Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Andy Griffiths Show, and probably other shows dipped into the idea that two families killing each other off in a feud was funny.
All those shows had at least one comedy episode that had the same basic formula. Two families of really dumb hillbillies were feuding, but they were also very cowardly, so they never actually killed each other. The lead characters got to show them up as really ignorant cowards, and the audience got to laugh at them.
The implications are that the Hollywood community enjoyed smearing the midwest Bible belt types as illiterate knuckle-dragging stereotypes. I thought those types of shows were very boring. Even Steve McQueen looked bored in this episode. It was hard to find anything positive about it.
All those shows had at least one comedy episode that had the same basic formula. Two families of really dumb hillbillies were feuding, but they were also very cowardly, so they never actually killed each other. The lead characters got to show them up as really ignorant cowards, and the audience got to laugh at them.
The implications are that the Hollywood community enjoyed smearing the midwest Bible belt types as illiterate knuckle-dragging stereotypes. I thought those types of shows were very boring. Even Steve McQueen looked bored in this episode. It was hard to find anything positive about it.