Hee Haw (1969–1997)

Televised comedy/variety show with a country bent.

Creators:

John Aylesworth, Frank Peppiatt

Stars:

Roy Clark, Gunilla Hutton, Buck Owens

Won 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Roy Clark	...	Himself - Host (293 episodes, 1969-1992)
Gunilla Hutton	...	Herself (237 episodes, 1969-1992)
Buck Owens	...	Himself - Host (230 episodes, 1969-1986)
Junior Samples	...	Himself (145 episodes, 1969-1983)
Lisa Todd	...	Herself (141 episodes, 1970-1986)
Grandpa Jones	...	Himself (136 episodes, 1969-1992)
Minnie Pearl	...	Herself (134 episodes, 1969-1991)
Archie Campbell	...	Himself (125 episodes, 1969-1988)

Storyline

"Hee Haw" a mixture of music and comedy skits was a staple of syndicated television for more than 20 years; originally, the show had aired on CBS, but was canceled in 1971 because the network thought it was "too rural." A majority of each week's "Hee Haw" shows included a series of skits, blackouts and corny jokes; however, the meat of series came from its music. Each week, two or three country music stars guested usually one or two of the guests being well-established, the others newer and up-and-coming stars as well as bluegrass, country gospel and other acts, signers and musicians popular with country audiences. During the final segment of each show, the Hee Haw Gospel Quartet (through the mid-1980s, usually co-hosts Owens and Clark, along with Kenny Price and Grandpa Jones) performed a gospel song. The shows were taped only a few weeks out of the year, usually weeks (and sometimes, months) in advance; that meant some of the short-lived "newer" acts had already lost their star ...

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Plot Keywords:

country music

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Taglines:

The critics are unanimous...but watch it anyway!

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Genres:

Comedy | Music

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Details

Official Sites:

Gaylord Entertainment Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 June 1969 (USA)

Also Known As:

Country Corn

Filming Locations:

Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), Gaylord Productions, Gaylord Program Services

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The show was originally scheduled to be shot entirely in California, but the general manager of WLAC talked CBS into doing the show at his station. The reason: "I could stand on the front porch of the station, blow a whistle, and have any country singer we need."

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Quotes

Lulu Roman: Somebody just blowed up a cow.

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Prince of Space (1997)

User Reviews

A Survivor

Even though I'm not a big fan of country (the closest I will get to liking country is by listening to The Eagles or the Byrds), I have to hand it to this show. It managed to survive the infamous Rural Purge of 1971 and became a television institution. This show had to be one of the corniest (no pun intended) in the history of television and it in many ways it was a countryfied version of Laugh In. However, this show had a loyal following and it managed to show that Country music was still popular no matter how old Fred felt.