Tom Waits on Fernwood Tonight

[Bsketches]

Depressing how many dumb Tom Waits fans don't get that this isn't a real talk show.

[MrMonsterstiffy]

@Bsketches it started as a parody, then became a real parody talk show.

[MicrophoneFarmer]

what a babe. what class.

[ShaneKarma376]

Willard = genius!

[poonbucket]

"well I've endured my stay so far.." hahaha

[EpicCentral]

The audience must have been drinking, Tom Waits is the bomb

[JohnHalladay1]

may be scripted but Tom is still funnier than the professional comedians!

[colorbakery]

Brilliant. :) My favorite Fernwood clip next to Kenneth Mars' WD Bud Prize, Fannie Flagg and the UFO colanders :)

[chrisd555]

Ron, I would be surprised if the affiliates were concerned about the lack of an old, old wooden ship

[Howler15]

love this almost as much as the Dom australian interview

[kallemick]

i think its tom waits who has been drinking XD

[killlgoretrout]

I had been singing this song at work for 2 weeks. Not one person has looked at me funny. It's a sign that i've been working there too long.

[desotowright]

When good ol' Tom Waits can poke fun at himself a litle and still give an awesome performance/interview, you know he's a beast and a half. God bless you, Mr. Waits.

[thunderboltpatterson]

@AidenParle.

This was a comedy show, not a real talk show. Everything was scripted. Used to watch as a teenager in the 70's and found myself laughing out loud at this clip.

[AidanParle]

I hate it when interviewers think that they are the main stage

[Blackdragon5151]

why are people laughing?

[BukkakeNation]

@Blackdragon5151 Because it's the funniest shit in the history of history's 

[killingtheblueskarma]

fernwood tonight is like being at home - or in THE home.  funniest show ever!!!!

[eyesforblondes]

Too Freaking Funny !! LMAO What a classic !

[lrigydruh]

brilliant! tom waits is brilliant here! but whats the deal is it a joke or what those guys are gettin ripped by tom haha great

[FredFuchs77]

I love this shit :)

[creepweirdo123]

his mind doesnt function like everybody elses

[ranger2464]

I BROKE INTO a Sunday AM smile ... set me up for the day !!!!

[TheHauntedFarm]

Tom Waits is the man.

[2JOHNNYT]

3 NUT JOBS @ THEIR PRIME, LOL!

[liliodine]

Who are the 28 turds voting down?? 

[Toedoog]

'PLEASE WELCOME THE TALENT OF TOM WAITS'

Tom plays drunken song with tuberculosis style voice.

[wyatbroadcasting]

"take a load off your act" LOL

[wyatbroadcasting]

Tom Waits is awesome. Martin Mull was great too. Two underrated talents

[hbkdetroit]

the audience had no idea what they were witnessing.

[zepproxx]

@hbkdetroit Not only Tom waits but every episode was awesome! I would put it in the top 5 shows of all time!

[pessia61]

Why in hell isn't Fernwood/America 2 Night on DVD???? It was brilliant!

[BillMinworth]

To suspiciousbaglady, It's yours, I'm off to a place in midtown off ninth and hennipen

[gotyya]

...had to leave our four yearold for collaterl.lol classic

[WayOutWardell]

When Nick At Nite was airing these, this was my introduction to Tom Waits.

[auratanshin]

I have no idea how they kept straight faces for that long.

[Sonoftoenails93]

fuck fernwood man

[pretorious700]

you really can't calculate the levels of irony in this vid.

[MrMonsterstiffy]

@pretorious700 you can if you saw it at the time it was made.

[WinstonsPapa]

Loved TW on the GONG SHOW too!! The Good Old Days!!

[misterhiden54]

this is staged fools

[littlebit19801]

@misterhiden54 When I was little I loved this show BUT I didnt realize it was a farce, I thought it was a real talk show lol

[misterhiden54]

@littlebit19801 It is fun to pretend that it IS real.

[littlebit19801]

@misterhiden54 OMG I LOVE this show, I dunno why it's not shown more, fortunatly I have about every episode!

[whemadre]

@iamgannon- twat and a haf ! Low humor? Can you say snob. I guess there must be such a thing as high humor and that would be Tom's. He's highern a kite. Loved those idiots on Fernwood.

[crassyfrake]

I love Martin Mull's "WTF" expressions during the song lol

[daveleslie64]

..should be called "Fagwood" tonight...

That is the lowest form of humour..

I feel sorry for TW for having to do that show...

[holypsychopath]

@daveleslie64 me too

[littlebit19801]

@daveleslie64 Oh wow! Gay bashing terms, how wonderful!

[ExplorerFreak]

This man is so clever!!! I want to beeee himmmmm.

