*Hee Haw airs on RFD-TV several times a week, but it looks as though they licensed a limited number of episodes. If you are looking for a particular one or are interested in the really old shows, let's just say it isn't hard to find some online.
*The infamous "rural purge" may be a bit exaggerated, but CBS did cancel some well-rated programs, reportedly at the urging of Fred Silverman, to shift the network demographics. However, The Beverly Hillbillies and Green Acres were aging series that had fallen in the ratings. Also, Ed Sullivan, Jackie Gleason, and Red Skelton were canceled, too, because of older audiences, not rural ones. This could be a subject for an entire show!
Hee Haw was definitely a hit, though, before it was a casualty. Interestingly, right on the heels of this so-called purge was a show as rural as it comes: The Waltons, which stayed on CBS for years.
*TV Turkeys is out of print but available from resellers!
*Besides Hee Haw, there was Buck Owens' Ranch Show in syndication from 1966-1972.
*For another look at Roy Clark's career, check out this great piece by Matt Dembicki and Matt Rawson: https://www.redistrictedcomics.com/royclark
*Minnie Pearl was a fixture at the Grand Ole Opry for over 50 years. Born Sarah Colley, she had been performing about 30 years when Hee Haw debuted.
*Hee Haw Honeys was an ill-fated 1978 spinoff centered around Lulu Roman's character's truck stop and the various "honeys" who worked there, along with musical guests/
*The crack research team believes the act Mike remembers from the Opry is Four Guys (not Five Guys), seen here (photo courtesy of http://www.thefourguys.com/history.htm):
*George Lindsey got plenty of mileage from the Goober character but apparently no legal flak despite essentially playing the same character he did in The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry RFD. We are unable to find evidence of a legal battle in which Lindsey claimed he was playing himself and therefore had rights to the "character."
*If you want to read more about the horrible death of David "Stringbean" Akeman, click here. Brace yourself first. We don't blame you if you got all you needed to know from the podcast.
*The Newsradio show Mike and special guest (and Friend of the Show) Dann discuss is Season 3, Episode 15, Rose Bowl, available on DVD.
*Special thanks to Dann, and check out his work with Surfana here: https://www.showcaseyourmusic.com/artist/82372/user82372
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