Only the best shows were viewed during the 1980s, when television was at its height.
The Dukes of Hazzard’s distinctive ensemble, thrilling scenes, and well-known General Lee won over millions of fans. But like every beloved classic, the show had its share of mistakes, unstated facts, and mistakes that people still bring up today.
The Dukes of Hazzard has a lot more going on than meets the eye, including secrets and catastrophes. Let’s look at a few of the amusing and surprising events that helped make this show a legitimate part of television history in the 1980s.
There is a timeless aspect about The Dukes of Hazzard. Millions of people watched it because of its simple tone, limited use of foul language, and pure joy.
And who could forget Daisy Duke? With her iconic short shorts, she effectively started a fashion trend that is still in vogue today.
She was one of the main reasons that many people tuned in, with her photo prominently posted on bedroom walls next to celebs like Farrah Fawcett. Every Friday night, we couldn’t take our eyes off the screen as we awaited Bo and Luke Duke’s next journey in their beloved General Lee. The Dukes of Hazzard was an experience rather than just a television show.
Regardless of whether they were rushing home before 8 p.m., it was the kind of show that brought people together. or riding bikes over the summer, because of the memorable chases and the renowned actors. Let’s look at the appeal of The Dukes of Hazzard, a classic that still arouses nostalgic memories of earlier times.
Sorrell Booke’s unexpected deal
A fascinating fact about Sorrell Booke’s portrayal of Boss Hogg on The Dukes of Hazzard is that the character’s contract contained a unique clause that forbade him from ever committing murder or drug trafficking. It’s an interesting demand, especially considering how clever and dishonest Boss Hogg has been.
Nonetheless, it demonstrates the lighthearted, family-friendly tone of the program. Sorrell’s perfect blend of humor and charm made Boss Hogg one of TV’s most famous adversaries, and I honestly think his performance was deserving of at least one Emmy nomination.
To bring the part to life, Sorrell Booke really wore padding underneath his clothing to make Jefferson Davis Hogg, the rotund “Boss,” appear considerably heavier than he actually was. His commitment to producing the most enduring portrayal of the well-known figure was the cause of all of this.
The real story behind General Lee’s well-known “Dixie” horn
Did you know that General Lee’s well-known “Dixie” horn was left out of the original plan? During the early stages of filming the episode, the producers were traveling in Atlanta when they noticed a car blaring the popular song. They followed the car, convinced him to sell the horn, and then paid a high sum for it since they were interested.
As it happens, they could have bought it at any auto parts store for a lot less money! As if that wasn’t funny enough, the horn was only used in the first five episodes. It was added during post-production after the movie was moved to the Warner Brothers lot. What the perfect example of “oops!”
John Schneider misrepresented how old he was.
In several interviews, John Schneider has admitted to lying about his age to land the role of Bo Duke.
When he told the producers he was twenty-four, he was just eighteen. To make the deception even more difficult, he brought a six-pack of beer, a casual t-shirt, and a Southern accent to the audition, even though he was from New York City.
Georgia High Performance Driving School
During his audition for The Dukes of Hazzard, John Schneider also revealed to executives that he had received his degree from the Georgia School of High Performance Driving. The only problem? There was no such school!
“However, they purchased it,” Schneider said to Fox News.
John wasn’t making things up since he was naturally skilled behind the wheel. He knew how to handle the General Lee around corners and burn rubber. He was definitely not allowed to perform the major stunt leaps or the high-risk circumstances, but there’s a good chance he could have if he had been allowed.
The famous shorts known as “Daisy Duke”
How many TV personalities establish a look that lasts for decades after their show concludes? Catherine Bach has cemented herself in the history of popular culture with her most famous role as Daisy Duke.
In an E! 1996 interview! Bach claimed that The Dukes of Hazzard: A True Hollywood Story almost didn’t include her well-known shorts. When she wore them for the first time, the network executives went absolutely bonkers.
Following some back and forth, they grudgingly decided that she was not allowed to wear such skimpy shorts, but only if Catherine wore pantyhose below to avoid any “accidental reveals.”
Because the pantyhose highlighted her long, voluptuous legs rather than hiding anything, she quickly became a ’70s TV sex legend. The irony is that what was initially supposed to be a cover-up ended up making Catherine one of the most talked-about celebrities of the era.
Cut-off denim shorts are still referred to as “Daisy Dukes,” and I think some women still don the well-known hotpants nowadays. Even if they are unfamiliar with the television show, they can be calling them by name. That’s quite incredible.
