Silly "Dukes of Hazzard" question

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I know this is old news, but I got to thinking...why are none of the Dukes on this show actual, direct blood relatives? It's always cousins, uncles, etc. Why did the writers create the show that way?

I mean, did we ever find out about Daisy, Bo or Luke's actual *parents*? Are these people all dead or in prison when the show takes place? And since Jesse is the uncle of all of these people *and* his name is Duke, there must be a lot of brothers in his generation of the family.

And what about Coy and Vance? They are obviously made to resemble Bo and Luke...are these two pairs of brothers, maybe?

These are the kind of things I think about when I'm home alone and there is a giant trash dumpster blocking my garage.

 

[Captain Craig]

Last year I watched season one and none of those questions were addressed.
I'm currently watching season two, 9eps in, and no answers still.
I don't expect there to be.
This show wasn't crafted to be that deep.
Its all structured around cop chases and car stunts.
I imagine if you are really curious you should hit up Wikipedia. Someone has no doubt written something up that lays it all out, or tells you there is no explanation.

 

[Gojirob]

Here's one, about Boss Hogg's twin brother : Why would parents living in the rural deep South, in the 20's/30's, ever name their son Abraham Lincoln? Unless Jefferson Davis, who did not support Lee in his final battles, is somehow viewed with even more disdain?
As CC said, not meant to be deep, but it still makes me think.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

- Why didn't Boss Hogg institute a crackdown on the placement of barrel ramps, flatbed trucks, and steel reinforced wagons near Hazzard County's abundant ditches, creeks, ponds, and collapsed bridges?

- How many produce carts does one county need to have sitting around unattended? They're just going to get smashed in a car chase.

- Why was Daisy aiding and abetting moonshine trafficking and living in poverty when she had her own line of short shorts?

- Is Waylon Jennings God, or just a disembodied space entity watching benevolently over the denizens of Hazzard and occasionally freezing time (Yata!) to make a witty remark? How much of a mindscrew was it when Waylon Jennings showed up, as Waylon Jennings? That's some Biblical shit, right there.

- Why are Bo and Luke not allowed to carry guns while on probation, but dynamite arrows are perfectly acceptable? Is there a dynamite arrow loophole in the Hazzard County penal code? Speaking of which, does the charge of resisting arrest not exist there?

- How come Cooter didn't use his poilitical connections to get the Duke boys out of trouble more often?

- Why does everyone in Hazzard County only seem to have one set of clothes?

These are the questions that gnaw at me at night, usually after drinking moonshine.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Here's one, about Boss Hogg's twin brother : Why would parents living in the rural deep South, in the 20's/30's, ever name their son Abraham Lincoln?

Maybe the Hoggs' parents split up and each gave their boys those names just to piss the other off. I doubt Abraham and Boss grew up together, anyway, simply because they were so different.

Here's what I want to know: Exactly what is Boss' technical job description? I know he's so corrupt he's got his finger in every pie, so to speak (hence the 'boss'), but what is he *supposed* to be?

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

I know this is old news, but I got to thinking...why are none of the Dukes on this show actual, direct blood relatives? It's always cousins, uncles, etc. Why did the writers create the show that way?

I mean, did we ever find out about Daisy, Bo or Luke's actual *parents*? Are these people all dead or in prison when the show takes place? And since Jesse is the uncle of all of these people *and* his name is Duke, there must be a lot of brothers in his generation of the family.

And what about Coy and Vance? They are obviously created by the showrunners to resemble Bo and Luke...are these two pairs of brothers, maybe?

These are the kind of things I think about when I'm home alone and there is a giant trash dumpster blocking my garage.

Believe it or not I have thought of this before. There had to be at least seven brothers. Jesse, Luke's dad, Bo's dad, Coy's dad, Vance's dad, Daisy's day, and the dad of that cousin who rode the motorcycle.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I wonder why the writers did this. They must have thought that 'cousin' and 'uncle' sounded better for Bo and Luke to say every episode.

I still suspect that Coy and Vance are Bo and Luke's brothers, respectively, since they look so much alike. Is this (theoretically) possible? How many times did we see all four of them in the same episode?

 

[Captain Craig]

I still suspect that Coy and Vance are Bo and Luke's brothers, respectively, since they look so much alike. Is this (theoretically) possible? How many times did we see all four of them in one episode?

