Dukes of Hazzard

[Sophia]

WARNER BROS. SETTLES SUIT OVER DUKES OF HAZZARD MOVIE

After a federal judge last Friday granted a preliminary injunction that would have forced Warner Bros. to cancel its Aug. 5 release of The Dukes of Hazzard, the studio has settled a lawsuit filed by producer Robert B. Clark for an undisclosed sum. Clark had charged that when Warners bought TV rights to his 1975 film Moonrunners, on which the original Dukes of Hazzard series was based, it did not also buy movie rights. In issuing injunctive relief last Friday, Judge Allen Feess remarked, "Plaintiffs have shown a likelihood that they will be able to prove at trial that they have an ownership interest in the Dukes of Hazzard film." Neither side would discuss the settlement outcome.

source (http://207.151.157.81/contacts/picknews.cfm?id=38919)

[sarahh]

.....'Cooter' Urges Fans to Skip 'Dukes' Movie

Jul 14, 8:03 AM (ET)
By DOUG GROSS

ATLANTA (AP) - If television's "Crazy Cooter" has his way, fans of the "Dukes of Hazzard" may be speeding away from a new movie version of the cornpone classic faster than the Duke boys running from Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane.

Ben Jones, a former Georgia congressman who played the wisecracking mechanic on the popular series from 1979-85, said profanity and sexual content in the film make a mockery of the family friendly show.

"Basically, they trashed our show," said Jones, who now lives in the mountains of Washington, Va. "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."

Jones said he read a script of the movie, which is scheduled to be released next month, and that it contained profanity, "constant sexual innuendo and some very clear sexual situations."

On Wednesday, Jones wrote an open letter to fans on his web site, cootersplace.com, urging them to stay away.

"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 ... ," Jones wrote. "Unless they clean it up before the August 5th release date I would strongly recommend that true blue Dukes fans hold their noses and pass this one up."

A spokeswoman at Warner Brothers pictures, which is releasing the movie, did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment on Wednesday.

"The Dukes of Hazzard" was a surprise hit for CBS, combining with "Dallas" to earn some of the highest Friday-night ratings in television history.

The show pitted "good-ol' boys" Bo and Luke Duke and their moonshine-running Uncle Jesse against the crooked politician Boss Hogg and his bumbling henchman, Sheriff Coltrane, in fictional Hazzard County.

Reruns of the show began airing on the CMT network this year, earning some of the best ratings ever on the country music cable channel.

In the movie, Johnny Knoxville, who made his name on MTV's controversial stuntfest "Jackass," and Seann William Scott, who starred in the raunchy "American Pie" movies, play the main characters.

Pop star turned reality TV icon Jessica Simpson plays Daisy Duke.

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, then lost two other bids for House seats, one in Georgia and another in Virginia.

He owns Cooter's Place, a "Dukes" memorabilia shop in Gatlinburg, Tenn. and plans to open another in Nashville. He also is an organizer of "Dukesfest," an annual outdoor concert and convention celebrating the show in Bristol, Tenn.

---

On the Net:

Cooter's Place, http://www.cootersplace.com

"Dukes of Hazzard," movie, http://dukesofhazzard.warnerbros.com/

[LittleFredPunkinHead]

Oh, geez... Because a TV show where the heroes are always running from the police, the police are all corrupt, the father figure makes his own illegal hooch, and the girl is constantly wearing practically nothing and manipulating people with her sexuality, that''s a good wholesome show. Ri-i-i-ight.

[camberne]

I'm going to see the movie out of curiosity, but I'm surely not going to pay full price!!

I loved the tv show as a kid (had a crush on Tom Wopat) and had a Dukes of Hazzard lunchbox!!

[sarahh]

After seeing a brief snippet of Jessica Simpson "acting", I have decided not to see it. That line where she says "I think something jumped up into my under carriage" is horrible....fake accent and all!

[PG-rated]

Here's my problem with it - Johnny Knoxville and Seann William Scott have ZERO sex appeal for me. I had my very first schoolgirl crush on Bo in the original series, and Luke wasn't bad, either. ;) I might've gone to see it despite Jessica Simpson, but seeing these two ugly, charmless guys on screen just ruins the whole thing, IMHO.

[thedoorchick]

I haven't decided if I will go see this or not. I would like to, for sentimentality's sake, but two things bother me.

1. It won't nearly hold a candle to the original. It might have its funny moments but I can almost guarantee as a person whose favorite childhood show was The Dukes of Hazzard, I will probably think the movie sucks once I see it.

2. The typical Hollywood-gotta-have-a-lot-of-sex-in-every-movie mentality, as mentioned in the article above. The original TV show was very much a family show. About the risque-est thing in it was the mention early in the series of wondering whether Enos was the oldest virgin in Hazzard County. I'm pretty sure I'll be offended by what the movie includes.

The reason the heroes were all running from the police was not because they had done wrong, but because the police, for no reason that was very well explained, had it in for them.

I do agree the law enforcement was beyond corrupt, but there's nothing non-family-friendly about that. If anything, it's a great opportunity to teach children a thing or two.

[Brandles]

I had a crush on Bo Duke, too! :o

I remember when my aunt wouldn't let my cousin (male) see it because he might get ideas!!! :eek: :eek: Man! Pretty tame when you see what's on TV today!

