DVD
Review: The Dukes of Hazzard: The Complete Seventh Season
Reviewed
by Craig Byrne
Years
before John Schneider directed the Smallville episode
"Talisman" and his Dukes co-star Tom Wopat
guest starred on "Exposed," Schneider had his directorial
debut on an episode of The Dukes of Hazzard titled "Opening
Night At The Boar's Nest."
Little
did he know it would be the series' final episode. He also co-wrote
that installment of the show.
The
Dukes of Hazzard: The Complete Seventh Season features
the final 17 episodes of the long running CBS show. The set
hit stores on Tuesday, December 5.
I
know I've said in previous reviews that The Dukes was
my first-ever "favorite show." Episodes in the final
season aired when I was around 7 years old, so they would be
the freshest in my memory of the show before syndication. Some
of the episodes, as a child, were my favorites.
Season
7 starts off with "Happy Birthday, General Lee," an
episode which finally tells the legend of how they got the famous
1969 Dodge Charger. Unfortunately it's the most anachronistic.
Although the episode took place "eight years ago,"
it has the most clearly 1980's hair in the entire series' run.
Oops.
Another
favorite in that final year is "The Dukes in Hollywood."
Bo and Luke come to Hollywood to become stunt drivers. A major
plot has Boss and Rosco (played by the always-brilliant Sorrell
Booke and James Best) trying to sneak on the Warner Bros. lot
(though it has a different name in the episode). It was one
of the most laugh-out-loud episodes of the entire series run.
Enos
and Daisy finally get close to consummating their mutual affection
in "Enos and Daisy's Wedding." And then, a week later,
in "Opening Night at the Boar's Nest," the series
was over.
In
one of the show's final scenes, Rosco is visibly, and seriously
upset, unsure of what he'd do in the world without his "little
fat buddy." Sorrell Booke, who played Boss Hogg, died in
1994, before the cast could ever do a reunion movie. So, in
a way, Rosco (and the show) were able to give him a fitting
goodbye.
Here
are some comments and thoughts on the set itself:
Packaging:
It's consistent with the look of previous season sets, although
when all is said and done, about 4 different widths were used
for different sets, which is kind of annoying to look at on
the shelf. Warner never seemed to decide on whether they'd do
double-sided or single-sided discs, so for some reason, some
seasons have two sides, some have only one. Thankfully, Season
7 is one-sided.
The
artwork on the cover is a bit odd, because the ORIGINAL photo
(as seen on the back of Dukes of Hazzard record album,
among other things) featured some more people. I don't remember
if Boss Hogg was there, but I know Sheriff Rosco and Deputy
Cletus were there. It's kind of obvious by the presence of the
dog, Flash, behind Tom Wopat. Why would "velvet ears"
be there without her master?
This
also means we went through seven years of The Dukes and
none of them featured my favorite character, Sheriff Rosco P.
Coltrane, on the cover. That's sad.
Extra
Features: The DVD features a cover of the classic "Good
Ole Boys" theme song, done in a video featuring John Schneider,
Tom Wopat, and Catherine Bach, which is quite cool. To be honest,
the trio did a much better job of it than Willie Nelson did
last year. There's also a "Making of the video" featurette
and a tribute to ol' Waylon himself, featuring interviews with
creator Gy Waldron and Waylon's widow, Jessi Colter.
I
found it interesting that nowhere in the interviews was it said
why Waylon refused to do the two Dukes reunion movies
in 1997 and 2000. Without Waylon telling the story, the two
movies were lacking their most important ingredient - their
heart.
Since
there were only 17 episodes on this set, I was disappointed
to see that Warner Home Video didn't decide to raid their archives
for more additional material. I would have loved to have seen
an episode or two of Enos - the Dukes spin-off
series not seen since 1981 - as a bonus feature, especially
as some episodes guest starred James Best and Catherine Bach.
Or, the previously-mentioned reunion movies would have also
been a pleasant extra.
I
REALLY hope WHV releases Enos or the reunion movies at
some point. The Dukes sets have been good sellers for
them, so hopefully they'll think about it.
And
to conclude this review... Although Season 7 has some gems,
including the episodes mentioned above, the season also has
some of the silliest concepts. Model cars replaced some of the
great stunts used on the show as well. But, Season 7 of The
Dukes is good comfortable fun and a heck of a lot better than
that crappy movie. But in the end, I just have to quote my favorite
bumbling sheriff and say "Kee-kee, I love it, I love it!"
Although there are only 17 episodes in Season 7, and it could
have used the reunion movies as an extra, I give this set a
4 out of 5. Find it!
Click
here to order The Dukes of Hazzard Season 7 through
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