EARNEST SAVES CHRISTMAS is still hilarious! * FIRST TIME WATCHING * reaction ^& commentary 

The actor that plays Ernest (Jim Varney) is a trained Shakespearean actor. I've seen him do the soliloquy from Hamlet while in his Ernest costume, the he ended it with Ernest's "Know-what-I-mean?" It was hilarious. Jim Varney also did a great job playing Jed Clampett in the Beverly Hillbillies movie.

I can't believe it's been 23 years since he passed away, Jim Varney was a huge part of my childhood and I loved him as Slinky Dog in Toy Story too.

Ernest goes to Camp is my favorite of his. “They might look cute and cuddly, but never ever do this to a family of badgers…” 😂

I wrote to Ernest (Jim Varney) when I was a kid and he wrote me back a personal letter and signed picture that I still have to this day. It was a special day I'll never forget. I'm a huge fan of his work. That said, the series drags on as an adult beyond the fourth movie. I absolutely love Goes to Camp, Saves Christmas, Goes to Jail (my personal favorite), and Scared Stupid. Those others are highly recommended.

Ernest Goes to Camp, Ernest Goes to Jail and Ernest Scared Stupid are the best of them. Funny thing is Jim Varney (Ernest) is a classically trained stage actor with a fondness for Shakespeare. His skill at impressions is top tier. Younger audiences will know him as the voice of Slinky Dog from the Toy Story movies, but for those of us that grew up in the 80s, Ernest P. Worrell is his most defining character. Ernest was invented as a fictional character used to sell various products by pitching them to (and subsequently annoying) his friend, Vern. Eventually, he got his own movies and a TV Show very similar to Pee Wee's Playhouse.

As others have said, Ernest started as a character by actor Jim Varney, for a series of commercials. The character became so popular, larger commercial clients began using him and Ernest Mania took off. Jim Varney supplied the voice of Slinky Dog in the Toy Story franchise, until his passing. What some people may not know, is that Jim, along with being a comedic actor, was a trained Shakespearean actor as well. Videos can be found of both the Ernest commercials, and Jim preforming Shakespeare, on RU-vid. The unseen first person character of his friend Vern, was from his early commercial days. Ernest was always telling Vern (the camera) about the products he was pitching.

Also, fun fact: Ernest started out as an advertising mascot like Captain Crunch, Mr. Clean, or the Energizer Bunny. It's actually the weirdest and only case of an advertising icon becoming a movie star. He was so popular that when the CEO of Disney, Michael Eisner, went to an Indy 500 car racing event, he took notice of how popular Ernest was. At first, someone in a Mickey Mouse costume came out, but when Ernest came out, he got more applause than Mickey Frickin Mouse. Eisner immediately wanted Jim Varney and his Ernest character for Disney. And that's how the Ernest movies got started.

For the record, since you kept mentioning it, Rudolph isn't actually one of the reindeer. He was invented in the 30s or 40s as an ad campaign for Mongomery Ward. The song came a few years later when they made a book out of him, and it became pop culture. The other reindeer are much older, from the early 1800s or so when the original poem was written.

Ernest Scared Stupid was genuinely scary to me as a kid. I loved that movie so much, warts and all! And it was the first time I saw Eartha Kitt in anything

Remember when the Ernest character did commercials (for what I can’t remember lol) and he was always talking to his buddy Vern? It was always “Hey Vern, it’s me Ernest!” It got so popular that they decided to make a movie and poor Jim Varney was just Ernest for the rest of his life lol. He played Aunt Jackie’s Prince boyfriend for a season on Roseanne . He was also the voice for Slinky Dog in Toy Story.

Looks like we got a new movie for Hallowbeans next year, Ernest Scared Stupid is a delight Ernest was made for people who honeymoon at Dollywood and I love him

Jim Varney was a singular talent, the man was literally a Shakespearean level actor who turned a character he did for some commercials into a movie star. We lost him too early.

Jim Varney is an underappreciated actor. I really like him in Beverly Hillbillies too.

I've heard it said by others...and I tend to agree. That, regardless of how people feel about this movie in general, the film does have one of the most perfect depictions of Santa Claus. Top 5, easily. He walks around with the magic of the holiday season just rolling off him, so much so, children recognize him anywhere. He never judges anyone in this film. He's kind, warm, and accepting. Maybe he has a naughty list, but it's the sort that must be really hard to get a spot on because of how understanding and forgiving he is. He, more than any other reason, is why this movie feels like Christmas.

