Come say hello to BRB -- and some good "Dukes" friends -- at the Motor City Comic Con

The Motor City Comic Con is the place to be this mid-May, to find out whether that stern ole Sheriff Little ever did catch them Duke boys -- or at least one of 'em! Byron "Coy Duke" Cherry will be making his first trip to the Novi, Michigan, event, and he'll be joined by Don Pedro Colley, who portrayed the long arm of the law on "The Dukes of Hazzard."

And while you're there, give a holler to Billie Rae Bates, who will be returning to the event (and her highly beloved Detroit!) again this year to sign copies of the BRBTV reference guide, "Them Dukes! Them Dukes!"

Cherry, Colley and Bates will all be a part of Paul Harrington's "Dukes of Hazzard" museum display, a comprehensive trip back in time to the bright-orange hills of Hazzard County. Inside the traveling museum, you'll find all kinds of fab "Dukes" memorabilia, including lotsa props from the filming of the popular '80s CBS series. The display will include a General Lee, a Hazzard County Sheriff's car (maybe two!) and even a very rare Hazzard County Sheriff's boat!

The Motor City Comic con runs Friday, May 14 through Sunday, May 16. The event, jam-packed with comics industry professionals, will also feature a slew of other classic TV stars, such as Mark Goddard, Todd Bridges, Angie Everhart, Jenilee Harrison, Herb Jefferson Jr., Lindsay Wagner and more. Visit the event site for details, and keep your eye on the Events page of BillieRae.com for your guide to BRB's book signings.

See ya in the Motor City!!!! Yeeeee-haaaaa!!!!!!!!!

John Schneider sells TV shows to 2 cable networks

Our own Bo Duke, Mr. John Schneider of "The Dukes of Hazzard," updated fans via email today, noting how he's been workin' some interesting angles on future TV lineups.

"I managed to sell two shows last month based on stunts!" he says. "A reality show, 'Crash Test Dummies,' and a drama, 'The Dead Ringer.' One is to Spike and the other to USA. Right now I am pitching a show about finding the next world-class jockey and also a half-hour sitcom called 'Johnny Black.' 'Johnny Black' is one meeting away from being purchased by CMT! It centers on a world-famous bad-boy singer who is actually quite subdued at home. Me."

OK, well ... further testament to the fact that our John-John's not slowing down anytime soon. And pursuant to that, another note on what's coming up on Schneider's agenda:

Lightning Fest
August 7-8
Dyersville, Iowa
http://collector.johnnylightning.com/?xcid=jlhome

Joining Schneider will be BRBTV's bud Paul Harrington of the Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club, along with his vast "Dukes of Hazzard" museum and car display.

Get a free fun-filled Archie Comic on Halloween

From Archie Comics

Over the past several years, Archie Comics has delighted comic shop customers with exclusive giveaway comics produced in conjunction with Diamond Distribution. In addition to Archie’s involvement in Diamond’s annual Free Comic Book Day program, Archie has also served up thrills and chills come Halloween-time. These full-color, 16-page, Halloween-themed comics have all-new stories and art and make the perfect “treat” for the goody bags of costumed revelers.

This year, Archie Comics is back with another fun-filled giveaway issue. Archie and Jughead take center-stage in a spooky, kooky spoof of a certain box office smash about museum exhibits coming to life. With a script by veteran writer George Gladir, author of countless Archie classics; and art by famed Little Archie artist Bob Bolling, this is sure to have appeal not just to children but adult collectors as well.

In “The Mystery of the Museum Sleep-in,” the museum is a scream for Archie and Jughead. Inspired by a favorite film, the pals decide to spend a night at the museum to experience maximum spookage. And experience it they do, as statues suddenly come towards them! Are these artifacts coming to life for real, or is somebody playing the ultimate Halloween “trick” on our unsuspecting teens? The answer will leave you scared silly!

Participating Comic Book Shops give a copy of this comic to customers on Halloween. If you would like to give these mini-comics out at your home for Halloween, you need to contact your local comic retailer and order them today. The mini-comics are bundled in groups of 50 and have to be ordered in July.

You can find a comic shop near you at
http://csls.diamondcomics.com/
or by calling toll free 1-888-COMIC BOOK (1-888-266-4226).

