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Laugh, Bubba - Southern humor is drawing fans like a heifer to red clover
October 1, 2004 ^ | October 1, 2004 | LANA BERKOWITZ

Posted on 10/01/2004 12:36:54 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

DAG-GUM. Seems like rednecks are multiplying faster than empties in the back of a pick-'em-up truck.

Jeff Foxworthy, famous for his "You might be a redneck" shtick, is back on prime-time television with Blue Collar TV. Gretchen Wilson kicks up dust in her Redneck Woman video. And, Miss Alabama won the Miss America pageant.

Comedy Central has been in on the joke from the git-go. Among the cable network's contributions to corn pone humor are Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie, concert specials with a Southern twang and a repackaging of WB's Blue Collar TV.

Funny is funny, and it's Southern humor's time, said Kathryn Mitchell, senior vice president of programming for Comedy Central.

"When the war started, country music had a big resurgence of popularity because it felt it had something to say. I think that's exactly what is happening with the humor," Mitchell said.

"It's doing very, very big numbers for us — as big as Dave Chappelle. (Comedy Central is) predominately an 18-34 male channel, but we're certainly attracting more women with this."

Mitchell sees similarities in blue-collar humor and Chris Rock's urban-oriented rants.

"Chris Rock talks about his brothers and his sisters and his mom and his girlfriends, and that's exactly what these guys are talking about, but obviously it's from a different point of view," she said.

"I do think there's a zeitgeist element. The fact that there's an election, people are very focused on the country and what's going on, and the fact that there's a war going on has something to do with it. These (Southern humorists) are proud Americans. They laugh at the country, but they are very much proud Americans. (The jokes are) about celebrating their way of life. They go hunting. They go to Wal-Mart, and that's what their jokes are about, and that says something to the country. It's not all about New York Fashion Week."

David Davis of Fort Worth has always been hip to redneck ways. The author of Redneck Night Before Christmas (1997) has a new volume out: Ten Redneck Babies (Pelican Publishing, $15.95). Illustrated by Houston native Sue Marshall Ward, the counting book features rhymes about MoonPies, kudzu, cotton pickin', black-eyed peas and patches on bluejeans knees.

It's pulled from memories of his days of growing up in Texas, said Davis.

"When I was a boy I never really heard that word too much. At that time a redneck was just someone who worked out in the sun and worked with their hands. Their necks were tan because they worked out in the sun. All the negative connotations that you hear now about it — all the racial stuff — I wasn't really aware of it.

"I was born in 1948. I guess my generation was one of the last ones to be able to have all the good things. Back then every boy had a pocketknife, and nobody thought anything about it. Playing out in the cornfield. I have a lot of affection for those things."

While Foxworthy plays it for laughs and Davis is nostalgic, Michael Graham, author of Redneck Nation: How the South Really Won the War (Warner Books, $23.95) is not so fond of the South of his boyhood. Graham spent 20 years trying to escape the thin-skinned bullies of his Southern roots, which he ascribes to being "classic redneckery." Ultimately, however, he found little difference between Brooklyn, N.Y., and Birmingham, Ala. Graham finally has settled in Falls Church, Va.

"I refuse to cross the Potomac. I work in D.C., but I stay on God's side of the river," he said.

"I think the last place we can tell the truth in America — where we can honestly express our opinions, even if you're wrong — is in the South among rednecks. Because it's the last group of people who will say: 'I don't necessarily agree with that now, but ... ,' as opposed to, 'I can't believe you said that. I'm going to get a lawyer.'

"The people doing the most dangerous comedy right now from an 'omigosh-they're-going-to-get-in-trouble' angle would be either Dave Chappelle or Southern rednecks who are talking about issues of race and culture and value judgments. That to me is fascinating," Graham said.

The popularity of rednecks is six-pack heaven for comedian Jon Reep of Hickory, N.C. He's the "HEMI guy" in the Dodge Ram commercials, Gerald Bob in the new ABC sitcom Rodney, and he is auditioning for the role of Cooter in the upcoming Dukes of Hazzard film featuring Jessica Simpson as Daisy. (Reep also is performing here at the Laff Stop today and Saturday.)

When Reep arrived in California, he was considered a Southern-fried actor.

"I never really thought of myself as a total redneck until I moved to Los Angeles, and then I was informed that I was a redneck," Reep said. "Just a Southern accent — that's all it takes in Hollywood.

