# Letter to CBS **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 28, 2002, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-cbs/126011 "2002-08-28T23:16:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WV\_Woman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@WV\_Woman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WV_Woman)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-cbs/126011/1 "2002-08-28T23:16:11Z")
Rarely do I get my knickers in a twist over stuff like this, and maybe it doesn’t help that I’m PMSing at the moment, but this really ticked me off: > **[Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines](https://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=%2Fvariety%2F20020828%2Ftv_variety%2Fhillbillies_1)** > > The latest news and headlines from Yahoo! News. Get breaking news stories and in-depth coverage with videos and photos. So I wrote CBS a letter 🙂 Dear CBS: I have enjoyed your programming all my life. However, I am dismayed to hear about your latest project: “Real Beverly Hillbillies.” I am sure that your motives are not malicious, however I’m wondering if you realize how offensive this idea is. The fish out of water thing is a good idea … however why am I not surprised that you chose to use southerners for your project? Imagine the outrage if you took, say, a wealthy family of Jews from New York City and moved them to a small, impoverished town in Tennessee. But no, you would never do that, because to do that would be suicide in the Nielsens, and rightfully so. But it’s okay to make fun of people from the south? Sure, you claim you’re not making fun of them … but consider the name of the show alone. I’d love to see you try to do the same show using a black family and calling it the Beverly you-know-whats … or use a Muslim family and call the show the Beverly Al-Qaida Terrorists, etc. Never in a million years would you do a show like that, but somehow to poke fun at southerners is acceptable. Why “hillbillies?” Why not “Real Beverly Toothless Hicks” or “Real Beverly Inbred Morons.” You might as well call it something like that, because those are precisely the images the word “hillbilly” brings to mind. I will not be watching this show, nor will I patronize the companies that sponsor it. Southerners are people too, and regardless of what you might think, we have money. You’d be smart in the future to remember this and come up with programming that doesn’t go out of its way to offend a good portion of the country. Sincerely, WV\_Woman So there! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2002, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-cbs/126011/2 "2002-08-28T23:27:13Z")
What’s that sound? It’s Granny clawing her way out of the grave to kick CBS’ ass. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-cbs/126011/3 "2002-08-29T00:02:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WV\_Woman \* > **Imagine the outrage if you took, say, a wealthy family of Jews from New York City and moved them to a small, impoverished town in Tennessee.** Actually, that might be a hell of a lot more entertaining. Yeah, they’re capitalising on a stereotype. Are you mad about _The Fresh Prince of Bel Air_ as well? I mean, that show’s all about black and white stereotypes. They _can_ be humourous, you know. Don’t take it so personally. ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-cbs/126011/4 "2002-08-29T00:07:09Z")
That Granny was a stitch! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-cbs/126011/5 "2002-08-29T01:22:16Z")
Damn straight, sister. The incredibly pervasive stereotyping of Southerners has been one of my hot-button topics for a long time now; I’ve talked to people from places outside the South with _Ph.D.s_ who really do believe that we have no tall buildings, no universities, nothing but tin-roofed shacks and lynch mobs. So thanks, CBS! You’re a big help! Now I’m glad my TV (the one with a pair of pliers for a tuning knob and an old coathanger for an antenna) doesn’t pick your station up! When that show’s on I’m going to sit on the porch, eat watermelon, drink Pabst, shoot at squirrels, and maybe work on one of the five old cars on blocks in the yard! Wait, is SEC football on CBS? I think it is. OK, I’ll watch CBS _sometimes_… ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-cbs/126011/6 "2002-08-29T04:16:47Z")
So your family’s audition didn’t go so well? ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-cbs/126011/7 "2002-08-29T14:16:53Z")
I’m sure it will be so bad, it’ll get canned quickly. At least one can pray for it. ---
