Jeff Foxworthy on how every American might be a “redneck”

On November 16, 2006, Jeff Foxworthy discussed how comedians need to be able to connect with their audiences and shared his definition of a redneck. Interview conducted by director Michael Kantor for the six-hour PBS comedy series, “Make ‘Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America” (2009).

Chapters:
00:00 A funny family teaches Jeff Foxworthy how to build connections through comedy
02:02 Pushing past Hollywood’s narrow view of the South to find a common ground
03:58 A redneck is simply someone with “a glorious absence of sophistication”
06:17 How Hollywood missed the mark by defining rednecks through the lens of class
07:53 Exploring storytelling as the intrinsic link between comedy and country music
09:33 The intricate art to committing to clean material
13:21 Johnny Carson as the Julius Caesar of American comedy

The American Masters Digital Archive includes over 1,000 hours of never-before-seen, raw interviews: a treasure trove of the movers and shakers of American culture, including Maya Angelou, Gloria Steinem, Patti Smith, Mel Brooks, Carol Burnett, Matthew Broderick, Carl Reiner, Joan Rivers, Dionne Warwick, Lee Grant, Sidney Lumet, Betty White and many others.

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