I'd definitely love to see you do the other Ernest movies. At the very least, I'd love to see you do the other three of the first Ernest movies: Ernest Goes to Camp, Ernest Goes to Jail, and Ernest Scared Stupid. Those three plus this one were always the best of the Ernest films. Ernest Scared Stupid has always been my favorite because I love horror and Halloween movies. Plus, it's just a good mix of spooks and laughs.

I grew up loving the Ernest movies, especially Ernest Scared Stupid. I was really upset when Jim Varney passed away back in 2000. He was a big part of my childhood. I think it was because of him I really got into and respected the artform of slapstick comedy. Ernest P. Worrell is one of those characters that I will always love to watch.

There are probably not many who agree with me on this, but I think that the old man who plays Santa in this film is one of the best Santas in film history.

While not an Ernest movie, Jim Varney was in the better-than-expected Beverly Hillbillies movie from the 90s. Worth checking out as well as it's a fun time.

Jim Varney is a classically trained Shakespeare stage actor. Yep.

As a kid Jim mother would let him watch cartoons, and she started noticing that he would imitate the voices of the cartoon characters. And she enrolled him in a children's theater. Also he could memorize poems and a good portion of books he read. He would entertain family and guess that came to visit his family home!

Growing up in Kentucky in the 80s and having family in West Virginia and Georgia, Ernest commercials were all over the television. I didn’t realize until much later that the commercials were localized and the northern US rarely saw them, if ever. It’s truly one of the most unique stories in television and something that will never happen again.

Vern is a running gag in Jim Varney's Ernest routine that he had been doing in commercials since 1980. I guess in a sense Vern is supposed to be an avatar for the audience as we are usually placed into his perspective for ads and I believe his Saturday morning show also featured this perspective whenever one of Varney's characters addressed "Vern". I'm pretty sure Jim dialed back addressing Vern once he started doing Ernest films as those were rarely if ever shot in a first person perspective.

So happy to finally see Ernest on a reaction channel. His movies are a goldmine of fun. He also has a TV Show that was hilarious, as well as a special called "Hey Vern, It's My Family Album!" that explores the "history" of the side-characters he plays. There's also "Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam", where he plays both Ernest, as well as the character of Dr. Otto. And lastly, he played Jed Clampett in the Beverly Hillbillies movies from the 90's.

Is it weird that this is one of my favorite Christmas movies? Up there with "It's a Wonderful Life," "A Christmas Story," "Home Alone," and of course, "Die Hard." The earlier Ernest films are the best ones, as the jokes become a little repetative later on, and "Ernest Goes to Camp" in particular is a blast.

The actor who played Ernest also does the voice of Slink the slinky dog in Toy Story

When Ernest says his goodbye to Joe and the elves it made me cry for Jim. I miss him as Ernest and this movie was completely my childhood.

Describing Ernest as the blue-collar Pee-Wee is pretty much spot on. He even had a Saturday morning kids' show. The reason we get a first person view of Vern goes back to Ernest's origin as a character for a series of local and eventually national commercials. He's the reason I still drink Mello Yello to this day.

I estimate that I get no less than 75% of my humor from Earnest. I could watch him all day as a kid and never get tired of it. Looking back at almost 40, there are so many little things I do or faces I make all the time that I clearly learned from this man. RIP JIM

I always still sing "oh Christmas tree" just like this.. 🤣

Ernest goes to camp is definitely one of the movies I watched over and over as a kid. I used to watch when he had his TV show as well..

9:05 Easter Egg from the "Earnest" commercials that started this whole phenomenon. Ernest would pop up in the camera and be speaking to his neighbor "Vern" directly about whatever wacky hijinks he'd gotten into while selling windows or whatever it was.

Ernest goes to camp and Ernest goes to jail are my favorite.

“Ernest Scared Stupid” is my favorite. Love Eartha Kitt!!

Jim Varney was a criminally underrated actor and I miss him dearly. Ernest Scared Stupid is still my favorite in the series.

