Bits 'n' Pieces: Emma Samms, Richard Moll, Greg Evigan

• Emma Samms, our second Fallon Carrington of "Dynasty," will be making yet another return to the show that really launched her career, "General Hospital." The actress reprises her role of Holly Sutton next month, according to Soap Opera Digest. Samms' previous stints on "GH" include the origin of the Holly character in 1983, as well as eps in 1985, 1991, 1993, 2006 and 2010. Samms is also in the action thriller "Vendetta," scheduled for release in the U.K. in November.
• Riding the wave of the press-gobbling "Sharknado," Syfy has its original movie "Ghost Shark" all queued up. Among the cast on this next deadly swim is Richard Moll of "Night Court," whom we know as the voice of Harvey Dent on "Batman: The Animated Series," the character Morgan Malone on "Santa Barbara" and Milo Beaudry on "The Dukes of Hazzard." Premiering at 9 p.m. Eastern on August 22, "Ghost Shark" has this plotline from Syfy: "Last Fourth of July, teenager Christy Bruce disappeared from a high school beach party. Her severed arm washed ashore a day later. Drunken sea captain Blaise Shaw became a hero to the small seaside community of Harmony after killing the great white shark that was deemed responsible, but the Christy Bruce murder was no shark attack. Blaise turns to ghost hunter Ava Conte, who is skeptical but intrigued by his ghost shark ramblings. With preparations for a massive July 4th celebration rapidly approaching, they soon find themselves embroiled in a conspiracy of sex and murder involving the town's wealthiest and most powerful citizens. Unprepared to contend with a Ghost Shark that can hunt on land, sea, as well as anywhere there is enough water or rain to sustain its phantom form, Blaise and Ava must uncover the truth about the towns dark past or fall victim to the Ghost Shark."
• And while we're on that Syfy theme (because we do adore their stuff -- we've said it on this blog before), the network is serving up yet another original movie with yet another of our beloved stars of classic TV. This time it's Greg Evigan, whom BRBTV had the pleasure to meet and chat with at the Professional Stuntman Invitational in 2009, and who was not only the star of "B.J. and the Bear" but also appeared as the sinister Willie Gust on "Dallas." Evigan will star with Denise Crosby in "Invasion Roswell." Syfy's plotline on this one: "Sixty-six years after the Roswell crash, aliens return to attack Earth." Seriously, we're there. August 8, 9 p.m. Eastern.

Spotted: Lloyd Bochner

He's gallant and stately, much like Cecil Colby, though he's a bit younger. This is Lloyd Bocher we're talking about, a decade and a half before he terrorized Blake Carrington on "Dynasty," portraying a bad guy in the 1966 episode of "The Green Hornet" called "The Silent Gun."

He's Dan Carley in this story about a gun that makes no noise, and he wears his trim, shiny, well-greased helmet of hair well, so much of the style for men at the time. He wears a hat in some scenes, too -- another sign of the time for men. He's well-suited-up, has a mustache, and chomps on a cigar in one scene. Gotta love it, Cecil.

Adrian Paul talks with BRBTV about "Colbys" and career

BRBTV got the chance to meet and chat with Adrian Paul, aka Bliss’ boyfriend Kolya on our "Dynasty" spinoff "The Colbys," at the 2013 Motor City Comic Con (see our June 7 post). We also recorded his Q-and-A panel with fans at that event (see the BRBTV YouTube channel for that!). We decided we might like to follow up with this fresh email interview with Paul, where the actor reminisces a bit about his time on “The Colbys” and his career, which got quite a bit bigger after “The Colbys” with that whole “Highlander” thing!

How did you first learn about the role on “The Colbys”?

“My agent sent me over to read for the role.”

Was it actually your first role, as the IMDb indicates?

“Yes, basically, here in the United States.”

Did you find you had to do a lot of additional training or preparation physically for this role, since it was the role of a dancer?

“No, I had trained as a dancer for a few years prior to this, although being a ballet dancer is an entirely different style of training. I have always been physical, so that part wasn’t the challenge. The challenge was making sure I looked the part.”

