The path from stand up comedy to television sitcom is a well worn one. The Jeff Foxworthy Show was based on the comic routines of Foxworthy, a popular comic from Atlanta, Georgia. The series gained a loyal band of fans but only lasted for two seasons and went through many changes. It was the sort of show that the whole family could sit and watch together.
The first series began in 1995, introducing the TV Foxworthy clan with G.W.Bailey as Jim Foxworthy. Bailey was probably best known for his role in the long running series of MASH as Sergeant Rizzo. Wife Karen was played by Anita Barone and later replaced by Ann Cusack. The two sons were acted by two extremely talented boys, who went on to appear in top Hollywood movies. Justin was played by Jonathan Lipnicki, who appeared in Dawson’s Creek and Jerry McGuire and Matt was played by Haley Joel Osment, star of The Sixth Sense, Pay It Forward and A.I. Osment was nominated twice for his role in the series for Best Young Artist in a Television Comedy.
The first series was broadcast on ABC and then transferred to NBC. Originally set in Indiana, NBC took the decision to re-locate The Jeff Foxworthy Show to his hometown in Georgia. The second series brought a confusing number of cast changes and alterations to the plot. In total, Jeff Foxworthy himself appeared in eight episodes.
The show had several guest appearances as regulars or cameos. These included comic Bill Engvall, another veteran of stand up and a discovery by Johnny Carson on his Tonight Show. Fellow comedian Jay Mohr also appeared as Jeff Foxworthy’s brother Wayne. Mohr had made his name on the hit Saturday Night Live series. Comic and actor Bob Saget also featured, best known for his role in the sitcom, Full House and for his hosting of America’s Funniest Home Videos. He recently wrote, starred and directed Farce of the Penguins, a parody of March of the Penguins, which was released in 2007.
Country singers Tim McGraw and Travis Tritt also made guest appearances in The Jeff Foxworthy Show. McGraw played Jeff Foxworthy’s rival in the show. He is a familiar figure to country music fans, having enjoyed huge record sales and he has supplemented this with several acting roles. Tritt is another successful country star, well known for his collaborations with other stars, such as Ray Charles.
Old fans of the show or people curious to it for the first time can catch the ABC re-runs on Nick at Nite and CMT. Also, the complete first season of The Jeff Foxworthy Show has been released on DVD. It may have been short lived but this show has not gone away completely.
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