From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Rodney "Rod" Amateau (December 20, 1923 – June 29, 2003) was an American screenwriter, film and television director. Among programs that he directed were NBC's The Dennis Day Show, CBS's sitcoms The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, starring Dwayne Hickman, and The New Phil Silvers Show, an unsuccessful attempt by comedian Phil Silvers to return to a regular series. Rod also directed a few episodes of the Dukes of Hazzards. He even appeared in a few of them. ...