[Lewis1key]

Where are the Norman Lear's of creativity today? Martin Mull and Fred Willard...

unfucking believable!

[Parselgob]

When genius meets the mainstream...

But Tom is genuinely funny. End of. So it's fine.

[RawOne911]

nothing like quotes from the Algonquin table

[FungusMossGnosis]

@iamgannon

Hey, snobby, call a ♠ a ♠ : if the show and the characters played by Martin Mull & Fred Willard are twats, then so is Waits - he too is participating in this script. This is the closest he'll ever come to being a sitcom star!

Truth is, they're all twatless, and quite funny.

I pity the poor snob who can't tell that the Parker line 'bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy' was scripted. Furgodsakes!

[tripjet999]

Tom once had a BEAUTIFUL voice, which he ruined by smoking. Sad.

[cascasoldier]

This is how normal people look at Tom Waits and his fans? Couldn't be more proud? :)

[LucidDream]

@iamgannon They weren't that bad...if you have ever seen Fernwood before you would notice that all of their shows are like this. They treat everyone about the same...even picking fun at them.

[mdwhitesyndrome]

3 of my favorites on one stage

[lifeinpictures]

I remember when this was "real"

[lifeinpictures]

GOD can not play an intro worth MR. Waits........

[haimeth1]

ayy si me gusta

[numbersabcdefg]

I had to leave my 4 year old as collateral

[blackblackgrey]

I love that guy laughing like a seal at everything he says...

"AAAAAA HAAAAAA HAAAA!!!!!!!"

"HAA HAA HAA HAA..... AAAAAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!"

[esme7272]

nice conversation! mr. waits is better them the "beautiful" men. more beer and cigarettes!!!

[BillMinworth]

I live in bedlum and squallor! brilliant!

[Suspiciousbaglady]

@BillMinworth & I'm next on the waiting list, for his old place...

[gladys8it]

Priceless!!! LOL

[MyAFDA]

Well betty, she had the fillet of athletic equipment.

[gerbiljism]

Thanks, Itscabs....

Im surprised so many people though that Martin & Fred were "for real".....

[gerbiljism]

I think the blonde haired presenter is Martin Mull...

[ItsCabs]

@gerbiljism- Martin Mull had toured for a while with Steve Martin, billed as The Steve/Martin Mull Review, mid-70's. Martin had a huge hit comedy record around '76 or '77, and Mull got this TV show, yes, spoofing TV showsof the late 70's. Fred Willard is a brillaint comedic actor/writer who's in tons of 2nd rate stuff, I'm convinced by choice. Tom Waits you've probably heard of by now, but he's in tons of movies, too.

[richbizkit]

its a satire of cheesy american talk shows, its not real. the guy on the right is fred willard whose been in spinal tap, best in show, loads. billy connolly should be in the ben elton school of overrated, overstayed, unfunny tripe.

[itslikeframingapear]

american humour is so shit. Those guys at the begiinning, fuckin awful. Give me someone with some balls like Billy Connolly. Nothing against Tom btw he's great.

[mistarcraw]

@itslikeframingapear "Like Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, Fernwood 2Nite was set in the fictional town of Fernwood, Ohio. The show satirized real talk shows as well as the sort of fare one might expect from locally-produced, small-town, midwestern American television programming. Well-known actors usually appeared playing characters or a contrivance had to be written for the celebrity to appear as themselves. (In one episode, Tom Waits' tour bus happened to break down in Fernwood.)"

[MrFilistine]

Who the fuck were that pair of numpties?

[pulsedemon]

No doubt it's hilarious but the "frontal lobotomy" line isn't Waits'.

Not that it matters, he has enough original lines that are even better.

[LandoftheShanks]

and also, does anyone noticed that a man in the audience laughs like desi arnaz "HA HA HA HA HA HA" lord have mercy.

[LandoftheShanks]

he changed the lyrics for television. he said the jukebox has been broken for several weeks, but it's "the jukebox has to take a leak" LOL i love this song a lot. a drunk guy playing the piano and from his perspective and the piano music itself is beautiful.

[fraterlucifer888]

bedlam and squalor,,,,,

[lerfish]

"Id rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy"

that is fucking genius.

[toolbandsober]

@lerfish Dorothy Parker.

[plumbersteve]

is that fred willard?

[plainbob99]

you bet.

[RossM3838]

@plumbersteve it is indeed. One of the funniest shows ever on tv

[plumjunkme]

dear god! this show used to make me smile bigger than anyone ever should; soooo happy this is here!

[MrBlakskwrl]

This is probable my most viewed video on youtube. I have watched it so many times and I just keep coming back. Classic.

[wisapolito]

LUUUUV IT!!!

[noraMaiden]

hahahah i still remember this... epic!