"Ernest sounds like the kinda guy who would hang out with a guy named Vern..." You are very correct... poor Vern 🤣

Ernest is a childhood favorite! Scared Stupid is my all time favorite but all of them are great. His comedic timing is incredible. As others have stated in the comments, this was a character created for a TV commercial that totally blew up and became a cultural phenomenon. I hope you get to watch the others. They are all pretty much the same Earnest getting into different situations. Love the reactions as always! Keep em coming!

The tagline of Christmas Slay: "He knows if you've been bad or good, and he's got an axe." is an underrated joke.

Jim Varney was a severely underrated actor. Anyone ever see that clip of him reciting Shakespeare? We were robbed of an amazing lead actor by typecasting.

The two guys you liked from the airport are in several movies with him. This one has become a Christmas tradition. Ernest goes to camp is another good one. Both my favorites. Thank you for watching this one. He is really creative and funny. He made a bunch of commercials for local businesses around the country before getting into films. There is also a collection of skits he called My Family Album that adds to the Ernest character. It's really funny and shows his versatility. Much Love to you and all the best. Merry Christmas 🎅🎄❤🙂

Ernes Scared Stupid would be a great Wednesday movie for Hallobeans.

Ernest Goes to Camp, and to Jail are my personal favorite 2! Such memories 🤣🤣

This is actually the second Ernest movie. Goes To Camp was the first. Jim Varney the actor who is Ernest is a very interesting character. He was the voice of Slinky Dog in Toy Story. Like all iconic animated characters voiced by actors I believe Lucas retired the character when he passed. It was practice The Simpsons started years ago with the tragic loss of Phil Hartman.

Ernest started out as a character in a series of TV commercials. Just like the sequence in the film where he barges into his neighbor Vern's home, Ernest would show up at the door, or the window, usually saying "Hey Vern, it's Ernest!" With the distinct implication that Vern wanted nothing to do with him. The character was so popular that they created a children's sketch comedy show around the character. Then they made a series of Ernest movies. Jim Varney, the actor behind Ernest, was in quite few movies playing other characters. Until his death from lung cancer in 2000, he was the voice of Slinkydog in the Toy Story franchise.

Camp is definitely worth a watch. Every time my cousin slept over as a kid, we would watch it. I haven't watched it in forever though. I'd love to rewatch it with you and see your reaction.

The best part about Ernest is .. he does the whole holiday series!!! Halloween, Easter, summer school...vern is the best for laughing at stuff you'd never normally laugh at

This movie doesn't get the recognition it deserves along with his others Ernest movies were such a huge part of my childhood can't count how many times I watched them I loved them so much(and still do of course)

What surprised me just the other night when I was watching this film, because I discovered that the actor who plays Santa, Douglas Seale, was also the voice of the Sultan in the animated version of Alladin.

I think EVERYONE has called him 'Redneck Pee Wee', hahaha!! He even had his own children's show, featuring the 2 guys from the airport (but not as that). Because of the 'redneckedness', I don't think Jim Varney got enough respect, but he's very clever! BTW, Vern is never seen, his life just keeps getting destroyed by Ernest. All for more Ernest movies!!

“I have got to get right with the Lord” 😂😂😂😂😂😂 girl! Same! You were saying everything I thought

I used to go to church with the guy who plays Bobby. He was in six Ernest movies, including this one, and he's hilarious. I'm pretty sure the "Santa's Slay" plot is inspired by the Silent Night, Deadly Night controversy, where a bunch of parents got upset that there was a horror movie with a killer Santa.

Ernest goes to camp, and Ernest goes to jail, are fun watches!! Hopefully , you continue to watch them.

Your "rude" jokes, are the best part and why I keep coming back, I laughed so hard XD

Vern was a character that was in Ernest's commercials that you never saw. If I remember right this was the first time that they incorporated him into one of the movies. My personal favorite Earnest movie is Earnest Goes to Camp (in other words, it's the one I recommend watching next).

Some facts: -The old lady is Billie Bird, you may remember her from Home Alone as the wife hat Kate barters tickets off to get home to Kevin. -Next Hallobeans, you must watch Ernest Scared Stupid. So funny! -The Old Santa is also the voice of Sultan in Aladdin with Robin Williams. -The two storage guys are Gailard Sartain and Bill Byrge. They often worked with Jim Varney on much of his projects. Also, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year Ashleigh.

