Check out an eye-popping "Dukes of Hazzard" collection at Jon Holland's new YouTube channel

Our buddy and fellow author Jon Hollard, a longtime "Dukes of Hazzard" collector and historian, has started up a new YouTube channel to share the love. You can schedule an appointment to see his "Dukes" museum in Williamsburg, Virginia. We've gotta swing out that way one of these days!

Branson offers up some great '80s TV-related toys

This author's friend Patrick Shawn Bennett, creator, along with Lisa Everetts, of the Pop Ninja podcast you've seen highlighted on this very blog, took a trip to Branson, Missouri, during the holidays and saw all kinds of '80s goodies (we bet it will lead to material on the '80s-themed podcast!) and a lot of it was related to the TV shows we know and love from that era and beyond. He shares these cool photos with us -- thanks, Patrick! He visited the toy store "80s World" that you see pictured first below, and a Hollywood wax museum (the "Star Trek" transporter room, with one photo of Patrick himself!), and a toy museum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are a few items shown above that you have seen on the Terrific TV Toys series, and there's one particular item (a set, if that's a clue) that you will see on an upcoming episode!

 

On New Year's Day, Patrick was at Cooter's Garage in Nashville, and he snapped this photo for us while he was standing at the register. Thanks so much, Patrick, and thanks, Cooter's, for continuing to carry "Them Dukes! Them Dukes!" along with these other great "Dukes" books. This author really appreciates it.

 

 

 

Photos by Patrick Shawn Bennett; please do not copy without permission.

"Dukes of Hazzard" 40th anniversary celebration set for Cooter's in January

It's been quite a "Dukes" week here at BRBTV, between sharing the love from last weekend's Hazzard County Christmas event in Corunna, Michigan, and now seeing the details being released of the 40th anniversary celebration at Cooter's in January. Here's what Cooter's has sent around ...

 

Come Celebrate the 40th Birthday with us!

HAZZARD COUNTY’S 40TH BIRTHDAY TO BE CELEBRATED IN NASHVILLE’S MUSIC VALLEY JANUARY 26, 2019

On January 26, 1979, “The Dukes of Hazzard” premiered on CBS Television as an unheralded midseason replacement. Now, 40 years later, the cast and fans of the show will join together in Nashville, Tennessee, on Saturday, January 26, 2019 to celebrate “40 years of good times in Hazzard County.” Several events are planned, centered around “Cooter’s in Music City” on McGavock Pike off Briley Parkway.

The event will include “Meet and Greet plus pix and Autograph sessions” with cast members, a screening of the very first “Dukes” episode at The Troubadour Theatre, followed by a cast concert at The Nashville Palace, with Cooter’s Garage Band and very special guest Whey Jennings, the grandson of Waylon Jennings, who narrated “The Dukes” and wrote and sang the ever popular theme song, “Good Ol’ Boys.”

Cast members who plan to attend are Tom Wopat, who created the role of “Luke Duke,” Catherine Bach, known to the world as “Daisy Duke," Sonny Shroyer, who played “Deputy Enos,” and Rick Hurst, who portrayed “Deputy Cletus.” Ben “Cooter” Jones and Alma Viator, the proprietors of Cooter’s in Music City, the Dukes of Hazzard Museum and shop on McGavock Pike, are hosting the shindig.

“The amazing thing about our show is that it seems as fresh and new as ever,” says Ben Jones, who played the sidekick mechanic “Cooter” on the show. “All over the world, folks watch the 'Dukes' in different languages, and they watch it with their children. The kids who grew up watching it back in the early '80s are watching it with their own kids now. And some of them are watching with their grandchildren! That’s the greatest compliment our show could have.

“When we first came on the air, the television critic for the Los Angeles Times said, 'This show won’t last past the first commercial break,'” says Jones. “Just goes to show you, never pay attention to your critics!”

Hazzard County 40th Birthday Celebration is FREE to attend
@ Cooter's Place in Nashville!

10:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Special events will have VERY LIMITED AVAILABILITY and will require a ticket purchase to attend so get yours NOW!

TICKETS 

"Dukes of Hazzard" stars have appearances lined up for May and beyond

Thanks to Phyllis, Cooter's Place and our friend Brian for the latest appearances and happenin's for the "Dukes of Hazzard" cast members ...

