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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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To: SoDak
Time for Mr.Clean redneck Harley dude again! LOL
21 posted on 10/01/2004 1:53:54 AM PDT by codyjacksmom (OH!!! The Hugh-Vanities..... ummmm,uhhhhh, I mean Humanities, yeah thats what I meant.)
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To: codyjacksmom

Or technogeekredneckjeepman *L*


22 posted on 10/01/2004 1:55:54 AM PDT by SoDak
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To: SoDak

That'll work! LOL


23 posted on 10/01/2004 1:56:51 AM PDT by codyjacksmom (OH!!! The Hugh-Vanities..... ummmm,uhhhhh, I mean Humanities, yeah thats what I meant.)
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To: codyjacksmom

Ok, for any women wanting a nice real MAN pic... check this out http://www.cumm.co.uk/angel.gif


24 posted on 10/01/2004 2:12:41 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
Favorite Jeff Foxworthy joke:

"If you see a sign that says'fight against crack', and it reminds you to pull up your blue jeans, you might be a redneck."

Regards,

25 posted on 10/01/2004 2:46:46 AM PDT by Jimmy Valentine (DemocRATS - when they speak, they lie; when they are silent, they are stealing the American Dream)
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To: Leroy S. Mort
Gretchen paid a gratuitous vist to Pocahantas and East Pierron at the end of August while I was in Highland visiting family and friends. She can put on one heck of a show.

All my adult life, when asked where I grew up, I always answered: "Near St. Louis, on the Illinois side".

With Wilson's fame, however brief, I've been able to say Pocahontas or Pokey, Illinois and people actually know where that's at.

26 posted on 10/01/2004 3:31:41 AM PDT by woofer
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Two words for y'all-LEWIS GRIZZARD.Who by the way had a great definition of the term "redneck".


27 posted on 10/01/2004 3:50:01 AM PDT by mrmargaritaville
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

And over yonder is a city that is just called Lan'a.


28 posted on 10/01/2004 4:33:20 AM PDT by billhilly (If you're lurking here from DU (Democrats unglued), I trust this post will make you sick)
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Comment #29 Removed by Moderator

To: Jimmy Valentine
"If you see a sign that says'fight against crack', and it reminds you to pull up your blue jeans, you might be a redneck."

Now that's funny, I don't care who ya are!
Makes me happier than a bus-load a retards goin' ta Chucky Cheese!

30 posted on 10/01/2004 4:44:45 AM PDT by bullseye1911 (Natural Selection = the weak and stupid die!)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Well, how lucky I am that this thread just came about...

I just saw a movie on DVD that is a complete celebration of all that's "Whiskey Tango!" (that's "White Trash" for those of you from Rio Linda!).

The movie's titled "Waking up in Reno," and it stars Billy Bob Thornton, Patrick Swazey, Charlize Theron, and Natasha Richardson. It's about two married couples that go on vacation with a road trip to Reno, to see the Monster Truck ralley!

Some of the conversations are just TOO FUNNY!!!! I think that I found this movie so funny because I know people like this... In fact, I might just be like some of the people in this movie! lol

Mark


31 posted on 10/01/2004 4:46:08 AM PDT by MarkL (Dude!!! You're farting fire!!!!)
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To: Leroy S. Mort

Well, I have no idea whatsoever who Gretchen Wilson is, but given the photo, thank goodness for Google!

Mark


32 posted on 10/01/2004 4:46:59 AM PDT by MarkL (Dude!!! You're farting fire!!!!)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

I was born and raised in Southeast Alabama. I have a law degree and studied Shakespeare at Balliol College at Oxford. Does that make me an 'Educated Redneck'?


33 posted on 10/01/2004 4:47:30 AM PDT by Crawdad (I cried because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no class.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Blue Collar Tour BTTT


34 posted on 10/01/2004 4:47:34 AM PDT by cyborg (http://mentalmumblings.blogspot.com/)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

In the pagent, Ms NYC was so tightly puckered the bikini had a dent


35 posted on 10/01/2004 4:49:37 AM PDT by bert (Peace is only halftime !)
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To: Crawdad

I, too, was raised in Alabama. I have lived all over the US, and worked several years as an engineer. I have a graduate degree.

I have noticed that women from the south have it MADE (especially if, like my wife, they are very attractive). People fall all over themselves for that soft sounding lilt to her voice, and walk away with visions of Scarlett O'Hara or something.

