Ben Jones, "Cooter" Blasts CMT For "Party Down South"

WASHINGTON, Va., Jan. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Former Georgia Congressman Ben Jones, who played "Cooter" the mechanic on the classic TV comedy "The Dukes of Hazzard", today blasted Country Music Television (CMT) for airing promotions for the "reality" show "Party Down South" during showings of "The Dukes".

"Our show has been a family favorite for thirty-five years", says Jones. "There are maybe a million kids watching it on CMT every night. But at every commercial break those kids are being exposed to some of the sleaziest advertising I've ever seen."

"Our 'Cooter's' stores have received thousands of complaints about this unconscionable disregard for America's families. I suggested on Facebook that our 'Dukes' fans direct their concerns to CMT at (https://www.facebook.com/cmt). Although countless viewers have done just that, CMT has 'blown them off.' They have refused to even acknowledge these heartfelt concerns. So I'm speaking up about it."

Jones and his wife Alma run the "Cooter's Place" museums in Nashville and Gatlinburg, Tennessee and have hosted many "Dukes" themed festivals and events for the last fifteen years.  In 2006 and 2007, CMT was a sponsor of "DukesFest", events that drew more than 80,000 fans to Nashville.

"CMT holds the rights to the Dukes these days, and they've done a good job with it," Jones says. "But they haven't been family-friendly with these really offensive commercials for this anti-Southern 'reality show'."

Having seen the commercials for "Party Down South", which was originally entitled "Dirty South", Jones did not pull any punches. "Judging from the promotions, it is a slimy, semi-obscene fake show from the people who put out 'Jersey Shore'. It is about a bunch of trashy, foul-mouthed morons. It is another massive insult to the South, created by New Yorkers and 'green-lighted' by people in Los Angeles. I don't think this programming decision came out of Nashville. The geniuses who created and marketed this travesty have very different sensibilities and priorities from the people in the heartland who are simply looking for something decent to watch.  Of course CMT has a right to show this stink. But they also have a responsibility not to force this kind of decadence on the impressionable children who are watching "The Dukes of Hazzard."

"Over the years we have all witnessed the continuing lowering of television standards and its degrading effect on American culture. It appears that CMT, which built its audience from country music lovers in America's heartland, has now been infected by this rush to the bottom of the cultural sewer. That is a shame, but attempting to foist it upon pre-teen children is more than a shame. It's a disgrace."

"We are asking that CMT and its advertisers refrain from promoting "Party Down South" during airings of 'The Dukes of Hazzard'. Since 1979 America's parents have trusted us with their children. CMT has thoughtlessly violated that trust. Enough is enough."

SOURCE Ben Jones