May 5
Come see Ben “Cooter” Jones playing music from 1 to 3 p.m. and then meeting fans after from 3 to 4 p.m.! (Free concert, free autographs)
Cooter’s in Luray, Virginia
4768 U.S. Highway 211 West
Luray, VA 22835
540-843-2515

May 12
Dukes of Hazzard Fan Get-Together at Cooter’s Place in Luray, VA
Cooter’s Place, Ben and Alma, and DukesCollector invite everyone who loves "The Dukes of Hazzard" to an old-fashioned Fan Get-Together at Cooter’s In The Valley in Luray on May 12. Just like the Old-Time Ridgerunners reunion in the "Dukes" episode “Days of Shine and Roses,” we welcome all fans to meet up, share "Dukes" stories, show off their "Dukes" cars and collectibles, meet fellow fans, and have a good ol’ "Dukes" time. Featuring music by Cooter’s Garage Band, "Dukes of Hazzard" trivia, Lego Master Cody from C3Brix, and Dave’s travelling "Dukes of Hazzard" Museum. Bring your scale model General Lee, your life-size General Lee, your favorite collectible, your favorite "Dukes of Hazzard" fan, your most cherished story, your most cherished autograph ... and the whole family!
Cooter’s in Luray, Virginia
4768 U.S. Highway 211 West
Luray, VA 22835
540-843-2515

John ("Bo Duke") Schneider will be in concert at the Twisted J - Bar, Backyard and Live Music Venue in Stephenville, Texas, on May 12. Get your tickets.

August 10-12
The Big Three of the "Dukes" -- John Schneider, Tom Wopat, Catherine Bach -- will be at the Steel City Con near Pittsburgh on August 10-12. Visit the site to learn more.

December 1-2
After the success of last weekend's Bo's Extravaganza event, Schneider has decided to have another event at John Schneider Studios. This event is called Bo's Christmas "Bozaar" and will be on December 1-2 at John Schneider Studios! Tickets are on sale now and prices will go up later so buy your tickets today! Get more information and tickets.

John Schneider's appearance schedule includes a "Yee-haa" and an Extravaganza

Thanks to Phyllis for the update on John Schneider, our own Bo Duke of "The Dukes of Hazzard" ...

BLACK FRIDAY sale at John's Studio Store! Type cnh320 in the coupon code box and receive 15% off your order!

January 9 - "The Haves and the Have Nots" returns to OWN at 9 p.m. Eastern / 8 Central.

Here is John's updated appearance list:

December 9 - YEEHAA event at John Schneider Studios in Holden, Louisiana. Ruth Buzzi will be the special guest. Get your tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/yee-haa-tickets-39879419417?aff=efbeventtix&utm_term=eventurl_text.

January 6 - Opry at the Ryman John will be in concert at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. Get your tickets at https://www.opry.com/calendar/opry-ryman-sat-6-jan.

April 7-8 - Bo's Extravaganza at John Schneider Studios in Holden, Louisiana. Get your early bird tickets now as prices will increase closer to the date of the event. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bos-extravaganza-tickets-39164299474?aff=erelpanelorg.

Please remember if you want to give John a Christmas present this year do one of these two things:

1. Mail items from John's career to John, as they will be put on display in a museum to be made in the house where his mom lived on the studio grounds:

John Schneider
8322 Jefferson Highway
Baton Rouge, LA 70809

2. Go to John's Studio Store and purchase at least one item. Your support of John will be your gift to him. www.johnschneiderstudios.com. Remember if you do that now you can get 15% off your order by typing cnh320 in the coupon code box.

Terrific TV Toys: "Dukes of Hazzard" cup by Deka

You remember those fun little plastic dish sets with your favorite characters on them? Cup, bowl, matching plate? Great for cereal on a Saturday morning, or soup or what-have-you???? (Well, actually, they still make them to this day!) That sort of plastic dishware was part of the vast and varied volume of merchandise for "The Dukes of Hazzard" when it originally aired in the '80s. Lots of stuff like this hit the store shelves 'round about 1981 when the "Dukes" were in their heyday.

You've even seen this very dishware on past episodes of BRBTV, like the Terrific TV Toys episode highlighting the "Dukes" collection of T.J. in Michigan a few weeks ago, and even the walk through the "Dukes" museum at Cooter's Place from the week before last. This week's episode of T3 gets you up-close and personal with one of these "Dukes" dish items ...

Cooter's Last Stand: A walk through the "Dukes of Hazzard" museum

If you didn't get a chance to take in the Cooter's Last Stand event this past weekend in lovely Luray, Virginia, and if you didn't get a chance to attend the grand opening of the new Cooter's Place location there earlier this year, well, here's your opportunity to walk through the cool "Dukes of Hazzard" museum that's stationed there.

You'll see all sorts of vintage "Dukes" toys and other goodies -- all that stuff you might recall being on the store shelves at the time the show was originally airing in the '80s, or all those great things you missed because you never saw them on store shelves!!! Behold "Dukes" puzzles, board games, dishware (and you'll see one of those dishes up-close-and-personal later this month in a Terrific TV Toys episode right here on this same BRBTV channel), clothing, signed photos, sleeping bags, and much, much more.

