RIP Fred Willard - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

stevearino · 05-16-2020, 06:40 PM

https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/16/enter...rnd/index.html

In the latest string of Showbiz deaths including Jerry Stiller earlier this week of Natural Causes, Fred Willard, comic actor known for various roles such as his big break acting alongside Martin Mull on the hit '70s sitcom "Fernwood 2-Night," which spun off from "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" and the way its parent show spoofed soap operas "F2N" did likewise wit talk shows.

Fred Willard died at age 86 today, according to his daughter Hope, 2 years after Hope's mother, Mary (Fred's wife of nearly 40 years), died in 2018.

Born on September 18, 1933 in Shaker Heights, Ohio, John Frederick Willard had many guest appearances on such shows as "Roseanne" (where Martin Mull was a regular, playing Roseanne's gay boss), playing Mull's gay lover in a recurring guest-star role; Fred also appeared on "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" during the series' 2nd season after Louise Lasser quit and the show was renamed "Forever Fernwood" after Lasser's departure; "Forever Fernwood" became "Forever Finished" in April 1978, after which Fred Willard and Martin Mull began their 2nd and last season on "Fernwood 2-Night," with Season 2 renamed "America 2-Night" and the setting changed to the fictional small town of Alta Coma, California from the small town of Fernwood, Ohio.

Fred also appeared as a Celebrity Guest on a number of TV Game Shows including grown-up "Win, Lose or Draw"; he famously, in 2012, had a Lewd Conduct arrest when he was caught Masturbating at an Adult Movie Theater, criminal charges in connection of which were later dropped and expunged from his criminal record.

Reruns of "Fernwood 2-Night" aired on Nickelodeon as part of its Nick at Nite lineup from April 2, 1990 - April 2, 1993, after which reruns were aired along with "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" on TV Land in Summer 2002.

Personally, I believe that to honor Fred Willard's memory, Me-TV should acquire both "Fernwood 2-Night" and "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" as part of a 10 P.M. ET block called "The Fernwood Hour," weeknights at 10 P.M. ET

Thanks for the laughs, Fred Willard, and make God Laugh.

09/18/1933 - 05/15/2020

TMC · 05-18-2020, 11:23 PM

Fred Willard's debut on Fernwood 2 Night in 1977 introduced a unique comic genius
Martin Mull said of his Fernwood 2 Night co-star: “He was absolutely, unconditionally original. He worked so spontaneously. He had such a closet that he could go to. It was just remarkable. You never where he was going to go. He didn’t tip it.”

howilu · 05-19-2020, 09:39 AM

I remember Fred Willard playing many roles, including Jerry Hubbard on Mary Hartman and Fernwood 2 Night. He also introduced Barth gimble on the latter show as "Your host and mine."

May he rest in peace.

05-16-2020, 06:40 PM	#1
stevearino Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 15, 2017 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 249	RIP Fred Willard https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/16/enter...rnd/index.html In the latest string of Showbiz deaths including Jerry Stiller earlier this week of Natural Causes, Fred Willard, comic actor known for various roles such as his big break acting alongside Martin Mull on the hit '70s sitcom "Fernwood 2-Night," which spun off from "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" and the way its parent show spoofed soap operas "F2N" did likewise wit talk shows. Fred Willard died at age 86 today, according to his daughter Hope, 2 years after Hope's mother, Mary (Fred's wife of nearly 40 years), died in 2018. Born on September 18, 1933 in Shaker Heights, Ohio, John Frederick Willard had many guest appearances on such shows as "Roseanne" (where Martin Mull was a regular, playing Roseanne's gay boss), playing Mull's gay lover in a recurring guest-star role; Fred also appeared on "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" during the series' 2nd season after Louise Lasser quit and the show was renamed "Forever Fernwood" after Lasser's departure; "Forever Fernwood" became "Forever Finished" in April 1978, after which Fred Willard and Martin Mull began their 2nd and last season on "Fernwood 2-Night," with Season 2 renamed "America 2-Night" and the setting changed to the fictional small town of Alta Coma, California from the small town of Fernwood, Ohio. Fred also appeared as a Celebrity Guest on a number of TV Game Shows including grown-up "Win, Lose or Draw"; he famously, in 2012, had a Lewd Conduct arrest when he was caught Masturbating at an Adult Movie Theater, criminal charges in connection of which were later dropped and expunged from his criminal record. Reruns of "Fernwood 2-Night" aired on Nickelodeon as part of its Nick at Nite lineup from April 2, 1990 - April 2, 1993, after which reruns were aired along with "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" on TV Land in Summer 2002. Personally, I believe that to honor Fred Willard's memory, Me-TV should acquire both "Fernwood 2-Night" and "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" as part of a 10 P.M. ET block called "The Fernwood Hour," weeknights at 10 P.M. ET Thanks for the laughs, Fred Willard, and make God Laugh. 09/18/1933 - 05/15/2020

05-18-2020, 11:23 PM	#2
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,493	Fred Willard's debut on Fernwood 2 Night in 1977 introduced a unique comic genius Martin Mull said of his Fernwood 2 Night co-star: “He was absolutely, unconditionally original. He worked so spontaneously. He had such a closet that he could go to. It was just remarkable. You never where he was going to go. He didn’t tip it.”

05-19-2020, 09:39 AM	#3
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,958	I remember Fred Willard playing many roles, including Jerry Hubbard on Mary Hartman and Fernwood 2 Night. He also introduced Barth gimble on the latter show as "Your host and mine." May he rest in peace.