Frank Peppiatt, co-creator of Hee Haw and one of television’s top variety show producers during the 1960s and ’70s, has died. Peppiatt passed away Wednesday in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, after battling bladder cancer, his family tells the La Times. He was 85. The Canadian-born Peppiatt and his writing partner and producer John Aylesworth were responsible for several memorable projects, including Perry Como’s Kraft Music Hall, The Judy Garland Show, The ABC Comedy Hour and the teen dance show Hullabaloo. But their greatest success came with Hee Haw. The CBS show, developed as a country version of Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, was co-hosted by Roy Clark and Buck Owens and showcased top country stars including Loretta Lynn, George Jones and Tammy Wynette. Hee Haw initially was scheduled as a summer replacement in 1969 for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, but it surged to the top of the ratings and was...
- 11/9/2012
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.