"A friend asked: 'Are you afraid of being typecast?' I said 'I'll play a redneck as long as they pay me. I will paint my neck red if they will pay me.' "

Reporter Lana Berkowitz — aka Lana Jo — was raised on a cotton farm near Big Spring. Louisiana kin just call her "Lan'r."

lana.berkowitz@chron.com


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: american; comedy; country; culture; fun; funny; humor; laugh; outspoken; race; redneck; smile; values
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first 1-2021-38 next last

1 posted on 10/01/2004 12:36:55 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Out of all that, my eyes see Jessica Simpson as Daisy. Mmm...mmm...good!
2 posted on 10/01/2004 12:49:23 AM PDT by endthematrix (Bad news is good news for the Kerry campaign!)
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To: SoDak

Rednecks!!!!!


3 posted on 10/01/2004 12:51:48 AM PDT by codyjacksmom (OH!!! The Hugh-Vanities..... ummmm,uhhhhh, I mean Humanities, yeah thats what I meant.)
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To: codyjacksmom

I might be a redneck.


4 posted on 10/01/2004 1:00:46 AM PDT by SoDak
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To: SoDak
For some reason now, I can picture this Mr. Clean, redneck dude on a Harley...Hmmmmmmmmmm....
5 posted on 10/01/2004 1:03:20 AM PDT by codyjacksmom (OH!!! The Hugh-Vanities..... ummmm,uhhhhh, I mean Humanities, yeah thats what I meant.)
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To: codyjacksmom

I'm not planning on shaving my head anytime soon.


6 posted on 10/01/2004 1:06:52 AM PDT by SoDak
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To: SoDak

But you're getting a Harley? LOL


7 posted on 10/01/2004 1:08:18 AM PDT by codyjacksmom (OH!!! The Hugh-Vanities..... ummmm,uhhhhh, I mean Humanities, yeah thats what I meant.)
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To: codyjacksmom

I'd like to get a Harley. As soon as I find an extra 15K lying around, I'll buy one.


8 posted on 10/01/2004 1:15:11 AM PDT by SoDak
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To: SoDak

Yeah, but that just puts you right back to having to shave your head. ;)


9 posted on 10/01/2004 1:18:43 AM PDT by codyjacksmom (OH!!! The Hugh-Vanities..... ummmm,uhhhhh, I mean Humanities, yeah thats what I meant.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Gratuitous Gretchen Wilson pic:
10 posted on 10/01/2004 1:19:12 AM PDT by Leroy S. Mort
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To: codyjacksmom

There won't be any head-shaving going on. It's short enough already.


11 posted on 10/01/2004 1:25:43 AM PDT by SoDak
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To: SoDak

Well you sure are messing up my image of the Mr. Clean redneck Harley rider SD. :-(


12 posted on 10/01/2004 1:29:29 AM PDT by codyjacksmom (OH!!! The Hugh-Vanities..... ummmm,uhhhhh, I mean Humanities, yeah thats what I meant.)
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To: Leroy S. Mort

Thank you


13 posted on 10/01/2004 1:30:19 AM PDT by SoDak
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To: codyjacksmom

I think you'll have to come up with a new image.


14 posted on 10/01/2004 1:31:47 AM PDT by SoDak
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To: SoDak
You are taking my humor away for the night. Lucky for the men around, I don't know how to post pics from my e-mails. I'd have to counter that chick pic.
15 posted on 10/01/2004 1:35:45 AM PDT by codyjacksmom (OH!!! The Hugh-Vanities..... ummmm,uhhhhh, I mean Humanities, yeah thats what I meant.)
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To: codyjacksmom

Let me be the first to admit that you have a picture that would certainly neutralize the one already posted.


16 posted on 10/01/2004 1:39:08 AM PDT by SoDak
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To: SoDak

Ok...no shaving head and you can still have a Harley! That was the sweetest thing I've heard in a long time. ;)


17 posted on 10/01/2004 1:43:38 AM PDT by codyjacksmom (OH!!! The Hugh-Vanities..... ummmm,uhhhhh, I mean Humanities, yeah thats what I meant.)
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To: codyjacksmom

Cool! I get a Harley.


18 posted on 10/01/2004 1:45:21 AM PDT by SoDak
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To: SoDak
Oh, is THAT what that was all about?!?! I see!
19 posted on 10/01/2004 1:49:52 AM PDT by codyjacksmom (OH!!! The Hugh-Vanities..... ummmm,uhhhhh, I mean Humanities, yeah thats what I meant.)
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To: codyjacksmom

Well, it's an integral part!


20 posted on 10/01/2004 1:52:25 AM PDT by SoDak
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