Jim Varney - NBC News Mar 22, 1985 (Shakespeare Clip)

[Sobernic1982]

That. Was. AWESOME!!! :D

[Ievolovel]

Really talented and awesome guy. He shot "Ernest Scared Stupid" close to where I live in Shelby Park. The trolls tree was real. It was the biggest and oldest tree in TN... till a storm took it out :|

[likestallwomen]

Jim Varney, one of a kind, and a great actor!

[radiodj1520]

I Believe This Was A Video Clip Of NBC News' NBC Nightly News' Entertainment News Report On Jim Varney On Friday Evening, March 22, 1985.

[radiodj1520]

In This Clip, From 2:41 To 2:48, It Was NBC News' NBC Nightly News Video Close From Friday Evening, March 22, 1985.

[waterangel251983]

I wish more people could have seen just how genious Jim really was as an actor a guy that can play a total hick and perform shakespeare at the same time deserves a lot of praise. 

[mustang6172]

Wow, he did his own stunts!

[TornadoIndy]

Jim was such a talented and versatile actor. He could literally pull off an authentic and convincing Shakespearean dialect, and then instantly changing to a truly comical character like Ernest. The accent he gave was more effective than experienced stage actors who participate in various Shakespearean dramas. I have no doubt that he's making God laugh from his absolute comic genius. Rest In Peace, Jim Varney.

[Juliaflo]

Mr. Varney is sorely missed, some 10 years after he left this earth.

Know what I mean?

[Watcher3223]

1 person was Vern.

[MaggieLovesJimmy]

I was lucky to find a treasure at my local Big Lots - an Ernest collection of all the Hey Vern commercials! :) I remember watching Ernest as a kid, and now watching it again all these years later makes me feel so nostalgic.

[CrazedWolfen]

nerd? he wasn't a nerd.. dumbass reporter. 

[Starrman69]

I've never heard/seen his Shakespeare acting...this is a classic bit at the end

with the "Vern" aside. RIP Jim, we hardly knew ye...

[WispierTetrahedrons]

I finally saw Vern's face! ...Sorta.

[milquest]

What commercial is the clip at 0:51 from (Jim doing the Dr. Otto type laugh with the flashlight)? I've never seen that one, it looks like it would be hilarious. :D

[InDeAskY1]

@milquest It was the commercial called "Pest Control" where he was advertising Trauth(I hope I got the spelling right) fruit drink. You can find it on the "Essential Ernest" DVD under "Ernest Greatest Hits" on volume I.

[milquest]

@InDeAskY1 Yes, I'd actually checked that one out earlier but it's not the exact same one even though he does the laugh in both. In the clip in this one the flashlight is lighting him up more clearly and he's wearing some kind of button with what looks like a 2 on it so I think he's advertising some sort of news team or tv channel. That's my guess. Thank you anyways, though. :)

[InDeAskY1]

@milquest Oh. I've never seen that ad. I've just seen the 'Pest Control' with the Dr. Otto laugh. It's too bad they don't have all of Jim Varney's 'Ernest' commercials on DVD. If they do, I don't have them. I just have Volumes I and II. It's not enough. The 'Ernest' commercials are the only ones I remember from my childhood.

[milquest]

@InDeAskY1 You're so right it's not enough! Maybe someday someone will make an ultimate collection of Ernest commercials. ^^ But it's understandable that we may not get to see *every* one he made, seeing as he made so many thousands of them and who knows if they all got kept. :/

[InDeAskY1]

@milquest Now that would be great. I think they said they made either 2,000 or 4,000 commercials. Wow!! I don't know of anybody else doing that or becoming famous from advertisements. I think I have around 156 commercials. I'd be happy with a few hundred more. I've practically gotten all the other ones memorized. Yeah, I'm a nerd and I like mimicking Ernest ads. They're just so much fun to do though.

[Starrman69]

@milquest They did have a vhs tape years ago with quite a collection of commercials and out-takes that would be great to have on DVD...