It's a "Dukes" mecca, so if  you can't make the pilgrimage there yourself, here's your walk-through! And we'll dedicate this one to our buddy Jason, who wasn't able to walk through it himself during the event ...

Cooter's Last Stand: A chat with Raymond Kohn of Northeast Ohio Dukes

When this author spoke with Mr. Raymond Kohn of the Northeast Ohio Dukes stunt group earlier this year about his landmark General Lee jump in downtown Detroit (see the April 8 post!), I asked if I could get him on camera at the Cooter's Last Stand event, which happened in Luray, Virginia, this past weekend. He was kind enough to oblige, chatting about that Detroit jump as well as what's coming up for the group. Not only are they hosting a full stunt show in Mount Gilead, Ohio, on Labor Day weekend, but they're traveling to Houston around Thanksgiving time, too.

It's the first of three videos from Cooter's Last Stand -- look for a walk-through of the super-cool "Dukes of Hazzard" museum at Cooter's Place tomorrow! And many thanks, once again, Raymond, for taking the time!

Cooter's in the Valley has its grand opening next weekend

A press release from Cooter's Place ...
......

(Luray, Virginia) After months of working to turn the old Outlanders building on Highway 211 west of Luray into “a hunk of Hazzard County”, Ben “Cooter” Jones and “Miss Alma” Viator are expecting a “fine turnout” for their grand opening of Cooter’s in the Valley on the weekend of May 6 and 7.

“We actually opened the doors a few days after we got the keys,” Viator says. “But we’ve worked every day since then to create an atmosphere that really reflects the fun and wholesomeness of ‘The Dukes of Hazzard.’ At first we just had a little shop in one area, but when we have our grand opening we’ll be almost finished. We’ve got our kitchen and ice cream bar, two large shopping areas, a very large museum that will also serve as a 299-seat live concert theater, and a small recording studio where folks can record themselves. We’ve turned the old motorcycle garage into a replica of Cooter’s Garage, which will make people think that we are actually back in Hazzard County!”

Jones and Viator opened their first “Cooter’s Place” in Rappahannock County in 1998 and added stores in Gatlinburg and Nashville, Tennessee, in the next few years. A second Sperryville store ran into parking problems when, after a year of success, Rappahannock officials decided that the parking area was not zoned properly for that use, and “Cooter’s” was forced to close.

That is when Page County reached out and showed them the Outlanders property.

“It was ideal,” Viator says. “There is plenty of room for parking, room for cruise-ins, room for a children’s playground, room for free weekend musical concerts, and room for a whole lot of visitors. Folks have already come from all over America. Page County is perfect for us.”

The grand opening will feature special guest Tom Wopat, who played Luke Duke on "The Dukes of Hazzard" and has gone on to star in films, television, and on Broadway. Wopat will do personal appearances on both Saturday and Sunday.

Besides the regular free concerts of country and bluegrass music on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, “Cooter’s” is also going to be the new home of “The Shenandoah Jamboree,” which is now in its fifth season. Jones, who helped to start the Jamboree with Page Countians Lisa and Robby Meadows, thinks its new home is going to be ideal. “Our place is so well located between Luray and Interstate 81. And the new theatre really connects the audience with the performers. We’re going to have a really fine season, and we’re kicking it off with Tom Wopat. He’s a world-class singer. He can sing anything. He’s had Nashville hits, Broadway shows, and he’s a really fine jazz and pop singer.”

The Shenandoah Jamboree premieres on Saturday, May 6 at 7 p.m. and will feature a variety of standout performers. Upcoming shows include:

• May 6 – Tom Wopat
• June 3 – Michael Twitty (son of Conway Twitty
• Sept. 2 – Larry Stephenson (Bluegrass & Gospel)
• Oc. 7 – LuLu Roman & the Hee Haw Honeys
• Dec. 2 – Cooter’s Country Christmas

Individual concert tickets are $25 reserved / $20 general admission, and season tickets are $100 reserved / $75 general admission.

For tickets or more information about Cooter’s in the Valley visit cootersplace.com or call 540-843-2515. Cooter’s in the Valley is located at 4768 U.S. Highway 211 West in Luray, VA 22835.

"Dukes of Hazzard" history inspires this artist and avid fan

We showed you in our March 29 post the talent of Canadian artist Jim Wilson, who paints up very nice "Dukes of Hazzard"-themed scenes. Well, consider today's post "part 2" of that, as we take a look at another talented artist out of Ontario. His medium is quite a bit more three-dimensional than the painted canvas. He's put together a beautiful diorama that chronicles an important event in "Dukes" history -- the recovery of the very first General Lee used for a jump in the TV series, from a home in Georgia many years after its 1979 debut. What's more, this artist, Jason Darling, is friends with Jim Wilson, and it's really their artistic collaboration that you see in the first photo below, with Jim's painting in the background.

