Ernest Goes to Jail

[tv star collector]

The late Jim Varney (better known as "Ernest P. Worrell") was yet another
victim of typecasting. He played the rube "Ernest" first in a series of successful
regional TV commercials, later in a string of movies and, finally, in a short-lived
(but critically acclaimed) Saturday morning kids' show. He rarely broke out of
character, always playing the naive hillbilly (as Evan Earp on THE ROUSTERS,
as Jed Clampett in the movie remake "The Beverly Hillbillies"). But, last night I
watched again my tape of "Ernest Goes to Jail" (which aired on NBC some years
ago); and, in that film, Varney finally gets to stretch his acting muscles. He
plays a dual role, and his lookalike is a tough convict who is totally different
from Ernest. If you haven't seen him in this role, check it out. You will really
be surprised!