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The Dukes of Hazzard

(Rated TV-PG, Comedy, Starring John Schneider, Tom Wopat, Catherine Bach, Where to watch: CMT, DVD, Online)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 7, age appropriate for kids over 10; suggested age 10.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Yee haw! Original Dukes leap the generation gap.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 10 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The show tends to stereotype small-town life in the rural South, but it's played for humor throughout. Personal disputes often lead to fistfights, which don't necessarily solve problems but often subdue the wrongdoers long enough for issues to be worked out. The Duke boys always try to do the right thing and expose injustice and corruption. They're often misjudged by others.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Episodes almost always include a car crash or two, but no one's ever seriously hurt. Law enforcement officials carry handguns and often shoot out windows or tires of cars. Some characters also use bows and flaming arrows to ignite the occasional building. Fistfights are common, and the players sometimes use nearby items (chairs, beer bottles) during the scuffles. But aside from some bumps and bruises, no one suffers lasting injury.
  • Sex:

    The main female character wears skimpy tops and provocatively high-cut jean shorts that leave nothing to the imagination. Adults often engage in playful flirting, and occasionally there's some kissing.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Dukes merchandise is available on the toy shelves.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    The favorite hang-out is a bar, and overage characters drink beer when they're there (and occasionally when they're not).
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Dukes of Hazzard

Parents need to know that it's no accident that this longtime favorite has hung around long enough to entertain a whole new generation of fans. The show's lovably indomitable heroes prove time and again that, in Hazzard County, corrupt businessmen and inept cops are no match for them and their orange cohort, the General Lee. While the humor is silly (and sometimes is at the expense of exaggerated Southern stereotypes) and the plots are predictable (with all loose ends neatly tied up by the hour's end), ubiquitous car chase scenes help ensure that the show never gets boring. The only real eyebrow-raisers are some characters' use of guns -- although the shots are laughingly poor and never manage to hit anyone -- and Daisy Duke's skimpy attire, including the famous high-cut shorts that were named after her character. It's all pretty tame, though, which is why we're giving it an "on" rating.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about respecting law enforcement officials. Why do police officials deserve our respect? Why don't the characters in the show respect Rosco, even though he's the sheriff? What rights do citizens have in the presence of police officers? Parents can also discuss how the media portrays negative stereotypes. Kids, what examples of stereotyping have you noticed in movies or TV shows? What about in the news? How are the characters in this show exaggerated for laughs?

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 2.0

    this show is ok but there is always car chases with fightitng but harkly ever get carried away

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