If you recall the story, this famous Dodge Charger was found still wearing its blue, roughed-up "71" paint job from its appearance in the fourth episode of the show, "Repo Men," when it doubled as a Richard Petty car. It changed hands a few times after the recovery and has most recently been fully restored to the way it appeared as blazin'-orange, jumpin' "Lee 1" in the pilot episode.

"The idea for the diorama came when Jim and I were talking about it and he had started painting again," Jason says. "I, of course, had many spare Charger model kits so I started my project! I have always followed the 71 story and I was present when it was unveiled at Oxford College (near Covington, Georgia) at the 25th anniversary event by Mr. Bell and helped push it on and off the trailer."

He continues, "I have about 13-14 hours in building the model and have researched it for years. The gentleman who bought it from Travis even contacted me for facts about it before its restoration. I am strongly against 71 ever being restored; I think that was an atrocity."

"Jim Wilson and I pride ourselves in recreating 'Dukes' facts and pieces for each other's collections such as our HOGGOCO oil cans and my and Jim's gas pumps, to name a couple," Jason says. "If Jim and I put our collections together, we would have a very nice 'Dukes of Hazzard' museum."

As with a lot of "Dukes" fans out there, the show made a big impression on this creative fan that goes way beyond art. "My favorite character on the 'Dukes' while it aired will always be Bo Duke, and then Uncle Jesse. I live my life with Bo Duke in my back pocket, with Uncle Jesse's values."

That's part of Jason's collection below. "My favourite episode," he says, "is a tie with 'Happy Birthday, General Lee' and 'The Ghost of General Lee.' I loved the history behind the birthday episode and the emotion behind the ghost episode."

"Jim and I go every day finding new 'Dukes' things and keeping the show alive and honest; we are 'Dukes' cousins for sure," Jason says. "We have helped one another with our collections, and I've even gotten Jim started on some General Lee parts! LOL."

Jason, of course, has his own General. "I'm in the process of building my own second-unit version General Lee, going on five years now, but I'm proud of it. I have been extremely fortunate to attend many 'Dukes' events, and I've gotten to meet every living cast member, something I never would have thought I'd ever get to do four years ago, being that I live down in Canada. The cast of the show are amazing and friendly people."

Jason continues, "I met Jim through an ad on Kijiji looking for General Lee parts -- now we're best friends. Funny how 'Dukes' fans find each other."

Thanks to Jason for sharing his story and his fabulous art!

Photos courtesy of Jason Darling; please do not copy without permission.

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.

Tom Wopat releases new album

From the web folks of Tom Wopat, our own Luke Duke of "The Dukes of Hazzard" ...


We are excited to finally unveil what Tom has been working on for the past few months -- his brand new album!

That's right -- on February 12, 2013, Tom's eighth studio album, "I've Got Your Number," will be released! Backed by a 30-piece orchestra, with this album Tom fulfills his desire to focus on what he describes as "the “orchestra/big band hybrid of the ‘60s and ‘70s.” “Like the Bobby Darin stuff,” he says. “Frank Sinatra did big band then too, everybody did. And we really wanted to go for that -- in the standards as well as the contemporary tunes. We’ve evoked the spirit of the New York supper club era and the cool vibe of the 'Mad Men' days. The recording swings hard and there’s a lot of really fine music.”

The album romps through a wide breadth of songs, ranging between selections from the American Songbook to unique versions of songs by popular artists including James Taylor, Paul Simon, Judy Collins, Bruce Springsteen and more. Plus, the album includes two brand new songs written by Tom himself! Visit http://www.tomwopatofficial.com to read the full press release with more details about the album.

AND - we couldn't tell you about the record without letting you hear some music! Just click HERE to listen to the song "The Good Life" now! Make sure to leave a comment on Youtube to let Tom know what you think!

Stay tuned for much more information, including details on how to order your copy. We'll be putting together some fun packages! And make sure to take a look at the tour dates below to see if Tom is coming to your city soon.

Sincerely,

Wopat Webcrew


UPCOMING APPEARANCES for 2013
January 8 - Green Valley Recreation Center - Green Valley, Arizona
January 11 - The Smith Center / Cabaret Jazz - Las Vegas, Nevada
January 12 - Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center - Livermore, California
February 15 - Choctaw Casino and Resert Centerstage - Duront, Oklahoma
February 16 - UCO Jazz Lab - Edmond, Oklahoma
March 1 - Del E Web Center - Wickenburg, Arizona*
March 2 - Chandler Center for the Arts - Chandler, Arizona*
March 23 - Palm Springs Art Museum / Annenberg Theater - Palm Springs, California
April 5 - Ruth A. Knoll Theater - Hartford, Wisconsin
April 6 - Middleton Performing Arts Center - Middleton, Wisconsin

*Performing with John Schneider!

