‘The Beverly Hillbillies’: The 5 Best Episodes According to IMDb | Do You Agree?
When The Beverly Hillbillies hit the airwaves on CBS back in 1962, TV viewers probably couldn’t believe their own eyes. There was a show whose premise was wrapped around a poor country hick shooting his gun at some food. As it turns out, black oil starts shooting up from the ground. Word gets around and they find out that they are incredibly wealthy now.
So much so that all four family members load up in a rickety old truck and head west. These back-country dwellers end up living in a Beverly Hills mansion. Their banker helped secure the home for them. But they don’t know how to use modern contraptions like an oven. Heck, they don’t even know where the doorbell ring comes from at first.
Paul Henning was the creative mastermind behind The Beverly Hillbillies. Soon, Petticoat Junction and Green Acres would follow. But it’s the Hillbillies who take the TV world by storm. In its first two seasons, it sat at the No. 1 position in the Nielsen ratings. Then it stayed in the Top 20 through its eighth season.
‘The Beverly Hillbillies’ Slams Into No. 1 Spot
It was a grand slam success for Henning and the show’s stars. Veteran actor Buddy Ebsen led the way by playing Jed Clampett, the patriarch of the family. Irene Ryan played Granny (or Daisy Moses, her real character’s name), stealing plenty of the show’s scenes. Donna Douglas appeared as shapely Elly Mae Clampett, the darling of many men’s eyes. But she’d rather play with her “critters” instead. Max Baer Jr. played Jethro Bodine, who was everything from a “Double-Naught” spy to a playboy Hollywood talent agent.
Before getting to the top episodes based on IMDb rankings, we’d be remiss not to mention Raymond Bailey and Nancy Kulp. Bailey played Commerce Bank president Milburn Drysdale, who always went out of his way to keep Clampett’s millions in his bank. Kulp played Drysdale’s secretary Jane Hathaway, who held her own when going toe-to-toe with “Chief” Drysdale. Their contributions just fleshed out this funny show’s dialogue all the time.
Now, let’s take a look at these top episodes as ranked by fans…
‘The Clampetts in Court’
In this Season 1 episode, a couple (Kathleen Freeman and Murvyn Vye) end up running their car into the Clampetts’ one. When they find out that Jed is richer than a skunk, they decide to fake some injuries and sue the Clampetts for a chuck of money. The hijinks take viewers into the courtroom.
‘Granny Versus the Weather Bureau’
For this Season 2 episode, we have a heavyweight bout between a Weather Bureau and Granny’s dear beetle Cecil. The Weather Bureau gives out a forecast calling for fair and clear skies. Granny is not taking their word for it. Why? Cecil said it looked like rain. As it ends up, representatives of the Weather Bureau meet Cecil. The always-entertaining John McGiver appears in this episode.
‘The Boarder Stays’
In one of the funnier Season 3 episodes, Arthur Treacher shows up to play the Clampetts’ butler, Mr. Pinckney. But Granny and the crew don’t believe it. They see him as a boarder at their home. Pinckney gets fed up with the commotion at the home and leaves. Not so fast, though. Granny believes Mr. Pinckney is skipping out on paying rent, causing a ruckus.
‘The Giant Jackrabbit’
For this Season 2 episode, one almost has to forego their imagination a little bit. Granny believes that a giant jackrabbit has invaded the Clampett home. In reality, it’s a kangaroo, one of Elly Mae’s animals. No matter how much people try to convince Granny otherwise, she thinks it is a jackrabbit and she’s not budging from her belief.
‘Jethro’s Friend’
This Season 1 episode has Jethro letting a school friend named Armstrong Dueser McHugh III (Michel Petit) come to his house. Armstrong is viewed as frail by his chauffeur. But the Clampetts see things differently. Everyone gets together to show the young boy all about the finer things in life, like friendship and family.