I'm not sure you ever saw Bo, Luke, Coy & Vance on screen at the same time. Wopat & Schneider had a contract dispute at the end of S4 and CBS let them walk. Knowing the shows popularity they instituted their own "Darren affect" and had the writers instill Coy & Vance for S5. When that proved yet again that suits are ignorant they ponied up the $$$ and Wopat & Schneider returned as Bo & Luke for S6 and everything thereafter.

I'd be surprised if it was ever mentioned on screen. Again probably at Wiki and if this keeps up I'll go over there myself but just not that curious...yet.

 

[Gojirob]

I'm pretty sure that the 're-emergence' episode of Bo&Luke did feature all four, for that one time only. One of the alts was an alum of my HS, and showed up just after the news broke that Wopat&Schneider were coming back. He seemed to have hopes that all four of them could be there, but he didn't sound at all certain, more like he was hoping against hope.

 

[Calhoun24]

Forget all that - let's discuss the General Lee! ;-) (JK)

 

[Star Wolf]

I wonder why the writers did this. They must have thought that 'cousin' and 'uncle' sounded better for Bo and Luke to say every episode.

There was a TV movie Moonrunners which inspired the Dukes. It was more serious in tone compared to the slapstick of Boss and Roscoe. IIRC, uncle was just a honorific in that movie, as, Enos and Cooter also use uncle Jesse on Dukes. By the series they became blood and had the Duke farm and moonshine business. The boys and Daisy being orphaned could have been used later if they wanted, I guess.

 

[DaleC76]

Luke had a brother named Jud from the episode "Brotherly Love."

I found this on a Dukes fansite. I don't know how accuarate it is:

Duke Family:

Jesse L. Duke, either uncle or great uncle of Bo, Luke, Daisy, Coy, Vance, Jeb Stuart, and Jud Kane. Was married to Lavinia.

Lukas K. Duke, nephew of Jesse, brother of Jud Kane.

Beauregard "Bo" Duke, nephew of Jesse.

Daisy Mae Duke, niece of Jesse. Came to live with Uncle Jesse at age 6.

Coy Duke, nephew of Jesse.

Vance Duke, nephew of Jesse.

Jeb Stuart Duke, nephew of Jesse from Placid County where there are other Dukes.

Jud Kane Duke, nephew of Jesse, brother of Luke. Raised by a Miss Norris until her death when he found out about real family.

Gaylord Duke, third cousin of Bo, Daisy, and Luke from England.

Philip Duke, died ten years ago presumably in England.

Katrina "Kay" Duke, lives in England.

Henshaw Duke, Grandfather of Daisy, Luke, and Bo, maybe Jesse's father?

Grandma Denton Duke, grandmother of Jesse Duke, maiden name Denton.

Caleb Duke, settled Hazzard County in 1762 (I think) with wife Martha and infant son Joshua.

Martha Duke, settled in Hazzard County in 1762 with husband and infant son Joshua.

Joshua Duke, son of Caleb and Martha settled in Hazzard in 1762 as an infant, born that year.

Jerimiah Duke, great grandfather of Jesse Duke, husband of Jenny Duke. Uncle of Hank, Dixie, and Joe Duke. Lived on Duke Farm in 1872, assumably age early 40s to early 50s.

Jenny Duke, great grandmother of Jesse Duke, wife of Jerimiah, great great great grandmother of Daisy Duke. (Might lead to fact that Jesse was their great uncle). Lived on Duke Farm in 1872. Age late 30s to mid 40s.

Jerimiah & Jenny Duke Problem: If they are Jesse's great grandparents, where are their children? They are already in their 40s assumably.

Hank Duke, great grandfather of Luke and Jud Kane Duke, alive in 1872. Lived outside of Hazzard County (aka Sleepy City). This might be a hint that Luke and Jud's parents were distant cousins because Jerimiah would be Luke's gg or ggg grandfather, and yet Hank DUKE is his great grandfather, and Hank is Jerimiah's nephew.

Dixie Duke, great grandmother of Daisy M. Duke, alive in 1872. Lived outside of Hazzard County (aka Sleepy City). This might be a hint that Daisy's parents were distant cousins because Jerimiah would be Daisy's gg or ggg grandfather, and yet Dixie DUKE is her great grandfather, and Dixie is Jerimiah's niece.

Joseph "Joe" Duke, great grandmother of Bo Duke, alive in 1872. Lived outside of Hazzard County (aka Sleepy City). This might be a hint that Bo's parents were distant cousins because Jerimiah would be Bo's gg or ggg grandfather, and yet Hank DUKE is his great grandfather, and Joe is Jerimiah's nephew.