Coming up for John Schneider in 2013: Appearances, concerts, maybe a flick or two!

Special thanks to Phyllis for passing along these upcoming appearances and dates for John ("Bo Duke") Schneider of "The Dukes of Hazzard":

• March 9, 2013: Dukes of Hazzard Georgia Reunion in Byron, Georgia. Event is March 8-10; cast members will be there on March 9 to meet fans. See www.dukesofhazzardgareunion.com
• March 22-24, 2013: John will be meeting fans at Movie Days in Dortmund, Germany; http://www.movie-days.de
• June 1, 2013: John will be meeting fans at the Volo Auto Museum in Volo, Illinois. See http://volocars.com/event.php?evid=572

Concerts

• March 1, 2013 John and Tom Wopat in concert together  Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts in Wickenburg, Arizona; http://events.azcentral.com/wickenburg_az/events/show/276026765-return-of-the-dukes
• March 2, 2013 John and Tom Wopat in concert together at Chandler Center for the Arts in Chandler, Arizona; http://www.ticketmaster.com/John-Schneider-tickets/artist/732925

On screen

• John recently did some taping for the TV show "Mistresses," so watch for that on TV in 2013.
• This coming week, John will be in Wilmington, North Carolina, shooting the movie "Adrenaline."

Find out more about Tom Wopat's new album, as well as upcoming appearances

When BRBTV spoke to Tom Wopat, our own Luke Duke of "The Dukes of Hazzard," at the Hazzard Homecoming a few weeks back, he mentioned his new album. Here's the latest e-news from Wopat's PR crew, including some more info on that album ...

It's time for an update on what's been going on with Tom this summer! He went into the studio in NYC with a group of fantastic jazz and swing musicians to record a brand-new album, you can see photos HERE. The record will be released in early 2013, but we'll be sharing songs and images from the album soon! 

In fact, Tom had a photoshoot just last weekend for the album packaging, with his talented son Joey behind the camera. Watch a behind-the-scenes video from the photoshoot HERE!

We will have many more updates over the next few months, and in the mean time, take a look at the tour dates below to see if he will be performing near you! And have you ever wondered what a Tom Wopat show is like? Watch THIS video to see him perform "Maybe Someday Baby" live in Niagara Falls.

Sincerely,

Wopat Webcrew

UPCOMING APPEARANCES:Sept 29 - Dukes of Hazzard Family Reunion - Livingston, LA
Oct 14 - Missouri Theater - St. Joseph, MO
Oct 17 - Sharon Lynn Wilson Center For The Arts - Brookfield, WI
Oct 19 - Al Ringling Theater - Baraboo, WI

2013
Jan 8 - Green Valley Recreation Center - Green Valley, AZ
Jan 11 - The Smith Center / Cabaret Jazz - Las Vegas, NV
Jan 12 - Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center - Livermore, CA
Feb 16 - UCO Jazz Lab - Edmond, OK
Mar 1 - Del E Web Center - Wickenburg, AZ*
Mar 2 - Chandler Center for the Arts - Chandler, AZ*
Mar 23 - Palm Springs Art Museum / Annenberg Theater - Palm Springs, CA

*Performing with John Schneider!

Get the news first! Follow Tom on:

Facebook
Twitter
Official Site

Byron Cherry has some movie projects in the works

Our buddy Byron ("Coy Duke") Cherry has got his star shining brightly lately, out and about at events like the Louisiana "Dukes of Hazzard" reunion we mentioned earlier this week, and being featured in places like PowerBlock TV / magazine and Mopar Muscle magazine. Now he's got some screen stuff going on, too.

According to his official website, Cherry will be appearing in the movie "Ring of the Fallen," starring Anthony Hopkins, Bruce Willis, Danny Glover, and The Rock! Byron is cast as Deputy Ralley. Also look for Byron in a new film called "Dragon Child," which was scheduled to shoot this year.

By the way, Cherry is donating his personal General Lee to the Tim Welborne Muscle Car Museum; see the video at CoyDuke.com.

By the way, we're heading to the Hazzard Homecoming this weekend, so look for our standard fun-filled coverage of the event on this blog next week!

Bits 'n' pieces: New movie projects, appearances and more

Richard Hatch, whom we know as Dean Caldwell on "Dynasty," will be hosting a panel discussion at Comic-Con in San Diego this year. The "Battlestar Galactica" star's panel, "So Say We All," is on Thursday, July 12 at 10:30 a.m.

Linda Evans of "Dynasty" notes on her official Facebook page, "I will miss my beautiful friend, Nolan Miller. He has been in my life since 'The Big Valley'.... 1965… and he’ll always be in my heart."

Lane Davies, our original Mason Capwell of "Santa Barbara," continues to shine in the online web soap "The Bay," getting some good screen time in the most recent webisode as Mackenzie Johnson.

