Dave,

It is a long story, but...

It seems to me, that for quite a while, "Appalachian" was used to conjure up images of Appalachian people that were most unflattering.

Over the decades the images varied but the tone remained fairly constant.

I don't know when the shift started.

My limited experience with current television indicates that the stereotypes are alive and flourishing whatever the status of the word "Appalachian."

Russ (Permanent GUEST and Appalachian person)