Evening Shade

In the series pilot, Wood Newton, a former NFL football player and the head coach of the local high school football team, has to deal with his team's losing streak, the possible pregnancy of his wife, his birthday/wedding anniversary and a news photo of Wood with a stripper.

With Ava in the hospital, Freida babysits and fills in at poker night.

On seeing an old game film, Wood discovers his most celebrated high school touchdown catch was actually out of bounds.

Taylor takes "Marge the Barge" to a Sadie Hawkins dance while Harmon and Wood engage in a war of pranks with the seniors.

Both Taylor and Evan begin relationship with women who have reputations for being very provocative.

After a boozy evening, Wood passes out on the coffee table, giving Will a chance to shave off half his mustache. Meanwhile, Ava gets a visit from her high school boyfriend Kyle Hampton.

Wood donates "a weekend with Wood Newton" to Harlan's charity. Being the highest bidder, Herman Stiles wins the prize and drives Wood's entire family nuts.

Right before a game with arch rival Piggot High School, Wood's entire offensive line fails an algebra test and must cram for a makeup test or else they will be barred from playing.

When Ava's new job as a prosecuting attorney keeps her away from home, Wood takes on extra domestic chores and resents it so much that he packs up and moves in with Ponder Blue. Meanwhile, Herman joins a mail order hair club.

When a Hollywood film crew arrives in town to shoot a Civil War mini-series, the townsfolk flock to play extras. Wood is cast as a Confederate colonel. The shoot is beset with problems, including temperamental actress Shelley Darling.

Everyone is dealing with issues at Christmastime. Wood is so tired of his children's materialism that he donates all of their gifts to a hard luck family in the neighborhood.

Wood and Ava make friends with a married couple who turn out to be swingers.

Wood's visiting high school friends tell incriminating stories about him to Ava and Evan; Wood's former fiancée Rebecca Kincaid is back in town and still carrying a torch for him.

In a flashback, the Newton family helps Ava runs for district attorney against an obnoxious opponent, and Harlan is convinced that a win for Ava would have negative effects on her marriage to Wood.

Herman's visiting father Brick gets pushy with Freida and seems interested in spending time with everyone in town but Herman.

Evan has a physical confrontation with Vernon Moody, who disagrees with one of Evan's editorials, but Wood is called as the star witness--for Moody.

On Wood's annual deer hunting trip, a local legendary deer drops dead in front of his cabin, outside official hunting grounds.

Ava feels there is cause for concern when armed robber Harvey Lujack, whom she helped put in prison, escapes and swears revenge on her.

Wood tries to keep secret the presence of his guest: old acquaintance country music singer Kenny Rogers.

Herman is a substitute teacher for a sex education class, and calls in Wood for backup.

Wood must decide whether to allow women to try out for the football team.

Herman wants his friendship with Margaret to move to the next level, so Wood, Ava, Harlan, and Merlene plan a dinner party to facilitate this.

Ava goes into labor the night of the Booster Club Sports banquet, to which Wood has invited his football archrival Terry Bradshaw.

Ava encounters chaos and problems in the delivery of her baby.