History Main / FatSweatySouthernerInAWhiteSuit

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* Colonel Harlan Sanders, spokesgentleman for Kentucky Fried Chicken, is one of the most recognizable examples.
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Boss Hogg, the corrupt BigBad of ''TheDukesOfHazzard'', is a memorable recent character of this type. See also ManInWhite for non-fat, non-sweaty, non-Southerner examples.

For other stereotypes of the obese, compare and contrast FatBastard, FatIdiot, and FatSlob.

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Like DastardlyWhiplash, this is an oddly specific character. Often a villain, or at the very least extremely shady, the FatSweatySouthernerInAWhiteSuit is where the CorruptHick intersects with the VillainousGlutton. They are always obese. They always speak with a strong Southern accent, normally an upper class drawl. They are almost always dressed in a [[ManInWhite white suit]], cane optional. If it's not truly white, it'll be pale enough to have the same effect. If it's in the deep south like Mississippi or Louisiana, they will be extremely sweaty and constantly dabbing themselves with a handkerchief. This is optional in places like Kentucky, but they will occasionally [[HeatWave manage to be sweaty]] even in an Appalachian winter.

The root of the stereotype is in actual Southern fashions, combined with negative stereotypes of plantation owners. The white suit was an enduring fashion in the South until at least the 70s, and can still occasionally be seen to this day. In the Southern heat, a white suit made sense[[hottip:*:There are two ways of keeping cool when it comes to clothes: wearing light colors and wearing thin, breathable fabric (or both). The South did both: besides white suits, Southerners also wore seersucker suits, a tradition that has since crept its way to the United States Senate--WashingtonDC is very much a part of the South when it comes to summertime weather]], and looked ''very'' fine; keeping it spotless was also a sign of not having to work in the dirt (always a plus for aristocratic types). Examples of real life people who sported the fashion include MarkTwain and Colonel Sanders. Mark Twain's own satires of Southern aristocracy often portrayed its central figures in this way, such as Col. Grangerford from Huckleberry Finn.

* The movie ''{{Life}}'' featured two prison wardens the first of which fits this trope to a T, though he's a bit less wicked than some of the less fat, less sweaty, more colorfully-dressed Southerners the film features. The second warden has the same body type and fashion sense of the first but is a much more decent human being. A minor but eventually important villain in the beginning of the film also shows that fat, sweaty, white-bedecked Southern bastardry can be found in men of any ethnic extraction.

* ''OBrotherWhereArtThou'': Governor Pappy O'Daniel. Not as corrupt as the others on this list. Also, John Goodman plays a more straight example, as a shady bible salesman/klansman who beats the heroes up with a piece of wood.

The root of the stereotype is in actual Southern fashions, combined with negative stereotypes of plantation owners. The white suit was an enduring fashion in the South until at least the 70s, and can still occasionally be seen to this day. In the Southern heat, a white suit made sense[[hottip:*:There are two ways of keeping cool when it comes to clothes: wearing white or wearing thin, breathable fabric. The South did both: besides white suits, Southerners also wore seersucker suits, a tradition that has since crept its way to the United States Senate--WashingtonDC is very much a part of the South when it comes to summertime weather]], and looked ''very'' fine; keeping it spotless was also a sign of not having to work in the dirt (always a plus for aristocratic types). Examples of real life people who sported the fashion include MarkTwain and Colonel Sanders. Mark Twain's own satires of Southern aristocracy often portrayed its central figures in this way, such as Col. Grangerford from Huckleberry Finn.

The root of the stereotype is in actual Southern fashions, combined with negative stereotypes of plantation owners. The white suit was an enduring fashion in the South until at least the 70s, and can still occasionally be seen to this day. In the Southern heat, a white suit made sense[[hottip:*:There are two ways of keeping cool when it comes to clothes: wearing white or wearing thin, breathable fabric. The South did both: besides white suits, Southerners also wore seersucker suits, a tradition that has since crept its way to the United States Senate--WashingtonDC is very much a part of the South when it comes to summertime weather]], and looked ''very'' fine; keeping it spotless was also a si. Examples of real life people who sported the fashion include MarkTwain and Colonel Sanders. Mark Twain's own satires of Southern aristocracy often portrayed its central figures in this way, such as Col. Grangerford from Huckleberry Finn.

The root of the stereotype is in actual Southern fashions, combined with negative stereotypes of plantation owners. The white suit was an enduring fashion in the South until at least the 70s, and can still occasionally be seen to this day. Examples of real life people who sported the fashion include MarkTwain and Colonel Sanders. Mark Twain's own satires of Southern aristocracy often portrayed its central figures in this way, such as Col. Grangerford from Huckleberry Finn.

The corrupt BigBad of ''TheDukesOfHazzard'', is a memorable recent character of this type. See also ManInWhite for non-fat, non-sweaty, non-Southerner examples.

For other steriotypes of the obese, compare and contrast FatBastard, FatIdiot, and FatSlob.

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* Col Sanders...possibly. [[AnimalWrongsGroup He's evil, right?]]

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* The Holy Roller, from ''WildCards''

* The John Sayles movie ''Passion Fish'' kinda-sorta averted this, or maybe deconstructed it. A FatSweatySouthernerInAWhiteSuit shows up at one point, but he's the main character's gay cousin (who else wears a white suit nowadays?) and the two of them spend a delightful evening drinking heavily and trading family stories.