BRBTV News Blog Blip: Her foray into the world of BRBTV was brief, merely a role in the 2005 "Dukes of Hazzard" movie, but we like to keep track of Lynda Carter just because she's Wonder Woman. And that's pretty amazing in our book. Carter will be appearing at Feinstein's at Loews Regency at the Regency Hotel in New York on October 21-25. Read more here.

Chip Foose Braselton Bash: Part 2

Marvin Murphy of Florida, shown above with his son, Brian, who serves as the media relations rep for Lee 1, trailered his slice of "Dukes of Hazzard" history a long way to show at the Chip Foose Braselton Bash here in beautiful Georgia over the weekend. The second of our two parts on the Year One show continues with another tidbit from Mr. Murphy.

The famous Dodge Charger, which has changed hands a few times since it was recovered from a northern Georgia junkyard several years ago, also has called a few different cities home. But where does this original General Lee hang his hat nowadays, so to speak? The duPont Registry Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida, Marvin tells BRBTV. It's a private museum, he notes, and it contains many other celeb cars.

"They're very protective of it," he says of the museum's display of Lee 1. "There's not a single car around it. They have some pretty famous cars in there."

And speaking of famous cars, and speaking of General Lees, Marvin's car was not the only "01" at the show. Parked just a yard or two away was the beauty below, which bears a sign in the windshield stating it's a "movie car" from the 2005 and 2007 "Dukes" flicks.

You know it wouldn't be a car show without the Gran Torino from "Starsky and Hutch," right?

Also on show at the show was the special Burt Reynolds edition of the "Smokey and the Bandit" Trans Am, built by Year One themselves -- and in a very limited production. We can just picture "Smokey" fans -- which cross over, generally, with "The Dukes" -- goin' crazy over this one.

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Copying with credit is OK; a link would be grand

Get ready for the Hair Dare Dukes Weekend

Here on the BRBTV News Blog, we've been telling you all about the Hair Dare Dukes Weekend in Ontario, Canada, a benefit event focused on "The Dukes of Hazzard." BRB was a guest at the event last year, and will be returning this year. For today's post we offer you the full rundown of the event with the text of the official press release ...


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Paul Harrington, 519-975-0056
Canadian Dukes Museum, Ruscom Station, Ontario, Canada
http://www.canadiandukes.com/
cdndukes@mnsi.net
http://hairdaredukesweekend.blogspot.com/
http://canadiandukesofhazzard.blogspot.com/

------------------------------------------------

This year Paul Harrington of Ruscom Station, Ontario, Canada, his wife Cheryl, and son Lance Brown, along with family members and some very close friends, have united to put together one of the best events in Southern Ontario, maybe even one of the best events in Canada.

It's the Hair Dare Dukes Weekend, a car show, swap meet and cut-a-thon cancer benefit, scheduled for Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24 at the Leamington Fairgrounds, with a special dinner event on Friday, August 22 beginning at 3 p.m. This year is the sixth year for the Hair Dare event, which celebrates the classic TV show "The Dukes of Hazzard" as its theme.

"The reason I keep this event going is it is the only way that I know I can help make a little bit of a difference," Harrington says. "We can share our feelings with others about this sickness, because at least 90 percent of the population out there knows someone that has died from cancer."

Though he began the event in 2003 in honour of his mother, a cancer survivor, this year is even more meaningful for Harrington. "In February of this year, we lost another great man, my boss of almost 11 years and close family friend Steve Stowe, to this dreadful disease we call cancer. What hurts me the most, Steve was the only reason I became a licensed automotive technician, and during his short stay in the hospital we talked about a lot of things. I mentioned to Steve what we were planning this year as a charity, and he said 'That's great, Paul.' I will remember those words for as long as I live."

A special memorial will be held for Steve Stowe on the Sunday of the event, at 2 p.m. at the fairgrounds.

The past five years of the Hair Dare event have raised more than $28,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society. For this year's event, Harrington and his sister, Debra-Ann Taylor of Tilbury, contacted St. Clair College to start a scholarship fund for a student surviving cancer.

The scholarship will be put into place with the help of Susan Maxwell, executive director of the St. Clair College Foundation, Windsor, and Lynn McGeachy Schultz, director of advancement at Thames Campus, Chatham.

"I think this was a great choice that we made," Harrington says. "At least we can see where the money is going, and it will be helping a local student that is surviving cancer."

