Carnival of Thrills Part 1

Title screen

Season 3, Episode 1
Original Air Date: 16 September 1980
Directed by: Dick Moder
Written by: William Raynor and Myles Wilder
Created by: Gy Waldron

Plot Summary

Robin Mattson as Diane Benson

The Dukes head off to Cedar City to see the Carnival of Thrills stunt show, but the big stunt goes wrong, and the driver crashes into the pile of cars he's supposed to be jumping. The show's owner, Diane Benson, then turns up in Hazzard and signs a deal with Boss Hogg to put on another show. Boss makes sure that the show will belong to him if Diane can't pay the fee.

Looking for a new driver for the Leap for Life stunt, Diane advertises a prize race in Hazzard which Bo and Luke enter. Despite Rosco trying to interfere, the boys win the race, but Bo, who's become smitten with Diane, turns down the prize saying he'll take the money after making the jump in the show.

While Bo goes to the fairgrounds to practice, the rest of the family become concerned for his safety due to the accident they saw. In an effort to prevent Bo performing, Luke lets Rosco impound the General for a broken tail light (even though Rosco broke it). What he doesn't know is that Boss wants to take this opportunity to crush the General. Finding out Boss' plan at the last minute, the boys and Cooter manage to save the General from the crusher. Back at the farm, Luke tries again to warn Bo about the chances of crashing, but Bo mistakes his warnings for jealousy of his new relationship with Diane. The two get into an arguement which ends up in fisticuffs and a dispute which threatens to split the Duke family.

Commentary

This two-parter started season 2 with a bang. It often divides fans who don't like the heightened level of conflict within the Duke family and the way that Bo's feelings are manipulated by Diane.

Trivia

Cedar City Fairgrounds

• The Cedar City Fairgrounds parking lot is actually part of Warner Bros' backlot. The backs of some of the buildings on Hazzard Square can be seen under the sign.
• Richard Jensen (Bob Dexter) previously appeared as Helper #2 in Days of Shine and Roses.

Bloopers

• After the prize race, as Bo is arguing with Diane, a boom mic is visible at the bottom of the screen.
• When Bo makes his first trial jump, he climbs into a 1972 Plymouth Fury, accelerates and takes off in a 1972 Plymouth Satellite, lands and turns in a 1973 Ford Torino and finally returns in the 1972 Plymouth Fury he first climbed into.

Regular Cast

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

Guest Cast

• Robin Mattson as Diane Benson
• Vernon Weddle as John Zimbra
• Don Stroud as Carl
• Richard Jensen as Bob Dexter
• Greg Finley as Proprietor (credit only)

• 
  Vernon Weddle as John Zimbra
• 
  Don Stroud as Carl
• 
  Richard Jensen (right) as Bob Dexter
  (with Diane Benson)

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
• Story Editor: Bruce Howard
• 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: Paul Baxley
• Second Unit Director of Photography: Arthur R. Botham (as Arthur Botham)
• Second Unit First Assistant Director: Jon Paré
• Supervising Editor: Russell Livingstone (as Russ Livingstone)
• Edited by: Howard Epstein and Robert M. Ross
• Music Editor: Jay Alfred Smith
• Supervising Sound Editor: Ed Scheid
• Sound Editors: Ron Tinsley, Vincent Connelly (as Vince Connelley) and Andrew Chulack (as Andy Chulack)
• Sound: Victor Goode
• Set Decorator: Rochelle Moser
• Property: Beverly Hadley
• Special Effects: Michael Wood
• Makeup: Ray Brooks
• Hair Stylist: Virginia Darcy
• Men's Costume Supervisor: Bob Christenson
• Women's Costume Supervisor: Darlene Engle (as Darleen Engle)
• Casting: Vivian McRae and Melissa Skoff
• Creative Consultant: Philip Mandelker
• Location Facilities Provided by: The Burbank Studios
• A Lou Step Production in Association with Warner Bros Television

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Carnival of Thrills Part 1
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