The Sheila Variations

1. It just makes me smile that "Cooter" has his own website.

2. I have very mixed feelings about this movie...I remember the show fondly (hey, I was a KID and it was my brother's favorite, favorite show). If they've indeed "American Pie"-d it up - like Cooter says, I kind of feel that's too bad. They could have made it campy and funny and in the spirit of the original show without going for the really low humor...not that I'm opposed to the odd potty-mouth or dirty joke, if it fits in context, but I've seen too many movies/shows where it seems like the writers went through gymnastics with the storyline just so they could fit in the maximal number of jokes that would appeal to the 14 year old boys.

I know - Cooter has a website!!

I just love that he's this outspoken not-gonna-play-along guy.

And I agree - is it a tribute show, or is it a slap-down of the show? I thought the Brady movie was GREAT - because it had some fondness for the original, and it spoofed a lot of what we loved about it ... without going off the deep end into dirty jokes, or whatever.

I was a Dukes of Hazard fan, too - I know a lot of people who still have real fondness for that show ... I think casting Jessica Simpson might have been a mistake. They should have cast a real actress, someone with a gift for comedy and imitation.

I grew up with Dukes and it was a favorite and I had no desire to see a remake...until I saw the trailer on the big screen. Seeing the General Lee once again made me excited to see this. It doesn't matter to me what the intent is because its not going to be the original Dukes. If anything it will help generate renewed interest in that program but no one who grew up when we did will mistake one for the other. It looks fun to me and I can't wait to see it!

I heard the newsguy on the radio talking about Cooter's rant this morning, and it struck me as funny that the actor who's taken this moral high ground against the new movie is the actor whose character I watched down a donut with a mason jar full of moonshine not a week ago on a Dukes of Hazzard re-run.

It was a funny juxtaposition.

Especially since I blame Cooter specifically for my horrible, horrible moonshine problem.

tommy - hahahahaha

I had not heard they had Jessica Simpson as Daisy - ew. They should have picked someone with INTENTIONAL comic timing...

I was all excited that Burt Reynolds was going to be Boss Hogg - how fun does that sound! but if they've made it really coarse and awful and making-fun-of rather than laughing-along-with the original show, then no.

ricki -

hahaha with the "intentional" comment. Exactly.

Coo,coo Cooter! (Ya gotta say that like Roscoe P. Coltrain.)

I wonder if we should take it as a sign that unlike the relatively successful movie remakes of the "Brady Bunch" and "Lost in Space" – none of the stars from the original "Dukes of Hazard" (not even Coy and Vance) agreed to do cameos in the remakes.

This could end up being the "Mod Squad" or "SWAT" of the summer.

COOTER HAS A WEBSITE?!?!?!? Oh my Gawd, this is the best news I have heard all week.

For the first time, I am truly alive.

Several years ago, some friends in the L.A. area were playing at a charity softball event. Some of the production crew for "Baywatch" was there, and they insisted (with a straight face) that their show was a family show. I guess family values are easier to get across if they are served on silicone.

Sorry... guess the whole "Dukes as a family show" just brought back that mamm...errrr, memory.

Actually (and I am typing this with a straight face) they may not have been that far off with regarding Baywatch as a family show. While there is no doubt that at least in the latter seasons, it became known primarily for T&A, the earlier shows were toned down quite a bit and pretty plot-driven. Most of the plots dealt with things like domestic abuse, eating disorders, poor inner city kids getting involved in gangs, Sunni and Whatisname waiting until they were married to “go all the way,” the effect of divorce on children, and other typical 1980’s “One to Grow On” message stories.

Incidentally Baywatch premiered when I was in middle school and I was taking life-guard training. My teacher at the time (also my swim coach) used to play clips from the show showing the rescue techniques that they used as being pretty accurate to what an actual life guard would use.

I read in US Magazine last week that they had brought in an acting coach for Mrs. Lachey, but that said coach left after a couple of days because "Jessica didn't need me."

Or maybe it was just a task too Herculean to attempt.

Making Lucy a crack head.

BRILLIANT!!!!!!

Well, if anyone needs any Cooter-merchandise, he has a couple of shops over in Gatlinburg where he seels "Dukes" stuff, and memorabilia. He has Daisy's Jeep and the ole' Cooter truck..

Plus he actually lives there in Gatlinburg, though I've never seen him around nor seen the stores yet. I'll keep an eye out the next time I'm by.

He says he's not going to sell "Dukes" movie stuff in his stores, but that the original series merchandise is moving like crazy - due more to the reruns getting a wider release on TV than to the movie coming out.

Uh-huh.

Barry, next door in Knoxville