Part of the way the event raises money is through pledges for "Hair Dares" -- when participants vow to daringly cut or shave their hair for the cause. Haircuts on Saturday will be provided by Estelle's Affordable Hair Cuts from Chatham, and on Sunday haircuts will be provided by Mastercuts of the Devonshire Mall. "Thanks so much for their time; it is greatly appreciated," Harrington says.

The Saturday morning of the event starts with a "Parade of All Cars." Participants should meet at the Comfort Inn in Leamington at 8 a.m. The parade route is from the Comfort Inn to the Leamington Fairgrounds. "Special thanks to the Leamington Police for their help this year," Harrington says.

There will be several special guests at this year's event. Don Pedro Colley, who portrayed Sheriff Ed Little on "The Dukes," will sign autographs and chat with fans. He'll be joined by Byron Cherry, who played Coy Duke in the series.

Felix Silla, a prolific classic TV actor who portrayed the Alien Visitor in the "Dukes" episode "Strange Visitor to Hazzard," will appear for the first time at the event. Silla also played Cousin Itt on "The Addams Family," and was Twiki on "Buck Rodgers in the 25th Century." He also portrayed an Ewok on "Star Wars," and appeared in "The Planet of the Apes" and "Batman Returns."

All the actors will be signing photos and other items all weekend long, and there will be a lot of photo opportunities for the fans, Harrington says.

Also appearing at the event will be Billie Rae Bates of Atlanta, Georgia, author of the "Them Dukes! Them Dukes!" reference guide.

Will Rodgers, aka "THE VOICE MAN," of Chattanooga, Tennessee, will be returning to warm the crowds again. "Will's voice impersonations are just overwhelming, from all of the 'Dukes' casts members to the 'All in the Family' theme song," Harrington says. "Wow, he's just incredible."

Billy Stephenson will be making his way on stage, all the way from Georgia also, just a few hours from where the 'Dukes' started out.

"We have a few extras who were in the 'Dukes of Hazzard' 2005 movie that will be here as well," Harrington says, including himself. He's been a lifelong "Dukes" fan and not only owns his own General Lee, a 1969 Dodge Charger painted orange, but also Hazzard County Sheriff's cars from both the series and the 2005 movie. Currently he is building a Monster 4x4 General Lee, and a Cooter tow truck. He's collected "Dukes" memorabilia -- including genuine props from the filming of the series, and the 2005 "Dukes" movie for many years.

Other features planned for the Hair Dare Dukes Weekend include the Smack-A-Wreck, where participants get a chance to swing a hammer on a clunker car, and a Daisy Duke look-alike contest. A dunk tank also will keep everyone busy, as well as a silent auction.

The Memphis Kings, a band from Essex County, Ontario. will be on stage Saturday, and country singer Traci Kennedy of St. Thomas will be appearing on Sunday.

"A special thanks goes out to all the local newspapers that help us put this out in print so the public can read about this event," Harrington says.

Admission to Saturday and Sunday of the event is only $3 per person. The Leamington Fairgrounds are located at 194 Erie Street North in Leamington. Tickets for Friday night's Dinner With the Stars, at $25 each, are now available: call 519-975-0056 to reserve yours.

Harrington would also like to thank all of the event sponsors, because without their support this event would not take place:
Sign A Rama - Garden City Michigan
Comfort Inn - Leamington
Johnny Lightning - U.S.A.
Chochi's Pizza - Essex / Leamington / Belle River
J & B Auto Recyclers - Windsor
Murphy Bus Lines - Arva
AutoBarn / Car Quest - Essex
Elford & Stowe Ltd. - Essex
Harrington Aviation - Essex
Affordable Family Fun - Essex
Cottam Transmission - Cottam
Car Classica - Leamington
Jay Deeze Lounge & Grille - Leamington
Local printers of Essex & Kent Counties
Country Radio Station 92.7 FM - Leamington

Covington cruises on, plus a few "Dallas" tidbits this time!

Our coverage of the Hazzard County Cruise-In in Covington, Georgia, continues here on the BRBTV News Blog. Last night it rained -- but it wasn't a wash! Lots of fans from all over the place came out to the square in Covington. Kansas, Ohio, Montana, New York -- even Holland and England! And after the sprinkles set in -- then the harder stuff -- many stayed on.

Just look at that sweet Miss Jo McLaney, wouldya? She's got the coolest ride in town, all decked out like the General Lee!


