Jeffrey M. Foxworthy (born September 6, 1958 From Essex England to the Sunny Southern USA: A Harris Family Journey, Robert E. Harris, Genealogical Press, 1994, page 870. ) is an American comedian, actor and game show host who is known for his work as a stand-up comedian. He is known for his "You Might Be a Redneck" jokes.
The Jeff Foxworthy Show is the name of two short-lived television series starring comedian Jeff Foxworthy and based on Foxworthy's stand-up comedy routine.
The first aired on ABC during the 1995-1996 season, but was cancelled after one season. NBC picked up the show for the following season, but it was again cancelled after one season. Foxworthy later remarked that the network did not understand how to properly market his humor. In the first season, thinking his routine was "too southern" for a national network, they based his sitcom in Bloomington, Indiana. In the second season, the show was based in his hometown in the south, and the series was given a redesigned opening and theme.
One oddity never explained was in the first season's finale, Karen gave birth to a baby girl; in the second season premiere, there was no baby girl, but rather an additional son, who was several years older.
When the show moved to NBC for its second season, in addition to the casting changes, the show's production changed. In the first season the show was recorded on tape; the second and final season was shot on film.
Bill Engvall and various other comics such as Jay Mohr and Bob Saget made regular or cameo appearances, as did country singers Tim McGraw and Travis Tritt.
A very young Haley Joel Osment and Jonathan Lipnicki played Foxworthy's sons.
After season one ABC canceled the series NBC picked up the series for a second season.
The following changes were made when the show went from ABC to NBC: Anita Barone was replaced by Ann Cusack. Jeff's mother was alive in the first season but was never shown along with his father. In season two she was dead and his father was brought on played by G.W. Bailey. Jeff had a baby daughter in the last episode of the first season. In the second season she was gone and he had a second son named Justin played by Jonathan Lipnicki. Jeff's brother Wayne, played by Jay Mohr, and his girlfriend DeeDee, played by Michelle Clunie disappeared in the second season along with his father-in-law Elliot, played by Dakin Matthews, his mother-in-law Lois, played by Bibi Besch, and his sister-in-law Gayle, played by Debra Jo Rupp. Other people added in season two were Bill, played by Bill Engvall, Florus, played by Neil Giuntoli, Livie Ann, played by Jeanine Jackson (I), and Nettie, played by Kathryn Zaremba. In season one Jeff lived Bloomington, Indiana. In season two he lived in Briarton, Georgia. In season one Jeff owned his own heating and air conditioning shop. In season two he worked on a loading dock. The family lived in a completely new house.
Jeff Foxworthy and Haley Joel Osment were the only two cast members to be on the show from beginning to end despite the show only lasted two seasons. In season two when NBC took over the show the cast and plot were completely re-done and Foxworthy and Osment were meant to play different people from who they played the first season only they had the same names.
Jeff Foxworthy followed in his father's footsteps working for IBM in Georgia, but on a dare from friends did a few minutes of comedy at an Atlanta comedy club. A few months later, he quit his job and started on the standup comedy road. His comedy originally centered on family situations, but he soon hit upon his successful "You might be a redneck if..". tagline which he says signifies "a glorious absence of sophistication". Following two successful albums, Foxworthy joined the growing trend of standup comics with their own TV sitcoms.
