Thanks everyone, for your feedback on this issue and I have graciously forwarded of your responses to the CBS staff. I have also copied the article to my website if you didn't have a chance to read it. http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~bradytrilogy/reality-tv.htm In case some didn't get a chance to use the CBS Feedback form, here is the link again. http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/feedback/fb_news_form.shtml Below are the comments I received after posting the NY Times article "Tall Tales of the Appalachias" by John O'Brien. To the CBS Programming Staff, An article in today's NY Times "Tall Tales of the Appalachias" have alerted us that you are perhaps pursuing a "Beverly Hillbilly-like" Reality TV Show by taking a "poor family" and transplanting them into a Beverly Hills mansion, then exploiting them by broadcasting their reactions in this "zoo-like" environment. What a waste! An hour ago I forwarded the article to mailing lists that are targeted to that area of the country (i.e., WV, VA, Ohio, etc.). Here are some of the responses I have received concerning this issue, from people all over the United States. And I have no doubt there will be further responses. **As a descendent of pioneer farmers from the mountains of Virginia and West Virginia, I agree with you and have sent an email of complaint to CBS. Thank you for alerting us to this stereotyping. J. Denis Glover **Good for John O'Brien!!!! He wrote a wonderful article, Tales of Appalachia, in the New York Times which should have a wider audience. **My ancestors have been here since before 1650 on several sides. Some came through New Amsterdam, others through New England and others through North Carolina and the Virginias and the rest through Pennsylvania and Ohio and I have been chasing these families for almost 50 years. I have not only been searching people but their life styles and this topic really hit home. I just wrote a very long discourse to the station about their insensitivity to a group of people who have a long and proud ancestry. I find the area beautiful and believe me living in that area would be better than the city rat race as far as I am concerned. People in that area are of good strong stock and I believe that a lot of us have to stand up for our ancestors who came here to give us a good life. Instead we are being bombarded by people in the media whose ancestry usually doesn't run as deep as so many of us and they can't understand or don't want to understand what our ancestors went through so we could have freedom. I thank God every day for the freedoms we have in the country and despair of those who are trying to create a world that our ancestors gave up for to give their children and descendants a better life. Let's take back our country. Jerilyn **Wow, what an eye opener! Thanks for sharing......Nancy **Wow. Thanks for the article. I will forward that info to LOTS of family, near and far. I grew up in Bridgeport, WV, (Harrison Co.), which is about as unhillbilly as it gets. I'm proud of my mountain heritage and have learned that the shame and embarrassment I felt at being from WV once I left is completely unjustified. There is a world of difference between being poorly educated or "unsophisticated" and being willfully ignorant. I have experienced more attitudes of tolerance, compassion and allowing diversity among the West Virginians I have encountered on visits "back home" over the years than I have in many other places in the country. WVians seem to embody a more "live and let live" philosophy than a lot of Americans. In addition, I am very proud of all the WVians who have contributed to the arts, humanities, science, etc. and who have "done us proud", most of whom are not regarded as hillbillies. I live in Western Massachusetts and work in New York City, splitting my week between the two. It never fails to amaze me what misperceptions people generally have about WV. Ironically, my yoga teacher in Mass. grew up in WV. I can find 'em everywhere! I had heard that the so-called reality show about Appalachians was a possibility, but I had hoped CBS would wise up to the offensiveness of such a show. (As if reality programs aren't enough of an insult to intelligence already!) Thanks again for sending the article. All the best (and thanks for letting me vent!) Lindel Gum --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.463 / Virus Database: 262 - Release Date: 3/17/2003