"Dukes" ride high at the Motor City Comic Con

Fans of the TV show "The Dukes of Hazzard" have a lot to look forward to at this year's Motor City Comic Con in Novi, Michigan. This is generally a good show anyway, but this year, the media guest list is rather eye-popping (even Charlene Tilton of "Dallas" will be there -- all three days, BRBTV learned from the event organizer). There'll be a "Dukes of Hazzard" display that will be awesome, with the General Lee, Rosco's cars and a traveling museum, as well as your own BRB signing copies of the new print version of the "Them Dukes! Them Dukes!" fact book.

The Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club, based in Ruscom Station, Ontario, Canada, will display the General Lee, along with two Hazzard County Sheriff's cars modeled after the vehicles used in the originial series and in the 2005 motion picture. The fan club will also feature its traveling "Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Museum" at the Novi comic con, which is in a new location this year, the Rock Financial Showplace. The show runs May 19, 20 and 21.

Paul Harrington is founder / president of the Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club and a lifelong "Dukes" fan. He's heading up the "Dukes" display. Harrington, who had a role as an extra in the 2005 "Dukes" film, has been displaying his "Dukes" collection since 1997.

"This year will be the largest 'Dukes of Hazzard' display that I have ever put together in one place, including props from the original TV series and the 2005 movie, and I'm pulling many friends into this with their TV and movie star cars," Harrington says. He purchased his own 1969 Charger in 1991 in Georgia, where the first five episodes of the show were filmed.

A hard-core "Dukes" fan through and through, Harrington is pals with Jerry Rushing, the actor, author and former moonshiner who was the inspiration behind the "Dukes," has met all of the "Dukes" stars over the years and even featured a "Dukes"-inspired car chase in the May 2000 wedding to his wife, Cheryl! Harrington is founder and president of the Jerry Rushing Fan Club in which Rushing's daughter is an active member. Harrington works as a licensed mechanic in Essex, Ontario, at Elford & Stowe Ltd., where some of the display cars have been built.

BRB is delighted that Harrington asked her to be part of his "Dukes" display. She'll be signing copies of "Them Dukes! Them Dukes!" on the Saturday of the show, and possibly on Sunday, depending on how things work out. To learn more about the fact book, which includes cast list, character guide, episode guide and lots more (and really, you probably know the deal by now, if you're a reader of this blog), click on the link from the BRBTV.com home page.

Besides the "Dukes" display, the Motor City Comic Con will feature a huge 40th anniversary celebration of the TV show "Batman," with appearances by several of the show's stars: Adam West, Burt Ward, Yvonne Craig, Julie Newmar, Lee Meriwether and Malachi Throne. An original Batmobile will be there, along with a Batcycle, Batcomputer and other goodies.

"We're the first convention to have this many 'Batman' cast members brought together at one time," says Gary Bishop, event organizer. "And we're the only show this year that's celebrating the show's 40th anniversary."

The Motor City Comic Con runs 1:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information about the show, visit www.motorcitycomiccon.com. For more information about the Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club, visit www.canadiandukes.com.