"The Real Beverly Hillbillies" slammed as demeaning to country folk [A new, CBS reality tv show]

AP ^ | Jan. 8, 2003 | AP

[summer]

POSTED: Jan. 8, 2003 9:15 a.m.

WHITESBURG, Ky. (AP) - An Appalachian advocacy group placed ads in some of the nation's largest newspapers Tuesday, criticizing a proposed CBS reality TV series that it says is demeaning to rural people.

The show, which is being called "The Real Beverly Hillbillies," places a poor Appalachian family in a Beverly Hills mansion. Casting for the show is being conducted in the Appalachian states of West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

[summer]

CBS seems to me to be playing it two ways here -- on one hand, they're sticking to a script used for ages, the "fish out of water" story. However, on the other hand, as they well know, I think CBS wants to get this message out to voters:

"Remember folks, we've got [GW and] a bunch of country bumpkins running our nation now!"

In short, some not-so subliminal political advertising from CBS, IMO...

More links HERE.

[lexington minuteman 1775]

The philosophy of Hollywood seems to be its okay to make fun of some folks, but I bet if you pitched a show with a similar scenario, say a poor black family out of some urban ghetto into a mansion in Beverly Hill, a few would get quite wrankled at the idea.

[SandRat]

IMHO anytime the "oh-so enlightened" Hollywood crowd get a dose of the "you can't do that you're belittling me with a racial/ethnic/economic stereotype" that they've been jamming down our thoughts, the better for all of us. Enjoyable too! He-he-he-he!

[Will_Zurmacht]

i think they should move the "ignorant hillbillys" to a big white house in washington dc...oh, wait, we tried that

[angcat]

They make fun of the Italians all the time.

[Dakotabound]

Someone suggest to CBS that they do the exact opposite: Take a liberal rich family and put them in the hills of Appalachia. Would have to be liberal, because the conservatives would buckle down and do the work.

"Imagine the episode where Dad has to kill the chicken, and mom has to pluck it. And the kids have to eat it."

[rface]

I'd go vist my Grandparents when I was growing up. Watching the Beverly Hillbillies was not allowed......and you were supposed to call people from West Virginia "Mountain Folks"

Ashland, Missouri

[upchuck]

KY FReeper ping and a big BUMP!!!

[1riot1ranger]

Who is playing Ellie May????????

[upchuck]

Someone suggest to CBS that they do the exact opposite: Take a liberal rich family and put them in the hills of Appalachia. Would have to be liberal, because the conservatives would buckle down and do the work.

That show would for sure be more interesting than what they've got planned. Moving up is so simple. Moving down is a bitch.

[Vinnie]

How about a 'reality' resurrection of Green Acres.
Take some Hollywood millionaires and place them in an ordinary family house. They would have to cook, wash the clothes, mow the yard, fix the car, drive, grocery shop. And the worst, eat tuna casserole.

[Archangelsk]

I've got an idea, as "The Real Beverly Hillbillies" is being run, concurrently run a show - call it "OhmyGod, We're Dirt Poor!" - which takes a wealthy family and puts them into a poor, Appalachian community or urban ghetto and forces them to try to survive. Any guesses as to which show a majority of Americans would tune into?

[pad 34]

"Imagine the episode where Dad has to kill the chicken, and mom has to pluck it. And the kids have to eat it."

Better yet, shoot some Squirrel, skin it up, stew it slow. “Dad, this doesn’t taste like Mc Chicken”. UMmmm, Good!

[Vigilantcitizen]

It doesn't bother this country boy that CBS and the rest of the media like to make fun of poor, rural people.

When city folks from Atlanta drive all the way out here to pay way to much for fresh veggies, they get made fun of too.

[summer]

I was thinking that since Al Gore is not running for president, and he claims he still has the ambition to serve the people, and, he's obviously looking for a tv gig, maybe he should move in with the rural family who once rented a house from him and work for them. Then, around the dinner table, while the fmaily discusses the newest leaky pipe or whatever, Al could give try out his newest take on the current international scenario, for their feedback.

[summer]

fmaily = family

[summer]

Re your post #2 - It was called "The Fresh Prince of BelAir." Another show was: "The Jeffersons."

[summer]

(The Jeffersons moved up to the upper east side of Manhattan.)

