Latest news with #TheDukesofHazzard
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
In A Surprise To Literally No One, Parents Aren't Naming Their Kids "Vance" Anymore
The baby name Vance is declining in popularity, according to new data from the US Social Security Administration. On Friday, the agency released the official list of most popular baby names in the US in 2024. Between 2023 and 2024, the name Vance fell 41 places, from the 955th most popular baby name for boys to No. 996 ― one of its lowest-ever rankings in the annual SSA lists, which date to the 1880s. 'On the whole, parents are likely avoiding the name Vance because it's simply not so fashionable anymore, but JD Vance is likely accelerating its decline,' Sophie Kihm, the editor-in-chief of Nameberry, told HuffPost. 'Political names tied to presidents and VPs were very common in the early 20th century, but today's parents generally stay away from overt political associations in baby names.' Even looking back to the late 1800s, the more positive influence of politicians on baby names is evident. 'Grover Cleveland pushed both his first and last names into the Top 100 in 1884,' said Abby Sandel, the creator of the baby name blog Appellation Mountain. 'Bryan first trended way back in 1896, when William Jennings Bryan ran for ― and lost ― the presidency. The name Franklin spiked in 1933, as FDR took office.' Kihm noted that modern parents are more likely to use names inspired by celebrities, influencers, and those figures' children than politicians. 'JD Vance is a polarizing figure and, right now, the most dominant association with the name Vance,' Kihm said. 'Parents that may have otherwise considered the name Vance may have nixed it from their lists to avoid assumptions or questions about their political affiliations. Interestingly, though, Elon actually rose by a few births. I bet we'll see that reverse in the 2025 data.' The name Vance briefly dropped off the Top 1,000 list in 1998 and 2000 but quickly recovered. Interestingly, the name rose in popularity from 2022 to 2023 before JD Vance joined the presidential ticket. But if its current trajectory continues, the name Vance may fall off for good this year. Meanwhile, the name Donald dipped 14 spots from No. 658 to No. 672 ― continuing a general trend of decline that goes back decades (with a couple of fleeting boosts after President Donald Trump entered the political arena). 'Vance did have a brief rise in the early 2000s and then again around 2015, the latter influenced by singer Vance Joy,' Kihm explained. 'But overall, it's dropped significantly from its height. Before 1970, Vance was impressively steady in the rankings, hovering in between No. 300 and No. 500.' The name peaked in popularity in 1969 at No. 328 and started appearing more on the pop culture scene over the next decade or so. 'Vance was very much a late 1970s style star,' Sandel said. 'Lance, too. During the 1980s, television series The Dukes of Hazzard cast briefly included a character called Vance Duke.' Both she and Kihm believe the decline of Vance is largely driven by style, even if accelerated by politics. Plus, fans of The Office might associate it too strongly with the 'Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration' character. 'I'm not at all surprised to see that Vance dropped in the rankings,' Kihm said. 'Statistically, it's a dad name or even a grandpa name. Vance was never so popular that it feels inextricably tied to a particular generation ― in this case, Gen X ― but that 'anc' sound found in names like Lance and Nancy has a strongly dated feel.' That doesn't mean all parents have fully rejected political ideals in their baby naming choices, however. 'One hopeful name from the new data that might point to how parents are feeling about the world around us?' Sandel said. 'Truce debuted in the boys' Top 1,000.' This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Buzz Feed
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Buzz Feed
Baby Name Vance Drops In Popularity