Were you surprised that the show only lasted a season and a half? What was the feeling on the set about that?

“Well, I was very green back then, so I had no idea how long a show should or could last. I was just happy to be working and to be honest, I worked with a lot of very well-known and accomplished actors.”

Is there anything you would have done differently with the role of Kolya if you were the one writing him?

“If I were the one writing him?  Hmmmm…  I would make him the lead. Obviously when you are dealing with a soap, some of the situations are a little less than real. For instance, one episode had me jumping from the sixth story of a building, landing on my feet and slightly limping away. Mmmh … that was real. Charlton Heston had a line that he gave to Tracy Scoggins because he realized how ridiculous it might sound, which was … ’Good thing you're a dancer. You might have seriously been hurt’ (or words to that effect).”

You seemed to leave your dancing work behind, after that “Colbys” role, because you got into so many more action-oriented roles after that. Was it deliberate on your part, or just how it worked out?

“No, it’s just the way it worked out. I got to dance in a few things episode-wise after that, but not as part of the character.”

You mentioned in your panel with fans at the Motor City Comic Con that you would like to do a “Star Trek” movie. What role would you like to have in the “Trek” world?

“’Star Trek’ has transcended the sci-fi genre now. Twenty years ago every ‘Star Trek’ fan was seen as a geek. Not now. They are seen as the meal ticket to investors and studios who realize that there is something very compelling about the idea of civilization in space. As for the type of role? I don't know.”

You also mentioned you're working on some projects behind the camera. Can you tell me more about those?

“I am finishing up a script I am supposed to be directing early next year.  I have my radio show, Peace Fund radio, at http://www.latalkradio.com/Peace.php, where we discuss not only what the Peace Fund does but also bring on other celebrity guests with a passion for helping children in need. I am also putting together several films under my production company www.filmblips.com.”

Many thanks to Adrian Paul for taking the time!

Photo by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand.

Spotted: Louise Sorel

Her sweet lilting voice is unmistakable, and she has all the lovely innocence she had for the "Star Trek" episode she did a few years earlier. This is the divine Louise Sorel, many miles from the bite of Augusta Lockridge of our beloved "Santa Barbara."

In the 1970 episode of "Night Gallery" called "The Dead Man," she plays Velia, the young and pretty wife of a researcher who has mastered the art of bringing a young, strapping man out of the psychosomatic disorder he's been suffering from, and even making him appear dead only to make him magically come back to life. Unfortunately, however, this researcher's pretty wife Velia picks up with the strapping young man. Then things take a turn, and you see where the priorities lie for Velia, so appropriately reflecting '70s fashion in her soft, periwinkle blue, flowin gown.

Check out the "Dukes" 12-inch figures!

They're gettin' all kinds of feedback at the Figures Toy Co. Facebook page, and don't they look just great??? They're the prototypes of the 12-inch "Dukes of Hazzard" action figures that the company will be releasing soon. Look at that detail on the dungarees on Bo and Luke, and on Rosco's uniform. And the facial features are lookin' good. BRBTV will be buying one of each, that's fo sho!

The final version of Boss Hogg will include his matching hat. While Series 1 features Bo and Luke Duke, Rosco and Boss Hogg, future series will include Daisy Duke, Uncle Jesse, Cooter, Cletus Hogg, Enos and more (Coy and Vance, we hope? A little Sheriff Little??? Bring it on!!!). These guys will be available in both 8-inch and 12-inch. As we reported in our April 20 post, Figures Toy Co. is also planning a "Dallas" line, with two different versions of J.R. Ewing figures.

Images courtesy of Figures Toy Co.; do not copy without permission.

Spotted: Richard Anderson

He was young, young, young, but his facial features and tall lanky form were unmistakable. This was Mr. Richard Anderson, so well-known as Oscar Goldman on "The Six Million Dollar Man" and "The Bionic Woman," but known to us "Dynasty" fans as Buck Fallmont, starring in an old black-and-white episode of "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour."

