Southern Comfurts

Synopsis:

When Uncle Jesse hears that a “city slicker real estate developer” wants to buy the homestead of second cousins (twice removed) the Comfurts, he goes over to make sure they’re not ripped off. None of them can believe it when the developer offers $250,000, and they quickly accept.

The Comfurts plan to use the money to open a rooming house in Savannah, and stop by the Duke Farm on the way. The Comfurts come bearing gifts, but Jesse is reluctant to accept them, especially the mink coat that Holly’s picked out for him.

They soon discover a problem with their hired Rolls Royce, and Bo and Luke decide to accompany Lori Comfurt when Cooter tows it into town. He advises that the repairs will take two or three days as they “ain’t got a foreign parts store in Hazzard.” Cooter offers them a loaner car, and they put the suitcase full of money in the trunk. Unfortunately, in his haste to follow Lori, Bo leaves the keys in the trunk and the car gets taken by a drunk.

The Dukes and Comfurts split up to look for the gray sedan, and are joined by Boss when he hears about the missing money. A lead takes them to a second hand car dealer in Center City, but he’s just sold the sedan to a pair of bank robbers who are heading for Hazzard to steal $10,000, unaware of the contents of the trunk.

Boss gets kidnapped during the robbery, and Bo, Luke and Lori set off in pursuit. Because the General has been painted green, the bank guard doesn’t recognize it, so tells Rosco there are two holdup cars.

Before long, the bank robbers are chased down, the Comfurts get their money back, Boss gets his money back, and the Dukes get the reward money for catching the crooks.

Commentary:

Real car makes and models were rarely used in Dukes, the Plymouth Fury in Mary Kaye’s Baby being a notable exception. Most were just referred to with a line like “they was driving a late-model sedan”. Even Dixie had the Jeep logos covered quite quickly. The one brand that seems to break this rule is Rolls Royce, which gets mentioned by name in four episodes. Presumably, the producers didn’t think that an appearance on The Dukes of Hazzard would significantly affect sales. Bo still seems surprised when he looks under the hood and proclaims “It ain’t American.”

The episode starts with a rather implausible scene of Bo and Luke being chased because they were five minutes late paying for some tires they’d got from Boss Hogg. Why didn’t they pay when they got them and why didn’t they buy them from Cooter? No good reason is given. There’s also no good reason for painting the General green in this episode compared to any others. They manage to get a very professional finish considering the circumstances.

Highlights:

When Bo and Luke hear that “The entire Hazzard constabulary has just gone down to Walter’s Paint Shop,” they manage to get there just before Boss, Rosco and Enos arrive. They watch as Boss and Rosco look at the suspect gray car before turning on the paint spray guns.

There’s a great turn of phrase from Jesse when he’s told to “stay put” by Holly. He mumbles under his breath, “That’s the taking-overest woman I ever did see.”

Trivia:

Bernard Fox (Iggins) is probably best known for playing Dr. Bombay in Bewitched, but he’s also been a popular choice for roles as British military men in series like Hogan’s Heroes, M*A*S*H and 12 O’Clock High.

Edward Edwards (John Henry) makes his second Dukes appearance. The first was just a few episodes back as Fred, the groom, in The Runaway.

Miriam Byrd-Nethery (Holly) was seen previously in the first season episode Double Sting as bank teller Rose Ellen.

–synopsis and vidcaps by Hoss (with info from The Dukes of Hazzard Unofficial Companion).