Here, author Jon Holland chats with attendees, accompanied by his wife, Amber.


You might recall, from our coverage of the last October's Hillbilly Woodstick 2 Dukes of Hazzard Cruise, that Judy Bruce starred in the pilot episode, "One Armed Bandits." Here she poses with her co-star in that episode -- sorta! In the episode, Judy is the little girl from the orphanage who climbs into Boss' Cadillac at the end and fiddles with his hat.


We had no idea our friend Jim Fullerton was so creative! This local resident, and dad of hard-core "Dukes" fan Chad Fullerton, actually created this wooden model of the Boar's Nest, complete with Matchbox-style cars. It even features Boss Hogg standing at the door, yelling at Daisy to come in and get to work! Wow! It's certainly a specialty item, a one-of-a-kind, and it's on display at the "Dukes" museum in the back of A Touch of Country on the town square.

Look for a full week's worth of coverage of this weekend's DukesFest, beginning Monday.

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

In completely unrelated news ...

OK, can all this other juicy stuff just wait until after our weeklong DukesFest coverage? Good grief ... Sigh ... OK, we might be over it ... We've gotta post these goodies when we get 'em, or else they will age too much in the next week and a half ...

- Charlene Tilton, our own little Lucy Ewing of "Dallas," will help host a Fourth of July celebration at the CBS Studio Center in Los Angeles. It begins at 5 p.m. next Friday, if you happen to be in town. Read more: http://journals.aol.com/kdmask20/HollywoodandPAAve/entries/2008/06/25/hey-you-lucky-la-people/2038

- More on Charlene, who certainly has been generating some HTML and CSS lately, with receiving awards and all. “People still want to see me up in the hayloft in a bikini,” Tilton said during an appearance at the Home Media Expo this week. She was there with other classic TV stars, such as Don Most of "Happy Days," discussing their shows and the magic and wonder that is the DVD. Home Media Magazine has more:
http://www.homemediamagazine.com/news/html/breaking_article.cfm?article_id=13021

- For the past few weeks, BRBTV has been indulging in "Step By Step" repeats on ABC Family at 9 a.m. each weekday, trying not to drool too much on the laptop as Frank Lambert and the Codeman chew up the screen, so we can only say that there's something about this YouTube classic clip that's strangely yummy ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1X9v9_fjGo

Hello again, Covington! Plus, a few "Santa Barbara" tidbits

Aaaahhhh ... Covington ... birthplace of "The Dukes of Hazzard." It treats us so well, each time we visit it ... Last night's Hazzard County Cruise-In on the historic town square in Covington, Georgia, brought mostly locals around, curious to see this "Dukes" goings-on, as many of the hard-core "Dukes" fans that are traveling from out of state are still, well, traveling from out of state! Like right now, as you read!

But the evening -- amid the sunny Southern heat closing all around and showing us just why Cooter liked to call this Hot-lanta -- was still most enjoyable, with plenty of fun and chatting. Take the two young gentlemen in the top photo, for instance, all gussied up as those Hazzard County lawmen we adored even though we didn't want to, Rosco and Enos -- or was it Rosco and Cletus?! They came in from New Jersey in a modern Hazzard County Sheriff's car that they said was actually pulled over for speeding by the (real) police! The constables warned the guys not to be wearing those uniforms in the vehicle, also. They are rather convincing, ya know?

The Hazzard County Stunt Team was there, and will return tonight, and then Sunday night after DukesFest, along with Jon Holland and BRB herself, signing their "Dukes" books. The sweet, smiling Judy Bruce, who was one of the kids in the orphanage in the pilot episode, "One Armed Bandits," was there, and BRB was delighted to chat with Mr. Wayne Wooten, and JETT and friends all the way from New York. The below display of "Dukes" goodies was from reps of John Schneider.

If you're one of those in town, c'mon out and visit with us awhile tonight, 6 to 10, then on Sunday, same hours! Grab a soda at A Touch of Country and check in with that fab "Dukes" museum in the back. And yes, bring that beautiful car and park it along the square!

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

In completely unrelated news ...

OK, we've got to run it now, because we plan on jamming this blog up all of next week with lotsa DukesFest coverage, and it's good enough not to keep until after that. A few items related to our beloved soap "Santa Barbara" surfaced on the Net in the past few days.

