Sep 1991
War breaks out between the women and the men on a segregated camping expedition after Wood scares the girls with his bear costume and gets whacked with a shovel—and culminates with the women abandoning the men during their ritual skinny-dipping. (Part 1 of 2)
Chip Off the Old Brick
S1 Ep15
9.0
4th Feb 1991
Herman's big, blustery father comes to visit, but talks football with Wood and chases after Frieda more than he sees his son.
Worst Episodes of Evening Shade
A Day in the Life of Wood Newton
S1 Ep1
3.5
21st Sep 1990
On his birthday/wedding anniversary, an innocent Wood is photographed with a stripper; and Prosecuting Attorney candidate Ava discovers she's pregnant despite Wood's vasectomy.
There Once Was A Boy Named Wood
S1 Ep2
6.0
28th Sep 1990
Frieda babysits, and fills in for Evan on poker night when he has a date with Miss Beausoleil.
Cousin Readith
S2 Ep23
6.0
11th May 1992
Wood learns his bully cousin plans to visit.
Carl the Mule
S3 Ep11
6.0
14th Dec 1992
A frustrated Wood resigns as team coach, and is replaced by Herman.
Evening Shade Episode Guide
A Day in the Life of Wood Newton
S1 Ep1
3.5
21st Sep 1990
On his birthday/wedding anniversary, an innocent Wood is photographed with a stripper; and Prosecuting Attorney candidate Ava discovers she's pregnant despite Wood's vasectomy.
There Once Was A Boy Named Wood
S1 Ep2
6.0
28th Sep 1990
Frieda babysits, and fills in for Evan on poker night when he has a date with Miss Beausoleil.
Whatever Happened to Clutch Newton?
S1 Ep3
5th Oct 1990
On seeing an old game film, Wood discovers his most celebrated high school touchdown catch was actually out of bounds.
Sadie Hawkins Dance
S1 Ep4
16th Oct 1990
During Sadie Hawkins week, the football team begins a seven-day series of pranks on Coach Newton.
Fast Women
S1 Ep5
29th Oct 1990
Ava asks Wood to talk with both their son, Taylor, and her father about their choice in dates.
The Moustache Show
S1 Ep6
2nd Oct 1990
Ava's high-school flame visits; Will shaves off half of Wood's moustache.
All for Charity
S1 Ep7
9th Nov 1990
Hoping to win Wood's favour, Herman, at a fundraiser, bids for and wins a weekend with Wood and his family.
Something to Hold Onto
S1 Ep8
19th Nov 1990
Wood and the rest of town tutor the football players in algebra so they won't fail their classes and be barred from a big game.
Mr. Mom
S1 Ep9
26th Nov 1990
With Ava's prosecutorial work taking her away from her household duties, a miserable Wood has to take up the slack.
Hooray for Wood
S1 Ep10
10th Dec 1990
Wood gets a bit part when a movie company and its temperamental star arrive to shoot a Civil War mini-series.
The Wood Who Stole Christmas
S1 Ep11
8.0
17th Dec 1990
Tired of his kids' materialism, Wood gives their presents to a needy family.
Wood and Ava and Gil and Madeline
S1 Ep12
7th Jan 1991
Wood and Ava are asked to dinner by a married couple—who turn out to be swingers into spouse-swapping.
Wood's Thirtieth Reunion
S1 Ep13
21st Jan 1991
At his 30-year high school reunion, Wood hooks up with two old pals and one old flame.
Vote Early and Vote Often
S1 Ep14
28th Jan 1991
Wood and Ava recall how friends rallied to help her get elected Prosceuting Attorney over her opponent Jim Guy Puckett.
Chip Off the Old Brick
S1 Ep15
9.0
4th Feb 1991
Herman's big, blustery father comes to visit, but talks football with Wood and chases after Frieda more than he sees his son.
The Trials of Wood Newton
S1 Ep16
11th Feb 1991
Wood must testify against Evan, who's being defended by his daughter Ava.
Into the Woods
S1 Ep17
18th Feb 1991
On Wood's annual deer-hunting trip, a local legend deer drops dead in front of his cabin—outside official hunting grounds.
Nothing to Fear But Harvey Lujack
S1 Ep18
7.0
21st Feb 1991
A convict who'd threatened prosecutor Ava when she had him put away escapes and heads toward town.
Gambler Anonymous
S1 Ep19
4th Mar 1991
Wood tries to keep secret the presence of his guest: old acquaintance country-music singer Kenny Rogers.
Sex Education
S1 Ep20
24th Mar 1991
An in-over-his-head Herman substitute teaches a class in sex education, and calls in ""expert"" Wood.
I am Wood, Hear Me Roar
S1 Ep21
1st Apr 1991
Two female students attempt to join the football team.
Herman and Margaret Sitting in a Tree
S1 Ep22
8th Apr 1991
Herman's relationship with Margaret hits a snag when she refuses to be seen with Herman on a formal ""date"".
Far from the Madden Crowd
S1 Ep23
29th Apr 1991
Ava goes into labor the night of the Booster Club Sports banquest, to which Wood has invited his football archrival Terry Bradshaw.
The Baby Show
S1 Ep24
6th May 1991
Ava rides in the back of Ponder's catering truck on a chaotic ride to the hospital.
Evening Shade is an American sitcom television series that aired on CBS from 1990 to 1994. The series stars Burt Reynolds as Wood Newton, an ex-professional football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who returns to rural Evening Shade, Arkansas to coach a high school football team with a long losing streak. Reynolds personally requested to use the Steelers as his former team because he is a fan.
The general theme of the show is the appeal of small town life. Episodes ended with a closing narration by Ossie Davis summing up the events of the episode, always closing with "... in a place called Evening Shade." The show's final episode saw the guest appearances of Willie Nelson and Buzz Aldrin as escaped convicts on the run from authorities, the final scene being a spectacular shoot-out reminiscent of the final scene of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
The opening segment included clips from around Arkansas, including the famous McClard's Bar-be-que, which is situated on Albert Pike Blvd. and South Patterson St. in Hot Springs National Park.
The best rated episodes of Evening Shade are:
Tying the Knot S2E4 rated 10.0
I'm With Stupid S2E3 rated 10.0
Three Naked Men (Part 1) S2E1 rated 10.0
Chip Off the Old Brick S1E15 rated 9.0
The lowest rated episodes of Evening Shade are:
A Day in the Life of Wood Newton S1E1 rated 3.5
There Once Was A Boy Named Wood S1E2 rated 6.0
Cousin Readith S2E23 rated 6.0
Carl the Mule S3E11 rated 6.0
The first episode of Evening Shade aired on September 21, 1990.
The last episode of Evening Shade aired on May 23, 1994.
