TV Review: The Dukes of Hazzard
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that it's no accident that this
longtime favorite has hung around long enough to entertain a
whole new generation of fans. The show's lovably indomitable
heroes prove time and again that, in Hazzard County, corrupt
businessmen and inept cops are no match for them and their
orange cohort, the General Lee. While the humor is silly (and
sometimes is at the expense of exaggerated Southern
stereotypes) and the plots are predictable (with all loose ends
neatly tied up by the hour's end), ubiquitous car chase scenes
help ensure that the show never gets boring. The only real
eyebrow-raisers are some characters' use of guns -- although
the shots are laughingly poor and never manage to hit anyone --
and Daisy Duke's skimpy attire, including the famous high-cut
shorts that were named after her character. It's all pretty
tame, though, which is why we're giving it an "on" rating.
Families can talk about respecting law enforcement officials. Why do police officials deserve our respect? Why don't the characters in the show respect Rosco, even though he's the sheriff? What rights do citizens have in the presence of police officers? Parents can also discuss how the media portratys negative stereotypes. Kids, what examples of stereotyping have you noticed in movies or TV shows? What about in the news? How are the characters in this show exaggerated for laughs?
Common Sense Media Review
THE DUKES OF HAZZARD, which originally ran on CBS from 1979
to 1985, follows the adventures of two "good ol' boy" cousins
who live on their uncle's dilapidated farm in the outskirts of
fictional Hazzard County, Georgia. On probation for running
moonshine for Uncle Jesse (Denver Pyle), Bo (John Schneider)
and Luke (Tom Wopat) are legally obliged to stay within the
county lines. They spend their free time (which apparently is
all of it, since neither one has a job) careening through dusty
back roads in their orange, Confederate flag-clad '69 Charger,
the General Lee.
Though they've put their law-breaking days behind them, the Duke boys are often forced to avoid getting arrested on trumped-up charges by the county's bumbling sheriff, Rosco P. Coltrane (James Best), whose many failures at incarcerating the Dukes haven't dampened his hopes of putting them behind bars. The Dukes also have to deal with the antagonism of county commissioner/corrupt businessman Boss Hogg (Sorrell Booke), who owns or runs pretty much all of Hazzard. Hogg's shady associations with criminals often revolve around get-rich-quick schemes that could simultaneously fill his pockets and frame Bo and Luke for the misdeed.
Lucky for the boys, when they're in a jam -- which is just about all the time -- they've got good friends to call on. Cousin Daisy (Catherine Bach), who also lives with them, and local mechanic Cooter (Ben Jones) often pitch in to help Uncle Jesse rescue Bo and Luke from the inept lawmen. And sometimes the protagonists wind up saving their rivals from the clutches of their criminal friends to boot.
The Dukes of Hazzard is a down-home classic, having maintained a fervent fan base for more than 25 years (it even inspired a big-screen version in 2005). Its combination of silly comedy, lovable characters, and memorable car chases and jumps is just plain fun entertainment that spans the generational gap -- though parents may want to check it out before showing it to really young kids. Some characters carry and shoot guns, Daisy wears fairly provocative attire (including those famous high-cut jean shorts that were later dubbed "Daisy Dukes"), and some of the humor is based on some pretty broad stereotypes.
One final note to fans: In later episodes, Bo and Luke left the show to try their hand at the racing circuit and were replaced by another set of cousins named Coy (Byron Cherry) and Vance (Christopher Mayer), who inherited the General Lee. Unfortunately the pair lacked the chemistry to fill their predecessors' shoes, causing a steep decline in the show's entertainment value during the fifth season. Stick with the original Duke boys for maximum laughs.
Fans might also enjoy Knight Rider and The Andy Griffith Show. Younger car fans can check out Herbie: Fully Loaded .
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