He wasn't playing the troubled alcoholic like Buck, nor the kind and reserved guy like Oscar. In 1964's "Who Needs an Enemy?" Anderson is shrewd, accusatory, and betrayed by his business partner. He seeks the truth, and he gets shystered. But for how long? Hmmm ... You know there's always a twist in these things. Maybe not as sharp a twist as Hitchcock's competition at the time, Rod Serling and his masterful "Twilight Zone," but a nice little twist at the end all the same.

Paul Baxley, stunt coordinator of "The Dukes of Hazzard," shows up in this episode, too, in a minor role.

Announcing a bigger "Dynasty High"!

It's bold, with a luscious new cover by Baltimore artist Dale Cuthbertson. It's big, with a whopping 180 pages of additional content from the previous print editions, nearly doubling the book's size! And it's out there now -- available in all the places you saw it before. It's the new print edition of "Dynasty High," the BRBTV reference guide to TV's classic 1980s "Dynasty" and "The Colbys."

In a December post we told you about the updated Kindle edition of the book, which incorporated a whole lot of new content. Well, we've now added all of this new content to the print edition:

• Interview with Pamela Sue Martin, aka the original Fallon Carrington
• Interview with Stephanie Beacham, aka Sable Colby
• Interview with Terri Garber, aka Leslie Carrington
• Interview with Jeannie Epper, stuntwoman for Linda Evans
• Interview with writer Camille Marchetta 
• Interview with David Baker, stablehand on "The Colbys"
• Boosted episode guide, with the rewatching of Seasons 1 through 7.5 of "Dynasty" and most of "The Colbys" episodes
• A feature on the shows' various locations
• A closer look at the Filoli estate
• Boosted and updated actor bio information
• An at-a-glance character chart
• Boosted and updated merchandise guide

The price is right, just $15.50 like the other BRBTV print books, even though this one is the biggest in page count so far. We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed putting it together!

JTV offers some delicious bling to deck you out like a "Dynasty" dame

You saw it on screen, and now you can own it. At least something a whole lot like it. JTV's new "Dynasty" Collection offers jewelry inspired by our beloved '80s soap -- and quite a few pieces patterned exactly after the actual pieces worn in the series.

The shopping network unveiled its new collection at noon Eastern today, in a delightful two-hour block punctuated by the "Dynasty" opening theme music and screenshots of Joan Collins as Alexis in some of these inspiring jewelry pieces. This line, designed by Udi Behr, is exclusive to JTV, and it's quite heavy on the luxe-and-sparkle thing. It's not all genuine stones and solid gold, however, but then neither was what was worn on-screen, Stephanie Beacham, aka Sable Colby, told BRBTV in a recent interview. It was costume jewelry so that the show wouldn't have to deal with the insurance and security burden. So hey -- when they're saying here that you can own something just like what was worn in the show, they mean it!

The two-hour launch of the line highlighted several items mimicking the screen-used baubles, with designer Behr giving a little background of when the original piece was worn (all of the following were in Season 5):

• Simulated ruby earrings and heart-shaped simulated ruby and pearl necklace like Alexis wore in a courtroom scene while she was on trial for killing Mark Jennings in Season 5
• White enamel and simulated diamond ring like Alexis wore in the episode where Blake discovers Amanda and suspects she is his daughter, "The Secret"
• Gold-plated black onyx necklace and earrings (with ring added to complete the set) like Alexis wore in another Season 5 episode of the Mark Jennings murder storyline
• Huge round simulated diamond ring worn by Alexis in the Season 5 episode "The Crash," dubbed the "Whimsically Woven" ring
• Gold-plated tassel pendant like Alexis wore in the episode "Swept Away"
• Simulated diamond earrings and bangle worn by Alexis in "The Secret"
• Simulated emerald and white enamel bangle like Alexis wore in "Fallon"
• Marquise solitaire simulated diamond pendant like Alexis wore in "The Secret"

(OK, so where's Krystle's stuff? We wanna see that fab emerald necklace she pawned in Season 1!)

And take heart, "Dynasty" dreamers -- many pieces are less than $100.

This licensing deal with JTV was two years in the making, Behr said. He works on ABC's "Revenge" now and noted that to him the Hamptons-based primetime show is like "a continuation of 'Dynasty.'"

