The Beverly Hillbillies: The Official First Season

Come and listen to my story about a man named Jed. Actually, viewers will have to wait until the second episode to hear one of the most beloved TV theme songs. The Beverly Hillbillies, which was anything but a critics darling, was the top-rated show during its first two seasons, the first of which earned Emmy nominations for Irene Ryan in her iconic role as Granny and for the show's writing and directing. More than a half century later, these inaugural episodes have aged as well as Granny's possum stew (that's a compliment). If you know the theme song, you know the premise: Jed Clampett (Buddy Ebsen) is a poor mountaineer who finds oil (black gold) on his property and becomes an instant multimillionaire. He loads up the truck with Granny, daughter Elly May (Donna Douglas), and his cousin Pearl's son Jethro (Max Baer, Jr.), and heads West. This is a fish-out-of-water comedy and the gentle, never mean-spirited humor comes from watching the Clampetts struggle to navigate their new world. “We commence plowing tomorrow,” Jed proclaims upon the family's arrival to their new palatial home. “But this is Beverly Hills,” his banker, Mr. Drysdale (Raymond Bailey) protests. “Dirt is dirt,” Jed shrugs. The Beverly Hillbillies was more grounded than the goofier Green Acres, but it wasn't above its own bizarre grace notes, such as the character Jethrine (Max Baer, Jr. in drag). Other collateral pleasures are Emmy nominee Nancy Kulp as Drysdale's indispensable secretary, and a pre-Petticoat Junction Bea Benaderet as Pearl. Presenting all 36 episodes from the 1962-63 debut season, extras include an extended pilot episode and sponsor commercials. Recommended. (D. Liebenson)