CBS television never produced the "Real Beverly Hillbillies." They did not explain why or say that it would not be produced. They just stopped talking about it.
We count that as a victory for rural America.
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FOR RELEASE: Friday January 17, 2003
For more information
contact:
Tom Martin (502) 564-5500/(502) 395-0079
ThomasB.Martin@mail.state.ky.us
Kentucky Lt. Governor Expresses Indignation Over Reality TV "Hillbilly" Show
Invites CBS CEO Moonves to a Guided Tour of Eastern Kentucky
Frankfort, Kentucky -- (January 17, 2003) -- Lieutenant Governor Stephen L. Henry, MD has made a personal appeal to CBS CEO Les Moonves to reconsider the network's plans for a reality show based on The Beverly Hillbillies." The show, according to CBS, is to "follow the adventures of a large family when they move out of their rural home and settle into a Beverly Hills mansion ... (and) live in the lap of luxury."
"I spoke by phone with Mr. Moonves on Thursday and conveyed to him that this is an affront and offensive to all rural Americans and definitely something that cuts across political, social and racial lines," said Lt. Governor Henry.
"I invited him to come to Kentucky so that he could meet, face-to-face, the many hard working citizens whose lives would be directly -and negatively-impacted by perpetuating this terribly unfair stereotype. What's next? Reality Roman Coliseum?"
Dr. Henry says Moonves told him that the network is not insensitive to the response to plans to air "The Real Beverly Hillbillies" next summer and has not made a final decision.
The backlash began after the Whitesburg, Kentucky based Center for Rural Strategies, with the support of area businesses, ran quarter-page protest ads in The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Cincinnati Enquirer.
"The response has been incredible, says Center President Dee Davis. "We've gotten thousands of emails, letters, and calls from people who oppose CBS's plans. We're grateful to everyone, including Lt. Gov. Henry, who have expressed their opinion directly to CBS. The word is getting through that rural people and places matter."
"It's all about looking down at this family as if they're strange, out-of-step, weird people," Davis said. "Who else could they look down on but poor people in a rural family?"
Davis says his organization will next target CBS sponsors.
Lieutenant Governor Henry says "I stand ready to personally lead Mr. Moonves and any fellow executives he chooses to bring along, on a tour of Kentucky's beautiful eastern region. I think it would be instructive for them to take note of the widespread presence, throughout Eastern Kentucky, of TV satellite dishes."
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