The BEST episodes of Evening Shade

Every episode of Evening Shade ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Evening Shade!

In this laid-back comedy, Wood Newton is a former pro American Football player who has retired and returned to his childhood home, the small town of Evening Shade, Arkansas. He's now the coach of the local high school American Football team, which brings him in constant contact with the other residents of the town.

Last Updated: 7/24/2025Network: CBSStatus: Ended
star
10.00
1 votes

#1 - 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.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
10.00
1 votes

#2 - 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.

Writer: Don Rhymer
Watch Now:Amazon
star
10.00
1 votes

#3 - I Left My Ring in Evening Shade

Season 4 - Episode 26 - Aired 5/23/1994

Nub becomes a chimney sweep. Meanwhile, Frieda's ex-husband returns with an unusual proposal: he wants to get married again, and wants Frieda to return his grandmother's ring so he can give it to his new spouse.

Directors: Burt Reynolds
Watch Now:Amazon
star
10.00
1 votes

#4 - Three Naked Men (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.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
9.00
1 votes

#5 - Chip Off the Old Brick

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/4/1991

Herman's big, blustery father comes to visit, but talks football with Wood and chases after Frieda more than he sees his son.

Directors: Burt Reynolds
Watch Now:Amazon
star
9.00
1 votes

#6 - Busted

Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/9/1991

A public outcry over exotic dancing leaves Ava exposed to criticism when she strips Fontana of her topless act.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
8.00
1 votes

#7 - The Wood Who Stole Christmas

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/17/1990

Tired of his kids' materialism, Wood gives their presents to a needy family.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
8.00
1 votes

#8 - The Resurrection of Wood Newton

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/16/1992

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

Watch Now:Amazon
star
8.00
1 votes

#9 - The Really Odd Couple

Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/7/1992

Herman moves in with Freida when his building goes condominium.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.00
1 votes

#10 - Nothing to Fear But Harvey Lujack

Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/21/1991

A convict who'd threatened prosecutor Ava when she had him put away escapes and heads toward town.

Directors: Burt Reynolds
Writer: Bill Dial
Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.00
1 votes

#11 - Callous Hearts of Rage

Season 2 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/23/1992

Friends and family of Taylor make a scene after seeing themselves portrayed in the debut of his new play.

Writer: Don Rhymer
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.00
1 votes

#12 - Cousin Readith

Season 2 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/11/1992

Wood learns his bully cousin plans to visit.

Directors: Burt Reynolds
Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.00
1 votes

#13 - Carl the Mule

Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/14/1992

A frustrated Wood resigns as team coach, and is replaced by Herman.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.00
1 votes

#14 - The Thanksgiving Show

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/25/1991

It's a turkey of a Thanksgiving for Wood and family when his ex-con cousin (Billy Bob Thornton) and his brood show up for the holiday.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
6.00
1 votes

#15 - There Once Was a Boy Named Wood

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/28/1990

Frieda babysits, and fills in for Evan on poker night when he has a date with Miss Beausoleil.

Directors: Harry Thomason
Watch Now:Amazon
star
3.50
2 votes

#16 - A Day in the Life of Wood Newton

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/21/1990

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.

Directors: Harry Thomason
Watch Now:Amazon
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0.00
0 votes

#17 - Kiss of the Ice Cream Woman

Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/18/1993

Herman has some bad news for the returning Margaret (who has some for him in return). Herman confesses that he cheated on Margaret by kissing the ice cream woman—but only after Margaret confesses to kissing a man during her trip to Greece.

Directors: Burt Reynolds
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0.00
0 votes

#18 - 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.

Writer: Don Rhymer
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0.00
0 votes

#19 - Witness for the Prosecution

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/11/1993

Ava and Harlan go head to head in court when he is a witness for an insurance company.

Directors: James Hampton
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0.00
0 votes

#20 - One Hot Game

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/4/1993

Wood and Frieda get locked inside a sauna while everyone else in Evening Shade sweats out the football team's first game of the season.

Directors: Burt Reynolds
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0.00
0 votes

#21 - One Down, Three to Go

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/27/1993

Ava has a hard time adjusting when Taylor moves out ioto his own apartment.

Directors: Burt Reynolds
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0.00
0 votes

#22 - 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.

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0.00
0 votes

#23 - The Graduation

Season 3 - Episode 25 - Aired 5/17/1993

Herman books John Denver for Taylor's graduation but gets Bob Denver instead.

Directors: Robby Benson
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0 votes

#24 - Saint Bobby

Season 3 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/10/1993

Wood thinks a college footbal coach is interested in Taylor.

Directors: Burt Reynolds
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0.00
0 votes

#25 - Teaching Is a Good Thing

Season 3 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/3/1993

Herman is ashamed to tell his mentor that he has lost his teaching job.

Directors: Robby Benson