Beverly Hillbillies, what made it work

There is a group in NY working on a musical. Why do I suspect it will be snarky and self aware?

I never saw the films...how were they?

The films were indeed funny. I liked the one with Lily Tomlin in it.

The TV show worked because it was just good natured fun...period.

Yes, classic fish out of water...and the people were lovable, even Granny...

Whenever I hear Lady Mary (!) say Granny on Downtown Abbey I think of Irene Ryan.....I'm makin' up some possum stew...

She was in the original Pippin...

The Hillbillies first two seasons were surreal.

Elly at the Finishing School with Cynthy Fenwick - her snobby mother and the fashion trend Elly started with her blue jeans and bucket!! Widder Fenwick coming to the Clampetts and Granny trying to scrub her down.

Louie Nye as Sonny, priceless.

The Clampetts plane ride - thinking they were on a bus, and Granny 'if this thing goes any faster we're gonna be in the air.'

And the greates Harridan of All Time, Margaret Drysdale.

I liked how their good character and being themselves would always bring out the good (or bad) character in others.

There was one episode where all these toffs took great delight in square dancing and possum stew because they were fun and nice people too.

Paul Henning's casting was simply perfect.

It was a character-driven situation comedy and the actors he picked to portray his characters were simply the best.

A classic, iconic series--the first four years were great until it ran out of steam and became repetitive. Still, there were some good eps in later years--the arc where Uncle Jed owned the movie studio was pretty good. Loved Glory Swanson.

Attention to detail and character development contributed to the series success--and the perfect casting of the 7 regulars. I never understood why Harriet McGibbon didn't get an Emmy.

Better than most TV sitcoms today.

It worked because the Hillbillies embodied the all-American myth that you can gain the world and keep your soul.

GRANNY

That was way before my time but over the years I think I've seen every episode. It's one of the funniest shows ever made. OP is correct in saying "what made it work was the lack of cynicism of the performers."

That's the problem of most modern TV. It's simply not believable. And by that I don't mean the premise, I mean the dialogue and facial expressions and interaction. Sure, the idea of hillbillies discovering oil and moving to Beverly Hills is farfetched, but that's the premise. Once you accept that, the rest is very well done and hilarious.

I always though Mr. Drysdale was a Daddy-hunk. Put him in leather ass chaps and he can do me forever.

Anyone remember the SNL version, "The Bel-Arabs"?

All of the episodes are available on Youtube. I watch them all the time.

The Penelope Spheeris directed movie failed because she seemed to look down on the Clampetts. The series succeeded because it did not.

Oh really, R14?

Yes, R15. Really.

I loved all the regular cast of characters.

You can't say that about most shows.

Another reason it worked is that it had its own impeccable internal logic. The Clampetts weren't stupid, they just translated whatever they saw into their own experience. So the swimming pool became a bathtub, a wealthy society widow became a "poor widder woman," etc.

r18, don't forget the billy-ard table with the pot passers.

You mean the Fancy Eatin' Table, R19.

OMG..I have always loved this show. I loved the episode where Granny thought a kangaroo was a giant jackrabbit...

The best one was when Drysdale convinced Jed that he needed to buy a yacht. They agreed to meet later in the day at the marina to look it over. Jethro got some "sailin clothes" from the movie studio and convinced Jed they were supposed to wear them on yachts. Jed's clothes were a US Navy Admiral's uniform. Jethro made the wrong turn driving the Clampetts to the marina and ended up at the Naval base. They drove right up to a docked battleship thinking it was the yacht. Crew fell all over themselves thinking it was a real admiral and his weird family. Jed made them take the battleship out to sea and show him all the equipment including shooting off all the war weapons.

I think Granny was in the king kong briefly sitting in a bar. That is the First king kong movie.

Loved Jane too.

Sorry it was Mighty Joe Young.

The writing really was rather clever. There was one scene I remember with Cousin Pearl and Mr. Brewster (was he the oil guy who discovered the Clampetts?) They're back in the hills, and Mr. Brewster says to Pearl something to the effect of "That dress is lovely. Is it from Saks?"

"Sacks? No! This dress is STORE bought."

And then that dog, Mr. Brewster, winds up marrying a very young woman.

In reality, he was probably a big queen like Louis Nye.

Mr Brewster wasn't very big. And why would you use the term queen? Are you effeminate?

The best episodes were the ones with Margaret Drysdale and her precious Claude. She was perfect.

They had the biggest damn refrigerator I'd ever seen.

I always got a kick out of Jethro eating a whole box of Corn Flakes for breakfast.

That was exactly it...they translated their experiences into the world they were living in.

They were ignorant, but not dumb or stupid.

Thanks to you that got me started on this, it is a fun delight, like chocolate.

It woudn't have worked just quite as well had it not been for the silly sexiness of Jethro and Ellie Mae.