* One of Bobby's professors in ''TheWaterboy'' -- so much that Bobby [[LampshadeHanging calls him Colonel Sanders]]. He isn't evil so much as a whopping great jerk, and he quickly finds out the hard way [[BerserkButton you don't make fun of Mama.]]
* The movie ''Life'' featured two prison wardens the first of which fits this trope to a T, though he's a bit less wicked than some of the less fat, less sweaty, more colorfully-dressed Southerners the film features. The second warden has the same body type and fashion sense of the first but is a much more decent human being. A minor but eventually important villain in the beginning of the film also shows that fat, sweaty, white-bedecked Southern bastardry can be found in men of any ethnic extraction.

* Big Jim Rennie, from ''UnderTheDome'' by StephenKing.
** The things that don't fit are the facts that he's not Southern (being from Maine) and he's not described as wearing a suit. Otherwise, he is this trope.

The root of the stereotype is in actual Southern fashions, combined with negative stereotypes of plantation owners. The white suit was an enduring fashion in the South until at least the 70s, and can still occasionally be seen to this day. Examples of real life people who sported the fashion include MarkTwain and Colonel Sanders. Mark Twain's own satires of Southern aristocracy often portrayed its central figures in this way, such as Col. Grangerford from Huckleberry Finn.

Also known as TheBossHogg, after the corrupt BigBad of ''TheDukesOfHazzard'', who was probably the most memorable recent character of this type.

See also ManInWhite for non-fat, non-sweaty, non-Southerner examples.

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* The personification of Lucifer in {{Constantine}}. Complete with Louisiana accent and white suit, which should be noted, was missing shoes, so you could see filth literally dripping off of his bare feet.

* Governor Pappy O'Daniel, from ''OBrotherWhereArtThou''. Not as corrupt as the others on this list. Also, JohnGoodman plays a more straight example, as a shady bible salesman/klansman who beats the heroes up with a piece of wood.

* The John Sayles movie ''PassionFish'' kinda-sorta averted this, or maybe deconstructed it. A FatSweatySouthernerInAWhiteSuit shows up at one point, but he's the main character's gay cousin (who else wears a white suit nowadays?) and the two of them spend a delightful evening drinking heavily and trading family stories.
* In OliverStone's ''JFK'', John Candy portrays RealLife New Orleans defense attorney Dean Andrews this way.
* ''The Longest Yard'' (2005 version).He´s a friend of the prison warden and behave´s as you expect from a fat southerner.
* One of Bobby's professors in ''TheWaterboy'' - so much that Bobby [[LampshadeHanging calls him Colonel Sanders]]. He isn't evil so much as a whopping great jerk, and he quickly finds out the hard way [[BerserkButton you don't make fun of Mama.]]

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* Boss Hogg, from ''TheDukesOfHazzard''. Possibly the TropeCodifier. Definitely a common [[TheBossHogg trope namer]].
* Ben {{Matlock}} has the suit, is a bit on the large side, and sweats a lot, but he's the protagonist and his clients are always innocent. He can be really terrifying when he harangues the witness though.

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* Big Daddy on TheSimpsons Spinoff Showcase "Wiggum P.I." was a criminal version of this, though also black.

* Parodied in {{Futurama}} with the anthropomorphic chicken lawyer.

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* Former Louisiana governor Huey Long, who rose to power in a similar way to certain WW2 dictators--appeal to the oppressed lower classes, including some for-show-only Leftist policies (a 100% tax on inheritance over $1 million, for example), and consolidating the police force into his personal bodyguards. He was all set to run for president against FDR, but the son of a fired judge that had comitted suicide after Long ran him out of office snuck up and shot him.

* In the ''BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' episode "The Forgotten", homeless people are being kidnapped and forced to work in a mine run by one of these types, pictured above complete with a piece of fried chicken and a fan.

He's normally a shameless glutton, eating fattening foods like gumbo, fried fish, and etc, and occasionally takes it to the next level with JabbaTableManners. Often presents himself in a very laid back manner. If he isn't truly wealthy, then he is at least far better off than the rural poverty that surrounds him. Occasionally you'll meet a version that's not corrupt or might be genuinely heroic. These versions tend to sell food or, oddly, be lawyers.

Also known as TheBossHogg.

Like DastardlyWhiplash, this is an oddly specific character. Often a villain, or at the very least extremely shady, the FatSweatySouthernerInAWhiteSuit is where the CorruptHick intersects with the VillainousGlutton. They are always obese. They always speak with a strong Southern accent, normally an upper class drawl. They are almost always dressed in a [[ManInWhite white suit]], cane optional. If it's not truly white, it'll be pale enough to have the same effect. If it's in the deep south like Mississippi or Louisiana, they will be extremely sweaty and constantly dabbing themselves with a handkerchief. This is optional in places like Kentucky, but they will occasionally manage to be sweaty even in an Appalachian winter.

* Boss Hogg, from ''TheDukesOfHazzard''. Possibly a TropeCodifier. Definitely a common [[TheBossHogg trope namer]].

* R.J. Brande on the Legion Of Superheroes

* Col Sanders...possibly. He's evil, right?