Bo and Luke Duke may be “makin’ their way the only way they know how.” But that’s just a little bit more than TV Land will allow.
The Viacom-owned cable network quietly removed The Dukes of Hazzard from their programming schedule yesterday in the wake of recent controversy regarding the show’s extensive use of the Confederate flag. The 1979-85 series had been airing twice daily at 4:36 p.m. and 5:38 p.m. (ET) and, according to listings at TV Guide.com, was scheduled to continue in that slot. The classic Western Bonanza will now air in its place.
A TV Land spokesperson confirmed via email that the series has been removed from the schedule, but offered no further comment.
Thirty years after the CBS hit rode off into the Georgia sunset, The Dukes made headlines once again last week when Warner Bros. (which produced the series and still retains the rights) announced they would no longer license the show’s Confederate flag-emblazoned 1969 Dodge Charger (known as The General Lee). An on-line petition has since been launched by fans, arguing the series “was about family values, fighting corruption, helping friends, neighbors and even strangers… no matter what color they were.” Ben Jones (who played Cooter) also posted a defense of the series (and the flag) on Facebook.
TV Land, which began life in 1996 as a destination for retro reruns, has been seeking recently to shed its classic TV identity. The channel announced a rebranding on June 23, seeking to “overhaul of the network’s brand identity to complement a slate of new, original programming.” TV Land made its first foray into originals with the Golden Girls-esque sitcom Hot in Cleveland in 2010, but broke through this year with Younger, a comedy-drama about a forty-something (Sutton Foster) posing as a Millennial.The Darren Starr-produced series broke ratings records for the channel and attracted a more youthful demographic, including a 180% gain among women 18-34 in primetime.
Country Music Television (CMT) had also been airing The Dukes of Hazzard recently, but a quick check of their website indicates no scheduled broadcasts. CMT is also owned by Viacom.
There’s no word on whether or not The Dukes of Hazzard will return to TV, but all 145 episodes remain available on DVD and for VOD streaming on Amazon Instant for $19.99 per season.
Where you Can Watch The Dukes of Hazzard – And Why You Should
Hat tip to TV Classics ‘R Us and the Classic TV Shows Facebook page, which first reported this news.
cinematically insane 
Dislike! The Duke Boys are a classic, and I don’t think they ever flaunt the rebel flag in a negative way, nor does the show project an attitude of hate. It’s just painted on the roof of their car. Good thing I have most of the seasons on DVD. It’s a fun show to watch.
They can Pull the plug and I can change the channel.
At 44 I still enjoyed watching The Dukes of Hazard. I grew up with the show. I have seen every episode and never saw anything racist. The show brought the values of honesty and family. Nobody says anything about the crap on reality tv shows! Tv Land is pulling one like the Dukes for such a bogus reason they will never have to worry me to help will viewer ratings. I done with them!!!!
TV Land needs to “Get a life” !!!
I truly don’t understand why they would pull an iconic series from tv. It’s also a shame that the production companies can’t give more information. That show has been on television for a long time and being in syndication attracts a whole new fan base. I just hope they can find a solution where everyone wins
It’s a crime to deprive viewers of those legs…um I mean them Duke Boys.
As a kid I liked the show, but my mother hated it because she said it depicted Southerners as idiots and uncultured rednecks (I grew up in rural South Georgia). My sister and I even named one of our Basset Hounds Flash after the one on the show, and we thought the Duke Boys were cute. As an adult I’m more aware of the stereotypes about Southerners that the series promotes, and I do find it a lot more irritating than entertaining. I don’t think the show uses the flag in an intentionally racist context, but it certainly doesn’t do Southerners as a whole any favors (and neither does Ben Jones). Thanks for another informative and thought-provoking post, Will!
Thanks Jennifer. There’s certainly a larger issue at play here. If we start “disappearing” shows or movies that have any sort of problematic messages, images, portrayals, etc, we will lose most of the classic film and TV era.
Exactly! The Beverly Hillbillies also featured the Confederate flag on some episodes. Granny would not be convinced that the Civil War was over and the Clampetts fought in a reenactment thinking it was real. Will Viacom pull that one too?
I had just introduced my 11 year old son to The Dukes about two weeks ago via TV Land. Either you don’t remember the show, or there were multiple “edits” of the program on the air. Sure, the Duke boys “Yee-hawed” a lot, but on EVERY episode, they played dumb and smiled at everything, while their facial expressions showed they weren’t fooled by all those “city slickers” that always seemed to find themselves in Hazzard County. The only people that looked foolish were Boss Hawg and Roscoe. Sheriffs from neighboring counties were always all business, and the only time they missed catching Bo and Luke were because of something dumb Roscoe did. My Northern mother enjoyed the show as did my Southern father. It’s a quality show with good family values. And I appreciate the fact that Cooter is proud of his work and standing up for it.
