America 2-Night

infobox television
show_name = America 2-Night


caption =
format = Situation comedy
runtime = approx. 0:30 (per episode)
creator = Norman Lear
starring = Martin Mull
Fred Willard
Frank De Vol
Tommy Tedesco
country = USA
network = first-run syndication
first_aired = April 10, 1978
last_aired = July 7, 1978
num_episodes = 65
imdb_id = 0076976

"America 2-Night" was the continuation of the talk-show parody series, "Fernwood 2 Night". As in "Fernwood", Barth Gimble (Martin Mull) was the host and Jerry Hubbard (Fred Willard) was his co-host. Happy Kyne (Frank De Vol) and the Mirth-Makers was the band.

The setting of the show was moved from the fictional Fernwood, Ohio, to the fictional "Tri-City" area of Alta Coma, Petaluma, and the City of Merchandise in California. According to Hubbard's announcement at the beginning of every show, Alta Coma was "the unfinished furniture capital of the world". This new setting made it easier for celebrities to come on the show as themselves. Among the celebrities who guested are: Charlton Heston, Carol Burnett, Burt Lancaster, Steve Allen, Milton Berle, Rita Moreno, Rob Reiner, Mark Hamill and Gary Coleman. In the final episode, Mull and Willard guested as themselves.

The show was now broadcast on the fictional UBS network, (presumably a reference to the film "Network") whose logo featured an ear (a takeoff on CBS' "Eye" logo), and whose slogan was "We put U before the BS".

In 2001, Martin Mull and Fred Willard reprised their roles in a stage appearance and retrospective at the cite web |url=http://www.hbocomedyfestival.com/press_room/press_releases/2001/2001-5.html |title=US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado.

Reruns aired on Nick at Nite from 1990 to 1993.

Recurring characters

* W.D. 'Bud' Prize (Kenneth Mars)
* Tony Rolletti (Bill Kirchenbauer)
* Virgil Simms (Jim Varney)
* Jason Shine (Robin Williams)
* Chuck Emmitt Saugis (Paul Willson)

See also

*"Fernwood 2 Night"
* List of late night network TV programs