Anthony De Longis, who was the evil Leo Mitchell on "SB," is working on a new movie project: "Cowboy Creed."

Richard Eden of "SB" (Brick Wallace) also has a new movie in the works. He wrote the script for "Retribution" and was shooting it earlier this year, collaborating with his wife, Shannon Hile. The film also features Brian Krause of "Charmed."

The Soap Series on BlogTalkRadio has caught up with a couple of our BRBTV stars lately:  Lesley Anne Down of "Dallas" and Tricia Cast of "SB."

Byron Cherry, Coy Duke of "The Dukes of Hazzard," has announced a tribute to "Dukes" castmate Christopher ("Vance Duke") Mayer at the Automania show in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, at the end of this month. Cherry also notes he will be retiring his own General Lee to a museum.

Catch the sights and sounds of Hair Dare Dukes Days 2010 at BRBTV's YouTube channel

You know, we really should've started doing this whole video thing years ago -- it's so much easier! In events past, we've brought you coverage on this news blog with photos and quotes and notes. Now, we can just link to the videos on YouTube and let our subjects do the talking -- no wading through our notebooks or processing a bunch of photos! Meow!

At any rate, BRBTV had a delightful time at this past weekend's Hair Dare Dukes Days, the eighth annual benefit event from Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club president Paul Harrington. In two cool, cool days in Comber, Ontario (yes, they thought BRB was crazy for wearin' her dazyduks!) this event served up cars and stars in the name of "The Dukes of Hazzard." It also raised scholarship funds for a student surviving cancer.

Some of the moments you'll see in this new set of three videos on BRBTV's YouTube channel:
- A chat with the owners of the "00" Mustang and the "Twilight" movie replica pickup truck.
- A few words from the amazing Zealand, a dear friend of BRBTV who travels to North America from New Zealand every year for a "Dukes" event.
- Paul Harrington getting his hair cut by Don Pedro Colley, Sheriff Little of "The Dukes of Hazzard." Paul raised $1,010 in pledges for this "hair dare," while Glenn Call of Massachusetts raised $700.
- Billie Rae Bates trying her hand at the smack-a-wreck (yes, you're allowed to laugh), as well as signing the inside of the Canadian Dukes of Hazzard traveling museum trailer.

TGIF Toys: Motor City Comic Con!

We're going to round out our full week of coverage of the 2010 Motor City Comic Con by also tying in our regular Friday feature, TGIF Toys. And it's as simple as ending the week where we began, with "The Dukes of Hazzard."

A sprinkling of toys, for your viewing pleasure, from the event's Canadian Dukes of Hazzard museum display, ranging in a variety of "Dukes" incarnations over the years ...

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand

Motor City Comic Con: We love us some "Dukes" ...

... At least ... one Duke and a lawman ... Mr. Byron Cherry and Mr. Don Pedro Colley, known respectively (and respectfully) as Coy Duke and Sheriff Ed Little of "The Dukes of Hazzard," were on hand at this past weekend's Motor City Comic Con at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi, Michigan. We kick off a full week of coverage of the event with this check-in from our beloved "Dukes" realm ...

The "Dukes" has had a presence at this con for many years, but we're pretty sure this is the first time that "Dukes" guests have been featured in a panel discussion. On Friday late afternoon, Colley and Cherry assembled in one of the panel rooms along with Will "The Voice Man" Rodgers, Paul Harrington of the Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club and BRB herself to talk "Dukes."

Colley told the story of his spin on the classic show "Daktari" that eventually led to his role on "The Dukes," through the Leonard Kaufman connection (see our August 27, 2008 post). He described his strong, stern audition as Sheriff Little, when he could barely be convinced to read from a script, he was so in character:

"Sheriff Little is being told this big lie about Boss Hogg," he said to set the audition scene, "and he has a shotgun, and he cocks his shotgun as emphasis to the lie. Well, you don't have a shotgun in the producer's office. You can't very well walk around ... So I said, if you focus the sound of 'cow chips' just right, it can sound like you're cocking a shotgun. Cow-chips! Cow-chips! So I came up on the line, and I went, 'Cow-chips!' Paul Picard came right up out of his chair about that far. Boom! And he looked at me, and right after that, he's stumbling and fumbling and says, 'Well, thank-you, thank-you for the audition. That'll be enough.' I said, 'Oh, thank-you, Mr. Picard!' I took off my hat. I shook his hand. ...

"I left the office, and I no sooner got outside of his office than the telephone rang for the secretary. She says, 'It's Mr. Leonard. He wants you to come over and talk to him.' So I went over and said thank-you and so forth. And while I'm in Leonard's office, the phone rings again, and they said, 'Be ready to go to work tomorrow morning. The script is on your way. And later this afternoon you'll get a costume, and you'll pick up your costume,' and so forth. And the rest is 'the rest of the story.' "

Cherry, meanwhile, shared the story of his original audition for "The Dukes" (which was for the part of Bo, at the very beginning of the series' production) and how he later nabbed the role of Coy Duke.