TV Land has replaced Dukes with Bonanza? So, Hop Sing is okay, but the General Lee isn’t? We’re making our way down a slippery cultural slope.
There are some part of Andy Griffin I take offensive of mostly of how they treated Otis the drunk if you really think about it Otis should go to AA meeting they did have AA meeting back in 1950s and early 1960s precur to Betty Ford clinic
Also Good times one of main character was Sweet Daddy William he was hustler and pimp
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TV Land’s decision is too stupid for words. This “cultural cleansing” will only be to our detriment. Today it’s the rebel flag & its images. What’s next?
Seriously? !!!?!!! You just lost a viewer TV Land. Shame on you to fall for such a sham of an argument. You’re contributing to a slippery slope of eliminating this countries heritage at the petulant whim of perpetually offended hypocrites.
The people doing this don’t really care about any kind of systematic cultural cleansing per se. What white social liberals care about is self-righteous moral preening — symbolic words and actions that indicate they are the “right kind of people” to their peers. Right now they are trying to one-up one another on ritual gestures of rejection towards the Confederate flag, and Southern people and culture in general, under the pretense of being sensitive to black people.
Human beings, being fallen, enjoy constructing false moral systems that justify cruelty towards “other” people who they convince themselves deserve it. In white liberal culture, the “others” are rural Southern whites and orthodox Christians. Right now, they feel like it is open season on their enemies.
Since for whatever reason, we seem to be constitutionally incapable of recognizing these people as our enemies, and search in vain for ways to get them to be nice to us, while instead focusing our ire on people groups that are far less hostile and represent little comparatively little threat except insofar as they serve as the pawns of white liberals, this won’t stop until they grow bored with tormenting us for a while, just as a cat eventually grows bored of batting at a dead mouse.
This just proves the “slippery slope” is no myth. Adherence to their political correctness must be total and complete. Everyone and everything that ever happened before they were born is evil and must be exterminated.
Haha it’s called White Washing where I come from! That’s what’s happening to our history. It’s being cleasened from the truth. I remember hearing If you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all. We are far down that beaten path. But then again history is being rewritten daily. What’s next?
I like the rebel flag. It stands for white folks killing white folks.
You don’t hear Jewish people complaining about Hogan’s Heroes.
You know, that comment is too stupid for a response.
Why is that comment stupid Rando is right, that could be next.
Not sure why that was a stupid statement. Hogan’s came out only 20 years after WWII. At least half the cast and management were Jews. Robert Clary (LeBeau) is a concentration camp survivor (has the number tattoo on his arm) but most of his 13 siblings did not. Kemplerer’s (Col. Klink) family all left 1930’s Germany from it’s oppression. The show constantly poked fun at the “camp counselors” yet balanced it out by making them somewhat lovable. Pulling a show like this would be contrary to the whole point of what they were trying to accomplish.
“Of liberty I would say that, in the whole plenitude of its extent, it is unobstructed action according to our will. But rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add “within the limits of the law,” because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual.” — Thomas Jefferson
There is no right to not be offended by the free speech of others.
Racism is a blight on humanity. So is censorship. Censorship by virtual lynch mob is spreading across this once great nation and eating away at our foundations of liberty and freedom like a powerful socialized acid.
Censorship by a majority on a minority – or minority on a majority – is a step in removing liberty and freedoms and thereby ceding power to the censors be they frenzied virtual lynch mobs whipped up by corrupt leaders – or government.
Many feminist books portray all men as misogynistic beasts responsible for most or all of the ills that befall women. Some state that all men are “potential rapists”. Why are the self-righteous social justice virtual lynch mobs not demanding these feminist books and papers be banned?
Many music videos and song lyrics today depict women as base sex objects to be used by men for their pleasure, some express racist views against specific races the performer does not like.
The same companies censoring “Dukes of Hazzard” are not censoring other supposedly sexist, racist videos they market. Why?
Many academic papers coming from “studies” departments of universities are virulent, nasty screeds against white people – those ostensibly academic papers not only not banned, but “celebrated” in some PC circles supported by tax dollars, even cited and used by our government in some cases to “justify” laws, statutes and regulations. Why is “Dukes of Hazzard” censored and blatantly racist, bigoted works of ostensible academics not censored, not banned altogether?
If our society continues to submit ourselves to individuals and mobs that embody an anti-liberty, anti-freedom mind-set, we only encourage and empower them to censor and ban more things, more thoughts and more beliefs just because they don’t like them or they don’t suit their political goals.
Sadly the ignorant are winning this one. Taking a good wholesome show off the television because of a symbol when stupid reality shows like Party Down South remain on is just, well stupid
Will, imagine my delight at finding your article on Hot Air. Glad to see your usual well written thoughts in a different venue. A little 1984 for my taste. A bit like Winston Smith removing references to the banned from our history. The TV and cinema world’s are full of things we might some day disapprove of, but I don’t want Spielberg going back and digitally removing guns or Lucas making Greedo shoot first. People will have to learn how to watch this material, just as they learn to read controversial writing from the past.
