The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 146

a i i eech enci "We developed Ernest coming back from Beech Bend one day," Cherry remembered. "It was a creative session that lasted until the wee hours of the morning. "Sometimes magic happens when you get on a streak like that." In all the Beech Bend commercials, the park is never shown. The spot is only Ernest telling his off-camera neighbor Vernon about some event taking place there. "If you shot the park, you're competing on the same level with other parks.

What you want to do is separate yourself from the crowd," Cherry said. "Because we have so many events we have to have flexibility. Instead of showing the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders (a recent attraction), you have a person telling us about it." By CATHY DARNELL He's the next door neighbor every homeowner -has nightmares about. He knows as much about your backyard, your house and your life as you do. You can't leave home without running into him and being button-holed into a conversation.

He's loud, boring and full of advice. Or Ernest always knows a better way. Ernest, the obnoxious neighbor featured in Beech Bend Park commercials this summer, is the brainchild of John Cherry of Carden and Cherry advertising and Thorn Ferrell of Thom 2 Productions. When country music singer Ronnie Milsap bought the Bowling Green, Ky. park earlier this year, plans were made to upgrade the park, and the ad agency was hired to spread the word.

So far this summer Ernest has touted a J.R. lookalike contest "Look just like him, don't he grins to Vern, posing in a cowboy hat; a tough man contest (he burns his elbow on the grill when he challenges Vern to arm wrestling); a fireworks display (a firecracker goes off in his hand), and the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders "We're talking rah-rah-rah sis-boom-bah," he whispers to Vernon as if it was a passage from Playboy. Ernest is played by Jim Varney, who is no stranger to Middle Tennessee commercials. Varney was the character Sgt. Glory, who drilled Purity Milk commercials for several years.

Varney, who was on the television series "Operation Petticoat" for two years, has fun when he is shooting the Beech Bend commercials, even though the process is a day-long take after take proposition. "I want him to be the next door neighbor 'good ol' Varney said. "Vernon tells Ernest about going to a music concert. Ernest shows Vernon his power tools." Cherry and Ferrell want Ernest to be recognized in much the same way Sgt. Glory (also their creation) was.

"Back when we had Sgt. Glory, he made personal apperances," Cherry said. Cherry and Ferrell want people to feel Ernest is a person, so that he too may be in demand for appearances. "That will open doors for us," Cherry said. The first door it will open will be the revelation of neighbor Vernon.

Vernon will be a "tea J5 sipper," one who thinks himself above people, Cherry said. "Much like Winchester on MA'SH." Also part of the cast will be Edna, Ernest's wife. Edna will be older, a "Ma Kettle" type. "Ernest is a big shot until Edna shows up," Cherry said. Don't be a dunce.

Get a "Ernest sneaks up on you," Cherry said. "If you anticipated him, you would go to the store. "Some ceoDle find Ernest offensive. You want Back-to-Sehool price cut to say 'What a from Backstaae WMK. i at once! It's Back-To-School for you arid me.

That's simple as A-B-C. Though cutting classes appeals to some. Skipping this "price cut" would be pretty dumb. Ah! But you can be wise. Yes, even prudent.

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