The baby name Vance is declining in popularity, according to new data from the US Social Security Administration. On Friday, the agency released the official list of most popular baby names in the US in 2024. Between 2023 and 2024, the name Vance fell 41 places, from the 955th most popular baby name for boys to No. 996 ― one of its lowest-ever rankings in the annual SSA lists, which date to the 1880s. 'On the whole, parents are likely avoiding the name Vance because it's simply not so fashionable anymore, but JD Vance is likely accelerating its decline,' Sophie Kihm, the editor-in-chief of Nameberry, told HuffPost. 'Political names tied to presidents and VPs were very common in the early 20th century, but today's parents generally stay away from overt political associations in baby names.' Even looking back to the late 1800s, the more positive influence of politicians on baby names is evident. 'Grover Cleveland pushed both his first and last names into the Top 100 in 1884,' said Abby Sandel, the creator of the baby name blog Appellation Mountain. 'Bryan first trended way back in 1896, when William Jennings Bryan ran for ― and lost ― the presidency. The name Franklin spiked in 1933, as FDR took office.' Kihm noted that modern parents are more likely to use names inspired by celebrities, influencers, and those figures' children than politicians. 'JD Vance is a polarizing figure and, right now, the most dominant association with the name Vance,' Kihm said. 'Parents that may have otherwise considered the name Vance may have nixed it from their lists to avoid assumptions or questions about their political affiliations. Interestingly, though, Elon actually rose by a few births. I bet we'll see that reverse in the 2025 data.' The name Vance briefly dropped off the Top 1,000 list in 1998 and 2000 but quickly recovered. Interestingly, the name rose in popularity from 2022 to 2023 before JD Vance joined the presidential ticket. But if its current trajectory continues, the name Vance may fall off for good this year. Meanwhile, the name Donald dipped 14 spots from No. 658 to No. 672 ― continuing a general trend of decline that goes back decades (with a couple of fleeting boosts after President Donald Trump entered the political arena). 'Vance did have a brief rise in the early 2000s and then again around 2015, the latter influenced by singer Vance Joy,' Kihm explained. 'But overall, it's dropped significantly from its height. Before 1970, Vance was impressively steady in the rankings, hovering in between No. 300 and No. 500.' The name peaked in popularity in 1969 at No. 328 and started appearing more on the pop culture scene over the next decade or so. 'Vance was very much a late 1970s style star,' Sandel said. 'Lance, too. During the 1980s, television series The Dukes of Hazzard cast briefly included a character called Vance Duke.' Both she and Kihm believe the decline of Vance is largely driven by style, even if accelerated by politics. Plus, fans of The Office might associate it too strongly with the 'Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration' character. 'I'm not at all surprised to see that Vance dropped in the rankings,' Kihm said. 'Statistically, it's a dad name or even a grandpa name. Vance was never so popular that it feels inextricably tied to a particular generation ― in this case, Gen X ― but that 'anc' sound found in names like Lance and Nancy has a strongly dated feel.' That doesn't mean all parents have fully rejected political ideals in their baby naming choices, however. 'One hopeful name from the new data that might point to how parents are feeling about the world around us?' Sandel said. 'Truce debuted in the boys' Top 1,000.'
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The Baby Name 'Vance' Is Dropping In Popularity
The baby name Vance is declining in popularity, according to new data from the U.S. Social Security Administration. On Friday, the agency released the official list of most popular baby names in the U.S. in 2024. Between 2023 and 2024, the name Vance fell 41 places, from the 955th most popular baby name for boys to No. 996 ― one of its lowest-ever rankings in the annual SSA lists, which date to the 1880s. 'On the whole, parents are likely avoiding the name Vance because it's simply not so fashionable anymore, but JD Vance is likely accelerating its decline,' Sophie Kihm, the editor-in-chief of Nameberry, told HuffPost. 'Political names tied to presidents and VPs were very common in the early 20th century, but today's parents generally stay away from overt political associations in baby names.' Even looking back to the late 1800s, the more positive influence of politicians on baby names is evident. 'Grover Cleveland pushed both his first and last names into the Top 100 in 1884,' said Abby Sandel, the creator of the baby name blog Appellation Mountain. 'Bryan first trended way back in 1896, when William Jennings Bryan ran for ― and lost ― the presidency. The name Franklin spiked in 1933, as FDR took office.' Kihm noted that modern parents are more likely to use names inspired by celebrities, influencers and those figures' children than politicians. 