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Dear Editor,
I too have been watching the "Real Beverly Hillbillies" reality show development with a both skeptical and interested
curiosity. I was tickled to see Dianne's opinion on The Hur Herald, and agree with most of it. However, I am not opposed
to
the show. I see it as an opportunity to show the rest of the world that a hillbilly is not exactly what they think - that a real
hillbilly is something - - someone that may actually surprise them.
They can't have a reality show, when their premise of a hillbilly is based on myth.
One of the biggest influences for a hillbilly family is their home, their land, the actual terrain and people around them. That's
where I do agree with Dianne - that in order to have a successful reality hillbilly show, it needs to be shot in the hills, these
hills. And, on that premise, I have developed nine reasons why "The Real Beverly Hillbillies" should be changed to "The
Hollywood Hillbillies" and taped here.
Nine Reasons Why CBS Should Change "The Real Beverly Hillbillies" Reality Show to "The Hollywood Hillbillies" and
come
to West Virginia
1. The Money -
If Hollywood were to produce the show in WV, they would be pumping their money into our economy. In addition,
they would save money on production by shopping at Family Dollar and Walmart instead of down "the Boulevard" in
Hollywood. An added bonus is that they may learn to "improvise" with what is available and on hand, as West
Virginians are able to do.
2. The Family -
In many cases in the area, there are multiple generations living together on one piece of property already. They just
live in different houses. In addition, the extended family (cousins, aunts, uncles) usually lives in the immediate
vicinity. This would provide the show with additional characters, added sets and more variety at little or no charge.
3. The Scenery - Maybe it's me, but the view of Ozzy Ozbourne's back yard enclosed by a pink adobe wall is not half as
nice as the
view of the lake in my back yard. Or the sunset over the western hills. Or the forest trees in the peak of Autumn. (Of
course, Ozzy doesn't have a broken washing machine on his front porch either.)
4. The Animals -
Ellie May may have had goats and cows walk through the Beverly Hills mansion once in a while, but where in Beverly
Hills are they going to graze cattle or ride horses? Animals are a large part of most of our lives. Would they fly our
two horses, eleven dogs, two fish, three ducks and one cat to California? Really, it would be easier to bring
Hollywood here.
5. Double the Laughs -
They don't need to put us in Beverly Hills to laugh at us as West Virginians. They do that all the time now. So, we're
backward and funny to them right here at home. However, if we bring Hollywood here, the world could laugh at them
adapting to rural life as well.
6. The Fringe Benefits -
Those personal assistants they are offering would be a great help at our house. I could use one to organize and
coordinate the local Watershed Group we're developing, and help me write a grant I'm working on. My husband's
assistant could help him finish roofing the back porch. For the Hollywood folks, they can swim in the lake whenever
they feel like it, go camping, fishing, huntingâ¦
7. Educational Value -
In our society today, how many people know how to be self-sufficient? Or how to live on $1000 a month? Or cook
from scratch? How many people in Hollywood know how to fix a water pump on a 1986 Dodge Van or put new teeth
on a mower bar? How to grow tomatoes the size of softballs and pumpkins to big to fit through the door? How to
deliver puppies and kitten? How to drive in red clay mud? ( I could go on forever with this one.)
8. Real Reality -
Low-income doesn't mean low intelligence. Unemployed doesn't mean unimportant. "Under-developed" doesn't mean
"under-cultured." "Not educated" doesn't mean "not talented." We, as West Virginians, know the reality of this. If
Hollywood wants reality, they should come and experience, well, the reality of it.
9. The Hills -
There's something about our hills that makes us who we are. There's even a difference between valley-dwellers and
mountain dwellers. The terrain of our hills often mandates our reality. Snow, flood, moisture, soil conditions - they all
alter how we deal with our homes and our lives. Often, if taken away from the hills, we lose part of who we are. You
can't have a reality hillbilly show without the hills.
Beverly Hill,
Back Road, WV
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