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Some Thoughts on Dukes of Hazzard’s 35th Anniversary

It was 35 years ago today that The Dukes of Hazzard first aired. I was just a youngun and I fell completely in love with the show, the car chases, the adventures, the close-knit family, the values, EVERYTHING. For seven years, I followed the adventures of the Dukes, Boss, Rosco, and the other citizens of Hazzard religiously. Then one day, the show was gone. I didn’t understand why and was frankly very upset. It was like I’d lost some good friends.

Then in the mid-90’s, TNN started airing the show again and my interest in the show was re-kindled. The World Wide Web was in its infancy and I started a website that eventually became HazzardNet.com. It was one of the first Dukes of Hazzard websites online and it’s the only one still around from those days.

The show is still popular today and I give credit to the close-knit family and their values (not to mention the car chases and stunts) that made it popular back then. Hazzard County is a place where all of us wanted to live. We wanted a wise Uncle Jesse to raise us right, with love and a strong sense of right and wrong. We wanted cousins like Daisy, Bo, and Luke to confide in and share good times and bad. We wanted good friends like Cooter who would help us out of a jam and who we could count on when times got rough. We may have even wanted some good times messin’ with fairly harmless adversaries like Boss and Rosco, who would even occasionally come to our aid when things were dire. Hazzard wasn’t perfect, but despite all its problems, it was full of happy endings, a simpler life, and most of all family. For many, Hazzard was better than real life, and that’s why it was so appealing.

To some, Dukes of Hazzard was “just a tv show”. For some of us, it has had an impact on our lives that we could never have imagined. My spouse and I met because of our mutual love of Dukes of Hazzard and Rosco P. Coltrane. That led to us finding out how much more we had in common and eventually marriage. I’ve met plenty of friends because of the show and grew closer to friends that I found out loved the show too. I’ve had the chance to meet all the surviving cast and watch filming on the two reunions. (My only regret is that I never got to meet Sorrell, Denver, or Waylon.) I’ve learned a lot from the show, the cast, and fellow Dukes fans… life lessons (good and bad) that will stick with me.

Dukes of Hazzard is more than just a tv show. It’s a way of life. It’s a global phenomenon. It’s family. Happy Birthday to the cast, the crew, the stuntmen, and everyone who had a hand in making this show and bringing it to us every week for years. The impact you’ve had can be measured in more than ad dollars and Nielsen ratings. But I think you all know that. 🙂

Dukes of Hazzard Fans Unhappy About “Party Down South” Promos

Dukes of Hazzard fans have made their frustrations and anger known to the powers that be at CMT that they don’t want Party Down South promoted during airing of the Dukes. It’s very clear why. The Dukes of Hazzard is a family show. Party Down South clearly ISN’T. Parents (and grandparents) have said they will not let their children watch the Dukes on CMT because the PDS promos are inappropriate for children to view. Party Down South is the anti-thesis of everything the Dukes stood for: family, personal responsibility, and strong moral values. You would never see any of the Dukes engaging in the kind of behavior depicted on PDS.

The sad thing is, CMT appears to be deaf to their viewers. Even with cast members like Ben Jones speaking out about it, no changes have yet been made. If they continue to ignore their audience, viewers will just start watching the show on dvd again, where they can watch all the scenes CMT has cut to add in more Party Down South commercials.

Dukes of Hazzard is Back on TV!

Attention all Dukes of Hazzard fans! On January 5th, there’ll be a Dukes of Hazzard marathon on CMT starting at 2pm. The first episode will be People’s Choice. I’m not sure why they’re not starting with One Armed Bandits, but I won’t quibble since it’s been a long time coming in getting the show back on the air. After the marathon, Dukes of Hazzard will be on twice a day, noon and 8pm, on the days following. Unfortunately, both times will be the same episode. Tell all your Dukes of Hazzard loving friends that Dukes is back on the air!

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Coming Soon: New Dukes of Hazzard Action Figures!

We don’t have much in the way of details yet, but Figures Toy Company just announced that they will be releasing new Dukes of Hazzard action figures. The first series will feature Boss, Rosco, Bo, and Luke action figures. Future series will feature Daisy, Uncle Jesse, Cooter, Cletus, Enos, and more. The Dukes of Hazzard action figures will be available in both 8 inch and 12 inch sizes.

Next Dukes Of Hazzard Reunion Might Include Smokey & The Bandit Stars

The next Dukes of Hazzard Reunion in Byron, Georgia might be twice as big if organizer Chris Jennings’ plans work out. He is in talks with Burt Reynolds and Sally Fields to add a Smokey and the Bandit Reunion to the show. The reunion in Georgia brought in 53,000 fans this year and it is estimated that the show would be double that next year if Burt Reynolds and Sally Fields attend.

“‘Smokey and the Bandit’ has a huge following as large — if not larger — than the ‘Dukes of Hazzard,’ “Jennings said. “To bring all of these cast members together is absolutely historic.”

As Dukes of Hazzard fans know, Burt Reynolds played Boss Hogg in the 2005 movie. With that tie-in, plus the fact that there is such crossover appeal between the two fandoms, it seems natural to put the two together in one big fan event.

Like Dukes of Hazzard, Smokey and the Bandit has lost some cast members over the years. Jackie Gleason, who played Sheriff Buford T. Justice, passed away from cancer in 1987 and Jerry Reed, who played Cletus “Snowman” Snow, passed in 2008 due to complications from emphysema.