Sen.: Hillbilly Reality Show Is 'Bigotry for Bucks'

Yahoo ^ | Tue Feb 25, 2:16 PM ET

[Michael2001]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A senator on Tuesday accused CBS of peddling "bigotry for big bucks" by planning a "reality" show based on "The Beverly Hillbillies," which portrayed a family of simple country folks suddenly transplanted to a posh neighborhood.

In a fiery speech on the Senate floor, Georgia Democratic Sen. Zell Miller called on CBS and its chief executive, Leslie Moonves, to cancel the program, which has already sparked protests in rural areas where casting is being done.

"What CBS and CEO Moonves propose to do with this cracker comedy is bigotry, pure and simple. Bigotry for big bucks," Miller said. "They know that the only minority left in this country that you can make fun of and demean and humiliate ... are hillbillies in particular and rural people in general."

Like the premise of the long-running CBS hit comedy "The Beverly Hillbillies" about a poor mountaineer and his kin who strike it rich on oil, the idea for the new "reality" series is to transplant a real-life family from a humble home in the backwoods to a mansion in Beverly Hills, California.

Also like the original comedy, which aired from 1962 to 1971, the show would try to capitalize on the fish-out-of-water dynamics between the family members and their new upscale environs and neighbors.

Critics of the show, however, have branded it a "hick hunt" designed to hold poor, rural people up to ridicule.

Groups in Appalachia and the South, where casting for the show has been focused, have picketed a CBS affiliate, launched letter-writing campaigns and taken out newspaper ads around the country to try to pressure the network to back down.

"CBS, the once proud and honorable broadcasting company, ... it seems has become just another money grubber," Miller said, attacking Moonves as "a man who obviously believes that network television is an ethics-free zone and it is acceptable for big profits to always come ahead of good taste."

CBS executives met with rural activists earlier this month to discuss the controversy but gave no indication they were ready to cancel the project -- which remains without a cast five months after plans for it were first unveiled.

[Lijahsbubbe]

Hey senator, here's a reality show that should be cancelled.
It goes like this:

Hardworking Americans having more than forty percent of their money taken to pay for things for illegals, people who don't want to work, and crazy studies etc.

Why don't you scream about that on the senate floor instead of wasting your time on a TV show?

[PhiKapMom]

I heard Senator Miller today and was very impressed with his appropriate and timely speech!

If you bothered to read more, you would know that Senator Zell Miller supports Tax Cuts!

For someone new, you should do some research before going off the deep end on Sen Miller.

[InvisibleChurch]

moonves ought to have a show about moonves moving into a 'backward' trailer park with a buck and a half and a roll of toilet paper and asked to fend for himself

[Ciexyz]

Hell I'm still upset that they cancelled "Hee Haw" years ago.

[11th Earl of Mar]

Life in America is getting pretty restrictive if we can't even laugh at hillbillies anymore.

[Chi-townChief]

We had 8 years of the Capitol Hillbillies so why not these guys?

[Sacajaweau]

I watch the reruns. It is a reality show about diversity. We laugh at the banker as well as Jeb. They're ignorant of each other not one is ignorant and one is not.

And if some of the things that Lucy did and Ralph did weren't exactly based on brainpower.

To the Moon with those knocking the new series. Make me laugh!! I'll live longer!!

[capt. norm]

"Capitol Hillbillies "

Love it!

[Lijahsbubbe]

I don't have to read more, I was responding to the above article about the Senator opposing a TV show.

The length of time a person is registered with Free Republic is no indicator of their knowledge of issues, or a factor in their right to voice an opinion. (not to say I don't learn alot from reading it, plus I'm a long time lurker)

I think the Senator is wasting my money opposing a TV show.

Besides, I want to see the show!

[Ciexyz]

I liked the character of Miss Jane. She never got any respect from her boss, but she managed to make him look like the boob he was. And Jed Clampett, the "ignorant redneck", always treated her like a lady.

[Lijahsbubbe]

Granny was the greatest, though. Bet she could take care of Saddam!

[Sacajaweau]

Dennis Miller is going to be on Leno tonight. :-)

[Always A Marine]

Why don't you scream about that on the senate floor instead of wasting your time on a TV show?

Perhaps you don't realize that Senator Zell Miller is the top Democratic ally of President Bush -- and number one thorn in Tom Daschle's behind. Perhaps you haven't read Miller's numerous editorials in the Wall Street Journal. Perhaps you haven't listened to Miller rail against high taxes, or heard him declare "I never met a tax cut I didn't like." Perhaps you have misjudged this man.

That said, what precludes a United States Senator from commenting on what he sees as a decline in civilized discourse -- and over public airwaves, to boot? He's from Appalachia, so who wouldn't understand if he's offended? Perhaps we should be a bit slower to shoot our friends...

[SamAdams76]

I don't see what all the fuss is about either. Maybe because I don't watch much TV anyhow. It's such a minor part of my life. There are so many other things out there for a senator to concern oneself with (and I like Zell Miller). Besides, don't they have a lot of shows about "city slickers" having to adjust to life on the farm? I think "Green Acres" is a good example of that genre.

[Lijahsbubbe]

Okay, first I went off the deep end, now I'm shooting him.

Again, I am responding to the article above.

Am aware he takes unpopular stances with his party

That still does not change my mind about wasting time on a TV show.

I'm glad he's your friend. I don't like or dislike him one way or another.

[Windcatcher]

Would someone please explain to me why Miller is still a Democrat? I'm a northerner (okay, I was born in VA, but I've lived in PA most of my life), and even *I* can see how much the libs despise everything even remotely Southern. Sheesh. He's associating with people who hold him in contempt, for crying out loud.

PA is a northern state...until you get 75 miles from Philly or Pittsburgh...then, I'm not so sure :)

[dfwgator]

The Washington Hillbillies

(Beverly Hillbillies melody)

Well dere once was a story 'bout a man named Bill;
Da poor president couldn't keep his willie still;
Den one day he was workin' at his desk,
When in walks Monica and shows da boy her chest...

Boobs, that is. Two of 'em. Bodacious ta ta's.

Well da next thing ya know, Monica is on her knees,
Mouth open wide and as happy as you please;
Bill sez, "oh yeah now-don't say a thing,"
"If you do a good job then we'll have a little fling."

Hummer, that is. Phalli osculation.

Well, Bill lost his load and it fell upon her dress,
He said, "Clean it up, 'cuz you really are a mess,
And you're invited here to dis fine locality,
To have a heapin' helpin' of little Willie C."

Da wiener, that is. Da presidential staff.

So week after week, Monica is on her knees
Keepin' Willie and his Wiener just as happy as you please,
But then she figured out dat the fling had gone too far,
And she blabbed it all to Linda Tripp who blabbed it all to Starr.

Bad girl, that is. Cigars. Bodacious ta ta's.

Well it weren't too long till we all knew the score,
'bout da stuff dat went down behind da oval office door;
Da country's in da toilet and da people cry, "No More"
But if we oust da cheatin' jerk, den we gotta live with Gore.

Boob, that is. Great big one. Head stuck up his rear.

So now ya know da story 'bout Bill our president,
Wonderin' if dis fling's gonna cost him every cent;
So da moral of da story is to do it quietly,
And stay outta trouble with dat b!tch named Hillary.

[Lijahsbubbe]

Hilarious.

Remember, those hillbillies left with a truck load of stuff!

[hoosierskypilot]

They cancelled Hee Haw? Just wasn't the same after string bean died.