- Did you know that Dame Judith Anderson, the original Minx Lockridge, actually was a Santa Barbara girl? She lived there many years. See the explanation of that, along with a nice bio of her by the Santa Barbara Historical Society, in the Santa Barbara Independent:
http://www.independent.com/news/2008/jun/24/how-long-did-famous-actress-judith-anderson-live-h/

- Oh, that Lane Davies, at that whole Shakespeare thing again. You just can't keep him away from the Bard. It's his "A Midsummer Night's Dream" set in the U.S. South again, at the Tennessee Shakespeare Festival, and Tennessee's Shelbyville Times-Gazette has more:
http://www.t-g.com/story/1439232.html

- And while we're roaming around in the Times-Gazette, here's another story about a "Santa Barbara" actor. This time it's Sam Dalton, who played a police officer from 1984-1986 and who is friends with Davies. Nowadays, he produces and writes for television. Read more at the paper:
http://www.t-g.com/story/1439554.html
And see more about Dalton at his site:
http://www.boomeradventurestv.com/

Hang out with us in Covington before DukesFest

DukesFest is only a few weeks away, and BRBTV can't wait for that great, great time, especially since the fun is starting early, right there in the birthplace of "The Dukes of Hazzard" -- lovely Covington, Georgia!

Classic car owners, "Dukes" fans and friends alike, c'mon out to the Town Square in Covington on the Wednesday and Thursday before DukesFest, June 25 and 26, then on that Sunday after DukesFest, June 29, beginning at 6 p.m. each day. There you will see an array of fabulous cars, along with Tom Sarmento, lead mechanic for "The Dukes," and his Hazzard County Stunt Team. The Stunt Team has a wealth of information about "The Dukes" and about the stunt world in general! And two "Dukes" authors you know will be there: Jon Holland, who just released his book about the filming of the first five episodes of the show, "The Roads Back to Early Hazzard," and BRB herself, author of "Them Dukes! Them Dukes!," a reference guide to the show. They'll both be signing copies of their books.

It's called the "Hazzard County Cruise-In," and it's sure to be a good time, leading up to (and after) your DukesFest experience! We're sure many folks'll be touring the original film sites in and around the Covington countryside that week, as well as dropping in on Dianne and Harold at A Touch of Country -- home of the fab "Dukes" museum -- so we're really looking forward to a whole blessed week of fun!

- And while we're talking "Dukes," another one of the stunt guys popped up on the radar: James August Smith, who worked on the 2005 flick and has done stunts at DukesFest over the years. Smith just appeared this past weekend at an event in Yakima, Washington, RacingWest.com reports.

- And speaking of the 2005 movie ... We don't know too many fans out there who enjoyed it, for sure, and StarPulse.com addresses that fact, naming it one of the worst movies made from a TV show.

- We've reported on this blog about John Schneider's new TV series on ABC Family. You can see the video promo for the series, "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," and catch a nice glimpse of John-John, at the ABC Family site. The series premieres soon, July 1. Thanks to Renee at the All-John blog for the tipoff. We simply adore the fact that our fellow 1968-born redhead Molly Ringwald will also star, as well as Josie Bissett, whom we loved on "Melrose Place."

- Finally, to round out today's "Dukes"-themed post, read a couple fresh quotes from our own Rosco P. Coltrane at Southern Illinois' TheSouthern.com, which talked with him after he threw out the first pitch at a baseball game there late last week.

Motor City Mania: As always, the "Dukes" are abundant! And we like it that way!

You know, BRB has attended the Motor City Comic Con -- as a special guest, as a member of the media, or simply as a geek -- many times in the nearly 20-year history of the show. And to her it just wouldn't be the Motor City Comic Con if Paul Harrington and his Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club display weren't there. She first saw the display in 1999, when the beast we call BRBTV was just a pup, so to speak, and she delighted in photographing Paul's General Lee, a photo later used for the cover of the "Them Dukes! Them Dukes!" reference guide.

This year, the "Dukes" display got even bigger and better. Paul gets new "Dukes" memorabilia all the time (just ask his ever-patient wife, Cheryl!), in anticipation of the actual museum building currently in progress on his home property.




Paul was on the set of the 2005 "Dukes of Hazzard" movie (and saw some screen time). His collection of props from the film (above) includes production signs and a rear bumper from a jumpin' General Lee. He also has a collection of props from the TV series, shown below.

