A nouveau-riche hillbilly family moves to Beverly Hills and shakes up the privileged society with their hayseed ways.
Meet the Clampett clan: There's Jed, the kind, intelligent patriarch (although lacking formal education) turned into an overnight millionaire through a stroke of luck. While he appears to be in a state of retirement, he is still frequently kept busy by trying to keep his family out of trouble and make peace with his neighbors. Then there is Granny, the matriarch of the clan who is mature, highly opinionated, paranoid of new-fangled ways and things. She considers herself to be highly educated (a self-proclaimed Doctor of Hillbilly Medicine) and has difficulty understanding why anyone doubts her wisdom. Then there is Elly May; beautiful, but awkwardly naive. Apparently in her late teens or early twenties, she is considered an 'Old Maid' by the standards of her culture back in the mountains of her childhood. Last but definitely not least, there is Jethro Bodine, the somewhat slow-witted nephew of Jed. He is constantly attempting to find a girlfriend by impressing them with his education (elementary school) and imaginary skills as a 'Secret Agent'. Other recurring characters are Mr. Drysdale, a greedy banker who will do anything to keep the Clampett money in his bank; and "Miss Jane" Hathaway, the overworked under-appreciated secretary of Mr. Drysdale.—Lord Farqua
"The Beverly Hillbillies" is a classic American comedy series that originally aired for nine seasons from 1962 to 1971 and was the first television series to feature a "fish out of water" genre. The series is about the Clampett family--widower Jed "J.D." (Buddy Ebsen); his mother-in-law Daisy May "Granny" Moses (Irene Ryan); beautiful but tomboyish daughter Elly May (Donna Douglas); and nephew Jethro (Max Baer, Jr.)--who, when Jed is paid $25 million for the oil on his property, move to ritzy Beverly Hills, California.
The Clampetts didn't start out as millionaires. They were poor mountaineers at first until they are told that they're rich because oil was discovered in their field by the kind patriarch, Jed Clampett (Buddy Ebsen). When his cousin Pearl (Bea Benaderet) finds out, she suggests they move to Beverly Hills, California. Jed takes her advice and packs up his family: his mother-in-law, Daisy May "Granny" Moses (Irene Ryan), the opinionated matriarch of the family who prefers the old-fashioned farming life to newfangled things; beautiful, tomboyish daughter, Elly May (Donna Douglas), who prefers a pair of jeans over a fancy dress and tree-climbing over being wined and dined any day; and his nephew, Pearl's son Jethro Bodine (Max Baer, Jr.), who means well, but isn't the sharpest tool in the shed. Jethro always tries to court girls and impress them with his elementary school-education. For these Ozark farmers, the sophisticated life in Beverly Hills is quite different from living on a farm and is very complex. This hit show lasted from 1962-1971.—Seneca Lauren
The Clampetts were simple folk: living off the land, they wanted nothing and asked for nothing. When Jed Clampett accidentally discovers oil on his property, he and his family were instant millionaires. Deciding to move to Beverly Hills to take advantage of their new-found wealth, the Clampetts find that their down-to-earth lifestyle clashes with the new suburb and its shielded, upper-class inhabitants.—Murray Chapman <[email protected]>
