Show cover for Evening Shade

The Best Episodes of Evening Shade

Every episode of Evening Shade ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Evening Shade!

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.

Genre:Comedy
Network:CBS

Top Episode Ratings Summary

The best episode of "Evening Shade" is "Three Naked Men (Part 1)", rated 8.4/10 from 12 user votes. It was directed by N/A and written by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason. "Three Naked Men (Part 1)" aired on 9/16/1991 and is rated 0.2 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Miss Emily's Wild Ride".

  • Three Naked Men (Part 1)
    8.4/10 12 votes

    #1 - Three Naked Men (Part 1)

    Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 9/16/1991

    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)

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Linda Bloodworth-Thomason

  • Miss Emily's Wild Ride
    8.2/10 9 votes

    #2 - Miss Emily's Wild Ride

    Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 10/14/1991

    No description available

    Director: Harry Thomason

    Writer: Michael Ross

  • Tying the Knot
    8.1/10 10 votes

    #3 - Tying the Knot

    Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 10/7/1991

    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.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Perfect Birthday Party, Sort Of
    8.1/10 10 votes

    #4 - The Perfect Birthday Party, Sort Of

    Season 2 Episode 25 - Aired 5/18/1992

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Three Naked Men (Part 2)
    8.0/10 9 votes

    #5 - Three Naked Men (Part 2)

    Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 9/23/1991

    The women begin to feel guilty about having abandoned the men naked in the woods. (Part 2 of 2)

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Linda Bloodworth-Thomason

  • The Road Trip
    8.0/10 10 votes

    #6 - The Road Trip

    Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 10/21/1991

    No description available

    Director: Burt Reynolds

    Writer: N/A

  • The Thanksgiving Show
    8.0/10 19 votes

    #7 - The Thanksgiving Show

    Season 2 Episode 10 - Aired 11/25/1991

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The People's Choice
    7.9/10 12 votes

    #8 - The People's Choice

    Season 4 Episode 14 - Aired 1/3/1994

    Disaster is on the ballot when Harlan and Ima both run for mayor.

    Director: Robby Benson

    Writer: N/A

  • Goin' To the Chapel (Part 1)
    7.8/10 7 votes

    #9 - Goin' To the Chapel (Part 1)

    Season 2 Episode 16 - Aired 2/3/1992

    Wood must express the family's concern over Evan's wedding. (Part 1 of 3)

    Director: Harry Thomason

    Writer: Linda Bloodworth-Thomason

  • Goin' To the Chapel (Part 2)
    7.8/10 8 votes

    #10 - Goin' To the Chapel (Part 2)

    Season 2 Episode 17 - Aired 2/24/1992

    Fontana calls off the wedding. (Part 2 of 3)

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Linda Bloodworth-Thomason

  • I'm With Stupid
    7.7/10 9 votes

    #11 - I'm With Stupid

    Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 9/30/1991

    Molly caves in under pressure from her boyfriend and agrees to take part in a beauty contest.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Baby Show
    7.6/10 22 votes

    #12 - The Baby Show

    Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 5/6/1991

    Ava rides in the back of Ponder's catering truck on a chaotic ride to the hospital.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Getaway
    7.6/10 8 votes

    #13 - The Getaway

    Season 2 Episode 13 - Aired 1/6/1992

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Herman In Charge
    7.6/10 8 votes

    #14 - Herman In Charge

    Season 2 Episode 14 - Aired 1/13/1992

    Wood and Ava leave Herman alone with the kids.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Au Pair Affair
    7.6/10 10 votes

    #15 - The Au Pair Affair

    Season 2 Episode 15 - Aired 1/27/1992

    Ava feels displaced by the Newstons' talented au pair girl.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Four Naked Women
    7.6/10 14 votes

    #16 - Four Naked Women

    Season 4 Episode 1 - Aired 9/20/1993

    After the women play a joke on them, the guys get even by locking them out of Fontana's house—while they're clad in Fontana's stripper costumes.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Where There's Smoke
    7.6/10 18 votes

    #17 - Where There's Smoke

    Season 4 Episode 10 - Aired 11/22/1993

    Freida returns from her health farm jaunt determined to stop smoking, with Herman's help.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Callous Hearts of Rage
    7.5/10 10 votes

    #18 - Callous Hearts of Rage

    Season 2 Episode 20 - Aired 3/23/1992

    No description available

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • First Heroes
    7.5/10 16 votes

    #19 - First Heroes

    Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 9/21/1992

    Taylor returns, transformed by his three months in Amsterdam; Wood's late father's store is slated to be demolished.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: Linda Bloodworth-Thomason

  • Harlan Deals A Meal
    7.5/10 12 votes

    #20 - Harlan Deals A Meal

    Season 3 Episode 7 - Aired 11/9/1992

    Harlan fibs about his weight loss to Richard Simmons, then persuades Herman to impersonate him.

    Director: Charles Nelson Reilly

    Writer: N/A

  • The NFL on CBS
    7.5/10 14 votes

    #21 - The NFL on CBS

    Season 3 Episode 9 - Aired 11/23/1992

    Wood forgets his anniversary when he gets a chance to be on ""The NFL Today.""

    Director: Burt Reynolds

    Writer: N/A

  • The Really Odd Couple
    7.5/10 12 votes

    #22 - The Really Odd Couple

    Season 3 Episode 10 - Aired 12/7/1992

    Herman moves in with Freida when his building goes condominium.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Diary of Molly Newton
    7.4/10 15 votes

    #23 - The Diary of Molly Newton

    Season 3 Episode 2 - Aired 9/28/1992

    Wood is having trouble dealing with Molly's growing womanhood— even before he discovers her erotic diary. And he totally overreacts to her first ""date"" (slides at the church followed by ice cream). Meanwhile, Harlan's visiting inlaws are putting a damper on his sex life.

    Director: James Hampton

    Writer: N/A

  • The Resurrection of Wood Newton
    7.4/10 9 votes

    #24 - The Resurrection of Wood Newton

    Season 3 Episode 8 - Aired 11/16/1992

    Ava is voted ""Arkansas Prosecuting Attorney of the Year.""

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Another Baby Shower
    7.4/10 11 votes

    #25 - Another Baby Shower

    Season 3 Episode 20 - Aired 3/15/1993

    Fontana goes into labour, but Evan can't be reached.

    Director: James Hampton

    Writer: N/A