Holly Comfurt, Jesse's second cousin twice removed. In simple terms that means that two of Jesse's grandparents are her great great grandparents. As for the different last name there are a wide range of possibilities, one scenario could be that Jesse's mother was maybe a Miller and her father's brother's great great granddaughter is Holly Miller who married a Comfurt.

John Henry Comfurt, son of Holly Comfurt, distant cousin of Duke Family.

Lori Comfurt, daughter of Holly Comfurt, distant cousin of Duke Family.


Hogg Family:

Jefferson Davis Hogg, "J.D." "Boss Hogg," husband of Lulu Coltrane. Son of big daddy. Uncle of Hughie Hogg, Jamie Lee Hogg, and Dewey Hogg.

Lulu Coltrane Hogg, wife of J.D. Hogg, brother of Rosco Purvis Coltrane and Hortense Coltrane. Daughter of Momma Coltrane.

Big Daddy Hogg, father of Abraham Lincoln Hogg and Jefferson Davis Hogg. Grandfather of Hughie, Jamie Lee, and Dewey. Died in 2003.

Momma Hogg, died before start of series. Ashes on Boss's mantel.

Dewey Hogg, older brother of Hughie Hogg. Nephew of J.D. Hogg and Abraham Lincoln Hogg. Grandson of Big Daddy Hogg.

Hughie Hogg, younger brother of Dewey Hogg. Nephew of J.D. Hogg and Abraham Lincoln Hogg. Grandson of Big Daddy Hogg.

Jamie Lee Hogg, cousin of Dewey and Hughie. Nephew of J.D. Hogg and Abraham Lincoln Hogg. Grandson of Big Daddy Hogg.

Grady Byrd, cousin of J.D. Hogg and Abraham Lincoln Hogg.

Cletus Hogg, 3rd cousin of J.D. Hogg and Abraham Lincoln Hogg.

Mabel Tillingham, J.D. and Abraham Lincoln Hogg's cousin.

Dan Hogg, J.D. and Abraham Lincoln Hogg's cousin.

Thadius B. Hogg (not Thaddeus), J.D. and Abraham Lincoln Hogg's great grandfather. Was alive in 1872, age about mid 40s. Was alive when J.D. and Abraham were born.

"Lighthorse" Henry Hogg, J.D. and Abraham Lincoln Hogg's great grandfather. Fought in the Civil War on the Confederate side.

Sadie Hogg, J.D. and Abraham Lincoln Hogg's great great grandmother. Sadie Hogg Day named in her honor.


Coltrane Family:

Rosco Purvis Coltrane, younger brother of Lulu and Hortense. Son of Momma Coltrane.

Lulu Coltrane Hogg, younger sister of Hortense and older sister of Rosco. Daughter of Momma Coltrane.

Clara Coltrane, aunt of Hortense, Lulu, and Rosco.

Momma Coltrane- Mother of Hortense, Lulu, and Rosco.

Hortense Coltrane, older sister of Rosco and Lulu.

Emma Coltrane, aunt of Rosco, Hortense, and Lulu. Married to Wilbur.

Wilbur Coltrane, uncle of Rosco, Hortense, and Lulu. Married to Emma. Brother of Clara.

Davenport Family:

Cooter Davenport, father of Nancy Lou Nelson. Cousin of B.B., Longstreet, and Earl Davenport.

B.B. Davenport, cousin of Cooter, Longstreet, and Earl Davenport.

Longstreet Davenport, cousin of B.B., Cooter, and Earl Davenport.

Earl Davenport, cousin of B.B., Cooter, Longstreet Davenport.

Nancy Lou Nelson, Cooter's 18 year old daughter whose mother is Beverly Hibbs.

NOTE: I have researched mine, and other family trees before, and it is possible for a person, such as Boss Hogg, to be descended of two great grandfathers with the last name, Hogg. This could simply mean that his parents/grandparents were distant cousins. Remember Daisy's line in One Arm Bandits:

Bo: "If you weren't my cousin I'd marry you."
Daisy: "That's never stopped anyone in this family before."

http://www.hazzardnet.com/forums/showthread.php?p=117340

I guess the reason everyone was cousins is because it sounds southern to call someone "cousin so-and-so."

 

[Trekker4747]

- Is Waylon Jennings God, or just a disembodied space entity watching benevolently over the denizens of Hazzard and occasionally freezing time (Yata!) to make a witty remark? How much of a mindscrew was it when Waylon Jennings showed up, as Waylon Jennings? That's some Biblical shit, right there.