[Archangelsk]

You beat me to my idea. :-)

Actually, there was a PBS show that did exactly that, "The Frontier House". They took four families, put them in Montana and turned back the clock to 1880. Then they told them that they have six months from Spring to Fall to get ready for the brutal Winter for that part of the country. A panel of historical experts then evaluated their efforts and told them whether they would survive the harsh winter conditions. According to the experts the wealthy family, who were quite conservative, would not have survived. This wasn't based on food stores, but on the fact that they didn't pile enough firewood to last the winter. The experts said that it took a minimum of six hours a day to cut enough wood to survive the winter and they simply didn't do enough.

[summer]

I've got an idea, as "The Real Beverly Hillbillies" is being run, concurrently run a show - call it "OhmyGod, We're Dirt Poor!"

Here's another idea: Instead of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," they should do a show called: "Lifestyles of the Poor and Innocuous."

[SW6906]

It's been done (kinda). Remember Green Acres?

[KarlInOhio]

How about this for a show. Take a corrupt and sexually out of control governor of a southern state and his power mad wife and put them in control of the most powerful nation on earth.

This even has spin-off potential as the power-mad wife finds a state leftist enough to elect her to the Senate as she schemes to get back into the White House.

No, on second thought, that concept is even too stupid for network television to show.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

This is pure nonsense. America is now so wired, nobody is so out of touch as to be befuddled by a transplanted life into a Beverly Bills mansion. The Internet, DVD players and satellite dishes bring the world to the most remote "hillbillies." The small towns in Kentucky's hills have McDonalds and Wal-Mart nearby. Hollywood has a view of rural America at least 40-years-old. Hollywood isn't hip - it's clueless!

[Revelation 911]

we saw that (we have no cable tv) - It was the ONLY interesting thing ive ever seen on PBS- we missed the last few shows though, only watching up to the cattle drive and fence building

- how did that bi-racial couple fare - he seemed to really love his dad while they were building the cabin -

[IronJack]

Imagine if the subjects were crack ho's from Chicago's South Side. Or illegals from East LA.

Certain stereotypes are okay, huh?

[Fiddlstix]

Better yet, shoot some Squirrel, skin it up, stew it slow. “Dad, this doesn’t taste like Mc Chicken”. UMmmm, Good!

Now you're talkin' my language.......
Squirrel and Dumplins........
Yum!

[DeFault User]

Take a corrupt and sexually out of control governor of a southern state and his power mad wife and put them in control of the most powerful nation on earth.

The networks might do this idea if the governor is a Republican.

LOL

[Keith in Iowa]

Reality TV is an Oxymoron!

[sinclair]

"This wasn't based on food stores, but on the fact that they didn't pile enough firewood to last the winter. The experts said that it took a minimum of six hours a day to cut enough wood to survive the winter and they simply didn't do enough."

Stupid experts - you can cut wood all winter long.

[summer]

RE your post #27 - That's what I was thinking! LOL... :)

[mikeb704]

Michael M. Bates: My Side of the Swamp

[DeFault User]

Better yet, shoot some Squirrel, skin it up, stew it slow

Did you ever eat any "fresh from the road"? I have eaten pheasant that way too.

[BeAllYouCanBe]

"Certain stereotypes are okay, huh?"

All white fathers in citcoms are stupid "clueless" and they need regular dicipline from their kids. White teenagers are all extremely "street-smart" except for the token blond girl who has an IQ of 35 and a 36 inch bust.

Black women all are incredibly wise and knowledgeable on every subject usually they spend the time advising everyone else.(Whoopi Goldberg is the best example.)

Corporate people are all greedy – civil servants are all honest – Italians are in the Mafia – people who have southern accents are dumb -- doctors are caring and concerned – environmentalist are above reproach – and white Catholic priests or Christians are evil.

[Archangelsk]

- how did that bi-racial couple fare - he seemed to really love his dad while they were building the cabin

They were the only ones whom the experts said would survive the winter.

[Archangelsk]

Stupid experts - you can cut wood all winter long.

Apparently not because of the winter conditions (most everyone and the animals end up cabin bound because of the depth of the snow). Also, why are the experts stupid? They (there were four of them) made a career of documenting the conditions, they actually live in the area, and they came off as completely impartial.