Motor City Comic Con: Adrian Paul

And finally .... To really round out our video coverage of this year's Motor City Comic Con in Novi, Michigan, in nice style, we give you one more celeb guest of the event. Mr. Adrian Paul, known to so many folks as the star of the "Highlander" TV series but known to us at BRBTV as Bliss' ballerina boyfriend Kolya on "The Colbys," appeared at the con and gave a Q-and-A session with fans on the Saturday afternoon of that weekend.

He talked about all kinds of stuff -- particularly about the way he's had to get physical for his roles over the years. Outside of the panel, at his table, BRBTV chatted with Paul a bit, trying to see what we could rustle up on our beloved "Dynasty" spinoff.

"Oh, that was a long time ago!" he quipped. Oh, sigh ... Well, we may just be following up with Paul for a one-on-one interview. Stay tuned for that. But in the meantime, enjoy Paul's chat with the fans from the show ...

Photo of Adrian Paul and Billie Rae Bates of BRBTV by James R. Green Jr.; please do not copy without permission.

Motor City Comic Con: Jason Faunt

He's the Red Ranger on "Power Rangers Time Force" and "Power Rangers Wild Force," but his talents go beyond that. Jason Faunt also almost became a professional baseball player. This hunky guy tells us about that and other stuff (he's a model and a daddy, too!) in our interview with him at this year's Motor City Comic Con.



Tomorrow wraps up our 10-part video series from the Motor City show with a two-part panel series for Adrian Paul! We've really loved bringing it to you, as BRB and James had a wonderful time talking to these folks (so many of them are actors we've admired for a long time!).

 

Photo by James R. Green Jr.; please do not copy without permission.

Motor City Comic Con: Brian Tochi

Brian Tochi did a classic "Star Trek" episode. Brian Tochi also did a classic "Wonder Woman" episode. Brian Tochi even did the "Revenge of the Nerds" and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." Brian Tochi has a big-ole-honkin' resume chock-full of goodies over the decades. But there is one thing and one thing only that BRBTV wanted to discuss with Brian Tochi at this year's Motor City Comic Con. A little '80s soap called "Santa Barbara." Seriously, we hardly ever see "SB" stars at these cons!!!

Our 10-part video series from the Motor City show last month continues with the fun and friendly Brian Tochi!

We've got just two celebs left to show ya in our 10-part series ... Our clue for tomorrow: Red Ranger!

  

Brian Tochi and BRB.

Photo by James R. Green Jr.; please do not copy without permission.

Motor City Comic Con: Erika Eleniak

She's the second "Baywatch" babe to be featured on the BRBTV YouTube channel. Did you also know she's a writer? The lovely Erika Eleniak is a soon-to-be-published children's book author. She tells us about that project as well as what else she's got going on now -- and what (or who!) is at the very top of her priority list. Our celeb coverage of this year's Motor City Comic Con continues ...



Coming up tomorrow as our series continues: A Turtle, a Nerd, or the assistant of the Major??? We just know you won't get that one!

 

Photo by James R. Green Jr.; please do not copy without permission.

Motor City Comic Con: Raphael Sbarge

One redhead wearing red, talking to another redhead wearing red, with a red background, no less!!!! Sounds like nirvana to us, but it really happened at the Motor City Comic Con when Billie Rae Bates of BRBTV got to interview Mr. Raphael Sbarge, one of the stars of one of the best shows currently on television, if we may beg your indulgence by saying so, "Once Upon a Time"!

It's the next installment of the whopping 10-part celeb video series we've been serving up from the con, which happened May 17-19 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan. Sbarge talks about his "Once" character -- both the fairytale one Jiminy Cricket and the decidedly more human one, Dr. Archie Hopper (yes, you read that right -- catch the show! it's great!). We were so excited to talk to Sbarge, and frankly, he's more dashing in real life.



Thanks so much, Mr. Sbarge, for talking to us, and thanks again to James R. Green Jr. for his continued fine camera work.

In tomorrow's installment of our continuing series: A "Baywatch" babe!

