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Adopt-A-Dipstick!

Despite appearing in 47 episodes of The Dukes of Hazzard, we’ve noticed that Rick Hurst doesn’t have his own website. At least not one that we can find! This seems an injustice, even for Hazzard County.

Now, we know that Deputy Cletus Hogg was the low man on the totem pole in the Hazzard County Sheriff’s Department. He was ranked somewhere below Rosco’s basset hound in terms of authority. We also know that as a relative of Boss Hogg, Cletus didn’t get any automatic sympathy. His I.Q. was pegged to be somewhere between dipstick and lug nut.  Cletus also lacked the innocence of his predecessor, Deputy Enos Strate.

All in all, Cletus was clumsy, dense, easily distracted, and possessed questionable driving skills. Naturally, he fit right in with the Hazzard County Sheriff’s Department.

Rick Hurst’s talent for physical comedy and comedic timing made Cletus a memorable part of The Dukes of Hazzard. Cletus had his first appearance in the episode “Money to Burn” as an armored car driver. Cletus appeared in later episodes as a reserve Deputy, filling in for the temporary absence of Enos in “The Meeting” and “Road Pirates.”

Cletus takes a bite out of crime in “The Meeting”

During the third season, Sonny Shroyer was offered his own show in the spin-off series Enos.  The translation in Hazzard County was that Boss fired Enos, prompting Enos to accept a position with the L.A. police department. Cletus, already trained in the skills of automotive snorkeling and landscaping with cop cars, threw himself bodily into the position of full-time Deputy.

Rick Hurst’s reliable portrayal of Cletus would eventually earn him the spotlight in the fourth season episode, “Cletus Falls in Love.”  Watching Cletus stumble his way through his newfound feelings while Daisy becomes more and more flustered is hilarious. When Daisy said, “We need to talk,”  Cletus spoke for men everywhere when he responded with, “I’d rather smooch!”

Alas, the good times for Cletus wouldn’t last. During the fateful fifth season, when Coy and Vance temporarily replaced Bo and Luke, the Enos series was cancelled. Deputy Enos Strate subsequently returned to Hazzard County. Cletus would remain part of the Hazzard County law for only a few more episodes, sharing an awkward co-dipstick duty with Enos.

After receiving an offer in another series, Rick Hurst bowed out from the Dukes of Hazzard. In Hazzard County, Cletus’s abrupt absence was explained once as a “vacation” and then never mentioned again. Enos returned to prominence as Hazzard’s only honest lawman and dipstick extraordinaire.

Cletus did find his way back to Hazzard for the TV reunion movies. And while Rick Hurst has had other roles since his Dukes days, he remains fond of The Dukes of Hazzard and its fans. Rick has made many personal appearances at DukesFest and Cooter’s Place.

All this being said, it’s incredible that Cletus looks homeless out there on the internet. So we’re gonna keep a place for him here on HazzardNet! You can view Rick’s upcoming appearances in our Forums.  We’ll also beef up (Hogg up?) our cast and character pages and give this wayward son of Hazzard County his share of attention.

Happy Halloween, Hazzard Style!

Do you believe in ghosts? How about The Ghost of General Lee? This is a great time of year to enjoy some Dukes of Hazzard episodes that feature ghosts, haunted houses, caskets, and spook-talkin’ mediums! Of course, nothing is quite what it seems in Hazzard County, so there’s got to be a rational explanation behind all the spookifyin’. Well, almost rational.

The Ghost of General Lee gives us the greatest premise of the entire series.  What if, Bo and Luke died during a chase from Rosco? We know Rosco would feel pretty bad about it, despite his long-running animosity with the Dukes. We also know ol’  Boss Hogg would find some way to try and take advantage of it.

We also know, that cars might be able to die since batteries do.  And cars become spook-talkin’ mediums, especially when their not-so-deceased owners play the shuck n’ jive of a lifetime.

Seeing Rosco get treated to a haunting by the General Lee is a moment in Dukes of Hazzard history that never gets old.  If you haven’t watched this episode lately, it’s time you saw it again.  You can download it from Amazon for a mere $1.99.  Also check out this Ghost of General Lee model kit.

The writers of Season Two must of had a morbid streak in ’em, because they also gave us R.I.P. Henry Flatt, an episode that was pretty much a casket-and-carry gag  from start to finish.  Bo and Luke have been accused of a lot of things by now, but…body snatchers? The coffin and mortal remains within gets passed  between vehicles like a game of hot potato.  Turns out the General Lee makes a lousy hearse.   

James Best gets credit for a good ad-lib during this episode, when Rosco quips a one-liner over the CB to Enos.  Not surprisingly, Enos doesn’t have a comeback for it. 