[TheShrimper2]

what's all the fuss...Waits sucks.

[gnikrnov]

Don't know why some are upset with Mull's treatment of Waits here. It was all part of Mull's character. Waits clearly understands that and is happy to play along.

[lerfish]

@gnikrnov i wouldn't say he is "happy" to play along... more, willing.

Also that frontal lobotomy saying was f***ing genius!!

[unclevanya]

LMAO! Classic!

[celloprofundo]

Tom looks double-jointed ; )

[califsucks]

Was this idiot the voice of Disneys Br'er Bear?

What passes for talent in America

[asiancowstamp]

you are a fool.

[auszorlack]

"just a couple bucks. til' my brother straightens up." gold.

[crozdwirez]

boycott the unauthorized bio!! a man has a right to his privacy

[failtenona]

Not to mention his compilation albums and his acting work (most recently in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus!)

[RazelG]

@failtenona

And The Book of Eli

[failtenona]

Tom Waits is still incredibly active! He just did a world wide tour "The Glitter and Doom Tour" in 2008. He has over 20 albums of original work much of which is concept driven and has an amazingly cohesive yet ecclectice sound and aesthetic. He's a god...no two ways about it.

[fkappreciative]

Ha ha, real funny. Question: Where's Martin Mull these days? Another question: Where's Tom Waits these days?

Yeah...I thought so.

[RenoRaider]

I usually like martin mull but he's pissing me off playing to the audience. what an asshole. he cant touch Waits for talent or genius for that matter.

[mynie]

@RenoRaider Yeah, it seems dickish w/o context, but it was a bit they did every night on the show. The usual gag was that the local "talent" produced by Fernwood was crappy and so Gimble would sneer at it.

[RenoRaider]

You are right. I used to watch the show all the time. It was very funny.

[Rober1y]

Re: Comment about Martin Mull, that is part of his act and was certainly part of the act for Fernwood tonight. He wasn't putting Waits down, he was just in character. Sort of like Colbert.

[rodri1251]

what a fuck!!! why.. the fuckin!! smiles!motherfuckerS!!!!.. fuckers!!

[westpalmscott]

My first experience with Tom Waits was watching this on late night TV This is priceless !

[mrfunnyman99]

Great!

[Looterster]

has to be the best interview ive ever seen. filet of athletic equipment hah

[beatacatthegreat]

I love this guy, he's a god! Long live Tom Waits! :D

[Kattis6303]

*ASG*

Riktig TV underhållning detta ;-)

[TheJesmonde]

one of the best actors ever

[Sugardrugged]

this is so entertaining

[WilliamRAlford]

"$1.99 for all you can stand. I couldn't tell whether to eat mine or give it a ride home."

[LTcrew]

"I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy" haha, gold!

[JazzBass420]

@LTcrew I know right? I laughed my ass off....

[princeminski47]

@LTcrew "Old."

[rentalife]

@LTcrew

Tom's Interviews are great ! He has a fine sense of humor-love it !

[fek2000]

@LTcrew Mull stole that from Waits and used it later on the Tonight Show. Great jokes should have multiple lives.

[phipsiguy1530]

Miss Fernwood 2-Night! Martin Mull and Fred Willard were

brillant and funny! Many of today's so called comedians could

learn a lot from them.

[birdhaldol]

the interviwer actually and exactly trippin on acid. EXACTLY DOIN THAT. I am too angry to consider that you may be A sexy enuff FEMALE to be my lab partner now.

[MAX96MENDES]

Tom is God!

[tcampbellla]

Thanks!

Tom

[tripjet999]

He used to have a beautiful voice. Trashed it out with use of the tobacco drug. Same thing has happened to Dylan.

[jeremylater]

ahh, the alcoholic acceptance of the 70s. to go back would be to die young.

[birdhaldol]

this interview wasn't good. i don't understand why the guest was allowed to panhandle the stars of the show on the air and drink evil alcohool on the air.

[heraldandmod]

it's a joke...get over it, it's a comedy show....

[birdhaldol]

you are right. i got real uptight about evil alcohool AFFECTING THE PIANO instead of focusing on that its funny THAT I'VE NEVER HAD AS MUCH COCAINE IN MY LIFE THAT THEY TOOTED DURING THE COMMERCIAL BREAK.

[wileedingo]

you didn't really get it, did you birdhaldol. It was an act. Probably wasn't even "alcohool" in the bottle.

[birdhaldol]

i am real thin. i disappear when i turn sideways. that tom waites guest was a sidewinder snake. it was NOT all pretend. period. THAT WAS A REAL $20 BILL that JERRY HANDED HIM. I AM HIS BROTHER. HE DID PUT UP HIS 4 Y.O. AS COLLATERAL...HE DOESN'T LIKE FRONTAL LOBOTOMY THREATS.

