The CBS Exec hated it

Despite its popularity, the CBS network chairman hated it.

William Paley, the network executive, admitted that he couldn't see the appeal of a show about a family of 'Robin Hood' like bootleggers intent on getting one over corrupt county commissioner Boss Hogg (Sorrell Booke) and his bumbling and corrupt Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane (James Best).

Speaking with People magazine in 1981, William labelled the series as "lousy" and dismissed it as a waste of time.