I'd always heard that Max Baer was very uncomfortable with appearing shirtless and being promoted in any sort of sexual way. Has anyone read an interview with him on that aspect of his role?

Granny for Possum Queen!

I like that story lines didn't end after one episode, they would carry on for several episodes like a travelogue.

One of my fave episodes was when a society women was trying to figure out if Jed was a descendant of one of the original Pilgrims and she said something like she wanted to know if he was one of the first Americans, and Jed said, "Oh, you mean like the Indians?" and the society lady is aghast!

R34 was that the one or two eps with the lovely Rosemary DeCamp, who did indeed discover the Clampetts went WAY back to pre-Pilgrim times, but Jed didn't want anyone to know?

Also loved Mrs. Drysdale's gambling daddy wooing Granny.

and the dress shop episodes.

and the secret code word Crawdad episodes.

and any with Cousin Pearl and Jethrine.

What happened after the first couple years when they no longer did location shooting at the actual mansion? That added a lot to the look of the series.

I have a photo of myself as a young kid standing way outside the mansion, by the gates. I remember a car drove in and we were scared the driver would be pissed off, but it ws a nice lady and she just waved. This was about 1975.

Beverly Hillbillies, we salute you!

Mr. Drysdale's obsequiousness is what made the show funny for me. Anything Jed or Granny said,no matter how off base it was, was always fine with him. Once Granny asked him who was a better doctor,her or someone else, Mr. Drysdale instantly says 'You are Granny'

Was there a Jethra in the series?

That's the one R35!

"Was there a Jethra in the series?"

Yes, but only in the Japanese version. "Jethra" was a hillbilly flying dragon that terrorized Nagasaki, spitting flaming "tonic" at poor citizens below.

R37. Jethro had a sister named Jethrine in the first year of the series. Max Baer played her as well. After cousin Pearl left the series so did Jethrine. They supposedly moved back home. Jethrine was never mentioned again, although cousin Pearl was seen on occasion.

Miss Jane Hathaway was one of the best supporting characters in any sitcom. I loved how lesbionic it was. It was a mistake to make her pine for jethro in a few episodes, it just wasn't believable.

Granny and the hippies. "I'm gonna smoke me some crawdads, but first I need me a little pot."

Classic R42!

I just ran the episode where the family boards the navy ship thinking it is a yacht they are given a test run.

After the r22 events, the ship docks and hearing how much the ship itself cost and the costs of running it, Jed decides not to buy it.

He tells the Officer of the Deck that he's passing it (the sale) but the guy thinks that meant the ship had passed inspection.

Usually, when goodnesses collided, it was always a win for everyone -- except for poor Miss Jane.

I loved the one where Granny ran for Possum Queen just for the song.

Years ago I went to a drag pageant at a local bar -- one of the contestants was known for having a pointy, ratlike face, and when she did her beauty walk during gown, the mistress of ceremonies unexpectedly busted out singing, "Here's yer choice fer Possum Queen, GRANNY! GRANNY!"

Like when poor Miss Jane ended up twirling a possum like a baton in a Possum Day parade.

And this exchange:

"How's Mister Drysdale?"

"I am happy to say I have terminated my tenure of employment with that cretin."

"Oh. Still at the bank huh?"

And speaking of Claude the poodle.....

Elly May tells Granny: "I wouldn't want to work for Miz Drysdale. I heard her tell her maid, 'Marie! Marie, come here and get clawed."

I googled this show. Serious question, How do so many people know a show that was on in the 1960's! Yes 1960's! How many of you could have even been alive then?? The 60's started 55 years ago! I get knowing movies that old but TV shows? I guess maybe I Love Lucy. That was iconic for some reason. I saw a few of those episodes and Lucy was a little bitch to her husband. She ruined his white tuxedo with tomato juice. I found nothing funny about it. My great granny loved it but I couldn't see why.

Seriously R48? The BH have been in syndication non stop since it first premiered. I had seen every episode by the mid 1980s when I was just 12 years old.

Have you never heard of reruns, R48? Or Nick at Nite? I grew up in the 80s but I watched plenty of the BH, Gilligan's Island, the Brady Bunch, Leave it to Beaver, Andy Griffith, Bewitched, etc.

Good point R50. I have never been much into tv. Idle time.

Hell, I remember when The Beverly Hillbillies premiered on CBS.

I am only 59.

No offence but only and 59 don't go together.

R53:

Perhaps, but for sure you're a stupid twit.

Good day, you ignorant git.

The 'Ceee-ment Pond'!

Poor Miss Jane...

Granny was the best character, especially with her jug of xxx

I'll bet Elly May's jugs brought in a lot more viewers.

A funny exchange I remember from decades ago:

Nosey Bev Hills neighbor admiring the Clampett household: "I'm impressed, Jethro! Tel me, where DOES your money come from?"