Motor City Comic Con: Ernest Thomas

Hey - HEY - hey!!! ... No, it's not Dwayne, but it's the guy who kept him in check! Mr. Ernest Thomas of the classic '70s "What's Happening!!" was one of the celeb guests at the Motor City Comic Con in Novi, Michigan, a couple weeks back. BRB of BRBTV was thrilled to talk to him. As Raj on that show he was the voice of reason, the level-headed one of the trio of young guys, but as Ernest Thomas, he's brought a lot of love and light into people's lives over the years. Thomas talks with us about that, about some projects he has coming up, and about the kinds of things that are most important to him.



On Monday, our 10-part Motor City Comic Con interview series continues. We're only halfway through, and next up is someone from our favorite fairytale land!!!!

 

Ernest Thomas and BRB.

Photo by James R. Green Jr.; please do not copy without permission.

Motor City Comic Con: Walter Koenig

What becomes a "Star Trek" legend most? Maybe it's getting the girl, as they say? Well, Mr. Walter Koenig of the original "Trek" series weighed in on that and some other finer points of classic TV stardom in our interview with him from the Motor City Comic Con earlier this month. As the original Pavel Chekov, he's got some great insight. He's also got a goofy interviewer here, as Billie Rae Bates of BRBTV silly-gooses her way through this chat with such a big star from one of her very favorite TV shows!



Tomorrow, we round out the week with .... well, we'll give you a clue in two words ... "What's Happening!!"

Motor City Comic Con: Zoie Palmer

We've got 10 straight business days of celeb interviews from the 2013 Motor City Comic Con, all this week and all next week, and the next one on our hit list is the lovely Zoie Palmer of "Lost Girl."

For this one, longtime Washington, D.C.-area photographer (and frequent BRBTV camera man!) James R. Green Jr. takes a turn with the mike to find out some fun behind-the-scenes from Palmer on not only "Lost Girl" but also some of her other roles, such as Anya on "Nikita."

Tomorrow, our series continues with a "Star Trek" legend!

 

Photo by James R. Green Jr.; please do not copy without permission.

Next up in our Motor City Comic Con coverage: Aaron Ashmore

Nope, he's not the one from the "X-Men" movies, but he does get confused with his twin brother Shawn a whole lot. In fact, by the time we talked to him on Friday evening at this month's Motor City Comic Con, Aaron Ashmore told us he'd been confused with his twin "about 100 times." He'll forgive you, though, because you'll definitely remember and love him as shutterbug Jimmy Olsen on "Smallville," and you might have caught him on the current "Warehouse 13."

As our 10-day video spree from the Motor City show continues, Ashmore shares with us some thoughts about "Smallville," about the con circuit, and even about photography!



Coming up tomorrow as the series continues: One of Ashmore's "Lost Girl" castmates!

Kicking off our Motor City Comic Con 2013 interview series: Curtis Armstrong

Buckle your seat belts, TV fans, because BRBTV is just coming off the 2013 Motor City Comic Con at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan, a week or two back, and we're going to take you on a high-speed chase of great celeb interviews. From the '70s to the '80s to the '90s and even just this month (can you say "Once Upon a Time"? "Lost Girl"?), we've got so many great TV shows and movies covered with these stars, it's pretty mind-blowing. Ten stars in 10 days -- can you believe it!?! We'll give you a little break for the weekend, but otherwise it's full speed ahead and straight on 'til  morning!

First up to kick off this massive 10-day spree is Mr. Curtis Armstrong, whom we knew best as Herbert Viola on "Moonlighting" but a lot of you know from the "Revenge of the Nerd" movies. Armstrong chatted with us on the Saturday morning of the con, reminiscing about "Moonlighting" and talking about his new projects, which includes a little something in the "Nerds" realm, as well as "Supernatural" and "New Girl."



Tomorrow, our series continues with a touch of "Smallville" ...

Catch John Schneider in "The Haves and the Have Nots" on Tuesday

We love the stuff that Tyler Perry produces, because we know where his priorities are. And combine it with Oprah Winfrey and her OWN network, and it makes it even better. But then, throw in one of our "Dukes of Hazzard" stars, and it's golden!!!!