[sinclair]

You can not be snowbound all winter long. That is called an iceage. You can restock almost on a daily basis. I wonder how Eskimos survive for weeks above the tree line. Yes they do, look it up. Once again, stupid experts.

[F.J. Mitchell]

Wasn't there a show about D.C. Hillbillies back in the ninties, ran about eight years as I recall. A pair of Arkansans moved into the White House and pretended to be the President and first lady. Now that show wasn't only an insult to the south-the whole country was humiliated.

There was a take off from that show planned for the 2 thousands-something about the hillbilly gal former first mama, running for the Senate and winning, while the DC hillbilly ex-President played a Jethroesque,idle rich jetsetting bozo. So far it is only shown regularialy on CNN.

[Archangelsk]

Eskimos have adapted to their environment over a dozen or so millenia. They also are equipped now with the latest modern conviences such as snowmobiles and firearms. The folks in Montana had no such conviences. As far as not being snowbound, coldbound or icebound, Montana is not Texas and in spite of the aura of "individual ruggedness" you can't win against elements such as four to five hours of available sunlight, extreme cold (average negative temperatures), frequent blizzards and cold fronts, not to mention such things as wild animals that were a constant threat because it's their element (and they're hungry too). The only way to win is to put the work in before winter (like the real pioneers of 1880) or you end up dying.

People who disparage historians, who have done their research and collected and analyzed thousands of data points, are full of hubris and arrogance and offer nothing to any discussion.

[Archangelsk]

Oh, and while I'm at it why did the Donner party perish? Apparently, they were pretty "stupid" too.

[F.J. Mitchell]

What could be funny though, is a plot that has a Beverly Hills Movie Mongoul snob family some how dwelling in a cabin in the Ozarks, trying to not look conspicious among the natives. (maybe hiding from the IRS or may from the guys in white with the butter fly nets.)

It could be called, "The Beverly Hills Sillies".

[Hildy]

I actually think it would be funnier to put Tori Spelling in the Appalachians than vice versa

[freedumb2003]

>>All white fathers in citcoms are stupid "clueless"...<<

And they are at best of average or below average looks, yet they have all seem to have been able to get trophy wives!

[Archangelsk]

Finally, here's a link to the experts. I'm sure they'd love to engage you with a debate on their stupidity.

[summer]

I actually think it would be funnier to put Tori Spelling in the Appalachians than vice versa

Yes, that is certainly a comic premise! :)

[BeAllYouCanBe]

"get trophy wives"

Yep, if you only watched TV you'd think that all 50 year old men always had 30'something wives who were all knockouts. Oh, and these women all have 150 IQs compared to the clueless men who watch sports 24/7 and only useful knowledge is every QBs pass interception percentage. These couples have kids but you wonder how with the guys being so dumb???

[ContentiousObjector]

Appalachian Americans?

Don't tell me this is a new victim minority group in the making

[freedumb2003]

"Yep, if you only watched TV..."

The only shows I watch are The Agency, Law & Order, CSI (haven't seen the new Miami version), JAG, The Amazing Race (the ONLY "Reality show" I have ever seen), News (Fox), NFL and selected shows on TV Land.

You might note the complete lack of sitcoms in there. I am sure that all the truly good material was already covered, and better, by Lucy, Dick van Dyke, MTM, probably ending with the last good series being Taxi. Every now and then I'll try watching one of the new offerings, or I get them on flights, and they always stink. They keep showing "Friends" on my LA-Pit flights and I have yet to crack a smile, much less laugh. The same was true for the two epsiodes of "Seinfeld" I attempted to watch.

There was a great article in the WSJ the other day how TV shows, in sitcoms and commercials, that all men are stereotyped ignorant, childlike slobs. And how men don't complain because, well, real men don't complain. I couldn't believe it when recently I heard some Feminazi state that if men had breast cancer it would be cured by now. Like there is no prostate cancer.

All the money goes to the PC illnesses: Breast cancer and AIDS. Real men suck it up and don't whine. I'm not whining -- just pointing out the truth. There is not much we can do about it, anyway.

[Fintan]

Heck, I find "The West Wing" to be demeaning to the U.S. Constitution, the United States of America, and acting in general, but hey...am I making a fuss????

[dasein64]

They were also the only couple without children. Makes a huge difference.

[dtel]

Thanks for the link.
Only caught one episode and I am watching for it to re-air.