Jethro: "MGM"

Neighbor: "Oh, so you're in the motion picture business?"

Jethro: "No sir. My Grandmother!"

R48

I learned about the show right here on DL when the actress who played Ellie died.

I was curious and downloaded Season one.

I am loving it and began this thread.

People of all ages and decades are allowed to enjoy innocent humor.

the smokin' crawdads scene

It was sad to see Donna Douglas in her old age still wearing her hair like Elly Mae.

I had never seen anyone on television quite like Granny. She reminded me of a piece of beef jerky.

Irene Ryan was fairly young when she was cast to play Granny.

Irene Ryan during BH era.

Like a lot of other great 60’s shows, once it went color...forget it. ( Andy Griffith, Bewitched, I dream of Jeanie, etc.)

The mansion was the Kirkaby mansion. Max Baer got friendly with the daughters, one was named Karla. They got tired of people knocking on the door asking for Granny, so halted the shooting there. (They donated the money earned for filming to charity). Interesting story, Elvis really screwed Donna Douglas up. She actually thought he was gonna marry her after romancing her. Mrs. Paul Henning had to sit her down and explain about "Hollywood" romances, she was that naïve.

[quote]The best one was when Drysdale convinced Jed that he needed to buy a yacht. They agreed to meet later in the day at the marina to look it over. Jethro got some "sailin clothes" from the movie studio and convinced Jed they were supposed to wear them on yachts. Jed's clothes were a US Navy Admiral's uniform. Jethro made the wrong turn driving the Clampetts to the marina and ended up at the Naval base. They drove right up to a docked battleship thinking it was the yacht. Crew fell all over themselves thinking it was a real admiral and his weird family. Jed made them take the battleship out to sea and show him all the equipment including shooting off all the war weapons.

Thank you - thank you !! r22

I loved when Jethro tried to get Miss Hathaway to go squirrel hunt’n She said she’d rather hunt Beaver.

Also the Clampetts genuinely like each other always did everything together. Their family solidarity and affection was charming ...

I always thought Jethro was hot.

The writing was really good, to be able to have dialogue for a whole scene were two people can carry on a conversation using words that one of the people thinks means one thing and the other person thinks a different meaning is intended.

My favorite episode is where Jed want to but a plot of land for Granny and the cemetery owner thinks Jed wants a plot to bury her.

“Elly, where did Miss Jane go off too?’ “I don’t know Paw, but where ever she went she went lickety split”

Max Baer, Jr. was, of course, son of famous boxer, Max Baer.

Jazzbo Depew is a tranny chaser.

I beg to differ, R53.

[quote] I never understood why Harriet McGibbon didn't get an Emmy.

The divine Miss McGibbon was on yesterday's MeTV episode of "My Three Sons" playing a maid who was trying to present herself as a well-to-do matron.

As a gayling i so wanted Jethro to do naughty things to me. I believe it helped form my preference for handsome but stupid men

Who could forget Dash Riprock ! Or Chickadee Laverne!

Or Bolt Upright!

Or Homer Noodleman!

I watched this show as a kid - I'm born in 1959. I remember people used to howl with laughter, especially at Granny. But when I see it now, it just seems lame. Not particularly funny at all. Has not aged well. The car scenes in front of the 'mansion' are especially phony. The cars were obviously towed at a snails pace onto and off the set. I used to notice this even as a kid - just something wrong. Great theme song though! The ballad of Jed Clampett - still love it !

Does anyone know the lyrics to the Bawdy Ballad of Jed Clampett?

Now here's something you'll really enjoy!

r79 r81 "The Courtship of Homer Noodleman" is tomorrow's MeTV episode!

How anybody could not like the Beverly Hillbillies is a mystery to me.

Margaret Drysdale should be on Mt. Rushmore! Maybe with her dog Claude too.

“Come and get Claud”

[quote]Granny was the best character, especially with her jug of xxx

That's her rhumatiz medicine.

Sharon Tate played one of Drysdale's employees. Flatt and Scruggs, who played the opening and closing songs, were on a few episodes.

Lest we forget the first sympathetic portrayal of a lesbian on TV: Miss Jane Hathaway

They were more than sympathetic towards Miss Jane -- she was shown as admirable except the sympathy shown for her getting stuck working for Drysdale.

Miss Jane had to play Homer Noodleman's father (Noble Noodleman) on today's episode. Nancy Kulp in drag -- not much of a stretch.

I always thought Max Baer Jr was sexy. I loved his big hands and wide face. Always imagined him having a big penis and a nice dark bush.

I wonder is SitComs somehow track presidencies: Dick van Dyke: JFK; Beverly Hillbillies: LBJ; All in the Family: Nixon, and, if you count it as camp-comedy Dynasty: Reagan.,