'JD Vance is a polarizing figure and, right now, the most dominant association with the name Vance,' Kihm said. 'Parents that may have otherwise considered the name Vance may have nixed it from their lists to avoid assumptions or questions about their political affiliations. Interestingly, though, Elon actually rose by a few births. I bet we'll see that reverse in the 2025 data.' The name Vance briefly dropped off the Top 1,000 list in 1998 and 2000 but quickly recovered. Interestingly, the name rose in popularity from 2022 to 2023 before JD Vance joined the presidential ticket. But if its current trajectory continues, the name Vance may fall off for good this year. Meanwhile, the name Donald dipped 14 spots from No. 658 to No. 672 ― continuing a general trend of decline that goes back decades (with a couple of fleeting boosts after President Donald Trump entered the political arena). 'Vance did have a brief rise in the early 2000s and then again around 2015, the latter influenced by singer Vance Joy,' Kihm explained. 'But overall, it's dropped significantly from its height. Before 1970, Vance was impressively steady in the rankings, hovering in between No. 300 and No. 500.' The name peaked in popularity in 1969 at No. 328 and started appearing more on the pop culture scene over the next decade or so. 'Vance was very much a late 1970s style star,' Sandel said. 'Lance, too. During the 1980s, television series 'The Dukes of Hazzard' cast briefly included a character called Vance Duke.' Both she and Kihm believe the decline of Vance is largely driven by style, even if accelerated by politics. Plus, fans of 'The Office' might associate it too strongly with the 'Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration' character. 'I'm not at all surprised to see that Vance dropped in the rankings,' Kihm said. 'Statistically, it's a dad name or even a grandpa name. Vance was never so popular that it feels inextricably tied to a particular generation ― in this case, Gen X ― but that 'anc' sound found in names like Lance and Nancy has a strongly dated feel.' That doesn't mean all parents have fully rejected political ideals in their baby naming choices, however. 'One hopeful name from the new data that might point to how parents are feeling about the world around us?' Sandel said. 'Truce debuted in the boys' Top 1,000.' These Were The Most Popular Baby Names Of 2024 These Were The Most Popular Baby Names 100 Years Ago These Are The Most Popular Baby Names In Every State
Fox News
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
'Dukes of Hazzard' actor protected co-star Catherine Bach on rise to sex symbol fame
The good ol' boys were determined to protect Catherine Bach and her Daisy Dukes. "The Dukes of Hazzard" stars John Schneider and Tom Wopat, as well as Bach, recently reunited to celebrate the show's iconic vehicle, the General Lee, which is being honored at the "Iconic Rides" exhibit at the Hollywood Museum. The series, which chronicled "the adventures of the fast-drivin', rubber-burnin' Duke boys of Hazzard County," aired from 1979 to 1985. "It never occurred to us that we weren't going to be friends for life," Schneider, who played Bo Duke, told Fox News Digital. "I've met other people from other shows, and particularly other bands… there's a lot of bands that can't stand one another," said the actor and musician. "I couldn't imagine a life without Tom Wopat being one of my best friends, without Catherine Bach being one of my best friends. It couldn't possibly exist." When the sitcom first premiered, then-CBS programming chief B. Donald Grant found himself squaring off with a roomful of TV critics who hated it, The Hollywood Reporter shared. Still, the show won over millions of fans, drawing in as many as 20 million viewers per episode. According to the outlet, it had become the second-biggest show on TV by its third season. "The Dukes of Hazzard" catapulted the trio to stardom, especially Bach, whose short shorts made her a sex symbol. Schneider said the cast became incredibly close, and while fans watched her million-dollar legs, he and Wopat watched her back. WATCH: 'DUKES OF HAZZARD' STAR WAS PROTECTIVE OF SEX SYMBOL PAL CATHERINE BACH "Tom and I were very protective of Catherine," said the 65-year-old. "Hollywood in those days, Hollywood in any days, is a little odd, but particularly for a young woman in her 20s who had her legs insured for a million dollars. "So, we would make sure whenever Catherine had a visitor on set, someone she might be dating, we'd come up to them like you would imagine Bo and Luke [Duke] would come up. 