Most longtime Nashvillians — moreover, most fans of high-quality Southern cinema — know Middle Tennessee’s many connections to Ernest P. Worrell, a character created and portrayed by outsized talent Jim Varney. As former Scene staffer J.R. Lind explored in his 2022 cover story “Worrell History: A Look at the Making of a Cult Classic With Nashville Ties,” 1987’s Ernest Goes to Camp was filmed at Dickson County’s Montgomery Bell State Park; 1990’s Ernest Goes to Jail was filmed at Nashville’s old state penitentiary.
But more than their geographical connections to the greater Nashville area, the Ernest films — folksy and goofball as they were, by design — employed the talents and skills of many home-grown independent artists. And now, some local artists are working to join the official Ernest Extended Universe.
Ernest Goes to Camp turns 35 this summer. Let’s talk about the people who were there and the continuing love for the man at the center of it.
While Varney’s life was sadly cut short by lung cancer in 2000 when the comedian and actor was just 50 years old, his most famous character may soon live again. Last month, local writer Corey Perkins, a self-professed lifelong Ernest fan, launched a Kickstarter campaign in support of his graphic novel Ernest & the Dream Stone. Featuring illustrations by M. Arief Russanto, the story centers on Worrell, a “magical stone that turns dreams into reality” and a “nightmarish mad scientist” named Dr. Otto. The project has the blessing of Josh Cherry (son of frequent Ernest director and Nashville native John Cherry) and Justin Lloyd (Varney’s nephew and biographer).
Perkins & Co.’s monthlong campaign is closing in on its Oct. 17 deadline, but here’s the thing: They blew right past their $35,000 goal and are now well north of $100,000. As Perkins notes, this will enable the Dream Stone team to incorporate several “stretch goals,” like fancy special printing bonuses and an exclusive bonus cover illustration by Marvel artist Justin Mason. See more details in the campaign video embedded at the top of this post.
You can view samples from the graphic novel and see all the perks you’ll get if you pledge at various reward tiers over at the Kickstarter page.
And now, because it's October and why not, I leave you with this particularly memorable sequence from 1991's Ernest Scared Stupid, which I will probably never forget as long as I live.