We no longer live in a democracy, which by definition means majority rules. We live in a society ruled by minority groups. If you are part of the majority in any demographic you are looked down upon as a bigot, racist, ignorant homophobe. Reminds me of another fallen empire that you may have heard of, Rome.
Amen!
As the majority, WE control the purse strings & $$$ speaks louder than words to greedy, liberal corporations like Viacom. Call & email & voice your outrage along with a boycott of anything “Viacom” & I guarantee they’ll jump off the PC bandwagon so quick it’ll make you head spin. Call: 1-800-516-4399. Email: corprel@viacom.com
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They should have just pulled it because the show sucks and always did.
Your opinion, which is wrong and holds no value. Bugger off ya tosser.
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TV Land is still on the air? I stopped watching it when they started doing six minute commercial breaks at a time. That’s what Netflix and DVDs are for.
them skin tight jeans
It is a classic show people come on. Get a life! This is getting ridiculous. Ruin everything for everyone else because of some few peoples feelings.
Hey TV Land,,, Get an Education! !!!! I want all of You to go back to school and look up the Real History of the Confederate Flag! !!!! Idiots! !!!!
The Confederate flag adopted by the white supremacists was forever stained by hate . To those who lived under Jim Crow laws there was no doubting the message or symbolism of the flag. http://wp.me/p2qifI-2Vk
I loved Dukes of Hazard the decision to remove it is ridiculous there are many channels to watch and yours is not one of them anymore .
I really don’t like this trend of people wanting to bury art because they don’t like what it says, and retroactively even. Why is it so difficult for them to distinguish fiction from reality?
I will no longer watch Viacom’s channels. will also refrain from doing business with any of their advertisers
welcome to socialism people. How does that taste in your mouths?
Why are you being a shit?
Guess I’ll pull TV Land from my channel list!!!!
First you introduce your so-called original programing. Which generally stinks. Now you take away a true classic tv show that everyone loves. TV LAND, you will not seen on my tv, or any of my families & friends tv’s anymore. Let’s just say my family and friends cover across 3-4 states, in around 15 cities. Down with TV Land!!!
Ok, so they removed the Confederate flag because it stands for racism, now they remove the Duke of Hazzards because of the Confederate flag. Oklahoma removed the Ten Commandments from the capital grounds, what is next cancelling TBN and all the others so religion can’t be on tv. This country has gone to s**t.
Whites are losing everything it seems, I love it! Bahahahahahaaaaaa!! Serves you right!
JDC, go play with yourself. You racist piece of shit
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The Confederate Flagg is a part of history ! This show had nothing to do with any thing but having fun ! TV LAND I WILL NO LONGER BE WATCHING YOU!
I never really watched that channel, because watching them now and see how they were done compared to todays show, it was bad acting. But I did like the Dukes of Hazzard.
This is un real I grew up watching this show and I love it. It is a great family show, if there was something in appropriate about it my parents wouldn’t of let me watch it. Every episode told a story. Not everyone thinks of the confederate flag like a “racial thing” when I think of it I think of the good old boys on my favorite show. My little brother and I always watched this show together. Now we wount be able to and I wount be able to share the experience of this show with my son. I think this show should still be played.
Its ok just get the dvds and enjoy it, they aren’t edited, let tvland be dumbasses!
Whats next? are we going to start pulling books from our libraries!
No the next thing they will try and do is make it against the law to own a bible.
Libs have been doing that for some time now.
Kevin hart and Chris rock can make fun of white people on all there movies and standup comedy shows but don’t dare show a Confederate flag on top a car what the fuck is wrong with these idiots that flag is as much apart of are culture and heritage as the American flag my ancestors fault and died for that flag and I’m damn proud of that flag just like I’m damn proud of the American flag there’s to many cry baby’s complaining over stupid shit hey I got an idea if it offends you so much turn the channel so much for freedom of speech!!!!!!!!
My hair stylist was telling me today that they scrubbed the toy guns in the movie ET and replaced them with walkie talkies? Liberals really are the new Nazis.
A month ago the Confederate flag was on nobody’s radar. A tiny group of leftist liberals with piggybacking news and entertainment media took the bait from a horrible psychotic incident to once again attack something representative of conservatism–which by the way is NOT synonymous with racism as much as some choose to push the notion. Ever been to an SEC football game?