Another good choice for this time of year is The Hazzardville Horror. This was the Dukes answer to a Scooby-Doo episode, complete with a spooky old house, weird shenanigans, secret panels, and criminals trying to scare off the locals. Of course, with locals like Bo, Luke, and Daisy, you’re more liable to draw them in than send them running away.  They got time on their hands, after all, and snooping around is irresistible to them.  Will curiosity kill the cat? 

Maybe not, but in the case of the Dukes, it doesn’t do ’em any favors.  They manage to incriminate themselves even while solving the mystery of the haunted house and cracking the latest crime spree in Hazzard. 

You’d have to agree that on the average, the Dukes made good use of things like coffins, hearses, funerals, and so on.  From “Money to Burn” in the first season, to “Ding Dong, The Boss is Dead” in the fifth season, the Dukes didn’t shy away from things that some of us would find just a little creepy. 

So, this Halloween, pour a big glass of apple cider, sit down with a bowl of Halloween candy, and treat yourself to some of your favorite Dukes of Hazzard episodes!

The Must-Have Issue of Hot Rod Magazine!

The most anticipated new issue of Hot Rod magazine is now available! The November 2011 issue has hit the stands! You won’t want to miss the Bandit Trans-Am vs. the General Lee showdown!

Ask yourself. When is the last time you saw the General Lee in full splendor on the cover of a national magazine? Right there, we’re sold.  It’s worth getting your hands on this issue for the photos alone. This ain’t no showroom beauty contest; these rebel machines are kickin’ up gravel.

Like feuding kin, both of these legendary, iconic cars hail from the same Southern turf.  In their fictional settings, both are from Georgia; in real life, both are owned by Mark Osborne in Arkansas.  Mark is a dedicated Dukes of Hazzard fan who generously allowed the use of his cars and ranch property for this scientific automotive research.

Ultimately, it was up to Hot Rod readers to name the winner of this duel.  If you missed our earlier posting of Hot Rod’s Bandit vs. General video in our Duel to the Dust article, then go back and take a look!

Hot Rod magazine poses more debate-provoking topics in this issue, such as, Rosco vs. Sheriff Buford T. Justice, and Daisy vs. the chick who played Burt Reynold’s seat cover in Smokey and the Bandit.

John Schneider, ol’ Bo Duke himself, weighs in on these  sensitive matters with his own thoughts on page 51.

You’ll also want to check out Rob Kinnan’s “Starting Line” article about unforgettable cars in movies and TV.  And for you aspiring YouTubers or COPS audition wannabees, the car webcam article is essential reading!

HazzardNet users have found this issue of Hot Rod at Walmart and all major retailers, though they’re going fast.  Check your local magazine racks today! Get ahold of a copy, then shout out your opinions in our Forums!

Get Ready for More of John Schneider!

He began as Bo Duke, but John Schneider’s career has a wide variety these days. John is starring in an upcoming CMT series called “Trick My What?” featuring mechanical makeovers for the working man’s machine. From fishing boats to tractors to semi trucks, watch as John and a team of ace mechanics restore and rev-up these blue collar vehicles.

“Trick My What?” premiers Friday, October 7 at 10:00 p.m. Eastern time. As always, check your local cable listings. Meanwhile, you can watch a preview of the program right here:

In other John Schneider news, John also stars in an independent film called “Doonby” which was slated for a September 2011 release.  At the time of this writing, we were unable to confirm a specific release date.

“Doonby” is the story about a mysterious drifter without a past who arrives in a small Texas town.  Initially he finds acceptance, but after showing a knack for always being at the center of a crisis – in order to render aid – suspicion and resentment begins to replace admiration.  Did his arrival herald the onset of the town’s sudden woes? Or was his arrival timed to help it endure them? Who is Doonby?  You’ll probably never find out, by the looks of the movie, but that’s sort of the point.  Check out the trailer:

More of a thoughtful, provocative flick than a feel-good warm fuzzy, “Doonby” could either win people over or cause their avoidance, much like the lead character.  In fact, when we went digging to find out what was going on with the release date, we found that the sub-plot deals with messages about abortion and alcoholism.  The movie has been dubbed something like “It’s a Wonderful Life” without the wonderful.  Nonetheless, there’s nothing wrong with a movie that makes you think.  Any movie can have killer robots or car chases; but movies that take a hard look at humanity are rare today.

“Doonby the Movie” shows 7,822 “likes” on Facebook.  If you’re anxious to see this movie, you’ll need to make some noise.  If you have already seen the movie in an advance screening, share your review with us in the Forums!

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