I'm going to go see it because it's coming here and I'll see it as a $2.25 matinee.

[thedoorchick]

I had a crush on Bo Duke, too! :o


Yep, I have to say that Tom Welling isn't the only eye candy on Smallville. :D

[Raven_Girl]

Yes I'm going to go see the Dukes of Hazzards. I know its going to bad. Jessica Simpson CAN NOT ACT, as much as I love Sean Williams Scott he's TOTALLY wrong for this role. And seriously Johnny Knoxville trying to be sexy? So you ask why go see this movie :rolleyes: ....because I enjoy pain and i'm going to the $3.50 theater in Azusa!!! :p

[Raven_Girl]

Yep, I have to say that Tom Welling isn't the only eye candy on Smallville. :D
Tom Welling would have been a better choice!!!

[LittleFredPunkinHead]

Johnny Knoxville- actually, I think he's kind of hot. In an incredibly bad and obnoxious boy way. ;)

[Avalon]

This was my favorite show when I was little, but I'm not going to see the movie. I think it looks awful!

Part of me thinks if they selected anyone other than Jessica Simpson to be Daisy Duke, I might have given the movie a chance. What I don't understand is why her hair isn't brown for the role. I swear I remember seeing something when she was on set in her trailer and they were putting on her brown wig and her dog was barking at her because she didn't recognize her anymore. What changed?

[meganth]

"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." I read that in the news yesterday and that line cracks me up!

We'll probably go see it because DH becomes giddy like a little boy when it comes to watching car chase scenes. :rolleyes:

I don't really want to see it but I won't mind seeing it because i'm one of the few people who thinks Johnny Knoxville is freaking hot.

[Secret_Squirrel]

I probably won't see it because I can't stand Johnnie Knoxville or Jessica Simpson.

The original series was my favorite show as a kid. Bo Duke was sooo hot, and Daisy was cute.

But in the movie, does the General Lee have the Stars & Bars? Is it still called the General Lee? That would seem so un-PC now. We've come along way since the 70's.

[Georgiana]

I was watching The TODAY'S SHOW and they had one of the original cast members on there (I think he played on of the cops) and he was saying how they were basically "snubbed" by the people that were binging this to film.

He also was adding that he does not want people to see the movie because he thinks it take away the integrity of the series by being more raunchy and not family oriented like the original series.... Whatever.

[thedoorchick]

I probably won't see it because I can't stand Johnnie Knoxville or Jessica Simpson.

The original series was my favorite show as a kid. Bo Duke was sooo hot, and Daisy was cute.

But in the movie, does the General Lee have the Stars & Bars? Is it still called the General Lee? That would seem so un-PC now. We've come along way since the 70's.

You know, that's one of the things I've always wondered about the show. Why wasn't there outcry against the Confederate flag on the car?

(Personally, I do not consider the Confederate flag to automatically be racist, as many people view it as nothing more or less than a symbol of Southern pride. However, obviously opinions vary on this subject).

[Sophia]

I'll definitely wait till it hits cable--I'm not paying to see a blonde Daisy Duke. And you're right, that "undercarriage" line is awful.

[LittleFredPunkinHead]

the integrity of the series
Heh heh heh! :D How he could say that with a straight face...

[Rose]

Did anyone see this? The reviews weren't very good but it's the one movie DH wants to see.

[angelraven]

Eh, it had its funny moments, but it wasn't anything like the show. Jessica Simpson wasn't very good, but no one really expected her to be. I wouldn't pay full price.

[houseblend]

This was my favorite show when I was little, but I'm not going to see the movie. I think it looks awful!

Part of me thinks if they selected anyone other than Jessica Simpson to be Daisy Duke, I might have given the movie a chance. What I don't understand is why her hair isn't brown for the role. I swear I remember seeing something when she was on set in her trailer and they were putting on her brown wig and her dog was barking at her because she didn't recognize her anymore. What changed?

YES! Thank you! That has been bothering me, too, because I could have sworn I saw that she had brown hair for this role.

I was a huge DOH fan growing up, but I'm opting out of this movie, too. If you're going to have a half-naked Daisy, at least make the guys cute. What woman are they trying to appeal to with this movie? And I agree about the line with Jessica's fake accent sounding so bad. I don't think I'll even rent this one - I'll wait for it to come out on TV.

[ginastorm]

There is nothing I hate more than fake southern accents. Jessica Simpson's "southern" accent is horrible, and she is from Texas!

[houseblend]

LOL - that's right, Gina! I had forgotten she is from Texas. The girl has no excuse!!! :D

[Aimee]

DH and I saw it at a matinee (couldn't justify full price) and we really liked it. The original series wasn't particularly deep, so we weren't expecting the movie to be Schindler's List. It was a movie, not a film. And it was reasonably entertaining.

[Aug2002Bride]

We saw it today and I didnt think it was too bad. I really didnt think Jess had a HUGE part in it...I mean she was around but it didnt really show her as much as I thought it would I guess. Who knows...DH wanted to see it more than I did...I could of waited for it to come out on DVD to rent.

[lml41981]

Just went tonight to see it...I paid full price and I enjoyed it. I wasn't expecting anything deep or insightful...I was expecting a movie where I could go and just forget the outside world for awhile. I really enjoyed it and laughed enough. :)