[jvfunn3000]

I miss Jim. He's My Hero 4 EVER! R.I.P. JIM VARNEY 1949-2000!

[InDeAskY1]

Actually, Jim was super smart. He was able to learn his lines almost instantly. One look, he had them down. Being that smart, I guess it would be fun for him to be Ernest.

[mfactor88]

makes ya think where tim allen and jim carey may have come from. i feel sorry for jim as he never achieved the stardom of those 2. yet he has achieved cult status. was waaaay ahead for his time. rip Jim

[andros1984]

Ever since I saw Ernest goes to camp as a kid I was hooked.  I love this guy.

[TheKennyKennyKenny]

great video, so funny!!!!

[RecklessFire29]

Back before acting was comprised of talent rather than "I'm a pretty face". He goes from quoting Shakespeare then without missing a bit, shifts right into his Ernest persona. He was goofy, funny, and could be serious and thoughtful. I miss when actors like him were around. They still are, but they never reach "Ernest" level. Heck, Ernest was part of my childhood.

R.I.P. Jim Varney, the good ones always go first.

[InDeAskY1]

@RecklessFire29 No comedian will ever be as good as Varney.

[Hectorson3]

That was a good one at the end of the vid. LOL

[Zanitari]

R.I.P. Jim Varney! You are inspiration to me as an actor myself!

Check out my videos, everybody! I have a Jim Varney/Jim Carry style of humor!!

[walmartcartpusher]

I am glad to see he got out of his typecast some.

[ZombieTime138]

john cherry says it best in this clip: ''without jim there is no ernest'', aint that the truth RIP Jim Varney

[dixie998]

i grew up watching the ernest movies!!!! i love ernest!!!

[bestErnestfan]

Wow the first time Ernest was serious in the first part

[LJsmoothe]

I wish there was more vide of Jim Varney doing stage acting. He used to perform at a place called Pioneer Playhouse in KY. A couple other big name actors have worked there as well, I wish I could have seen him back in the day.

[JudeCJV]

OMG was the ending of that funny lol, he didn't expect him to say you know what while quoting Shakespeare lol.

[jvfunn3000]

Jim Varney was such a great actor! I miss him terribly! He did pretty good with Ernest but he was also pretty good at Shakespeare too! Rest in peace James Albert Varney Jr 1949-2000!

[Juliaflo]

Lung cancer (due to smoking) took him away from us.

Know What I Mean?

[ibkristykat]

Where's my little machine gun!?

Teheh - I love Ernest. Just good clean humor that character.

As for the man, Jim Varney, himself - man... what a TALENT we are missing. Wish he'd been able to spread his acting wings & really show us what he was capable of. :(

He'll be greatly missed

[nightowl6414115]

He said,"... fond of nerds..." 00:08 (in reference to the character jim plays?). Is that correct, because I thought that a nerd was smart? Would "dork" have been a better choice of words? I love jim varney.

[thejoser]

Legend.

[stonegator]

Yes...a lot of people would say that. I must agree.

[rhetrozenberg]

2:37 Bravo!

[raindancer35205]

Thanks so much for posting this! It is truly a GEM! I loved Jim Varney & miss his work terribly! KNow whut I mean!!!!!! Lol!!!!!!!

[Blue387]

I believe he was quoting Hamlet.

[1C7Z3H5X]

why did this get 6 negatives???

[rayshiest]

know what i mean vern? huh vern? wanna go drive down to town vern? vern vavernvernvern?

[geligniteandlilies]

I love him and he is well missed.

[jacko821]

exactly

[monkeyman1140]

Funny how he "looks" British when he does Shakespeare.

[stumblinzombie]

*Sigh* Awesome.

[megtheegg86]

I love it! He never fails to make me smile. These videos are wonderful and we appreciate them greatly!

[MattLevitt]

Wow, I've never actually SEEN him do Shakespeare. Jim's pretty good. Thanks for uploading.

[mrmitcantbe]

great video!! Jim Varney was the man. I always thoght 'Ernest goes to jail' was the best one!