Paul has some items from the original Boar's Nest in Georgia, utilized in the first five episodes of the show shot. The building is now rented by a church.

New to the "Dukes" display this year was Will Rodgers, the "voice man," a guy who can perfectly nail just about any classic TV voice you name! And the dialog he memorizes for this stuff? Don't even get us started! Will performed his voice impersonations at last year's Hair Dare Dukes Weekend in Ontario, Canada. He has set a goal to become an in-demand voice performer. When he gets a website up and runnin', we'll post a link here! We'll also note that Will served as an editor for BRBTV's recently released "Destination: Dallas" reference guide, and for that we are thankful!

Every year, females wear that Princess Leia skin-baring outfit to this comic con. This year we counted at least four of 'em. How fun, that Leia and her friendly neighborhood Stormtrooper could pause for a photo op with the General Lee!

Here's BRB's display at the show. Thanks to Paul and Cheryl Harrington for the hospitality and the fun, once again!

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

Motor City Mania: An overview

Whew ... It was a fabulous start to a rockin' weekend at the Motor City Comic Con in Novi, Michigan. We saw thoroughly entertaining things that it wouldn't be right to post here, but we will post what we can, to kick off our full week of coverage of the event.


Mr. Felix Silla of "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century," the original "Battlestar Galactica" and many more fun shows, who also played the alien in the "Dukes of Hazzard" episode "Strange Visitor to Hazzard," stopped by our table to chat. He was at the show last year, too.


What would a con (any con?) be without Stormtroopers and the like? Here, they show their weaponry to our friend Krista ...

K.I.T.T. and the General Lee -- how can you go wrong? In fact, there are two Generals in attendance this weekend, plus the first ever appearance of one of the two original Monkeemobiles! Look for photos of that red beauty next week!

As always, BRB enjoyed the warm hospitality of Paul and Cheryl Harrington of the Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club and their "Dukes" museum display. Cheryl says it's the largest collection of fun "Dukes" stuff they've displayed at the Motor City show (and they've done quite a few of these shows!)


If you can make it to the Rock Financial Showplace this weekend, be sure to stop by BRB's table and say hello! She's signing not only "Them Dukes! Them Dukes!" but also the other two print BRBTV books, "Dynasty High" and the newly released "Destination: Dallas." She's also got CDs of all of the BRBTV products for a cool low price (see the BRBTV 10th anniversary page for a rundown of the AniPak and SuperPak). And hey, you can open up a big ole classic TV geek vortex at her table with the mere mention of "The Rockford Files," Erik Estrada, "The Secrets of Isis," Walter Koenig or any such stuff like that ...

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

Join us in the Motor City in May

With all the guest additions posted on the official site in the past few weeks, the Motor City Comic Con is shaping up to be one surefire fabbo classic TV party! Erin Gray and Gil Gerard of "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" were just added (and hey -- Felix Silla was already there!). Lou Ferrigno of "The Incredible Hulk" and Erik Estrada of "CHiPs" are there. M.C. Gainey of "The Dukes of Hazzard," will be there, as previously reported on this blog. There'll be a good "Star Trek" presence, as usual, with Walter Koenig and Denise Crosby and Avery Brooks. And a buddy of BRB's has even managed to get the proud new owner of one of the two true original Monkeemobiles to bring his lovely crimson prize -- fresh off the Barrett-Jackson auction block -- to the show, to be reunited with one of the show's stars, Micky Dolenz! Meow! (or whatever high-pitched, shrill sound it is that a monkey makes!!!!)

BRB will be at the show for the third year, signing copies of "Them Dukes! Them Dukes!" at the display of the Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club. You'll see the General Lee and a traveling museum of fab "Dukes" memorabilia, along with a host of other fun TV cars. And BRB will be bringing copies of the other BRBTV reference books. So if you can be at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi on May 16, 17 or 18, you can snag yourself a signed copy of the new "Destination: Dallas," too. She'll also have CDs of the BRBTV anniversary year products such as the AniPak of BRBTV Reports / Shorts. Remember, it's the 10th year of BRBTV, and special anniversary stuff is offered all year long in 2008!

The Motor City Comic Con is always a smokin'-good pop-culture time! See the full guest list for the show here.