**Author:** ![Gazelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Gazelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazelle)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-cbs/126011/8 "2002-08-29T14:27:14Z")
My father is from Alabama, my mother is from Oklahoma… And I’ll be watching the show. I think the Jewish family from NYC in the sticks is a good idea, too. Both ideas are fascinating to me. But I’m a reality TV fan. ::preparing for the onslaught:: ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-cbs/126011/9 "2002-08-29T15:07:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Canthearya \* > **…I think the Jewish family from NYC in the sticks is a good idea, too…** City boy at local restaurant: A bagel. Not grits. I want a bagel for breakfast! You DO know what a bagel is, don’t you?!?! Country boy: ‘Round here, we use ‘em fer critter huntin’, not eatin’. Got a right purty one out back, snoozin’ on the porch. Yew ain’t eatin’ that one, fleas or not! ---
**Author:** ![Jorel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f19dbf/32.png) [@Jorel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jorel)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-cbs/126011/10 "2002-08-29T15:39:09Z")
WV Woman, I think that CBS might try and steal your idea of a Jewish family in the sticks. Be careful! ---
**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-cbs/126011/11 "2002-08-29T18:18:15Z")
WV, Wouldn’t that just be the Real Green Acres, except with Jews instead of WASPs? It may be coming. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-cbs/126011/12 "2002-08-29T18:32:40Z")
I find the idea fairly offensive as I do most of the so-called reality series that have dominated network TV lately. Fortunately my TV is equipped with features that solve that problem completely, I can change the channel or turn it off. There are lots of cable channels I like and but lately very few network TV programs I watch. WV Woman, I do think you’re doing the right thing by writing to CBS but consider giving something else a try. Turn your TV off for a week. You rob them of their power if you don’t watch. [suddenly remembers old _Saturday Night Live_ parody of BH, _The Bel-Arabs_] BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Offensive, but damn funny ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-cbs/126011/13 "2002-08-29T18:35:45Z")
Anyone else remember that SNL sketch from the '70s, The Bel Arabs? “C’mon listen to my story ‘bout a man named Abdul A poor bedouin, barely kept his family full Then one day he was shootin’ at some Jews And up through the ground come a bubblin’ ooze: Oil, that is. Black gold. Kuwaiti coffee. Well, the next thing you know, Abdul’s a millionaire, The kinfolks said, ‘Abdul, move away from there!’ They said Californy is a place that’s warm and fair, So they loaded up the camel and moved to Bel Air. Swimmin’ pools . . . Movie stars . . . Jews . . .” —_Never_ get away with that, these days. ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-cbs/126011/14 "2002-08-29T18:36:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WV\_Woman \* > **I… or use a Muslim family and call the show the Beverly Al-Qaida Terrorists, etc…** _Saturday Night Live_ did a skit long time ago entitiled “The Bel-Arabs”. All I remember is Gilda Radner in a full black [insert name of full-body traditional over-garment worn by Muslim women], jumping up and down and screeching unintelligibly, a la one of Granny’s temper tantrums. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-cbs/126011/15 "2002-08-29T18:37:11Z")
Simulpost! Two great minds thinking alike . . . ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-cbs/126011/16 "2002-08-29T18:38:21Z")
Great minds think alike. And I have the slowest computer. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-cbs/126011/17 "2002-08-29T18:38:50Z")
Yikes—THREE great minds! Do I hear four? ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-cbs/126011/18 "2002-08-29T18:43:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Padeye \* > **Turn your TV off for a week. You rob them of their power if you don’t watch.** Only if she’s in a Nielsen family, otherwise they won’t know she’s not watching. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-cbs/126011/19 "2002-08-29T18:48:31Z")
Eve, my hat’s off to you for remembering the song lyrics. Only a four minute span, I’d call that a trimulpost. ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2002, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-cbs/126011/20 "2002-08-29T18:50:48Z")
:: pokes **Eve** in the arm :: Simul-post!! Gotcha ya!![sup]TM[/sup] last. No take-backs. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/letter-to-cbs/126011.md?page=2)