Editing The Dukes of Hazzard (section)

==Production==
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The series was developed from the 1975 film ''[[Moonrunners]]''. Created by Gy Waldron in collaboration with ex-[[moonshine]]r [[Jerry Rushing]], this movie shares many [[Moonrunners#Legacy|identical and very similar names and concepts with the subsequent TV series]]. Although itself essentially a comedy, this original movie was much cruder and edgier than the family-friendly TV series that evolved from it.

In 1977, Waldron was approached by [[Warner Bros.]] with the idea of developing ''Moonrunners'' into a television series. Waldron reworked various elements from ''Moonrunners'', ultimately devising what became ''The Dukes of Hazzard''. Production began in October 1978 with the original intention of only nine episodes for a mid-season filler. The first five episodes were filmed in [[Covington, Georgia|Covington]] and [[Conyers, Georgia|Conyers]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] and surrounding areas, including some location work in nearby [[Atlanta]]. After completing production on the fifth episode, "High Octane", the cast and crew broke for Christmas break, expecting to return in several weeks to complete the ordered run of episodes. In the meantime, executives at Warner Bros. were impressed by the rough preview cuts of the completed episodes and saw potential in developing the show into a full-running series. Part of this plan was to move production from Georgia to the [[Columbia Ranch|Warner Bros. lot]] in [[Burbank, California]], to simplify production as well as develop a larger workshop to service the large number of automobiles needed for the series.

Rushing appeared as shady used car dealer Ace Parker in the third episode, "Repo Men" (the fourth to be broadcast). Rushing believed this to be the start of a recurring role, in return for which he would supply creative ideas from his experiences: many of the ''Dukes'' (and thus ''Moonrunners'') characters and situations were derived from Rushing's experiences as a youth, and much of the character of Bo Duke, he states to be based on him. However, "Repo Men" turned out to be the character's only appearance in the show's run, leading to a legal dispute in the following years over the rights to characters and concepts. Despite this, Rushing remained on good terms with cast and crew and in recent years has made appearances at several fan conventions.

By the end of the first (half) season, the family-friendly tone of ''The Dukes of Hazzard'' was mostly in place. When the show returned for a second season in the fall of 1979 (its first full season), with a few further minor tweaks, it quickly found its footing as a family-friendly comedy-adventure series. By the third season, starting in the fall of 1980, the template which would be widely associated with the show was evident.

As well as car chases, jumps and stunts, ''The Dukes of Hazzard'' relied on character familiarity, with each character effectively serving the same role within a typical episode. Deputy Cletus replaced Deputy Enos in Seasons 3 and 4, and Coy and Vance Duke temporarily replaced Bo and Luke (due to a salary dispute) for most of Season 5, but these were the only major cast changes through the show's run. Only Uncle Jesse and Boss Hogg appeared in all 145 episodes; Daisy appears in all but one, the third season's "To Catch a Duke." The General Lee also appears in all episodes except "Mary Kaye's Baby".

The show was largely filmed in [[Hidden Valley, Ventura County, California|Hidden Valley]] in [[Thousand Oaks, California]], with scenes also shot at nearby [[Lake Sherwood, California|Lake Sherwood]] and at [[Paramount Ranch]] in nearby [[Agoura Hills, California|Agoura Hills]].<ref>Bidwell, Carol A. (1989). ''The Conejo Valley: Old and New Frontiers''. Windsor Publications, pages 82-83. {{ISBN|9780897812993}}.</ref>