Ernest Goes to Camp was my favorite movie when it came out (still is in a way) and was lucky enough to watch part of this movie being filmed in the lobby of the office building my dad worked in. You have never seen a happier 5 year old. Order of best Ernest films: Camp, Halloween, Jail, Xmas.

Im not dying here from Ashleigh doing all the inappropriate jokes, im cackling 😂.

Jim Varney, Ernest, was also Jed Clampett in the "Beverly Hillbillies" movie.

Ernest used to be one of my favorite characters to watch as a kid! He had a TV show when I was young and one of his sticks was that he would talk to and/or annoy the never seen Vern! I think the audience saw events with Ernest through Vern’s perspective.

The old Lady's voice you recognized. Did a lot of Disney movies , she sang the ibidy bibidy bop song . the three fairy witches from sleeping beauty

Ernest commercials were my dads favorites back in the 80’s. Scared Stupid is probably my favorite of all the Ernest movies, so I hope you do that one sometime, but Saves Christmas is cute and wholesome, and shows off what a *good* person Ernest is, I think. I’m always happy to give it a watch around the holiday times.

You never see Vern. Vern was most everything Earnest ever did, even his commercials.

My favorite Ernest film was always Ernest Scared Stupid, co-starring Eartha Kitt! May both talented, beloved, and dearly missed souls rest in peace.

Scared Stupid, Goes to Camp, and Saves Christmas are easily the 3 best Ernest movies.

My great uncle was a good friend of Jim Varney and he’d visit him every so often at his house, I remember once they showed up together at my house when I was a kid. He was such a cool dude and really humble and nice, and I didn’t even know that he and Robin Williams were friends until much later but it’s a memory and moment in time I’ll always treasure. RIP Jim, a true legend.

The old woman has been in a bunch of movies and TV shows. She's been in some John Hughes movies.(16 Candles, for sure) This whole film was filled with character actors that were in everything. The eighties were really the golden age for character actors.

Ernest Goes to Camp is my absolutes favourite of these films ...hilariously quotable, fun, some sweet moments...just an all round good time.

Yay! I am so happy you loved it! Ernest goes to Camp and Ernest Scared Stupid are the best! Thanks for whoever requested it! I love Ernest! Thanks Ashley! Merry Christmas!🎄😄❤️

Please don't stop the adult jokes Ashleigh. They're what plenty of us are here for.

So crazy that he started off doing Ernest as a character to pitch products on local TV. His shtick was walking up to his neighbor Vern's kitchen window, leaning in and interrupting his meal while admiring whatever product he was promoting. Like, "Hey Vern! You got that new Mrs. Buttermilk- now new and improved! Wow, Vern! I could pour this right into my iced tea- you know what I mean?" His character got so popular in the South, he was offered a Multi-film deal from Disney.

I must admit, your commentary made this SO much better! 🤣🤣🤣 I'm just surprised it took you so long to say anything about the # on the taxi. 😂

*_"Red Neck Pee-wee Herman" ... 🤣🤣🤣 ... Never heard it put that way before, but: IT fits like a glove!_*

FINALLY! Been suggesting this for years. Always the same naysayers jump on it about how they don't like the humor and there is no value in it. Thank you, Chris, for getting it on her screen! So glad you liked the movie, Ashleigh! Goes to Camp is a good follow up. Goes to Jail is great because you get to see more of his range of acting. Scared Stupid will be a good addition to next year's HallowBeans.

When I was a kid, Vern and Ernest were everywhere. Vern was never seen on camera and Ernest would pop into a door or window and yell HEY VERN! And then he’d launch into some ad for something. Sour cream, a tv station, furniture store. People would yell HEY VERN to each other. This was around ‘82, when I was 12. People dressed like him at Halloween and heaven forbid your name was “Vern”. He had a saturday morning tv show for a while. Ernest goes to camp is one of my favorites. I saw it in the theater when it came out. There’s a song in that movie that is so touching and when it’s raining, I still sing it.

I watch this every year around this time of year. Thank you for reacting to this.

There was a one-season Saturday morning kids' show in 1988 called "Hey Vern, It's Ernest!" which was pure silliness.