'Hey, how are you? What are you doing? We work early tomorrow, so you got to have her in by 9 o'clock tonight.'" "We were terrible to these people," Schneider chuckled. "But Cathy would do the same thing. Catherine has done that to me my whole life. I still do it with her. But that's what people who love each other and respect each other do — you protect one another." Bach previously told Fox News Digital that she was never romantically involved with her co-stars. "Let me say this — as much as those guys were the most charming, sexiest friends and men on the planet and women all over just adored them — they were really like my brothers," she said. "As much as I appreciate them, there's no way I would be, as you say, hooking up with them. Just look at your brother or whoever is really close to you and go, 'Can I do this?' It's a no." Schneider said he became fast friends with Wopat and Bach, a friendship that remains strong today. "My relationship with Tom and Catherine has been wonderful," he said. "One of the things people have mentioned now for four and a half decades is how realistic the friendship is between Bo, Luke and Daisy, how believable it is that we all love, honor and protect one another." "Well, that started from the very beginning," he shared. "I'm not sure why, but especially Tom and I… Tom and I both carried a guitar around. We were often seen playing songs we'd written or great songs from our era. I think that the music joined us together." "But also, the work, the five days a week, 12 hours a day, 10 months a year — it would be really bad to not get along with people you spend that much time with," he added. Schneider was 18 years old and fresh out of high school when he joined "The Dukes of Hazzard." It was two years after Burt Reynolds and Sally Field starred in the box office hit, "Smokey and the Bandit." "Navigating fame at 18 years old was quite a trick," Schneider admitted. "… If it weren't for the amazing actor Denver Pyle, who played my Uncle Jesse, I think I probably would've crashed and burned early on. He had done multiple television shows, and he was my mentor, my role model, and I didn't want to disappoint him." "I had a wonderful youth," he clarified. "I'm not saying I [didn't have] a great time, but I didn't come off the rails. And I'm crediting Denver Pyle for that… Denver Pyle is absolutely the No. 1 reason why I'm still here." According to The Hollywood Reporter, annual fan conventions have been known to draw over 100,000 spectators. But despite the show's enduring popularity, it didn't remain scandal-free. In 2015, TV Land, the only network airing the series at the time, took it off the air amid controversy over portrayals of the Confederate flag, which is viewed by many as a slave-era hate symbol, the outlet reported. Reuters also reported fans took to social media to express frustration over the network's decision. A petition to bring the show back had over 1,800 supporters. In 2020, amid the Black Lives Matter movement, there was renewed fervor over the use of the flag, which is painted on the roof of the boys' ride, the General Lee. The fictional Duke family resides in Georgia. "I think in 2020, there was a group of people that took offense to everything," said Schneider. "… They were just looking to have a problem with something. I think everything is safe from cancel culture right now. I think we've entered into the time of common sense. 'The Dukes of Hazzard' is a wonderful family show that never had a racist bone in its body, in its writing or its production." "I think what happened is, maybe some of the people who hadn't done any research… took this nonsensical complaint at face value," he continued. "I think now they've seen the show, and they've said, 'Wait a minute, this is great. This is fun. This is a community. This is family. We want more of this, not less.' I think that is evidenced by the Hollywood Museum right now by their beautiful exhibit. They wouldn't have done it if that was still prevalent." Schneider said there's a good reason why "The Dukes of Hazzard" has had a loyal following over the years. "I think the legacy of 'Dukes' is that the most important thing that we have is community," he shared. "That's a lesson that Uncle Jesse would teach us… I've had so many parents and grandparents come to me and say this was the show that helped raise their children. I think that's important. "Some shows are fun, some shows are exciting. Some shows are like "Little House on the Prairie' that teach wonderful lessons. But… very few shows were all of that. 'Dukes of Hazzard' was all of that, plus fast cars and jumping over the creek."
