It was a warm Saturday evening in September 1969, the kind of night when the cicadas hummed outside the screen door and families across America gathered in living rooms lit only by a soft lamp and the glow of the television. The Vietnam War dominated the news, gas was 35 cents a gallon, and “Sugar, Sugar” by The Archies played endlessly on the radio. But at 9 PM on CBS, all of that faded away. For one hour each week, Hee Haw gave us permission to laugh.
That night, Archie Campbell took center stage for his beloved barbershop skit. Roy Clark settled into the chair, draped in a barber cape and already grinning, while Archie sharpened his razor and prepared to unleash one of his all-time classics: “Rindercella.”
The moment he opened his mouth, the room erupted.
Archie’s mastery of spoonerisms was something magical. With perfect seriousness he told us, “Rindercella lived with her mugly other and her two sad blisters.” My siblings and I were doubled over before he even finished the sentence. And there was Roy Clark, trying to sit still and pretend this was a normal haircut, but you could see the corners of his mouth twitching as he fought the laughter creeping up his throat.
My dad slapped his knee and said what he always said during Archie’s routines: “Now that’s comedy.”
Archie’s timing was flawless — slow, deliberate, leaving just enough space for the audience to catch the joke before delivering another. “Rindercella slopped her dripper,” he announced with absolute solemnity, and the living room practically shook from laughter. Even after hearing it dozens of times over the years, the magic of it never faded. It was silly, clever, familiar, and unpredictable all at once.
That was the secret of the skit: everyone knew the fairy tale, but Archie’s version felt brand new. Each twist, each jumbled phrase, each straight-faced delivery kept you waiting for the next laugh. You wondered whether Roy would break character first or whether Archie would finally tangle his own tongue — but he never did. Every line was sharp as a razor.
Mom used to say that television doesn’t make moments like that anymore. Maybe she was right. There was something special about the whole family gathered on the couch — kids sprawled on the carpet, popcorn in a big bowl on the table, and laughter so full it drowned out the worries of the world for a little while.
If you’re craving a dose of pure, old-fashioned fun, take a trip back and watch this classic Hee Haw moment. Archie Campbell’s “Rindercella” isn’t just a comedy sketch — it’s a memory, a warm reminder of a time when humor was simple, timing was everything, and laughter brought families together.
Some clips don’t just make you smile.
They take you home.
