The Late J.D. Hogg

Title screen

Season 3, Episode 6
Original Air Date: 21 November 1980
Directed by: Hollingsworth Morse
Written by: Martin Roth
Created by: Gy Waldron

Plot Summary

Boss manages to use Rosco and Cletus to stop Jesse and the boys getting their mortgage payment in on time. This means that the Dukes have forfeited their land, and, as a bonus, Boss puts them in jail when Jesse breaks the glass in the door of the bank which he was pounding in frustration.

Soon afterwards, Boss gets the results of his medical tests, and finds that he only has a couple of weeks to live. He then sets about trying to right all of his wrongs in an attempt to make it to Heaven. This includes releasing the Dukes, cancelling all their outstanding charges, and giving them the title to their farm. Suspicious of Boss' actions, Jesse finds out about the test results, and joins Boss on his tour of the county doing good deeds.

While Boss and Jesse are driving around, the doctor discovers that the test results had been mixed up, and Boss was as fit and healthy as ever. No one is able to contact Boss and give him the good news, so it's up to Bo and Luke to track him down. Meanwhile, a pair of thieves steal the mail truck, which contains the letters Boss sent authorizing his charitable donations (and the handing over of the Duke Farm).

Trivia

• According to the sign on his desk, the doctor's full name is Ronald L. Carney, M.D.
• The writers finally settle on the name Mabel for the telephone operator.
• This is the second of three appearances for Dennis Haskins. His others are One Armed Bandits and Cale Yarborough Comes to Hazzard.

Bloopers

• At the start of the episode, the General is towing a trailer. When the trailer gets unhitched, a close-up shows a tow ball mounted on a long bar attached to the back of the General, but the whole assembly is missing when Cletus stops the Dukes for a vehicle inspection.
• When the Dukes arrive in Hazzard to try and make their mortgage payment, the streets are bone dry, but when Rosco and Cletus drive up a couple of minutes later, there are visible puddles of water.

Quotes

• Soon after Boss is told that he only has a couple of weeks to live:
  Boss: "I'm worried about what St. Peter is gonna say when I start knocking on them Pearly Gates."
  Rosco: "You don't have to worry what he's gonna say 'cause you'll be going the other direction."

Regular Cast

• Tom Wopat as Luke Duke
• John Schneider as Bo Duke
• Catherine Bach as Daisy Duke
• Denver Pyle as Uncle Jesse
• Rick Hurst as Cletus
• Ben Jones as Cooter
• James Best as Sheriff Rosco Coltrane
• Sorrell Booke as Boss Hogg
• Waylon Jennings as The Balladeer (voice)

Guest Cast

• James McIntire as Linc McKay
• Ray Young as Dell Webber
• Warren Munson as Doc Carney
• Lindsay Bloom as Mabel Tillingham
• Joanne Hickman as Nurse
• Dennis Haskins as Customer

• 
  James McIntire as Linc McKay
• 
  Ray Young as Dell Webber
• 
  Warren Munson as Doc Carney

• 
  Lindsay Bloom as Mabel Tillingham
• 
  Joanne Hickman as Nurse
• 
  Dennis Haskins as Customer

Crew

• Supervising Producer: Rod Amateau
• Produced by: Myles Wilder and Ralph Riskin
• Executive Producer: Paul R. Picard
• Executive Story Consultants: William Raynor and Myles Wilder
• Executive Story Editors: Leonard B. Kaufman (as Len Kaufman) and Martin Roth
• Story Editor: Bruce Howard
• Creative Consultant: Gy Waldron
• Associate Producer: Skip Ward
• Director of Photography: Jack Whitman
• Art Director: Robert I. Jillson (as Bob Jillson)
• Title Song Composed and Sung by: Waylon Jennings
• Music by: Fred Werner
• Unit Production Manager: John H. Burrows (as John Burrows)
• First Assistant Director: Kelly A. Manners
• Second Assistant Director: Nicholas Batchelor
• Second Unit Director: Craig Baxley
• Second Unit Director of Photography: Arthur R. Botham (as Arthur Botham)
• Second Unit First Assistant Director: Kurt Baker
• Supervising Editor: Russell Livingstone (as Russ Livingstone)
• Editor: Howard Epstein
• Music Editor: Abby Marable
• Sound Editor: Chick Camera
• Sound: Victor Goode
• Set Decorator: Tom Bugenhagen
• Property: Beverly Hadley
• Special Effects: Michael Wood
• Makeup: Ray Brooks
• Hair Stylist: Virginia Darcy
• Men's Costume Supervisor: Bob Christenson
• Women's Costume Supervisor: Linda Hickman
• Casting: Vivian McRae and Melissa Skoff
• Creative Consultant: Philip Mandelker
• Some Automobiles Supplied by: AMC
• Location Facilities Provided by: The Burbank Studios
• A Lou Step Production in Association with Warner Bros Television

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The Late J.D. Hogg
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