Wednesday, December 17, 2025

The Beverly Hillbillies








The Clampetts were worth $100 million by the time they left the air after a decade at CBS 50 years ago. That would be $800 million today.

Though stinking rich, Jed, Daisy, Elly May and Jethro still found it in their hearts to hold a benefit for Glorie (sic) Swanson when they mistakenly thought she was dead broke and having to sell her house and her winter coat (Season 5, Episode 12). Swanson was actually just moving.

They made a silent movie with Swanson at the studio Jed owned and sold tickets at a screening back in Bug Tussle.

Despite appearances, the Clampetts were not Ozark MAGA heads, that's for sure. They were Hollywood liberals who wanted life to be better for others.

They actually cared about people.

(In the real world, Ebsen was a pretty arch conservative and had a rocky relationship with the outspoken and queer Nancy Kulp, who played uber-secretary and bird-watcher Jane Hathaway.)


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