Jim Varney in ultra rare stand-up routine in the summer of 1992. This took place in Lexington, KY. It was for Lexington's Comic Relief at Griffin Gate.
I lived in Lexington and ran into him a few times after he became famous. He would frequent the bars at the Radisson and the Hyatt, which were popular at the time, when he was in town. He was always like he was everybody's friend and everybody was his friend. If you encountered him he would likely do a funny little impromptu skit for you. Couldn't believe it when I heard he had died. One of his movies, can't remember which, the characters are about to crack up half the time, probably because of things he was doing off-camera or between takes.
That was a great movie, it was the last one for Iron eyes Cody and had some valuable messages within, like when Ernest saved the boy from drowning with the boat hook, and when the lawyer became one with nature.
Funny stuff! Thanks for sharing this rare video. And to all the people saying it's "awful"... if he were in drag you'd probably be laughing, so please... use a little imagination and try to appreciate his pantomime and mannerisms!
I watched his commercials today, he should be alive today , if he had lung cancer, then I wish and still wish that that cigarettes were off the market completely. I miss him :(
This guy was a pure genius,,and its crazy how natural it came to him,,this guy was so good,,damn i miss REAL AUTHENTIC comedians ,,the ones that had to make it on strong personality!,and nowadays its all about looks and special effects, and because of crazy fuckin dumb kids and parents,they dont even put the same shit on TV that they used to in the 80's.We will probably never see guys like this again,,just pure talent.
OMFG funny! The beginning was so-so but it really picked up halfway through. You rock stonegator; thanks for digging this up from wherever it was hiding ^.^
I was really surprised when I first saw a picture of Jim Varney out of character. For some reason that cap Ernest always wore made me think Jim was bald...I never would have guessed he had a full head of wavy hair.
Bunny shows very briefly in Ernest Scared Stupid. She also shows up in the 1994 video "Your World As I See It" where his Astor Clement character hosts and introduces many of Jim's other familiar characters. She might have popped up in another movie but I can't remember right now. I know he had been doing Bunny since the early 80's when he was on POP GOES THE COUNTRY for a brief period and in other stand-up performances.
Wow, when you listen to his voice you can tell how he was gone from lung cancer less than 10 years later. The man was in his early 40s and he had the voice of a 70something year old chain smoker. There was not a trace of youth left in that voice. He must've been an absolute chimney. Such a shame, especially over something so trivial as cigarettes. It took George Harrison, David Bowie and Jim Varney FAR too soon, just like chewing tobacco took baseball legend Tony Gwynn far too soon as well. Tobacco is an evil, evil plant. Don't smoke, kids. Just don't.
I saw him live at Nashville's Exit/Inn in the 2nd half of the 70's. I think it was after his stint as Sgt. Glory (Is that the name?) for Purity Dairy and before Ernest debuted. He was surprisingly edgy and intelligent, and did a great segment of Shakespearian parody. Quite a departure from his "Creature Cooler" bug juice ads. Anyone have any of those to upload? I couldn't find a single still image or reference to this character on the net.
My hometown. Corbin, Kentucky City Limits Next exit, the Colonel Harlan Sanders KFC Museum Then a sign: This is where Col Harlan Sanders took a fit after the gravy wasn't cooked right and dumped the whole pot into the road. Then the billboard: These holes were where Col Harlan Sanders took a fit and a pistol and took out his frustration on said billboard. None of these signs true, but the stories definitely are.
OMG That is SO funny. especially the bobby pin part - b/c that's just how people look trying to "spread" those things - ugh i hate them lol Jim Varney's awesome. my mom also had lung cancer that spread to her brain :(
R.I.P. Jim Varney! You are inspiration to me as an actor/comedian myself! You are really a Legend! Check out my videos, everybody! I have a Jim Varney/Jim Carry style of humor!!
That's my baby the man I'll always loved o dreamed of you last night fourteen years ago you left and this morning you were here just like you'd never go e come ba k or can I co.d there god may I go nos
No he wasn't gay he was married twice and according to a book I read they both ended in divorce because he was gone a lot. He had that ear pierced in like the sixties before all that became a thing.
