Post by marty on Jun 11, 2011 20:14:54 GMT -8
The Fiat General Lee is an extremely rare version of the General Lee. Most people don’t even know it ever existed. Heck, right now you’re probably thinking, “wait a minute, the General Lee was and always will be a Dodge Charger.” You’re partly right, but mostly wrong.
The Fiat version was used in one episode of “The Dukes of Hazard.” The episode was filmed in 1983, about midway through the show’s run. What’s that? You don’t recall seeing that episode? Well, that’s because it never aired. If you’re wondering how I know about this, it’s because I have the only known footage of the episode. If you want to see it, too bad, you can’t. I’d show it to you if I could, but that would put me in some serious hot water.
See, the good folks over at CBS have tried, and up until recently have been successful, to keep this “lost episode” locked up and hidden. They don’t want people to know it even exists, let alone have people view it. If this episode where to get out, they’d make not only me pay but they’d make everyone pay. And it wouldn’t be pretty. I’m talking “Two and a Half Men” playing 24/7 on every CBS affiliated worldwide. Yeah, that bad.
I know what you’re thinking, “how come you can tell us about the episode without any problems from CBS, but you can’t show us?” Well, that answer is actually quite simple. See, without actually showing you the episode, I have no proof. With no proof, I’m just some crazy guy rambling, and CBS has no issues with that. I assure you though everything about this Fiat General Lee is 100% true.
Now, as I was saying, the episode was filmed in 1983, but the original idea and script came about in the spring of 1982. That’s when Richard Matheson first had the idea to take “The Dukes of Hazards” in a different direction. Matheson, as you may know, is the writer behind the novels that inspired such movies as I Am Legend and The Omega Man and the script writer behind tons of movies and TV shows including Steven Spielberg’s Duel. Basically, Matheson is kind of a big deal.
Anyway, Matheson approached series creator Gy Waldron with his story idea. Matheson’s idea involved time travel and had Bo and Luke traveling back to the late 50’s in which they would be involved in illegal street races with the Fiat version of the General Lee as they’re vehicle of choice. Matheson planned on this being the return of Bo and Luke (this was during the time they were off the show as the actors that portrayed them, Tom Wopat and John Schneider, were having a dispute over their salaries) and it would explain that they were never racing in NASCAR but instead and been transported back in time.
Waldron along with Wopat and Schneider loved the idea and the episode was quickly in place. Throughout table reads and then the filming of the actual episode, however, one actor on the show let his displeasure with this episode known. This actor was Waylon Jennings.
Jennings had two major problems with the episode. For starters, he doesn’t like time travel. But then who can blame him? With all the complications that are involved with time travel, it’s best to just stay away from the matter all together. The second thing that got to Jennings, and this is what really irked him, was the idea of Bo and Luke driving a Fiat. He was adamant that two good ole country boys like Bo and Luke would never be caught driving a non-American car, especially not some “sissy Italian car” as he often called it.
After constantly voicing his disapproval, Matheson suggested dropping Jennings from the episode altogether. The way Matheson saw it, this particular episode didn’t need a narrator, especially one that was complaining the whole time. The series show runners at the time agreed with Matheson and advised Jennings he’d be getting the episode off.
Jennings was furious over this news. Upon learning he was taken off the episode at the suggestion of Matheson, Jennings decided to pay Matheson a visit, shotgun in hand. Long story short, words were exchanged, one shot was fired and Matheson was no more.
CBS, not wanting there to be controversy over one of their more popular shows, decided to cover the whole mess up. They got the entire cast to sign documents agreeing to never speak of this episode or incident again. They disposed of Matheson’s body and got a look alike to take his place in his every day life and work. This is why Matheson’s work since 1983 is suspect. (Jaws 3-D I’m looking at you) CBS then took the footage filmed and locked it away, along with the Fiat, never to be seen or talked about again, until now that is.
And that my friends is the story behind this extremely rare Fiat verison of the General Lee
The Fiat version was used in one episode of “The Dukes of Hazard.” The episode was filmed in 1983, about midway through the show’s run. What’s that? You don’t recall seeing that episode? Well, that’s because it never aired. If you’re wondering how I know about this, it’s because I have the only known footage of the episode. If you want to see it, too bad, you can’t. I’d show it to you if I could, but that would put me in some serious hot water.
See, the good folks over at CBS have tried, and up until recently have been successful, to keep this “lost episode” locked up and hidden. They don’t want people to know it even exists, let alone have people view it. If this episode where to get out, they’d make not only me pay but they’d make everyone pay. And it wouldn’t be pretty. I’m talking “Two and a Half Men” playing 24/7 on every CBS affiliated worldwide. Yeah, that bad.
I know what you’re thinking, “how come you can tell us about the episode without any problems from CBS, but you can’t show us?” Well, that answer is actually quite simple. See, without actually showing you the episode, I have no proof. With no proof, I’m just some crazy guy rambling, and CBS has no issues with that. I assure you though everything about this Fiat General Lee is 100% true.
Now, as I was saying, the episode was filmed in 1983, but the original idea and script came about in the spring of 1982. That’s when Richard Matheson first had the idea to take “The Dukes of Hazards” in a different direction. Matheson, as you may know, is the writer behind the novels that inspired such movies as I Am Legend and The Omega Man and the script writer behind tons of movies and TV shows including Steven Spielberg’s Duel. Basically, Matheson is kind of a big deal.
Anyway, Matheson approached series creator Gy Waldron with his story idea. Matheson’s idea involved time travel and had Bo and Luke traveling back to the late 50’s in which they would be involved in illegal street races with the Fiat version of the General Lee as they’re vehicle of choice. Matheson planned on this being the return of Bo and Luke (this was during the time they were off the show as the actors that portrayed them, Tom Wopat and John Schneider, were having a dispute over their salaries) and it would explain that they were never racing in NASCAR but instead and been transported back in time.
Waldron along with Wopat and Schneider loved the idea and the episode was quickly in place. Throughout table reads and then the filming of the actual episode, however, one actor on the show let his displeasure with this episode known. This actor was Waylon Jennings.
Jennings had two major problems with the episode. For starters, he doesn’t like time travel. But then who can blame him? With all the complications that are involved with time travel, it’s best to just stay away from the matter all together. The second thing that got to Jennings, and this is what really irked him, was the idea of Bo and Luke driving a Fiat. He was adamant that two good ole country boys like Bo and Luke would never be caught driving a non-American car, especially not some “sissy Italian car” as he often called it.
After constantly voicing his disapproval, Matheson suggested dropping Jennings from the episode altogether. The way Matheson saw it, this particular episode didn’t need a narrator, especially one that was complaining the whole time. The series show runners at the time agreed with Matheson and advised Jennings he’d be getting the episode off.
Jennings was furious over this news. Upon learning he was taken off the episode at the suggestion of Matheson, Jennings decided to pay Matheson a visit, shotgun in hand. Long story short, words were exchanged, one shot was fired and Matheson was no more.
CBS, not wanting there to be controversy over one of their more popular shows, decided to cover the whole mess up. They got the entire cast to sign documents agreeing to never speak of this episode or incident again. They disposed of Matheson’s body and got a look alike to take his place in his every day life and work. This is why Matheson’s work since 1983 is suspect. (Jaws 3-D I’m looking at you) CBS then took the footage filmed and locked it away, along with the Fiat, never to be seen or talked about again, until now that is.
And that my friends is the story behind this extremely rare Fiat verison of the General Lee