Desired a Dolly Parton-like appearance
As the innately beautiful Daisy Duke, Catherine rose to prominence on television. Daisy was the reason that many of us watched the show, and many people loved her character. According to Catherine, the directors intended Daisy to resemble Dolly Parton.
They wanted lots of blond hair, big breasts, and an hourglass figure. On the other hand, Catherine attended the audition and performed admirably. She worked for CBS that same night.
In actuality, however, the Dolly Parton connection was present from the start of The Dukes of Hazzard. Early episodes imply Daisy Duke wants to start her own music career, and in the pilot, it is even said that she is familiar with all of Dolly Parton’s song lyrics.
The persona is a composite of numerous individuals that I am acquainted with. In high school, she was half the wildest female I ever known. She is one of two girls with whom I had a close relationship in Georgia. She reminds me a lot of myself as a waiter and a lot of Dolly Parton. She is self-sufficient. She is a physical person. In 1979, Catherine clarified, “And she can do anything the guys can do.”
Rosco’s error: Daisy turns into Cathy
The majority of viewers likely missed this amusing little gaffe from The Dukes of Hazzard!
At the end of the State of the Country episode, just before Daisy hands him the weapon, Rosco inadvertently refers to her as Cathy. Look at the tiny mistake below—it’s barely noticeable unless you’re looking closely!
The incident that didn’t make it to television
The cast’s biggest Dukes of Hazzard fan, John Schneider, was most offended by the 1985 ending.
The closing sequence was never broadcast on television or even made available on DVD, despite the fact that the characters rejoiced over Boss Hogg’s surprise stage comeback in the last episode, Opening Night at the Boar’s Nest.
Bo and Luke were sitting in the General Lee in that invisible moment, having a final conversation in the parking lot of the Boar’s Nest. “Unlike the televised ending where we all hugged at the Boar’s Nest, I remember saying, ‘Well, that’s a wrap.’ Then the rear projection screen went blank, and I cried like a baby behind the wheel of that engine-less General,” Schneider recalled when the cameras stopped rolling, capturing the emotional impact of the moment.
John wasn’t the only one who felt the loss; fans were also upset. But when TNN started airing reruns of The Dukes of Hazzard eleven years later, the enthusiasm was reignited, leading to two TV movies and a whole new following.
The mother of Waylon Jennings waited.
Waylon Jennings not only narrated The Dukes of Hazzard but also contributed the popular theme song, “Good Ol’ Boys,” which became his first single to sell one million copies! He once said that it was one of the easiest records he had ever cut, so it paid off. The song became a platinum ringtone in 2007 after reaching the top of the country charts in 1980.
The exciting aspect, though, is that Waylon’s mother watched The Dukes of Hazzard every week in the hopes of seeing her son. The issue? The renowned country music artist was not seen—only heard! His hands strumming a guitar was actually the only image of him that appeared in the opening titles. For this reason, Waylon included the sarcastic line, “You know my mama loves me… but she don’t understand, they keep a-showing my hands, and not my face on TV!” in the full version of the theme song.”
Luckily, Waylon made his on-screen debut in the guest film Welcome, Waylon Jennings in 1984, playing his own self.
Waylon Jennings has a General Lee of his own.
Did you know Waylon Jennings had his own General Lee? As a thank you for penning the show’s memorable theme song, the producers gave him an orange Dodge Charger with the iconic “01” on the doors and the rebel flag on the roof.
Waylon adored the vehicle. He added in his book Waylon, “I still giggle every day when I see General Lee, the orange Dodge Charger they gave me with the bars and rebel stars painted on the roof and a large 01 bull’s-eye on the door. Excellent vehicle for dodging a sheriff.
Years after his passing, Waylon’s cherished General Lee and all of his private letters and documents were resurrected in a 2016 eBay auction. The starting price? They still have a special place in their hearts for anything associated with The Dukes of Hazzard, as seen by the roughly $77,000.
The General Lee’s truth
Would you like to learn some fascinating facts about the well-known General Lee? While The Dukes of Hazzard was being made, a lot of cars were totaled. Finding replacements for the General Lee was challenging because Dodge had stopped making the Charger, but it was easy to replace the police vehicles. Producers would even pull over onlookers and make an immediate offer to buy a Charger. Between 256 and 321 General Lee cars were built and mostly destroyed during the display, according to IMDb.
The iconic orange car, which was based on a 1969 Dodge Charger, had the Confederate battle flag affixed to its roof, the “GENERAL LEE” symbol on its doors, and the iconic “01” number. Fun fact: the first five episodes, which were filmed in Georgia, included an additional checkered flag behind the back window, but it was removed because it was too hard to duplicate.
