JOHN SCHNEIDER - HAZZARD FANS TOLD TO ACT NOW FOR 30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Actor JOHN SCHNEIDER's publicist has launched a campaign to bring beloved TV series THE DUKES OF HAZZARD back for its 30th anniversary. Michael Barnard claims ABC Family Channel bosses in America, who now own the rights to the TV series, which starred Schneider and Tom Wopat, have no plans to air the show in the near future, and he fears that means next year's (09) anniversary will be a muted affair. Barnard is calling on fans of the show to write letters to Tom Zappala, the senior vice-president of programme acquisitions + scheduling at the ABC Family Channel, asking him to intervene and make sure the programme is aired in America throughout 2009. In a letter sent to fans, he writes, "If you and your family and friends appreciate The Dukes Of Hazzard television series, it's urgent that you take action now." He claims ABC "gave up" on the show shortly after buying it from fellow cable network CMT, adding, "The channel does not plan to ever air the show! This is the 30th anniversary of the show, and ABC Family Channel thinks nobody cares about it anymore." The cult TV series ran in America from 1979 to 1985 and became a hit again in 2006 and 2007 when CMT bosses aired episodes. An annual DukesFest convention in America is attended by thousands of fans and stars of the show. This year's event takes place at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in Georgia in June (08).