The Importance of Being Ernest
Through nine feature films, an Emmy-award-winning TV show, and thousands of television commercials, Ernest P. Worrell became a beloved comedy icon. Originally created as an advertising character, Ernest transcended these humble beginnings to become an unexpected hit—given life through the creativity of an indispensable team of artists, as well as through the unparalleled talent of actor Jim Varney. Today, two decades after Varney’s death, both Ernest and Jim seem to endure largely as pop culture footnotes; or worse, as easy punchlines. But there’s more to Ernest than that, and this documentary film will guide viewers through the entire Ernest epoch to examine the shelf life of a phenomenon. Using archival footage, cast and crew interviews, and never-before-seen material, we will seek to answer the questions: “Who was Ernest, who was Jim Varney, how did they relate, and why do they both mean so much to people?”
Cast
- Jim Varney - Self (archive footage)
- John Cherry - Self (archive footage)
- Daniel Butler - Self
- Justin Lloyd - Self
Screenplay
- Justin Lloyd (Book)
Keywords
comedian, jim varney, ernest p. worrell
Trailer
The Importance of Being Ernest TrailerFrequently Asked Questions
- What is The Importance of Being Ernest about?
- Through nine feature films, an Emmy-award-winning TV show, and thousands of television commercials, Ernest P. Worrell became a beloved comedy icon. Originally created as an advertising character, Ernest transcended these humble beginnings to become an unexpected hit—given life through the creativity of an indispensable team of artists, as well as through the unparalleled talent of actor Jim Varney. Today, two decades after Varney’s death, both Ernest and Jim seem to endure largely as pop culture footnotes; or worse, as easy punchlines. But there’s more to Ernest than that, and this documentary film will guide viewers through the entire Ernest epoch to examine the shelf life of a phenomenon. Using archival footage, cast and crew interviews, and never-before-seen material, we will seek to answer the questions: “Who was Ernest, who was Jim Varney, how did they relate, and why do they both mean so much to people?”
- Who directed The Importance of Being Ernest?
- The Importance of Being Ernest was directed by David Pagano.
- Who stars in The Importance of Being Ernest?
- The Importance of Being Ernest stars Jim Varney, John Cherry, Daniel Butler, Justin Lloyd.
- What genre is The Importance of Being Ernest?
- The Importance of Being Ernest is a Documentary film.