Sara got me a banjo for Christmas.  That may sound like a weird gift, but I actually asked for it – I guess that makes me weird.  I’ve always liked Bluegrass music and I love the newer music that incorporates banjos (Mumford & Sons, The Avett Brothers, etc.).  Plus, tons of people play guitars.  How many people do you know who can play a banjo? 

If nothing else, I thought it would be a great addition for home security.  What would-be intruder wouldn’t go running for their life if they broke into a home and heard first line of Dueling Banjos?  I guarantee you Ned Beatty won’t be breaking in.

I’m starting from scratch, so it’s been pretty rough but I’m improving.  I’ve found some banjo tabs online that show you how to play songs even if you can’t read music.  One song I thought would be good to learn is the theme song from The Dukes of Hazzard, so I went searching.

While searching, for some reason I thought about how ridiculous that show was.  Don’t get me wrong – I was a big fan.  I had my Duke Boys lunchbox and watched the show every chance I got.  It’s just that I can’t imagine a show like that coming out today.

Imagine describing The Dukes of Hazzard to someone today who had never seen it.  You and a friend are exchanging idle chatter and you bring it up…

“You know our family is really hooked on this new show.”

“Really, what is it?”

“It’s called The Dukes of Hazzard.”

“What’s it about?”

“Well… it’s about these two racist redneck brothers who run moonshine for a living in their bright orange Dodge Charger named after the Confederate general of the Civil War with a rebel flag on top.”

“Oh?”

“…and their sister is a bartender at a honky-tonk bar owned by the mayor.  His name is Boss Hogg.  He’s this stereotypical obese Southerner who is the brother’s mortal enemy, but for some reason he employs their sister.  It must be because she wears these really short shorts all the time and flirts with everybody constantly – even her own brothers.  That’s a little weird.  Oh, and they can’t have guns, so they blow up a lot of stuff with dynamite-tipped arrows.  You know, just like Wyle E Coyote.”

“Sounds interesting.”

“Yep, it’s a great show for the family.”

I know we often talk about how terrible television is these days, but I think we sometimes forget where we were. 

Advertisement