Yes, John ("Bo Duke") Schneider will be featured in the cast of "The Haves and the Have Nots," premiering this Tuesday on OWN. Schneider is the Cryer family patriarch in the series, a "powerful judge whose double life, including tawdry affairs with high-priced escorts, puts his family and political ambitions at risk," the official description says. The action is set in Savannah and explores the relationships between the wealthy Cryer family and its hired help. Get a peek at Schneider in the first look and the Cryer family videos.

You can tune in to the two-hour premiere at 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Next up for Catherine Oxenberg: "11 Seconds"

At the Motor City Comic Con this past weekend, BRBTV got the chance to chat with the handsome Casper Van Dien (more handsome in real life, trust us), who just happens to be married to one of the stars of our beloved "Dynasty," Catherine Oxenberg. We asked Van Dien if he had any more projects with his wife coming up, and he told us about "11 Seconds," a film he just finished shooting. Written and directed by Daniel Lusko, the movie also features Monte Markham of "Dallas." Van Dien couldn't tell us when to expect it, however.

See a photo from the set on Van Dien's Twitter, and a little blurb about the movie at GeekChicElite.

Screenshot from a BRBTV video shot at the event; stay tuned to this blog for some great interviews from the Motor City show!

Bits 'n' pieces: Michael Nader returns to "AMC"; Lane Davies returns to "Comedy of Errors"

The news hit the 'Net this week that Dimitri Marick, known to us "Dynasty" fans as Dex Dexter, and known to perhaps his family and friends as ... oh, I don't know ... Michael Nader (!), is making a return to his role on "All My Children" in early June. Read a little more at RealityTVWorld or Deadline.com (including a photo, wow).

Lane Davies of "Santa Barbara" and "Dallas," meanwhile, will bring his production of Shakespeare's "The Comedy of Errors," which BRBTV was delighted to see a couple years ago, back to the Tennessee Shakespeare Fest in June and July. The festival has moved to the campus of the Baylor School in Chattanooga. See the festival site for more.

Spotted: Sonny Shroyer

Major OMG, was that Sonny Shroyer we spotted in the 1998 John Grisham film "The Gingerbread Man"? Raiding a run-down home of hobo types, looking for the terrorizing dad of a threatened young woman? We thought we heard his voice as we were curled up on the couch watching that scene last night, and sure enough, there he was in the credits. True to form, he was playing a sheriff in Georgia in the movie, also featuring Kenneth Branaugh and Robert Downey Jr.

Shroyer has a couple new projects in the works, filming "Dead End" and attached to "When the Storm God Rides." The former also has his "Dukes" castmate and fellow law enforcer Don Pedro ("Sheriff Little") Colley, and it comes from the agency that reps both actors. The latter is a Western that includes William Katt of "Greatest American Hero" and William Shockley, the hottie with the long hair we just adored on "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman."

"Dukes" and "Dallas" action figures in the works -- and yes, there's Batman, too

A 12-inch action figure of J.R. Ewing? Say it is so! Well, it will be soon, as part of the Figures Toy Co.'s just-announced action figure lines. This "Dallas" line calls for two different styles of J.R. figures inspired by the classic TV series, one in an "Oil Tycoon" style and one for the famous "Who Shot J.R." storyline.

That would be enough to send us off scoping out that extra shelf in the house, but then they've gotta throw "The Dukes of Hazzard" into this, too. Bo, Luke, Rosco and Boss to begin with, then the other characters in future waves (let's hope they're decent enough to include Coy and Vance), and in two sizes -- not just the 12-inch but also a Mego-like 8-inch???? This almost seems too good to be true.

And you really can't talk action figures without talking Batman, so he's in there, too, in the '60s TV style. Geez Louise, are they trying to kill us?! We'll take one of those carrying cases, too!

They're armed with the licenses, but there's no official word on release dates, at least in this week's press release. But follow Figures Toy Co. on Facebook to get in on the news.

Texas, Louisiana -- "The Dukes" have it covered!

