Yeeeeeehaww!
If you haven’t already heard, the big screen version of the popular 80’s TV hit “The Dukes of Hazzard” is ready for release on 8/5/05 by Warner Brothers. The action sequences look good from the previews I’ve seen, and it appears the 1969 Dodge Charger – aka “The General Lee” – is back in full effect.
Then, today on CNN, I see an link to an interview with Ben Jones, who played Cooter on the show. The article is titled “Dukes TV Star: Don’t See the Movie”.
As I read the article, it looks like Warner Bros. never consulted with nor wanted anything to do with the original cast members of the TV show when filming the movie. Here’s what Ben Jones said:
“Basically, they trashed our show. It’s one thing to do whatever movie they want to do, but to take a classic family show and do that is like taking ‘I Love Lucy’ and making her a crackhead or something. From all I have seen and heard, the ‘Dukes’ movie is a sleazy insult to all of us who have cared about the ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ for so long. Unless they clean it up before the August fifth release date I would strongly recommend that true blue Dukes fans hold their noses and pass this one up.”
While I can’t pass it up, I wish things were different. I was expecting (hoping) for some cameo appearances, but that doesn’t appear to be a reality at this point.
If anyone was wondering what Ben Jones has been doing since ~1985 after the Dukes went off the air, Jones was elected to Congress in 1988 as a Democrat. He lost his bid for a third term in 1992 after his district was redrawn. He owns Cooter’s Place, a “Dukes” memorabilia shop in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
And, I will add that Warner Bros. is a division of Time Warner, as is CNN. What else do they own besides AOL. 🙂
Anywho, it remains to be seen what happens with the movie, but I’m hoping it’s not a total let down. Don’t see it?? What the heck? Mr. Jones, you need to understand something. As a kid growing up, one of the most influencial things I remember as a 5 year old, is turning on the TV on Friday nights at 8pm and watching The Dukes of Hazzard. Attempting to not see this movie woiuld be an excercise in futility. Regardless of your personal opinions of how WB might have ruined the good image of the show, I think we deserve to give it a fair chance, and then make our own opinions. Hell, I might even agree with you.