America 2-Night

Lore & Background

America 2-Night was the successor to Fernwood 2 Night, picked up by the fictional UBS network. The show was set in the Quad-City area of Alta Coma, El Tijo, Alta Luna, and the City of Merchandise, with Alta Coma billed as 'the unfinished furniture capital of the world!' This new setting allowed for celebrity guests such as Vincent Price, Carol Burnett, Burt Lancaster, Mark Hamill, Gary Coleman, and Tom Waits. The UBS network logo featured an ear as a spoof of the CBS eye, with the slogan 'We put U before the BS'.

Reader's Guide

America 2-Night is significant as a continuation of the satirical talk-show format that parodied late-night television conventions. Its move to a fictional Southern California setting enabled a parade of real Hollywood celebrities, blending parody with genuine appearances. The show featured recurring characters played by Kenneth Mars, Susan Eliott, Jim Varney, Robin Williams, and others. Though never officially released on home video, its legacy endures through syndication on Nick at Nite (1990–1993) and TV Land (2002). In 2001, Mull and Willard reprised their roles at the US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado.

Did You Know?

• America 2-Night was broadcast on the fictional UBS network, whose logo featured an ear as a spoof of the CBS eye.
• The show's setting included Alta Coma, described as 'the unfinished furniture capital of the world!'
• Celebrity guests included Vincent Price, Carol Burnett, Burt Lancaster, Mark Hamill, and Tom Waits.
• America 2-Night was officially released on DVD by Shout! Factory in 2013.