KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Every week, we’ve been watching Reba McEntire’s new sitcom, “Happy’s Place,” to check out the East Tennessee references.
The show is set in Knoxville and follows Reba's character, Bobbie, after she inherits her father's restaurant: Happy's Place.
In this Friday’s episode, “Happy’s House,” Bobbie takes her half-sister, Isabella, to their dad’s house in hopes of finding a connection to their late father. Bobbie didn’t know about her younger sister until after their dad’s passing.
Bobbie and Isabella go into Bobbie’s childhood room where the walls have several University of Tennessee football pennants. Isabella asks Bobbie about a tea set in her room. Bobbie tells her Happy drove all the way to Johnson City to buy it for her one Christmas.
Isabella asks about where their dad grew up. Bobbie tells her he lived in Locust Ridge, Tennessee as a child and went to school with Dolly Parton.
“He liked to say he knew her before the boobs,” Bobbie said in the episode.
Back at the bar, Emmett and Steve, the cook and the accountant, are working on their day off but start to bond over UT football trivia over dinner.
Emmett made a reference to a local TV station that he wanted to watch for the interview they had with UT Head Coach Josh Heupel.
Steve stays quiet while Emmett explains who Heupel is and that he was previously quarterback for the Oklahoma Scooners. Steve replies by saying he’ll probably wear his ring to the interview. Emmett seems surprised.
“His national championship ring. He must love it- especially since he got it by beating Chris Weinke and Florida State,” Steve says. “Enjoying your Heisman trophy, Weinke? Excuse me while I hoist this BCS Championship trophy BOOM!”
Steve goes on to blow Emmett’s mind with some more Heupel trivia – noting that Weinke only beat Heupel in the Heisman voting by 76 votes.
Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for any more Knoxville references in the next episode. Happy's Place airs on NBC Fridays at 8 p.m. ET.