- Why are Bo and Luke not allowed to carry guns while on probation, but dynamite arrows are perfectly acceptable? Is there a dynamite arrow loophole in the Hazzard County penal code? Speaking of which, does the charge of resisting arrest not exist there?

It's possible that the penal code "loop hole" allows for the use of dynamite because of it's need on a farm. Bo and Luke were just inventive with the bow part. Though it's odd their probation confined them to a single COUNTY rather than the state.


Daisy, Bo, Luke, Daisy, Coy and Vance were all "cousins" to one another so that's at least five "Duke Brothers" right there and I think another cousin showed up for an episode so that leaves us with six.

Given Jesse's age it's unlikely he's in the previous genearation as Luke, Daisy, et.al. It's more likely he's a "great Uncle." But I guess it's not entirely impossible to just be the oldest of no fewer than seven Duke siblings in the previous generation.

Oh, and who the fuck names their son "Cooter."

 

[Star Wolf]

Something in the back of my head is saying that Hazard County sat on the border of three states.

 

[ParticleMan]

- Is Waylon Jennings God, or just a disembodied space entity watching benevolently over the denizens of Hazzard and occasionally freezing time (Yata!) to make a witty remark? How much of a mindscrew was it when Waylon Jennings showed up, as Waylon Jennings? That's some Biblical shit, right there.

- Why are Bo and Luke not allowed to carry guns while on probation, but dynamite arrows are perfectly acceptable? Is there a dynamite arrow loophole in the Hazzard County penal code? Speaking of which, does the charge of resisting arrest not exist there?

It's possible that the penal code "loop hole" allows for the use of dynamite because of it's need on a farm. Bo and Luke were just inventive with the bow part. Though it's odd their probation confined them to a single COUNTY rather than the state.


Daisy, Bo, Luke, Daisy, Coy and Vance were all "cousins" to one another so that's at least five "Duke Brothers" right there and I think another cousin showed up for an episode so that leaves us with six.

Given Jesse's age it's unlikely he's in the previous genearation as Luke, Daisy, et.al. It's more likely he's a "great Uncle." But I guess it's not entirely impossible to just be the oldest of no fewer than seven Duke siblings in the previous generation.

Oh, and who the fuck names their son "Cooter."

My father, who was born in 1953, had uncles born in the 1880s. My grandfather was the youngest of 10 or 11 and was in his late 30s when my dad was born. And yes, I am from the rural South...my wife and I were extra careful to check the family tree before we got married...

And I was SUCH a Dukes of Hazzard fan as a little kid...my 5th birthday party was themed for the show...cups, plates, tablecloth, everything.

 

[Trekker4747]

Hey, if it was good enough for Daisy it'd be good enough for me!

 

[gh4chiefs]

Though it's odd their probation confined them to a single COUNTY rather than the state.

Well that sometimes changed depending upon what the story called for.

 

[TGTheodore]

Actually, Bo, Luke and Daisy have the same parents, who happen to be brother and sister. So they're siblings AND cousins. But "cousins" sounds more regional and allows them in some states, to fool around with each other.

And Jesse is their uncle on both sides.

Creeped out yet?

--Ted

 

[Trekker4747]

Actually, Bo, Luke and Daisy have the same parents, who happen to be brother and sister. So they're siblings AND cousins. But "cousins" sounds more regional and allows them in some states, to fool around with each other.

And Jesse is their uncle on both sides.

Creeped out yet?

--Ted

Actually, the family tree loops back around so that Jesse is Bo's step-son.

 

[Captain Craig]

Something in the back of my head is saying that Hazard County sat on the border of three states.

Three states including Georgia, right? That's the only way to arrive at three. I just saw the episode that guest starred Cale Yarborough and it has Roscoe tricking the Dukes into crossing the State line which is a violation of parole. It seems to imply that Hazzard borders at least one state otherwise Roscoe wouldn't have jurisdiction, right? It never implies if that State they crossover into is TN, AL, SC or FL.

Though it's odd their probation confined them to a single COUNTY rather than the state.

Well that sometimes changed depending upon what the story called for.

Did they change that up depending on the stories needs I don't recall but I do know that in the 30+eps I've seen so far that the Dukes have left Hazzard a couple of times. Heck in the second or third ep of season one they go to Atlanta and they go there a few times so that means if Hazzard is an outlying border county then they have to travel through a few counties.