The Varneyist Jim That Ever Varney'd

“Death comes for us all in the end. Have fun before it gets here”

-Jim Varney, possibly

Most people know Jim Varney as the ubiquitous Ernest P. Worrel, a television pitch man who morphed into the start of a sketch comedy show, a cartoon and a series of well-loved movies aimed at children and adults with the sensibilities of children. Some may know him as the second coming of Jed Clampett or as the voice of Slinky Dog in the Pixar Toy Story films.

What most people don’t know, is that he got his start on the legitimate stage, was a regular on Johnny Cash and Friends and was a recurring player on Fernwood 2Nite. Even less well known were roles in films like 100 Proof (where he played an abusive alcoholic father) and Existo: The Forbidden Movie ( a dystopian satire about artists fighting back via their art after Fundamentalist Christians take over America and install a fascist regime).

The goons at Bloodfest decided to do a dive into the whole bloody mess that is Jm Varney’s too short career. Listen along, if you could.

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