Back at the Canadian Dukes of Hazzard museum display, things were hoppin' and fun all weekend. Above, display organizer Paul Harrington goofs around with Byron Cherry and a couple "Dukes" fans who traveled from long distance -- Ken of Denmark and Sabine of Germany, whom BRBTV was delighted to meet after crossing paths so many times on Facebook!

Ken tells us he first saw "The Dukes" in only 2006, but Sabine was able to begin watching the series in Germany in 1989, after satellite TV opened up new possibilities there. She says "The Dukes" aired in the late afternoon, and sometimes repeated the next morning.

"I think they missed a few episodes," she laughs. "I never could figure out why they had two sets of cousins."

The episodes were dubbed, but Sabine now owns all of the seasons on DVD, so she can actually hear the real actors in their real roles, in real English!

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV
Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand!

TGIF Toys: Mego's "Dukes" 8-inchers

Last week for our new feature TGIF Toys, we brought you Mego's smaller figure line from "The Dukes of Hazzard." This week, we take a look at the ever-popular 8-inchers. Above, Will "The Voice Man" Rodgers shows us the cast of Season 3 of the show, while the next photo you'll see below features the characters from Season 5.

But hold the phone, you're thinkin'? There weren't that many "Dukes" Mego 8-inchers! Yes, you are correct (and you must have been reading the extensive information our friends at the Mego Museum have so thoroughly researched on their site!). Well, folks, what we have here is some very loving custom work. Read on, in this articulate explanation from Will ...

The packaging for both the 8-inch and 3.75-inch figures had the illustration of the following: Small shots of the General Lee and the Hazzard Sheriff's squad car, full body shots of Boss Hogg and Sheriff Rosco and big head shots of Bo, Luke, Daisy, and Uncle Jesse. For the 8-inch line, as a little kid, I was led to believe that this is what we would get. Unfortunately, it turned out not to be the case.

Bo and Luke were the easiest to find. Bo had a white/yellow shirt with long sleeves and light blue jeans and black boots. Luke had a long-sleeve bluish shirt that reminded me of the plaid shirts he wore in the first three seasons of the show. He had dark blue jeans and black boots. In 1981, Bo sported a short-sleeved white/yellow shirt and Luke sported a light powder-blue shirt reminiscent of his plain shirt from season two. Daisy Duke was the only other Mego that was made initially. My favorite has the blue top and the Daisy Duke shorts. The other one had a green top and blue Daisy Dukes.

Over the years, I've had each of the variations. Later, Mego added one more character, Boss Hogg in his white suit and hat. Sadly, that was all they made. We never got 8-inch dolls of Uncle Jesse and Sheriff Rosco. Nor did we ever get any vehicles for the upscale Dukes. Even to this day, I would pay well for somebody to custom-make a General Lee for the 8-inch Duke Boys. There was one made for the skits on "Robot Chicken." I wish I knew who made it.

In 1982, when Tom Wopat and John Schneider walked off the show, Mego's final figures were Bo and Luke with slightly altered heads. These two figures are hard to find and worth a lot to collectors. While they are "Bo and Luke" technically, these figures are actually and unofficially "Coy and Vance," even though they do not resemble Byron Cherry and Christopher Mayer.



CUSTOMS

My good friend Mike Barrett in Rifle, Colorado, who's a customizer of Megos, and I had talked for a long time about customizing the rest of the cast who were never made into 8-inch Mego figures. I came up with the recipes for most of the figures. First, I will say the only Megos I did nothing to are Daisy and Boss Hogg.

UNCLE JESSE: What 8-inch Mego "Dukes of Hazzard" collection would be right without the Duke patriarch? I would call it a sin. For his head, I bought an unpainted head of Blackbeard the pirate and he was smiling. His head was perfect for Jesse. Most of what I needed for Uncle Jesse came from the "Waltons" toyline by Mego. The Grandpa Walton Mego had most of what I needed. The body, the overalls and the same style boots worn by Bo and Luke. Mike painted the head and also gave it the twinkle in Denver Pyle's eyes. Mike custom-made the gray overalls with the red longjohn linings as well as the red cap.

