In the late 1960’s, the most popular television show at the time was Laugh-In, a hyper-scattered comedy variety program that mixed surrealism with one-liners and ribald satire. Here’s the first episode of that series, and you can see the lightning as it flashes in the proverbial bottle.
Laugh-In proved so popular that other television networks tried creating their own version of the series. And on CBS – the home of rural sitcoms like The Beverly Hillbillies and Green Acres and Petticoat Junction, they launched their own Laugh-In clone that not only became a hit for CBS, it would later prove its tremendous staying power for decades in syndication.
Say hello to Hee Haw. The Laugh-In of Kornfield Kounty, with their own Dan Rowan and Dick Martin as country music superstars Buck Owens and Roy Clark. And here’s the first episode of Hee Haw, airing all the way back in 1969.
This show was incredible. Look at the talent it brought us. It taught us that you could get a great deal on a tire-kicked classic car at Junior Samples’ car lot, just call BR-549.
And if you wanted a classic country music break-up song, just call Archie Campbell and Gordie Tapp (and a host of other guest stars) for that lilting rendition of “Where, Oh Where, Are You Tonight?” Trust me, Jason Aldean and Jelly Roll have NOTHING on these guys.
And who needs guitars and drums and other musical instruments, when Jimmy Riddle and Jackie Phelps could show you how to do the hambone.
If you want the best news, just look for four buxom beauties down by the laundry clotheslines. They won’t repeat any gossip. So make sure you listen close the first time.
And there’s always a great story to be told at the Kornfield Kounty barbershop … so long as it’s told by Hee Haw’s resident king of malaprops, Archie Campbell.
But trust me, Hee Haw was more than just cornpone humor. You experienced some of the best bluegrass and country gospel performers in the country on the show. Here’s a demonstration.
They also had their own resident country music heartthrobs, the Hager Twins.
I’m going to leave one more video here … just because it’s nice to see the recently passed Lulu Roman again, along with Gaylord Sartain, as they welcome a “customer” to the diner.
Trust me, I could post a ton more from Hee Haw, everything from The Culhanes to “Hey Grandpa, What’s for Supper,” to at least 20 different “I’m a pickin and I’m a grinnin” performances.
But I’ll just leave you with a taste of classic Hee Haw. And it’ll be stuck in your head like chitterlings and cornpone with fatback.
Y’all come back now, y’hear??
Chuck The Writer 
We lost Gailard Sartain at the end of last week, so that’s 2 Hee Haw cast members that have been called home the last few weeks. Pretty clever using CW McCall’s “Convoy” in the truck stop skit.
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Hee Haw, Wonderful World of Disney, and Little House on the Prairie were the memories of my childhood… the only shows we were allowed to watch every week. Of course, being next to the room that had the tv in it, I listened to Gunsmoke and All in the Family (shhh)..
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