Woo-doggie, things are just explodin' all over in the world of "The Dukes of Hazzard"! You'd think the show was just fresh on the air! But this is the lore that never dies, and the "Dukes" fan community has been robust since the show originally left the airwaves and has only gotten more so since then. Yet another "Dukes" event has popped up, this time in the great state of Texas. So we're gettin' those four corners taken care of, now aren't we?

The official news came out on Facebook over the weekend: The Hazzard Homecoming Texas Style will be October 19 and 20, 2013, at the Galaxy North Drive-in Theater, 5301 North Interstate Hwy 45, in Ennis, Texas. The core surviving cast members who were at the Byron, Georgia, event last month will be there in Texas for this one: John ("Bo Duke") Schneider, Tom ("Luke Duke" Wopat, Catherine ("Daisy Duke") Bach, Ben ("Cooter Davenport") Jones, James ("Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane") Best, Rick ("Deputy Cletus Hogg") Hurst, and Sonny ("Enos Strate") Shroyer.

Meanwhile, the Louisiana event that fans traveled to last fall is going to do a second installment this year, this time in August. The Dukes of Hazzard Family Reunion and Car Show in Livingston Parish, Louisiana, will be Saturday, August 17, 2013.

You'll see "Dukes" cast members, along with Mountain Man from "Duck Dynasty," Glenn Guist from "Swamp People," NFL Saints players, the cast of "Cajun Pawn Stars," and some other goodies. This event comes from attorney Sherman Mack.

Keep an eye on DukesReunionLA.com as the event gets closer.

So along with the Maryland and Tennessee events coming up, 2013 is shaping up to be a "Duke"-arific year!

Art imitates life, at least the life we'd all love to live in Hazzard County

Jim Wilson of London, Ontario, had dreams like any other kid growing up in the 1970s who watched "The Dukes of Hazzard" when it originally aired. He wanted to meet the Dukes, he wanted to see the Duke farm, and Hazzard Square, and any of the other sites featured on the show. He wanted to see a General Lee.

"Well, I did watch 'The Dukes' every Friday night when it was new, when I was a kid," Jim tells BRBTV. "Looked forward to it, and my mom would always pop some popcorn on the stove for me, back then we did not own a microwave, LOL."

Jim made his dreams come true. He did grow up to meet the cast members, even see John ("Bo Duke") Schneider and Tom ("Luke Duke") Wopat in concert, and he visited Hazzard Square and the Duke farm. And he's seen a few General Lees over the years, both at Dukesfest and elsewhere, even though he lives in the Great White North where it would seem you wouldn't see such a sight!

"You would be surprised, there are a few General Lees around my area," he says. "I always seem to find somebody who enjoys the show. My good friend Jason Darling, who lives near Kingston, Ontario, is building two Generals right now, a dirt tracker and a nice street car."

But while all of that is mighty fine, that's not the reason we're featuring Jim Wilson on the BRBTV News Blog today. You see, he's the kind of fan that is so inspired by "The Dukes" that it touches off his artistic creativity. More specifically, it sets him to painting.

"As for inspiration for the paintings, I like to capture the feel of the late '70s, early '80s," Jim tells us. "Hard to explain, my childhood seemed to last forever back then, always wondering when will I grow up and be a big person like Bo and Luke. I have always drawn things, have a gift I guess. I had a special art teacher who would come in once a week to expand what I had done. Taught me perspective, stuff like that. But basically I just draw or paint or weld what is in my mind."

And what a talent and imagination it is. We especially like his interpretation of the recovery of Lee 1, the very first General ever jumped on "The Dukes of Hazzard." Now, there's an interesting thing to paint, especially for what that moment, and the ensuing years of the car's change in ownership and its restoration, have meant in the "Dukes" fan community, both positive and not so much.

Jim is sure capturing a certain feeling in his work. And it's clear that comes from his own love of the show and of all that surrounds it these days.

