Foxworthy makes sure part of his new show is filmed in the South

<p>Jeff Foxworthy is returning to television with "Blue Collar TV," and while he has to head to Hollywood to work on the show, he made sure some skits were taped before an audience in his native Atlanta.</p><p>The reasons are simple, he said during a recent taping: They don't serve sweet tea in L.A., and the only pickups in Beverly Hills have lawnmowers in the back.</p><p>Of course, Foxworthy pointed out, there are drawbacks to taping in Atlanta: "If they see me getting makeup, I'm gonna lose my hunting license."</p><p>The sketch comedy program, which premieres July 29 on the WB network, is adapted from Foxworthy's Blue Collar Comedy Tour and features comedians Bill Engvall and Larry the Cable Guy.</p><p>Skits included the 35th Annual African-American Country Music Awards, in which cast member Gary Williams plays Charlie Pride, who serves as host and receives his 35th consecutive lifetime achievement award.</p><p>The material scored with the crowd, which cheered and applauded wildly. Foxworthy, Engvall and Larry the Cable Guy also pleased the crowd of some 3,000 people during five recent tapings at the Alliance Theatre with brief standup routines while the stage crew changed sets between skits.</p><p>"What good Southern boy wouldn't call himself a redneck?" asked Atlanta native Tony McCook, among those who snatched up free tickets for one of the tapings.</p><p>Through another jab at Hollywood, Foxworthy encouraged the crowd to ask the cast questions. "We're just regular guys here. That's why we're not doing this in L.A.," he said.</p><p>"I enjoyed him talking to the audience like you were a co-worker or a neighbor or whatever," said Linda Keys, a local who had never before attended the taping of a television show. "I was glad he was back in familiar territory."</p><p>Carmella Brooks of Atlanta said the Alliance Theatre, which typically produces its own plays and musicals, was an appropriately laid-back atmosphere for Foxworthy & Co. to present their irreverent brand of humor.</p><p>"He feels right at home here, and he knew we would be supportive," Brooks said. "He's a local boy who's done well."</p><p>WB network officials said Foxworthy didn't want to do another television series full-time in Hollywood and insisted that he get the chance to work near his family in Atlanta.</p><p>Foxworthy's last television endeavor was NBC's "The Jeff Foxworthy Show," in which he played himself. The show was canceled in May 1997 after two seasons because, Foxworthy said, "NBC invited us not to return. ... For the seven of you that watched it, thank you."</p><p>_________</p><p>On The Net:</p><p>HASH(0x286579c)</p>