Checking in with the "Dukes" museum in Canada

You know we like to keep you up-to-date on what's happening with the "Dukes of Hazzard" museum currently under construction by Paul Harrington and his Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club. Paul sent us a bunch of photos a while back, some of which we're featuring here, to give you more of a glimpse of the building's progress.

Check earlier posts of this blog, too, to see additional photos and information about this fun project, which will house Paul's considerable collection of "Dukes" memorabilia. (That's Paul diggin' the hole below! What an inenviable task!)

It's a labor of love, we know ...

Stay tuned for more updates on the museum as time passes.

Photos courtesy of Paul Harrington

"Dukes" museum gets its floor joists

The "Dukes of Hazzard" museum in Ontario, Canada, continues to take shape. And winter weather is sure not a deterrent for this fine project ...

"We now have 12' feet of floor joists up, and another 8' to go to complete only half of the 40' feet for the overall floor space," says Paul Harrington of the Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club, who owns the property. "This section is 20' by 24' ."

Paul jokes that in the photo below, he's having his "first cup of tea up in the 'Dukes' room, lol, almost 14' off the ground."

He continues, "Each board is 24' long , and these are a true 9 1/2" by 2" boards, very heavy, and very hard to pull them up. We ended up using a boat winch on the ground with a pulley on a bar in the rafters, 20' in the air."

All in a day's work. Well, we're sure it was more than a day. "It is taking shape," Paul says, "with the help of Lance, and Tonya, and Cheryl making teas for us, and a great supper."

Photos courtesy of Paul Harrington

BRBTV News Blog Blip: Speaking of "The Dukes," Tom Wopat, our own Luke Duke, will fill in for Robert Cuccioli for the Cabaret Pittsburgh Riverview Series show at the Renaissance Hotel on February 15. Read more about it at Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

A "Dukes" museum update

There it is ... like a beacon shining in the distance ... the "Dukes of Hazzard" museum being built by Mr. Paul Harrington of the Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club. We've been posting photos now and then, to update you on the progress of the museum, and these photos are the latest.

"We have been kind of busy with the east wall," Paul said, "trying to get it all covered before it gets too cold. Well, here it is so far, now it's 40 outside. Last week it was 93; wow, what a difference."

And that was last month. There's a reason they call it the Great White North, ya know ... (of course, maybe now it'll be the Great Orange North!)

Photos courtesy of Paul Harrington

Dukes Cruise: Byron Cherry

Part 4 of a full week's worth of coverage of the 2007 Hillbilly Woodstick 2 Dukes of Hazzard Cruise, which culminated this past weekend in Covington, Georgia ...

When the BRBTV News Blog reported on Byron Cherry's involvement in the 2007 Hair Dare Dukes Days in our August 14 post, we mentioned several descriptors that the casual observer could associate with this great guy ... fun-loving, boisterous, always smiling, the life of the party. Well, after last weekend's Hillbilly Woodstick 2 Dukes of Hazzard Cruise, we have one more to add to the list: trooper!


If you were anywhere near the cruise's display at the Lions' BBQ cookoff in Covington on Saturday, you saw our lovable Coy Duke hauling around boxes and setting up tables and canopies as if he were part of the backstage crew instead of the honored guest. You saw him triapse up on stage to talk about "The Dukes," then go up again a little while later to put on a pig's snout and oink! You saw him turn in an interview for a local radio station, strike a pose with Miss Hazzard County, then follow the crowd to the Square in Covington, having already been all over the place, including the antiques mall on Elm Street, earlier that day. You saw him pose with "Dukes" museum curator Jo McLaney and sign items at the A Touch of Country shop, and you saw him sign, sign, sign and turn a smile and a good-natured attitude toward everyone who approached him. You saw him do all of this, after having spent a week on the road with the cruise, making other appearances, and (very importantly) you saw him do all this on Saturday after he spent the first part of the day very sick to his stomach! If that's not being a trooper, we're just not sure what is!



All of those appropriate lauds aside, however, Cherry also took part in the "Dukes" reminiscing of the event and offered some fun stuff as he spoke to the standing-room-only crowd in the meeting room of the Super 8 Motel in Covington on Friday.

As he took the floor, he first thanked Wayne and Donna Wooten for organizing the show, as well as the fans. "Without you guys, the show would be nothing," he said.

"I used to come to Covington to hunt and fish," the Atlanta native pointed out. Cherry still has family here in Atlanta.

Then he told about how he first came to be associated with "The Dukes of Hazzard."