SHERIFF ROSCO P. COLTRANE: It's a real shame we did not get a Rosco doll with all accessories! "Shame shame! Everybody knows your name, Mego!" But surprisingly, all the ingredients to make Rosco are available. It's just a matter of finding them and getting your materials together. On Dr. Mego's page, I found repro heads of the Robin Hood characters. The head of Will Scarlett looked to me like an exact replica of James Best along with the sideburns. All he needed was a repainting around the eyebrows. Of course, you need a basic male Mego body. Rosco's black sheriff's hat is available in Mego form. With their Western figures, it was the hat for Wild Bill Hickock. Dr. Mego has it listed as a reporter's hat, despite its Western look. While you could probably get the blue shirt, black tie, and black pants from Dr. Mego, my friend Mike custom-made Rosco's uniform and provided the sticker emblems for the shirt. My Rosco's shirt is a darker shade of blue since I wanted him to have the look of Season 1. My Rosco's hair is black, but maybe I should have had his hair painted salt-and-pepper.



COOTER: "Breaker one! Breaker one! Might be crazy but I am bummed!' That Mego didn't make a figure of Hazzard's number-one mechanic! At first, all I had in mind was Rosco and Uncle Jesse, but then I thought it would be cool to have customs of Cooter and Rosco's two dipstick deputies as well. For Cooter, the head that resembled Ben Jones the most was the head of John Walton (Ralph Waite) from the "Waltons" toyline. Of course, I used a regular male Mego body. For the blue jeans, either Bo or Luke's jeans and the Dukes boots work for Cooter. I'd say he's the easiest to make. Mike custom-made the sleeveless grey shirt and gave it and the jeans a greased look and even put a grease rag in the back of Cooter's pants pocket. Mike also made Cooter's cap. Mike painted the head to resemble Ben Jones and gave him the 5 o'clock shadow since I wanted this Cooter figure to resemble the Season 1 and 2 appearance. Someday, I'll make another Cooter that has him more clean-shaven. Mike also made the denim jacket Cooter wears. (The above photo shows the custom Cooter, along with Bo and Luke, inspired by the pilot episode "One Armed Bandits.")

CLETUS: "Flapjacks on a Ferris wheel! Buzzards on a buzz saw!" Why no Cletus?! Both Hazzard deputies proved to be a challenge for me and Mike. Using a male Mego body and making the clothes was no problem for Mike. For the head, the Mego who resembled Rick Hurst the most was Sgt. Getraer (Robert Pine) from "CHiPs." His hair was painted tan to resemble Cletus. The biggest challenge was the deputy hat. Mike had a real challenge and had to make a big one since the head was big.

ENOS: "Possum on a gum bush!' Mego's "Dukes of Hazzard" 8-inch line really needs an honest cop to keep everything straight. Well, speaking of straight, or should I say Strate, Deputy Enos Strate proved to be the hardest Mego to customize. All I could furnish was the basic male Mego body. Mike made the clothes, but Enos is the only Mego whose head had to be cast. There were no original Megos that resembled Sonny Shroyer. Also, the deputy's hat proved to be a challenge as was Cletus' hat.

HAZZARD LAW: For Rosco, Cletus, and Enos, the "CHiPs" line by Mego proved to be very helpful in that all three figures needed black boots, guns and holsters, and sticker emblems. Luckily, the "CHiPs" figures had all that, so I had to get extra, incomplete "CHiPs" figures to make the Hazzard Law Enforcement team's accessories complete.


COY AND VANCE: Very basic, simple thing. All I did was switch the shirts on the figures. After all, with the exception of the episode, "Dukes Strike it Rich" Coy wore the blue and Vance wore the white/yellow. (The above photo shows Coy and Vance, along with Bo and Luke and the rest of the characters, inspired by the episode "Welcome Back, Bo and Luke.")

THE VARIOUS APPEARANCES OF BO AND LUKE

To me, it was no wonder that there were toy action figures of "The Dukes of Hazzard," especially Bo and Luke since they always wore the same clothes in every episode as if they were uniforms or costumes. I am probably one of the very few people that's paid attention to Bo and Luke's appearances over the years. And I always wanted my Megos to resemble their early appearances, especially Season 1. So I used some extras.

In Season 1, Bo's yellow shirt was a beige yellow color. He also wore it in Season 2 and then on and off in Seasons 6 and 7. I used the beige shirt from the "CHiPs" line. Bo also sported a blue T-shirt underneath his shirt in Seasons 1 and 2 and part of Season 3. My friend Mike custom-made me three T-shirts: two shades of blue and the brown T-shirt John wore in the pilot episode, "One Armed Bandits." In Season 1, Luke sported a light denim jacket over his first plaid shirt. I discovered the Huggy Bear figure from the "Starsky and Hutch" toyline had a blue denim jacket that looked similar to Luke's , so I got a Huggy Bear figure and used the denim jacket for Luke, but sadly, I had to take his plaidish colored shirt and cut off the sleeves for a better fit. Luckily, I have a few more of those plaids.

-- Will Rodgers
Visit Will's "Super Friends" site and experience more of his geeky expertise!




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Next week: The Mego vehicles!