The nickname General Lee was based on Confederate General Robert E. Lee and was inspired by real-life moonshine smugglers who drove a 1958 Chrysler called Traveler. Although it was also almost the name of the Duke boys’ car, the creators felt General Lee had a bit more punch. In case you were wondering, the third episode of the series, Mary Kaye’s Baby, is the only one in which General Lee does not appear.
In case you were wondering, the third episode of the series, Mary Kaye’s Baby, is the only one where General Lee does not appear.
The large plot hole
A major plot point in The Dukes of Hazzard was Bo and Luke’s probation, which forbade them from leaving Hazzard County legally.
But when actors John Schneider and Tom Wopat, who portrayed Bo and Luke, left the set over wage disputes at the start of Season 5, their characters were briefly written out. They were replaced by cousins Coy Duke (Byron Cherry) and Vance Duke (Christopher Mayer). According to the show, Bo and Luke had left to pursue professional NASCAR racing. The issue is that how could Bo and Luke travel the country if they were still under probation?
How Flash received goodies on the set
Flash, the beloved basset hound owned by Rosco, gained a lot of admirers right away after making her debut in the Dukes of Hazzard episode Enos Strate to the Top. The Dukes of Hazzard County Facebook page states that Flash was taken from a Los Angeles dog pound.
Throughout the series, Flash was Rosco’s devoted friend who stood with him during all of his adventures. Using pieces of hot dog, James Best, who played Rosco on set, would direct Flash’s eyes toward the camera. After each scene, Flash got her well-earned present.
Can you identify the haphazard bystanders?
The events that transpired on The Dukes of Hazzard during the season captivated admirers outside of the country. In fact, several curious onlookers during filming ended up appearing in the performance, as fan Eric Sweeney pointed out in this Facebook post. Consider the image below, which is just one example of an unexpected character that shows up in the series.
Who is behind the wheel?
Several episodes reused stock footage of Bo and Luke piloting the General Lee. However, there were times when the film was misinterpreted, showing Luke driving while Bo was actually behind the wheel.
Then the picture would quickly return to Luke driving. A strange mistake that observant fans will notice!
Did Cathy date John Schneider or Tom Wopat?
Given the amount of performers that fell in love while filming, it is hardly unexpected that many people have wondered what really happened behind the scenes of The Dukes of Hazzard. Daisy Duke’s charming personality and physical appeal sometimes convinced male police officers or henchmen to be forgiving of other Duke family members. But was she really in love with the Duke boys?
Let me say this: despite the fact that Tom and John were the world’s most attractive and seductive buddies, and that ladies simply adored them, they were actually very much like my brothers. Despite how much I value them, I would never hook up with them, as you imply. Simply ask yourself, “Can I do this?” while glancing at your brother or another close relative.”No,” Catherine informed Fox News.
They remain a family.
Without a doubt, the Dukes of Hazzard made television history. Decades later, it is still regarded as one of the most beloved and popular shows from the 1970s and 1980s. The cast still has a close bond, according to John Schneider.
“After all these years, we’re still a family, which is very unusual,” Schneider said in 2014.”Shows often come to an end when they’re finished. I am really proud to be a part of the fact that “The Dukes of Hazzard” has not finished for the actors, crew, or fans.
Unfortunately, several of the most beloved cast members of The Dukes of Hazzard have passed away over the years. Sorrell Booke, who played the famous Boss Hogg, passed away in 1993. Waylon Jennings, the legendary voice actor from The Balladeer, died in 2002. Denver Pyle, Uncle Jesse, was a kind and intelligent man who passed away in 1997. Furthermore, James Best died in 2015 after successfully reviving Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane. Their legacy is demonstrated by the program and the generations of fans who still admire it now.
Is a reboot planned?
Recently, Catherine Bach talked candidly about the prospect of playing her legendary role again. “Well, you know, shows are a mystical thing at best, because you never know what’s going to work and how things are going to click,” Catherine stated in response to a question concerning the possibility of a Dukes reboot.
The actress emphasized that a good relaunch is never guaranteed and that timing and chemistry are crucial elements.
“There must be a talented writer,” she added.Writing about an idea isn’t enough. You must put that notion into action. In other words, if everything works well. Naturally, her remarks gave fans who were hoping to see Daisy Duke again hope despite reflecting the unpredictable nature of the entertainment business.
Catherine added, “I’m still here, the guys are still here,” so she didn’t totally rule out the possibility. Although it might not happen anytime soon, the possibility of the Duke boys and Daisy getting back together is still open—at least for the time being. It would be fantastic, but I’m not sure.
