In 1962 THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES hit the airwaves and rose to 1 in the ratings in three weeks, faster than any TV series in history. It remained at 1 for two years. Regardless of the official account, the series is obviously derived from the MA AND PA KETTLE movies from the late 1940's and early 1950's, starring Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride. And the film LI'L ABNER (1959) is another obvious source.
Jed Clampett (Buddy Ebsen), a poor mountaineer in Bug Tussle, Tennessee, discovers oil on his land. He sells the drilling rights to the OK Oil Company and becomes a multi-millionaire. His relatives persuade him and his extended family to move to Beverly Hills, California. Jed and his family move to 518 Crestview Drive, a mansion with 32 rooms, 14 bathrooms, spacious grounds, and a "seement pond". They arrive in an ancient truck, a 1921 Oldsmobile--loaned to them by Cousin Pearl Bodine (Bea Benaderet).
Elly May Clampett (Donna Douglas) is Jed's beautiful tomboy daughter by his late wife, Rose Ellen. She loves animals, especially exotic pets. Daisy "Granny" Moses (Irene Ryan) is his cantankerous mother-in-law. Jethro Bodine (Max Baer, Jr.) is his stupid nephew (actually his second cousin). Cousin Pearl Bodine remains in Tennessee, but appears frequently on the show. The Clampetts' bloodhound is "Duke" and Ellie's pet chimpanzees are "Skipper" and "Bessie".
Granny: "Elly May done popped the buttons off her shirt again."
Jed: "Elly May carries herself proud with her shoulders throwed back."
Granny: "It aint' her shoulders that have been poppin' these buttons."
Jed: "Boy, I'm gonna give you 24 hours to clean up all this mess."
Jethro: "Aw come on, Uncle Jed. I'm gonna clean up. I'm gonna set this world on fire!"
Jed: "You're gonna clean up alright. Everything. Or you're gonna end up with the seat of your britches on fire."
Jed Clampett: "Well doggies!"
(to an obviously revolted Mr. Drysdale) "That's the thing about salted down possum, it's just as good the second day."
(on Jethro's intelligence) "If brains was lard, that boy wouldn't have enough to grease a skillet."
(bounces a golf ball on the table, thinking it's a "golf egg") "Strictly speakin', I don't think these are fresh laid."
The Clampett's neighbour is Milburn Drysdale (Raymond Bailey), bank manager of the Commerce Bank of Beverly Hills, where Jed keeps his money. His snobbish wife is Mrs. Margaret Drysdale (Harriet E. MacGibbon). Drysdale's secretary is Jane Hathaway (Nancy Kulp). Countless other characters come and go.
Drysdale: (dictating a letter to Miss Jane) "... and furthermore, if you are late on your mortgage payment one more time you will be thrown out into the street..."
Hathaway: "Chief, she's eighty-five years old and in a wheelchair!"
Drysdale: "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know... change that to read, you will be wheeled out into the street."
Hathaway: "Most places do something for their employees at this time of year."
Drysdale: "Well, I've given them Christmas Day off."
Hathaway: "Chief, most banks even give a holiday bonus."
Drysdale: "I've already thought of that."
Hathaway: "You have?"
Drysdale: "Just this morning I said to myself, Milburn, you've got to give those loyal employees of yours a Christmas bonus."
Hathaway: "But, Chief, that's extraordinary."
Drysdale: "I thought so, too. Fortunately, a cold shower brought me to my senses."
There were 274 episodes produced, 106 in black and white, and 168 in colour. The theme music is by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs and rose to 44 on the pop charts in 1962. In 1981 came a two-hour made for TV movie, "The Return of the Beverly Hillbillies", with most of the original cast. THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES spawned two spin-offs: GREEN ACRES and PETTICOAT JUNCTION.
This immensely popular TV sitcom features low-brow humour, usually based on the Clampetts' misunderstanding of the world beyond their Ozark Mountains roots. Usually the Clampetts' view is more sensible.
In 1971, even though the series was still popular, CBS took it off the air to change their image as a "rural network". They wanted CBS to appeal to a sophisticated, urban audience. But what is more sophisticated than Beverly Hills? Jed and his family are mostly with sophisticated people, and the comedy is usually at the expense of sophisticates, whose silliness is exposed by the Clampetts' common sense.
In 1997 the movie BEVERLY HILLBILLIES was released. Jim Varney plays Jed, Lily Tomlin plays Miss Hathaway, and Cloris Leachman is Granny. It is a remarkable imitation of the TV series, but there is absolutely no originality, or even an attempt to try something new. It's 100% imitation and impersonation. With 274 episodes of the real thing, it was not necessary, even though it's a fairly good movie.
