Series Run : 1962-1971
274 episodes
Network: CBS
Series Premise (as far as I can tell):
Backwoods family gets rich, moves to California
Episode Watched: The Trotting Horse (Season 4)
Episode Summary: Mr. Drysdale buys the Clampetts a race horse, Granny thinks the race horse is for her to use to run errands because she doesn’t drive a car.
My Thoughts: Mindless fun. That would be the idea behind this show. For 9 years and 274 episodes viewers tuned in to watch the antics of the Clampetts, trying to understand this wacky place called California. This show is about as deep as the oil that happened to be under Jed’s cabin. I believe most people know this show and have come across it in one way or another, and for the first time I think I have found a show where all the episodes essentially have the same plot. Each show starts with the Clampetts confused about something in the Beverly Hills culture, Mr. Drysdale mis-interprets their discussion and takes some action, and then we get a payoff of laughs when the Clampetts and Drysdale come together. Sure they hide this plot behind the focus on individual characters, but rest assured you know exactly what you are going to get week to week. I suppose that is why it lasted so long, there is some comfort in having shows where you know exactly what you are going to see week to week, and if you enjoy the actors, or relate to the characters, I guess there is nothing wrong with it. The good news for those of you with little time on your hands, if you watch one episode of Beverly Hillbillies, know that you can be confident that you have seen all 274 of them.
Memorable Quotes:
“That’s what I need! A high-stepping trotter with a shiny buggy.” -Granny
“I sure am gettin’ a lot of kisses that ain’t rightly mine”- Jed
“I won some money at a park once, shooting them ducks as they went by”– Jethro
Acting Notables:
Buddy Ebsen- Jed
Irene Ryan- Granny
Donna Douglas- Ellie May
Max Baer, Jr- Jethro
Tomorrow: A Mel Gibson Produced & Directed relic
365 Days of Sitcoms 