"I love going to events in the South," he says. "Last year at the Hazzard Homecoming I finally met Tom Wopat, so now I have met everybody, even Honest John Ledbetter, who until his death lived in Canada. I had a nice talk with him about the 'Dukes.' I can see why Cooter lives in the Blue Ridge mountains. I fell in love with 'em, too. Any reason to go back there, I would. Beautiful."

 

"My favourite 'Dukes' character I would have to say is Uncle Jesse," says Jim, who had the above moment at the site of the original Duke farm in Georgia captured for all time. "I don't own a General Lee yet. That pic of me you saw was just luck that somebody was at the farm with one; he let me pose in front of it. I'd like to mention that the gas pumps were Jason's idea and the Hoggoco oil cans were mine. He lives and breathes the 'Dukes' like me."

And does it seem unusual that such a fervent "Dukes" fan would be Canadian born and bred? Not to us, as we used to attend the Hair Dare Dukes Days in Ontario and see the love of the show there in the North.

"I don't think the Canadian perception is any different from the American on the show," Jim says. "We both know you can't fly a car without damage, LOL. For some reason there are a lot of Confederate flags flying up here. Everybody wants to be a rebel, I guess, and American flags, after 9-11, the stars and stripes were everywhere in Canada in support."

And "The Dukes" isn't the only classic TV show he loves.

"As for what I watch on TV today, not much. I did enjoy the new 'Battlestar Galactica' series. I also like 'The Big Bang Theory.' Everything else I buy on DVD. Love the 'Waltons.' I went to Waltons' Mountain museum last year after the Homecoming as it was two hours away from there. Makes you wish you grew up on Waltons' Mountain. I also enjoy the series 'Rat Patrol' from the '60s. 'Magnum P.I.,' I adore that show. 'The Fall Guy,' 'McHale's Navy,' 'Beverly Hillbillies,' 'Petticoat Junction,' aughhh so many!"

When he's not painting, Jim's "day job" is at St. Thomas Rent-all in St. Thomas, Ontario. He also enjoys making welding sculptures out of scrap material from work, model railroading. "In my younger years I was dirt biker. I miss my motorcycle. ;("

But his No. 01 hobby, as he puts it, is searching for 'Dukes' stuff! He does admit it's harder to find in the Great White North.

"Back in the '80s, Canada had Kmart, (not anymore) and I got my first 'Dukes' toy, an ERTL General Lee. I was so excited. The '90s were a real dry spell for 'Dukes' stuff. I remember hearing about the first reunion movie, but we didn't have cable. I missed out on it, then when the DVDs starting coming out, I was in heaven. It's like every show is brand new again, and that's when I found out about Dukesfest. I HAD TO GO!! My first was 2005 in Bristol, my first real trip South as an adult. Terrible drive there. Long story short, we got there late at night on a back road, thunderstorm, we stayed at a crappy hotel. I woke early next day, it was humid, dark, grey sky, and in the mist, I see my very first General Lee sitting on a trailer. I was so excited, I MADE IT, it was a dream come true, 50,000 people like me in the same town!! And I have been going ever since, pic of that General in the mist included. ;)"

He says traveling to Atlanta was another dream come true. "When I went inside the Duke farm, stood in front of the Boar's Nest, drove around Hazzard Square in my Cadillac at the time. Never thought in a million years I'd ever see this stuff. What HISTORY!"

He continues, "Then a couple years back, I put an ad on Kijiji looking for '69 Charger parts. Well, this guy named Jason Darling answers. He had a trunk lid for me. I met him in Toronto, as it's kinda halfway for both of us. I walked up to him, and I felt like I had known him my whole life. Well, thanks to him, I have a trunk lid and a door, one piece at a time like Johnny Cash. The door blew me away. I met him in Niagara Falls last April for the John and Tom concert. I was thinking I was getting an old rusty dented door; he pulls out of his truck a freshly painted 01 orange door signed by Bo and Luke. I started to well up. I was floored. He is now one of my best friends. I consider him my brother; we text everyday, no less, always comparing 'Dukes' stuff. Amazing who you meet through the 'Dukes.'"

Yup! Don't we know it! Many thanks to Jim for sharing his story.

Photo and art courtesy of Jim Wilson; please do not copy without permission.