Georgai senator blasts proposed Beverly Hillbillies show

WASHINGTON - A proposed hillbilly reality show has struck a nerve with Senator Zell Miller, a native of Young Harris who contends poor rural residents seem to be the last acceptable target of bigotry. <br> <br> Miller lashed out at CBS executives in a floor speech Tuesday for their plans to air The Real Beverly Hillbillies, which would chronicle a rural, lower-middle class family that moves into a luxurious Beverly Hills mansion. The program is modeled after the hit 1960s sitcom. <br> <br> The Georgia Democrat, a former two-term governor, called the proposal a ``minstrel show&#39;&#39; and ``Cracker Comedy&#39;&#39; at the expense of hardworking Americans. He said he doubted CBS CEO Les Moonves would dare try such a spoof featuring a black or Latino family. <br> <br> Miller said, ``I plead with you to call off your hillbilly hunt. Make your big bucks some other way. Appeal to the best in America, not the worst. Give bigotry no sanction.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> CBS spokesman Chris Ender said the network isn&#39;t trying to offend anyone and added it&#39;s not clear when -- or even if -- the show will air. <br> <br> Ender said, ``It&#39;s bizarre and unfortunate that he&#39;s formed a conclusion about a project that doesn&#39;t even exist yet. It&#39;s a program in development that is being considered but has not yet been given a production commitment. Not a stitch of film has been shot.&#39;&#39;