[wileedingo]

You're thin alright ... between the ears.

[bonehead1170]

Probably the coolest guy ever to walk this planet.

[sharonlorimer]

The humor on this is really preface for the post-Spinal-Tap documentaries. And as for Waits, his songs are intentionally humorous mixed with pathos. If you ever listen to his live albums he is in a beat poet mood (eggs and sausauge is the most funny i can think of) but still delivers a wonderful song.

[k4man123]

Is it me or does he look hot back then?

[anirotzamuzika]

he was amazingly good looking... :(

[Bestmanme08]

@anirotzamuzika No man is good looking. Only sexy women are.

[hanzecercheek]

Whoa. He's so young here.

[theminimumdog]

"... and you can't find your waitress, with a gieger counter.."  LMAO!

[teleny2]

It's that melted candle on the piano...It's perfect.

[teleny2]

Kind of like Glenn Gould on WAAAAY too many Valium....

[GregIsLegend]

That's a cigarette.

[sausagekiller]

noone sees them anymmore :)

[fattrucker01]

this is the first time i ever saw tom and ive been a fan ever since

[deborahsuewho]

You mean here on YOutube or on Fernwood? In either case, I love that you found him in without looking for him - apparantly, he found you. I love when this happens -

[fattrucker01]

no, i meant back in the seventies, i used to watch fernwood and mary hart every nite. it was an existential conundrum, he was at the same time more wacky than anyone on the show and at the same time more real.

[elcoprino]

Good old time when you could drink and smoke in public ;o)

[dochighlands]

I don't know if it's funny or sad that folks don't recognize satire when they see it...

[revry]

Waits and Mull were old friends when this was filmed. They both appeared in the same clubs before "making it" big. And yes, I saw this the night it came on. I was already a big Waits fan (and a Fernwood fan too).

[PopeFlores]

I never thought I'd see this bit again! Thanks! Long before the GARY SHANDLING show was FERNWOOD TONIGHT!

[botbagel]

The carpet needs a haircut....lol

[reallycrazynines]

IF you know what the show was about and the players involved, you get it. Tom Waits plays it perfectly, Few in that audience knew him, nor 3/4 of the TV audience that night. PERFECT for the times. Great stuff! Tom Waits flat out kicks ass. Period.

[joshuak123]

I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy. hahaha

[botbagel]

Yeah, joshuak123, it's been awhile since I've heard that one too!

[AuntyNibbs]

What's so hilarious about this version of the song? Sounds pretty similar to the one on Small Change.

He's such an original talent.

[stockcar20fan]

this isn't about tom waits it's about fernwood 2 night, you have to watch more fernwood to get the satirization

[Jonamon]

Yeh, I don't understand why they're laughing so much.

The lyrics are funny yeah, but more ironic and oxymoronic than laugh at loud hilarity.

I guess it's just mob mentality

[AuntyNibbs]

The banter was positively painful, but as a non-American I find most American talk shows, past and present, as equally painful in their repartee.

The best line has to be, "I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy."

Very funny.

[jazzwad]

AGREED!

America is the place i live next to Americans who are upset about...

you guessed it

Americans

[penguinworm]

Well, this is a parody of American talk shows.

[AuntyNibbs]

Cheers - it's all making sense now.

[tcampbellla]

No just comedy!

[Dayberry]

I just realized Tom is probably a Millionaire....

[FrandallFilms]

best video on youtube

[lenny121]

Tom waits is one of the coolest dudes in my book

[Caligula138]

Are they kidding with the fake laughter during the song? So corny...

Tom is a funny man!

[Tektonic08]

it just might take you a little longer...

[Tektonic08]

awesoem! :D

[itslikeframingapear]

Tom should definitly do some radio. Like his charachter in Down by law, I could listen to him all day long. Greetings from a fellow piss head.

[Bestmanme08]

Martin Mull is in a great new bio (Charlton Heston: An Incredible Life: Revised Edition)! The bio is at amazon.

[RaeInMn]

From my favorite Tom Waits album ever...genius.

[Lovertits9]

"well i'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy..."

fucking priceless!!!!

tom waits is such an awesome dude.

[ElimRem]

tom's a sharp dresser, handsome man as well

[ethervagabond]

shit that was funny

[electrodecjc50]

I liked this show.I think they changed fernwood to America2nite after a short time

[ak47doubletap]

TOM WAITS is comical - if ya hear any of his interviews. HE IS GENIUS OF MUSIC!!

LOVE THE MAN.

[doublealufwaffe]

Is this show fully scripted? I would be disapointed to discover that Waits did not come up with that bottle-lobotomy bit.

[lloydallisonyoung]

Sorry, my man. That's a commonplace quotation.