Beverly Hillbillies TV series review: Series one, episodes 1-14 (1962)
Starring Buddy Ebsen (as Jed Clampett), Irene Ryan (as granny), Donna Douglas (as Elly May Clampett) and Max Baer Jr (as Jethro Bodine).
As far as 1962 is concerned, there are 14 episodes in series one. They’re all brilliant and I watched them on both TPTV and YouTube.
The Clampetts Strike Oil
In the very first episode, oil is discovered on the Clampetts’ land and in an instant they become multi-millionaires.
Coming from the rural mountains, they don’t grasp any of it and, although reluctant to move, in the end they are persuaded to head west to Beverly Hills. They initially think their mansion home is a prison.
Getting Settled
The Clampetts are struggling to adapt to their new way of life. Not used to the mod cons of California, their perception of things is such that they have absolutely no idea what a freezer, swimming pool or cooker is.
They still talk about digging a cold store and hunting possums for food.
Meanwhile, Back At The Cabin
The scenes flit between the Beverly Hills mansion and the mountain cabin, as cousin Pearl Bodine (played by Bea Benaderet) decides to set out for California.
Meanwhile, the Clampetts continue to be baffled by new things.
The Clampetts Meet Mrs. Drysdale
Jed and the family get the wrong end of the stick, as they believe that Mrs. Drysdale is an alcoholic.
She is actually a snob and travels back from Boston to check out the Clampetts because she is concerned about the quality of her new neighbours.
The way that the plot develops is, like all the other episodes, very funny.
Jed Buys Stock
Mr. Drysdale is still trying to keep his wife away from the Clampetts but they are keen to get to her because they want to cure her alcoholism with one of granny’s potions.
Meanwhile, at Mr. Drysdale’s suggestion, Jed buys stock, except he doesn’t understand and ends up with bulls, goats etc which he keeps in the tennis court, that he thinks is a cattle pen.
Trick Or Treat
Thinking the neighbours aren’t friendly, the Clampetts decide to go and visit them instead.
They don’t realise it’s Halloween and they are assumed to be trick and treating. Either way, they are warmly received and it changes granny’s mind as she wanted to go back to the mountains because she was homesick.
It ends with a telephone call to Pearl, who is invited to join them in California.
The Servants
To help the Clampetts settle in, Mr. Drysdale lends them his butler and maid. The Clampetts have no concept of either roles and believe they are taking disadvantaged people in.
Elly May is wearing dresses but hates being called a city girl. She throws Jethro (twice) and the butler off the landing for calling her that, even though it’s meant as a compliment.
Jethro Goes to School
When Jed and Jethro visit an exclusive school to enrol the latter (fifth grade), the principal thinks it’s a prank until she calls Mr. Drysdale.
She then thinks that Jethro is enrolling his son, until the following day she realises it’s him, but because Mr. Drysdale is the mortgage holder of the school, she has to go along with it.
Elly’s First Date
Mr. Drysdale tries to get his stepson, Sonny, on a date with Elly May but he’s not interested, until he sees Elly May, that is.
Of course, everything goes wrong, but the two families end up eating a Thanksgiving dinner at the Clampetts.
They all sit around the pool table, which the Clampetts think is an ‘eating table’, and that the cues are for passing the pots of food around to each other.
Pygmalion and Elly
Sonny Drysdale is still chasing Elly May and he tries to develop her etiquette by teaching her poetry. When he says he is burning inside for her, she takes it literally and pushes him in the cement pond (swimming pool) to cool down.
Meanwhile, granny is making love charms as she tries to grow the relationship.
Elly Races Jethrine
When Sonny tells Elly May that he’ll give her a ring in the morning, Granny thinks they’re getting engaged. When she tells Pearl, she pushes Jethrine into a relationship with Jasper.
The episode flits between the two and ends with Sonny doing a runner once he discovers he’s being edged towards marriage.
The Great Feud
In order to avenge Ellie May being jilted by Sonny, the Clampetts start a feud. Jed is arrested at the bank when they think he’s trying to rob it.
Mr. Drysdale gets him released and promises to make sure Sonny marries Ellie May but then, after all the feuding, she says that she doesn’t want to marry him.
Home for Christmas
When he realises they are driving back to the mountains for Christmas, Mr. Drysdale books the Clampetts on a plane. They think it’s a bus and get concerned when it leaves the ground.
When they watch the movie, which is a western, they think the screen is the front window and they’re chasing cowboys on horses.
Pearl is planning to visit Beverly Hills but Mr. Brewster stalls her, even though she thinks he’s trying to propose.
In the end, the family is united and they sing Christmas songs round the piano.
No Place Like Home
Still back in their original home, Ellie May reunites with her friends: deer, skunk, owl etc and they all share a bed for the night, as well as having granny join them.
Pearl Bodine plays piano, as they all go to the movie theatre to watch Ben Hur. She’s still chasing Mr. Brewster, who is doing his best to politely avoid her.
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