Telegraph
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
White Lotus conversations prove how mindless the chattering classes have become
What do the chattering classes talk about? Social justice, politics, school fees and the arts – at least that is the old cliché. Yet nowadays, such people (I know the chattering classes is a pejorative term, but it is a useful one, I think, for the point of this argument) are as likely to talk about what they have been watching on Netflix as the state of private-school provision for the academically precocious in north London. The exact phrase I'm looking for is prestige TV, a fairly hideous term that sounds like it was coined by a marketing department on an outward bounds course in the Catskills. It comes from America, you see, but is overwhelmingly present here; the cultural equivalent of giant ragweed. Let me explain. In the early 2000s, American television came of age. No longer were the knockabout, lowest common denominator action thrillers of my childhood such as The Dukes of Hazzard and The A Team acceptable. Television drama began to think big and thus, often courtesy of subscription service HBO, series such as The Sopranos, The Wire and Mad Men were made. What set these series apart was their intellectual ambition, their psychological acuity, their literary scope. Here was Don DeLillo or John Updike in televisual form. And yes, they were very very good, respecting the intelligence of their audiences, and proving that the medium was finally catching up with cinema. But cinema got left behind, its power as a medium sadly diminished. And indeed if TV was the hot topic at dinner parties, what did that mean for the usual fodder of conversation? The latest Tom Stoppard play, the Booker Prize shortlist, the state of the Royal Opera House. Slowly, such things were failing to become 'part of the national conversation', as those without much free time were beginning to turn to television in order to get their cultural kicks. This isn't as far-fetched as it sounds. I have culturally aware friends who admit they can't be bothered to engage with anything that requires intellectual scrutiny, a commute (lockdown made layabouts of us all) or most importantly in an age of dynamic pricing, deep pockets. A further problem is that prestige TV no longer officially exists. Its demise was officially declared in the New York Times in 2023 and it is hard to disagree. Obviously in Britain, the main broadcasters are all in straitened circumstances and thus a series such as Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light – based upon Hilary Mantel's novel – which aired at the end of 2024 felt like a last hurrah for dramatic quality (recently its director Peter Kosminsky has said neither the BBC nor ITV could afford a series such as Netflix hit Adolescence). Meanwhile, America is still splurging; churning out series that are increasingly reductive and repetitive. They probably star Nicole Kidman, feature some nifty cinematography and impressive aerial shots, but are essentially hollow exercises in dramatic blandness. Take The White Lotus, the anthology thriller set in a luxury hotel which ended on Monday: everyone I know seems to be dissecting as if it had the intellectual complexity of Finnegans Wake. The truth is that this is a bougie little series for people who belong to wine clubs and aspire to live in Chipping Norton. If the conversation is now revolving around a fairly obvious eat the rich satire, as opposed to, say, the mind-bending metaphysics of a Stoppard play, then we're really heading for the abyss. There again, if quality TV is genuinely in decline, might we see a surge in interest for the rest of the arts? This seems unlikely. The sector has not recovered since Covid and, while recent reports prove that the West End is in rude health, this is not the case for the subsidised sectors which are now bracing themselves for government cuts, and the result of Baroness Hodge's inquiry into how Arts Council England is spending its money. Add to that, a decrease in arts education in schools, and a crisis in the humanities at our universities, and we will see generations without proper access to culture. Certainly there are bigger enemies of the arts than prestige TV, but its malign influence cannot be underestimated. Next month, Barrie Kosky's Die Walküre comes to Covent Garden and promises to be the event of the year. Meanwhile the second season of Nicole Kidman's Nine Perfect Strangers will air on Amazon Prime, and that promises very little. But guess where the excitement lies?
