The Dukes (CBS 1983, Tom Wopat, Byron Cherry)

Yessir, them Good Ol’ Boys from CBS’ insanely popular The Dukes of Hazzard came to Saturday morning in 1983. Actually, original Good Ol’ Boys Bo (John Schneider) and Luke (Tom Wopat) were too busy fussin’ and a-feudin’ with the powers that be to voice their animated characters. So as on the primetime show, they were replaced by Good Ol’ Cousins Vance (Christopher Mayer) and Coy (Byron Cherry).

Catherine Bach (Daisy), Denver Pyle (Uncle Jesse), Sorrell Booke (Boss Hogg), and James Best (Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane) all provided the voices for their cartoon counterparts. Coltrane’s hound dog Flash was finally given a bark of his own by Frank Welker, who also did the honors for new addition Smokey the raccoon. Fences were mended later that year, and Bo and Luke rejoined the family both in live action and cartoon form.

The race and chase formula of the primetime series was expanded into a round-the-world race, with the Duke Boys trying to win enough money to pay off Boss Hogg’s mortgage on the Duke home. Naturally, Boss Hogg was perpetually a-schemin’ to sabotage the race, but the General Lee always managed to outrun Hogg’s Texas longhorn Caddy.

‘Just a couple-a’ hard-drivin’ roughnecks, down Hazzard County way…
Whooo-ooooey, we’re gonna have some fun!’

production details
USA | CBS – Hanna Barbera | 20×22 minutes | 1983

Executive Producers: Joseph Hanna, William Barbera

cast
Tom Wopat as Luke Duke
Byron Cherry as Coy Duke
Christopher Mayer as Vance Duke
James Best as Sheriff Rosco Coltrane
Catherine Bach as Daisy Duke
Sorrell Booke as Boss Hogg
Denver Pyle as Uncle Jesse
John Schneider as Bo Duke
Frank Welker as General Lee