Molly Ringwald, Martin Short, and Rob Reiner Starred Together on a Forgotten ’80s Folklore Series

Rob Reiner, Martin Short, and Molly Ringwald all made an appearance on the same TV show during the mid-’80s. It sounds like a tall tale, but it’s true. The three stars came together for an episode of Tall Tales & Legends, which was a largely overlooked anthology series built around American folklore.

The series was created by Shelley Duvall for Showtime, airing across nine episodes in 1985 and 1986. It earned a nomination for Outstanding Children’s Program. Duvall is best remembered as an actor who starred in films like The Shining and Popeye, but she was also a prolific producer and host of children’s Television at the Emmys during the ’80s. Classic tales from Americana served as the source material, with well-known performers taking on the starring parts.

Short Was Johnny Appleseed

In the fifth episode, Short took on the title role, “Johnny Appleseed.” Reiner portrayed the antagonist, with Ringwald cast as his niece, serving as a love interest for Johnny. Guest, who co-authored This Is Spinal Tap with Reiner, wrote the installment.

It’s not one of Reiner’s best TV appearances, but he’s good here as the bad guy.

The Other Episodes

The show Tall Tales & Legends has told many stories. The Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow was one of them, with Ed Begley Jr. playing Ichabod Crane. Another episode gave the title role to John Henry, played by Danny Glover. Annie Oakley was another story, with Jamie Lee Curtis taking on the part of the Wild West sharpshooter. In the fourth episode, Duvall herself took the lead role, “Darlin’ Clementine.”

A Fairytale Prequel

Duvall had already gathered a group of well-known actors to appear in fanciful stories before Tall Tales & Legends came along. Her love for the genre dated back to her days as a collector of illustrated fairy tale books. While taking a break from Robert Altman’s Popeye, she approached her co-star Robin Williams with thoughts about The Frog Prince. Within two years, Williams appeared as the frog prince in the premiere episode of Faerie Tale Theatre, a fantasy TV series that ran for 27 episodes.

One of the first original premium cable shows, the series debuted on Showtime in September 1982. The other installments of the 27-episode series featured stars such as Susan Sarandon, Carrie Fisher, Liza Minnelli, James Earl Jones, and Mick Jagger.

What Happened After

The show became a hit, and after selling into syndication for $5 million, Duvall started her own production company to keep making more shows. Her next work was Tall Tales & Legends, followed by two further series sharing a similar premise.

“Nightmare Classics,” adapted classic scary stories like The Turn of the Screw and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and it proved to be the least successful of the series, lasting only four episodes on Showtime. “Shelley Duvall’s Bedtime Stories,” also included an animated adaptation of children’s books, came next. That show ran for two seasons and boasted a star-studded cast, just like the rest of Duvall’s shows.

Martin Short’s Second Appearance

Johnny Appleseed himself, Martin Short, made an appearance in Bedtime Stories, taking on the role of narrator for a dinosaur-focused episode during Season 1.

The Shows’ Timeline

Duvall’s productions were bold, and they united gifted performers for work that held its own weight. Knowing that Ringwald, Short, and Reiner all showed up on the same program is a minor joy, proof that it actually took place.

That particular program has vanished from the airwaves, yet the recollection of it remains valuable to keep around. It serves as a reminder that the ’80s was a time when television took risks, and that even a series few can recall today possessed its own share of notable episodes.

Source material: “Molly Ringwald And Martin Short Starred In A Forgotten '80s Anthology Series,” TVLine.

Martin Short · Molly Ringwald · Rob Reiner · Shelley Duvall · Showtime · Tall Tales & Legends