Before my dad passed, we would watch this every Christmas since I was like 6

I watch this every year. Good , fun, wholesome. What else can you ask for during Xmas season? ...need more Ernest.😊

Pretty sure modern mathematics can’t calculate the number of times I rented the Earnest movies as a kid. 😂

"Ernest Scared Stupid" is a must. My personal favorite is "Ernest Goes to Jail", and while I may have a soft spot for "Ernest in the Army," you really don't need to watch anything but the first four at most. "Camp", "Christmas", "Jail", "Scared Stupid"

This and Ernest scared stupid is one of my favorites.But I always found the Halloween one funnier than the rest of them. But all of them are good movies.

Jim Varney that plays Ernest also voices slinky dog in Toy Story movies. Ashley I’m surprised you didn’t recognize his voice

This movie is in my Christmas cannon each year! I figured Ernest Saves Christmas would be up your ally. KnowwhatImean?

Drink every time Ashleigh says the word sack. 😂😂 Your comments are part of your humor and charm. Don’t apologize!

My favorite Ernest movie & honestly one of my top five holiday movies. Just a sweet story with a comedic cherry on top. Plus, that Vern scene is PRICELESS!!! 😂😂😂

Also love the line "What we have here is a failure to remunerate" (referencing Cool Hand Luke)

Fun fact: As much as you mentioned Ernest becoming Santa Claus, that was what the original script was about before being rewritten.

"this is Abbot and Costello - this is Laurel and Hardy" - Yeah, they WISH.

Yes, more Earnest. Jim Varney was from Louisville, KY. He died in 2000 from lung cancer, at the age of 50. At the time of his death, he was in White House, TN, which is just north of Nashville, on I-65.

I grew up in the 80's and 90's and my dad and brother were both named Vernon. We loved always hearing "Know what I mean, Vern?" in the Ernest movies. It's been years since I have watched one. This was fun.

"Ernest Goes To Camp" is an absolute MUST. Aside from Varney's Ernest comedy specials, it's the first of the actual movies, and will always remain my favorite. "I'm scared, Sarge!" "We're all scared, son." (Those who know, know.)

Varney's best-known character is Ernest P. Worrell, who would address the camera as if speaking to a friend, using his trademarked catchphrase "KnoWhutImean, Vern?" In 1980, the first commercial featuring the character advertised an appearance by the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders at Beech Bend Park, an amusement park located near Bowling Green, Kentucky.

The reason Ernest Scared Stupid is my favorite I love the facial expressions that he does and the faces it's funny. And Scary in some parts imagine being 6 years old and watching a troll kidnapping children. But now as i am grown up it's a classic for me.

This is one of my favorite Christmas movies of all time and I seriously think this is the best portrayal of Santa Claus in film.

I love Ernest! The way I thought I was going to marry Jim Varney when I was little lol and his character in the Beverly Hillbillies movie did something to me 😍😏

Yes! Love you’re doing this! I grew up 45 min from Orlando, so this has always been a Christmas staple for me. Getting snow on Christmas was always our dream as kids. Also, the actor who plays Santa is the best Santa in the history of Christmas movies.

Peewee and Earnest are my childhood favs. More peewee pleeease ❤❤❤ This was shot in Orlando, so many familiar places. My wedding reception was in the science center it shows. ❤❤❤ Sending love to you and yours from Orlando Florida

Ernest is hilarious! Thanks for doing this one. This is a great. Big Top Pee Wee should be watched. There's Ernest Scared Stupid, Ernest Goes To Camp, Ernest Goes To School, Ernest Goes To Jail, Ernest Goes To Splash Mountain, Ernest Rides Again, Slam Dunk Ernest, Ernest Goes To Africa, Ernest In The Army. He's known for being the voice of Slinky Dog in Toy Story 1 and 2. Nice reaction Ashleigh.

Jim Varney also stared in the 90s remake of The Beverly Hillbillies (a hilarious movie!) he also had a saturday morning cartoon show called Hey Vern, It's Ernest on CBS. Ernest goes to jail and Ernest goes to camp are the best in the Ernest series.

“Catch magical Christmas hands” lmao.

The gentleman who played Bobby his bill bygre he's a very sweet man and I met him for an entire week my teacher picked him up and it was great to meet him he's retired and and he lives in a condo in Nashville he's a librarian and he was in several music videos he is humbled by the fans who enjoyed the Ernest films.bill is 91 years old right now. Thank you for reacting to this LOL fun fact Bill only had few lines in the movie because he couldn't read scripts lol