With men, when they hear the accent they just check to see if you are wearing shoes. In political conversations, they seem absolutely stunned if you have read Noam Chomsky or Gore Vidal (they are surprised that you read at all!) and the leftist crowd seem really exasperated when they cannot announce that you are just an ignorant backwoods hick who holds these quaint ideas because you are so provincial. All in all, it is fun being from the south. So much fun that I just moved back.


36 posted on 10/01/2004 5:02:35 AM PDT by chronic_loser (Yeah? so what do I know?)
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To: chronic_loser; Crawdad
I'm a graduate degreed Connecticut Yankee who married an equally educated Southern spouse the European component of which causes us to view the "redneck" differently.

Since we also have the advantage of age it is blatantly obvious to us that the redneck and the blond jokes etc. are simply a subtle (read deceitful) way to demean the white race.

Try "spinning" the jokes just a little to fit any other racial entity (red, yellow, black, Arab, Jew) and consider whether you think you would laugh at them, hear them peacefully or hear them at all since they all depict the subject as some variant of stupid.

As amusing as some may be, until I hear as many jokes about foibles of other people groups I am "checked" by the derisive element in them that prejudices more than just the untutored. Nor can I view the typical West coast mentality a normally capable judge or portrayer of the genuine American spirit.
37 posted on 10/01/2004 7:07:14 AM PDT by Spirited
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

You might be a redneck Jedi if ..............

You ever heard the phrase, "May the force be with y'all."

Your Jedi robe is camouflage.

You have ever used your light saber to open a bottle of Bud Light.

At least one wing of your X-Wing Fighter is primer colored.

You can easily describe the taste of an Ewok.

You have ever had a land-speeder up on blocks in your yard.

The worst part of spending time on Dagobah is the dadgum skeeters.

Wookies are offended by your B.O.

You have ever used the force to get yourself another beer so you didn't have to wait for a commercial.

You have ever used the force in conjunction with fishing/bowling.

Your father has ever said to you, "Shoot, son come on over to the dark side...it'll be a hoot."

You have ever had your R-2 unit use its self-defense electro-shock thingy to get the barbecue grill to light.

You have a confederate flag painted on the hood of your land-speeder.

You ever fantasized about Princess Leia wearingDaisy Duke shorts.

You have the doors of your X-wing welded shut and you have to get in through the window.

Although you had to kill him, you kinda thought that Jabba the Hutt had a pretty good handle on how to treat his women.

You have a cousin who bears a strong resemblance to Chewbacca.

You suggested that they outfit the Millennium Falcon with redwood deck.

You were the only person drinking Jack Daniels during the cantina scene.

You use the Force's ability to see distant things and places to watch pro wrestling.

Your blaster weapon is double-barreled and sawed-off.

Your tunic has "Pabst Blue Ribbon" printed on the back.

You have more notches on your light sabre's handle than teeth in your head.

You stop on your way to Mos Eisley to pick up roadkill.

Yoda had you levitating broken refrigerators during training.

You walk out of the cantina because they ain't playin' Lynrd Skynrd.

Using the Force on the weak-minded makes you forget where you are and what you're doing.

If at least one widow of that X-wing fighter is made of a Hefty Bag and duct tape.

You find out Leia's your sister, AND IT DON'T MATTER!!!

You have a cousin who bears a strong resemblance to Chewbacca. And her name is Loretta.

If you have a "Forget? HELL NO!" bumpersticker on the back of your X-wing.

If you've ever used your light saber to pick a bit of chewing tobacco out of your teeth.

If your Momma looks like Yoda.

Your lightsaber is made of two Budwieser cans held together with duct tape.

Your lightsaber has a lawnmower pull handle to start it.

You singe the hair off your forearm after sharpening your lightsaber.

If your arch nemesis is named "Darth Bubba".

You brought a beer to an audience with the Emperor.

You refer to Imperial Stormtroopers as "those damnyankees."

You've ever done a "bootlegger's reverse" in your X-Wing while dogfighting a TIE Fighter...

You use the Millenium Falcon's main sensor dish to pick up the Fishin' Channel.

If you hear . . . "Luke, I am your father ... and your uncle ...your cousin ...... "


38 posted on 10/01/2004 7:44:19 AM PDT by Jonah Hex (Free Republic... Afflicting the Media Since 1998)
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