Hee Haw, the stalwart 1970s rural comedy/variety program which struck a chord with Middle America and became a staple of television during that era, first on network and then in syndication, has now been archived as part of a 3-DVD set by Time Life titled The Hee Haw Collection.
Debuting in the late 1960s, Hee Haw was in essence a countrified version of the comedy smash hit Laugh-In, in which rapid fire one liners, catchphrases, blackouts, and fast-paced sketches were the order of the day. Taking the same basic core elements but adding a kind of “southern” feel to the proceedings, replete with famous country luminaries such as Roy Clark, Minnie Pearl, and Buck Owens, pretty cowgirls, and hayseed-themed comedy and characters, Hee Haw debuted on CBS in 1969. The show lasted for two years and then became one of the longest running shows in syndication history, a success story on par with other shows of the era, such as The Lawrence Welk Show and Soul Train.
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