Sorry K-Duke, but I thought I'd share an example of how early a reference to Dukes appeared in another show. The fact that it's mentioned in the popular British sitcom 'Only Fools and Horses' shows how quickly Dukes was adopted into popular British culture. It was back in 1983, the year that saw the release of 'Return of the Jedi', and the episode was called 'May The Force Be With You'. Although the title may be a Star Wars reference, the force in question is actually the Police Force, this time in the shape of Oscar-winning actor Jim Broadbent as Detective Slater.
For those of you not familiar with the show (was it shown in the US?), the main characters make their money mainly by buying and selling goods that are either defective or stolen. In this episode they acquire a stolen microwave oven back when they were a relatively new commodity. So the question is, what would you do with a new microwave oven?.
Edit: The video I originally posted has disappeared from YouTube, so here's the dialogue from the scene:
Grandad is fiddling with the stolen microwave:
Del: What are you doing?
Grandad: I'm trying to get 'The Dukes of Hazzard!'
Del: The 'Dukes of Hazzard!' This is a microwave oven you dozy old twonk! Gordon Bennett, you'll be putting frozen pizzas into the portable next!
SPOILER
Del, Rodney and Grandad are all arrested, and give widely differing descriptions of the thief. Detective Slater threatens unpleasant consequences for Rodney and Grandad if Del doesn't name the robber.
If you want to find out who stole the microwave, and see Jim Broadbent, click here.