Hey TV Land you better pull all your westerns too before the Native Americans start crying as well. That shooting happened as the result of one mans hatred and insanity. He will be tried and most likely convicted. And will get everything he deserves. I’m baffled that this nation has become a bunch of sniveling cry babies who the govt. and corporations cave into all the time. We are American adults act like adults and grow up! Remember Sticks and stones? It’s not the entire south raising up to kill black people. The only ones acting like adults here are the victims families who were forgiving that idiot for doing what he did almost as soon as it was over. God bless them! I pray for them and their lost loved ones. Oops! I hope I didn’t offend anyone else by saying God bless them. There is a lot of tensions in this nation today and it will never get better unless each and everyone of us accepts the responsibilities for our own actions and stop blaming everything and everyone else. We shouldn’t be seeking the govt. to solve all our problems to the point where we are in the over protectionism state that we are in today which is being over policed. The dangers in this way of thinking is slowly eroding the very freedoms we cherish. We already have systems in place to bring justice to these sick kinds of action, we don’t need to over do it. And to you who still snivel – Grow up!
But it’s ok to keep the Jefferson’s on when they use he word honky in almost every episode. If the Dukes go, so should the Jefferons! https://www.facebook.com/confederateflagstore
If they are going to start taking t.v. shows off the air then maybe they should start with, South Park, this show is the most racist show there is. They cover every ethnic group, from Gay, to black you name it they cover it. I stopped watching t.v 2 years ago because of the crap that is coming from the Government, they keep doing the things that they are doing and there will be a uprise in this country, because people are going to start standing up to this Government. They need to clean house and start putting people in the Government that care about what we the people have to say. The next step is to start telling us who we can worship and who not to. I know this is off the subject of t.v show, but just had to say how I feel.
yes sir! That’s America for ya. I’m more offended by lyrics in real music talking about beating your bitch… Doing drugs…killing cops… And making murder and rape sound like a nice family outing, than I am by any flag. We DO live in a society where we send our military over to fight for freedoms that are being taken away from us on a daily basis… A society where the minority rules… A society that’s slowly becoming a dictatorship… It’s a time in history where the uneducated lead… Where the poor are trampled on… And where the land of the free isn’t so free anymore. Americans, beware.
Real music was suppose to be rap music. Sorry
You are exactly right I’m glad other people see it and just not me this country is going to hell!
This is an absolute joke! They should be ashamed of themselves, I have some of the seasons on dvd so its not that big of a deal for me, its just the point of the matter, the show had nothing to do with the confederate flag, big friggin deal if it was on the top of the car, who cares!!!
I am glad James Best, Sorrell Booke, Peggy Rea, Waylon Jennings, and Denver Pyle are not around to see the effects.
This is ridiculous. There is no racism in this show. I grew up watching this show. Thank god my children had the opportunity to see some of the reruns. I guess there is no explaining what the show was about we only see the Confederate flag and obviously it only means hatered or so everyone is told. How about moving on up and removing the Jefferson’s after all they call white people honkies and crackers but I guess that’s OK.
another joke in america a classic iconic T.V. show pulled because of p.c. in this country what is this world coming to
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I think is very racist to consider the Dukes of Hazzard a racist show
I am black and I used to watch this show with my aunt who grew up watching this show and loved it, so did my mom a lot of blacks did. And they werent offended by it they loved it for the same reason white folks did the Duke’s were attractive the show was fun, it had a story and family values. Emphasis on “Family Values.” A lot of you hit it on the money its not about the flag really its about the moral and family values the show and others like it represent and they will find any reason to get that off the air and keep smutty reality or vulger pop culture shows on. They dont want us having morals, and they definitely dont want you passing them on to your children. Anybody remember the show The Courtship of Eddies Father. Im 33 but i used to love watching that show with my mom as a kid. I didn’t have my dad and i liked that the father was teaching his son values. That stopped airing that years ago. Now most shows with families have the kids in control or getting pregnant or acting like adults instead of kids. And nothing is being taught worthwhile. No ones helping anyone less fortunate but everyone is out for themselves. Its okay to have free speech as long as its vulger, ungodly, or full of sex and perversion. I believe the confederate flag has two very powerful and distinct meanings I’m from the NC so they both ring true to me. However it is a part of history and that show isnt racist. The show is offensive to people who dont want to be told to do good, be good, and live good at least in a moral since that is
I was sad to hear that the higher ups of some networks are pulling or have pulled TV shows and movies. Dukes of Hazzard, Gone With The Wind and other. I’ve always been told that if you don’t learn our history it will be repeated. The Confederate flag that everyone is all upset about was and is a war flag. It’s a few ignotant people who have caused all the talk about what certain symbols from years mean when they’re wrong. The Confederate Flag among them along with the Swastika which is a cross have been relabled to mean something mean and horrible.
It’s sad that American has forgotten what has gotten us to the point we’re at, both good and bad. It’s even sadder that we’ll repeat history at this rate.
I was born and raised in NV but my mother is from LA. My brother was a Civil War buff where I learned more than any school would teach. Along with visiting different parts of our great contry.
Hopefully this will end before it takes off and is blurred in the process.