"I'd see John (Schneider) all over Atlanta. I knew him. We go way back. We were doing little commercials here and there, enough to get by, nothing big. As an actor, you try to stay positive, but you do 10, 20 auditons and nobody hires you, you think you're in the wrong business. I was up originally for (the part of) Bo, but I missed the audition. A few years later, the same agent calls me and says, 'Hey, Byron, you ever hear of a show called "The Dukes of Hazzard"?' I said, 'Yea, I watch it every Friday night!'" Cherry laughed.

"I went over there, and they gave me a three-page scene. Stratton was playing Daisy, and I was trying to play the Coy Duke character. He was talking like a woman, and I just started laughing. This was in Atlanta, Georgia. I hadn't been to L.A. yet. I got through the scene, and mostly it was just laughing. They overnighted it to Warner Bros."

When Cherry got the news that he'd made the cut, though, he had trouble believing it! While he was out on a family dinner at TGIFridays (for his mom's birthday), the bartender approached the table to tell Cherry he had a phone call. It was Jimmy, his roommate. "He said, 'Byron, you're going to Hollywood, man! They called you.'"

Cherry thought it was a joke and hung up! At the third call, he finally believed. "I think the next day I was on a plane to do a screen test," he said. "I get out there, and they give me prep. I said, 'Who am I going to read with?' and they said Daisy Mae, and I said, 'No, really?' The real Daisy Mae! That audition was supposed to last two days, and it was almost a month for me, because they'd bring in people from all over the place. I didn't know I really had the job. I was the only blond-haired, blue-eyed guy there!" Again, Cherry laughed.

"Finally, the producers called me in after reading hundreds of people. I walked in there and they had a big ole bottle of champagne."

Cherry also learned that it was his workout buddy, Chris Mayer, who got the role of the other Duke cousin. The two remain friends to this day.

(Don Schisler, by the way, threw in a comment during this talk: He said that Byron Cherry was being modest, because he himself saw the casting call for this Coy Duke role, and there were thousands of people there.)

Well ... we'd have to say that Warner Bros. made a fine choice.

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV

Hair Dare Dukes Days offer a star-car paradise

Plans are shaping up for this year's Hair Dare Dukes Days in Ontario, sponsored by the Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club and benefiting the Canadian Cancer Society, as mentioned previously here in this very blog ...

One big part of the show, which is the fifth annual event and which has expanded to two days this year, is the star-car quotient. It's big, if the below list is any indication!

C'mon out on August 10-12, and you'll not only meet Byron "Coy Duke" Cherry, Christopher "Vance Duke" Mayer, Don Pedro "Sheriff Little" Colley, BRB herself and Paul Casey, Vegas (and DukesFest) performer extraordinnaire, but you'll also meet the following ...

**At least 15 General Lees!**
3 Hazzard County Sheriff cars from the series
Hazzard County Sheriff car from the 2005 movie
Hazzard County Sheriff boat
Daisy Duke "Dixie" Jeep
"Carnival of Thrills" two-part episode car
Chickasaw County Sheriff car
Double Zero Mustang
The Colonel car
"Dukes of Hazzard" memorabilia museum
K.I.T.T. car from "Knight Rider"
Batman boat from '60s series
"Lost in Space" robot
"Starsky & Hutch" Torino
"A-Team" van
"Mad Max" Falcon
"Blues"-mobile
"Smokey and the Bandit" Trans Am

And can we just note that a good share of these cars are owned by chicks! Yeee-haaaa!

Have you picked up that extra memory card for your camera yet?

"Dukes" museum is progressing

Like a blazin'-orange beacon shining in the sun, in a few years this "Dukes of Hazzard" museum will be leading "Dukes" fans from all over to a great assortment of memorabilia. Paul Harrington of the Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club has been working on the building for his museum for a few years already, and he offers us this update on his progress. As these photos show, it is, indeed, coming along!

"Lance and I were outside most of today and painted the south wall of the building," he reported yesterday. "It does look a lot better, ORANGE than the rustic look, lol."

The building, at Paul's home in Ruscom Station, Ontario, is 56 feet long and 40 feet wide, with walls that are 20 feet high. The roof peaks are over 27 feet. "I hope by August, the east wall will be completed," he notes.

Photos courtesy of Paul Harrington

Yeeeeee-haaaaaaaaaaaaa!