On at the present time in historical past, Jan. 26, 1979, ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’ premieres, turns into pop-culture hit

“The Dukes of Hazzard,” an hour-long tv sitcom in regards to the rural adventures of two charming “good ol’ boys” and “modern-day Robin Hoods” who evade corrupt native lawmen of their scorching, southern-fried 1969 Dodge Charger, debuted on tv on at the present time in historical past, Jan. 26, 1979. 

It turned a shock pop-culture phenomenon — defying trade consultants and even the expectations of CBS executives. 

“The Dukes of Hazzard” ran for seven seasons and 147 episodes, drawing as many as 40 million viewers each Friday evening — greater than twice as many eyeballs as the common NFL recreation in 2022. 

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“It is change into a everlasting a part of Americana, like Mickey Mouse or ‘I Love Lucy,'” actor Ben Jones, who performed Duke sidekick Cooter Davenport within the present, informed Fox Information Digital.

This system starred John Schneider and Tom Wopat as cousins Bo and Luke Duke.

They have been joined of their exploits by nation vixen cousin Daisy Duke, performed by Catherine Bach (identified for her famously revealing shorts) and their American muscle automobile dubbed the Basic Lee, full with Accomplice flag on the roof and a horn that performed “Dixie.”

“The Dukes of Hazzard” ran for seven seasons and 147 episodes, drawing as many as 40 million viewers every Friday evening.

“The Dukes of Hazzard” proved extra than simply an surprising American rankings bonanza. 

It has been a TV hit all over the world and spawned a sequence of remakes, reunions and merchandising successes. It nonetheless influences the American cultural lexicon in stunning methods. 

“Daisy Dukes” at the moment are an American synonym for tight-fitting quick shorts — the phrase and the style identified by tens of millions of individuals born lengthy after the present aired. 

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The Basic Lee rolls down the freeway of American reminiscence as one of the vital iconic automobiles in display historical past. 

One model of the automobile owned by actor Schneider bought for $10 million at public sale in 2007 — among the many highest costs ever paid for any automobile. 

This commercial appeared within the March 17, 1984, problem of TV Information journal. It was an advert for the Friday evening adventure-comedy, “The Dukes of Hazzard,” starring Tom Wopat (as Luke Duke, darkish hair), John Schneider (as Bo Duke, blonde hair) and Catherine Bach (as Daisy Duke).
(Photograph by CBS through Getty Photos)

The Basic Lee acquired 35,000 fan letters every month on the top of the present’s recognition, reported Warner Bros., which produced the present, on the time.

Performer Waylon Jennings loved a no. 1 nation music hit with “Theme from the Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol’ Boys)” in 1980. 

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“Simply the great outdated boys/By no means meanin’ no hurt,” sings Jennings, dubbed “The Balladeer,” within the opening credit. 

“Beats all you by no means noticed/Been in bother with the regulation for the reason that day they was born.” 

“The present additionally spurred the music careers of Schneider and Wopat, who themselves turned nation chart regulars within the ’80s,” Billboard reported in a 2015 historical past of the theme track.

The automobile chase scenes have been essentially the most spectacular in tv historical past. So many automobiles have been ruined taping the gravity-defying stunts that as many 300 Chargers apparently performed the position of the Basic Lee within the sequence. 

“The enchantment of the present hasn’t modified a lot … We nonetheless drive outdated vehicles down filth roads.” — Actor Ben Jones

“The enchantment of the present hasn’t modified a lot,” mentioned Jones. “Individuals nonetheless love outdated vehicles, we nonetheless put on blue denims, work shirts, ball caps and cowboy hats. Nothing a lot has modified in rural in America. We nonetheless drive outdated vehicles down filth roads.”

However this system provided a a lot deeper connection to viewers than simply its superficial enchantment of quick vehicles and lengthy legs. 

“The Dukes of Hazzard” forged members Tom Wopat, Catherine Bach and John Schneider are proven in 1981. 
(Photograph by CBS through Getty Photos)

Bo, Luke and Daisy Duke have been orphaned cousins raised by wisdom-spinning Uncle Jesse (Denver Pyle). 

The Dukes flouted the regulation, however solely as a result of the regulation was corrupt. The Dukes caught collectively via thick and skinny, serving to the neighborhood alongside the way in which. 

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“It was a household present, it was clear, there was no profanity, no blood — and it was watched by households all throughout the nation,” mentioned Jones. 

“It was a Robin Hood story during which the dangerous guys have been really the great guys. It was a morality story the place should you do the correct factor, you may be rewarded on the finish. It provided a judgment of right and wrong that is lacking on tv right now.”

American actors (left to proper) John Schneider, Tom Wopat and Ben Jones as Bo Duke, Luke Duke and Cooter, respectively, within the TV sequence “The Dukes of Hazzard,” circa 1983. They have been posing with the Basic Lee, a 1969 Dodge Charger prominently featured within the sequence.
(Photograph by Fotos Worldwide/Hulton Archive/Getty Photos)

Jones rode the success “The Dukes of Hazzard” all the way in which to Congress. 

He served two phrases within the Home of Representatives as a Democrat from Georgia (1989-1993).

He additionally operates Cooter’s Place, a trio of “The Dukes of Hazzard” museums in Nashville, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and Luray, Virginia. 

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For all its success, this system would not cross muster in right now’s cancel tradition. 

It unapologetically displayed the Accomplice flag on its iconic muscle automobile, named for Accomplice Basic Robert E. Lee.

“This system was completely benign,” mentioned Jones. “There was by no means one criticism in regards to the flag, not even from our African American viewers, and we had a big African American viewership.”

The “Dukes of Hazzard” museum in Nashville is situated in a strip-mall exterior Opryland in entrance of a sprawling honky-tonk district. 
(Kerry J. Byrne/Fox Information Digital)

Regardless of latest criticisms, this system continues to thrive in digital format within the U.S. and all over the world. 

“You possibly can by no means inform when one thing’s gonna pop,” Wopat informed Fox Information Digital in November. 

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“However a while within the first yr, we simply knew we had one thing superb right here,” he additionally mentioned.

“The followers are distinctive in that they hand down their love for the present from technology to technology. I’ve met third- and fourth-generation followers. It’s superb. It’s a present. The present will lengthy outlive me, that’s for certain.”