State of the County

Title screen

Season 3, Episode 12
Original Air Date: 9 January 1981
Directed by: Dick Moder
Written by: Bruce Howard
Created by: Gy Waldron

Plot Summary

While racing Bo and Luke to town, Daisy picks up a hitchhiker named Earl Becket. Earl says he's looking for work, and that he's "pretty handy around cars", so Daisy introduces him to Cooter. Cooter gives Earl some part-time work, and the job comes with the room above the garage. That suits Daisy because she's fallen for Earl. What she doesn't see is Earl stealing the Dukes' tax return from the General.

Meanwhile, Boss is preparing for his annual State of the County speech when Boss J. W. Hickman pays him a visit from Claridge County. Boss Hickman wants to take over Boss' operations, and offers him 30% of profits and protection from his sidekick, Rollo. Boss tells him he's still not interested, and to try again next year.

At the Boar's Nest, Daisy is introducing Earl to Uncle Jesse when a bomb goes off in Boss' office. Rosco finds the Dukes' tax return on the floor, and Boss concludes that Bo and Luke planted the bomb. They escape, but happen to be present when a second bomb goes off in a van full of stolen electric typewriters. This time they get thrown in jail, and try to figure out who could be planting the bombs. They realize that they don't know much about Earl, but Daisy doesn't take kindly to the accusation, and goes off to find him.

While Earl is planting a bomb to explode during Boss' speech, Daisy discovers a gun and another bomb upstairs at Cooter's. Earl returns and takes Daisy hostage. Bo and Luke spot Daisy being held at gunpoint from their jail cell window, and trick Cletus into letting them out. Luke then saves Boss from the bomb, while Bo tries to save Daisy.

Trivia

The Oak Ridge Boys

• The Oak Ridge Boys get caught in the Celebrity Speed Trap for a second time.

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

• The Oak Ridge Boys as Themselves
• Philip Brown as Earl Becket
• Larry D. Mann as Boss J. W. Hickman
• Ken Foree as Rollo
• A. J. Freeman as The Truck Driver

• 
  Philip Brown as Earl Becket
• 
  Larry D. Mann as Boss J. W. Hickman

• 
  Ken Foree as Rollo
• 
  A. J. Freeman as The Truck Driver

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 Producers: Skip Ward and Gilles de Turenne (as Gilles A. de Turenne)
• 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: Gilles de Turenne (as Gilles A. de Turenne)
• First Assistant Director: Kelly A. Manners
• Second Assistant Director: Nicholas Batchelor
• Second Unit Director: Paul 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: Murray Jordan
• Music Editor: Abby Marable
• Sound Editor: Alex Bamattre
• Sound: Victor Goode
• Set Decorator: Tom Bugenhagen
• Property: Beverly Hadley
• Special Effects: John James
• Makeup: Ray Brooks
• Hair Stylist: Virginia Darcy
• Men's Costume Supervisor: Bob Christenson
• Women's Costume Supervisor: Linda Hickman
• Casting: 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

Own State of the County

State of the County
Previous Episode: Good Neighbors, Duke	Season 3 Episode 12	Next Episode: The Legacy