reinforcing stereotypes -- cornpone

And, yet, Jackie, Hee Haw was a hit for decades milking that stereotypical cornpone humor for all it was worth. And everybody loved it. Especially the Southern rural crowd, the target audience for whom the show was originally developed in Nashville. But I think Hee Haw worked so well because everybody knew they (the performers) weren't taking themselves seriously at all.

Then, of course, there's the comic classic, and wonderful Broadway show, Al Capp's L'il Abner...you jes' cain't get more cornpone then Dogpatch, USA! There was even a major character named Jubilation T. Cornpone!
http://www.lil-abner.com/

The comic, Barney Google/Snuffy Smith, and the 60's TV hit, The Beverly Hillbillies need a mention here, too. But then again, none of the above seemed to take thenselves too seriously, did they?

People loved them because they were so corny! And made no pretension about it!

"I'm pickin'...he's grinnin'!"