The Beverly Hillbillies has always been one of my favorite shows, and it’s easy to understand why. There’s no se:x, filthy language, or politics—just pure, feel-good humor.
Consider the funny episode in which Granny misidentifies a kangaroo as a huge jackrabbit. It brilliantly portrays the fun and simplicity that have made The Beverly Hillbillies so popular.
Critics panned and despised it. According to the New York Times, it was “strained and unfunny”. But, in my opinion, The Beverly Hillbillies is one of the best and funniest shows ever. This was back when TV was enjoyable to watch; nice, old-fashioned family television. Today’s comedians might benefit greatly from shows like this one.
From Buddy Ebsen’s laid-back charm to Irene Ryan’s fiery Granny, the show’s cast of Max Baer Jr., Donna Douglas, Nancy Kulp, and Raymond Bailey entertained audiences for years.
But even this great sitcom had its share of blunders, and we’re here to reveal the funniest ones that made it to the screen.
Ocean is on their left.
In the first scene, the Clampetts are on their way home from Malibu, but there’s a comical little misunderstanding.
Malibu is west of Beverly Hills, so if they’re driving east, the ocean should be to their right. Instead, it’s on their left, indicating that they’re actually driving away from home.
Perhaps the Clampetts took the scenic route. or simply got a bit turned around.
The Boston Strong Girl
In the sixth-season episode “The Rass’lin’ Clampetts,” Granny confronts the Boston Strong Girl and allegedly throws her out of the ring. If you look attentively, you’ll notice the Strong Girl giving herself a small leap to climb over the ropes.
Here’s a hilarious twist: the Boston Strong Girl was performed by Jerry Randall, a stuntman dressed in drag. And, in true hillbilly fashion, the moniker “Rass’lin” is simply their way of expressing “wrestling.”
The missing fish
In the episode The Clampetts Go Fishing, Mr. Drysdale attempts to pique the Clampetts’ interest in deep-sea fishing by sending them to Marineland.
But this is when things get fishy—literally! When Miss Hathaway and Mr. Drysdale arrive to the Clampett home, their car’s backseat is vacant.
But, strangely, by the time they get out of the car, a massive fish appears in the back!
Max Baer, Jr. played his twin sister.
Max Baer Jr. played Jethro Bodine, the son of Jed’s cousin, Pearl, a naive and borderline dimwitted man who demonstrated his amazing math skills with the multiplication classic “five gozinta five one times, five gozinta ten two times.”
However, that was not the only character he performed on the show. In actuality, Max Baer Jr. portrayed Jethro’s twin sister Jethrine in 11 episodes of the first season.
Although Max Baer Jr. played Jethrine Bodine, he couldn’t do her voice.
As a result, he was dubbed. The one who actually said her lines was Linda Kaye Henning – daughter to the series’ creator, Paul Henning.
The Gigantic Jackrabbit
The legendary season-two episode “The Giant Jackrabbit” made history by being the most-watched program at the time of its airing, and it still maintains the record for the most-watched half-hour episode of any sitcom.
At first sight, these remarkable ratings may appear perplexing. However, when you consider the context of the period, it all seems clear.
Following President Kennedy’s terrible shooting six weeks prior, America faced a difficult moment in early 1964. The country was in sorrow, seeking refuge and relief from the harsh facts of existence. In this setting, The Beverly Hillbillies’ lighthearted comedy and eccentric appeal provided the ideal vacation for fans.
