As with many television shows of the '60s, I generally like the b&w episodes [of The Beverly Hillbillies] best, then not so much after they switch to color. This was true even when i was a kid, and I watched them all on a b&w set! -- Jeff of Earth-J
The first color season of The Beverly Hillbillies may be its most absurd, in a good way. It was my brother's favorite season of the show. ---Powerbook Pete, the Mad Mod
Of course, it depends on how one's personal tastes run, but for me, The Beverly Hillbillies ran out of steam in its third season. For two reasons:
1. The premise of the show had worn thin. By this time, at which the Clampetts had been in Beverly Hills for at least two years, they should have adapted to many of the customs, cultural attitudes, and technology which confounded them before. Especially in the case of Jed who, while uneducated, did not lack common sense or wisdom.
It was at this point that the show began to recycle previous gimmicks and "fish out of water" plotlines.
2. And this is a personal preference---it was midway through the third season when the characterisation of banker Milburn Drysdale began to change. Up to this point, while he had a grounded interest in keeping the Clampetts' fortune in his bank, he was portrayed as a level-headed, respectable businessman. This was the depiction I preferred. The last half of the third season saw his conversion into the self-centered, money-grubbing miser. In short, he went from being the show's straight man to one more of its comic elements. I did not care for this.
To be sure, the writers did find some elements ripe for humour in the colour seasons. I'm thinking particularly of the Clampetts' first trip to England. (I attend a live chat every Friday conducted by a British lass who maintains a cruise-related blog, and I continue to greet her and the other Brits in the room with "Faversham") But those novel situations exhausted quickly, and by the last two or three seasons, the show had devolved into absurdity.
The Baron > Commander BensonAugust 20, 2025 at 10:02am
I wonder if the show's creators were afraid that if they let the Clampetts "assimilate" into Beverly Hills society, it would kll the show's gimmick.
I began recording the episodes I'm watching now a while ago off MeTV when I noticed they were getting close to the end of the series, so we have watched some of the later episodes fairly recently. The difference between the later episode and the earliest ones is striking, most especially,perhaps, the character of Milburn Drysdale. He had become a caricature by the end, and I was surprised to see him depicted as an actual human being in these early episodes. The thing I like about these early episodes (in addition to the cinematography) is the episode-to-episode continuity. By that I mean they must be experienced in episode order, whereas later episodes (and mini-arcs) where more-or-less interchangeable. I don't know where the change will occur for me, be it season three or season four, but I'll be sure to let you know when I get to that point.
The Beverly Hillbillies ran from 1962 to 1971. It began when I was 14 and ended when I was 23. I do remember Milburn Drysdale being a complex character. He wanted what was good for his bank but also wanted what was good for the Clampetts, which sometimes was in conflict.
One of the things that stuck in my mind was their making fun of the Los Angeles River being just a trickle. Years later I found out that lacking controlled channels had resulted in half the city being washed away. The L.A. River and our two other rivers to its east fill up completely with rushing water in rainy seasons, even with our dams.
I’m not sure when I stopped watching the show, but it was early in its run. I just discovered that Sharon Tate was in almost half of season 2, so I am inclined to watch that season.
The Baron > Richard WillisAugust 21, 2025 at 9:21pm
This remimds me of a scene from Them! (1954) where G-Man Bob Graham (James Arness) and New Mexico Statie Ben Peterson (James Whitmore) are in L.A. interviewing an old guy (Olin Howland, here credited as "Olin Howlin") who's a semi-permanent resident of an alcoholic ward that overlooks the river. There's a bit where the old guy, who has been quite manic, suddenly becomes quiet and says, wistfully, "I remember when it had water in it."
SHE-HULK: Now that Wednesday is on "mid-season hiatus"* or whatever, we've begun re-watching She-Hulk.
*This is so pathetic. Season two has reached the "mid-season" mark at a paltry four episodes. It's funny (in a sad way) because, as I mentioned above, I'm currently watching season one of Leave It To Beaver (39 episodes) and The Beverly Hillbillies (36 episodes). Sometimes I enjoy living in this "brave new world"... other times I could take it or leave it.
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Season 4
As with many television shows of the '60s, I generally like the b&w episodes [of The Beverly Hillbillies] best, then not so much after they switch to color. This was true even when i was a kid, and I watched them all on a b&w set! -- Jeff of Earth-J
The first color season of The Beverly Hillbillies may be its most absurd, in a good way. It was my brother's favorite season of the show. ---Powerbook Pete, the Mad Mod
Of course, it depends on how one's personal tastes run, but for me, The Beverly Hillbillies ran out of steam in its third season. For two reasons:
1. The premise of the show had worn thin. By this time, at which the Clampetts had been in Beverly Hills for at least two years, they should have adapted to many of the customs, cultural attitudes, and technology which confounded them before. Especially in the case of Jed who, while uneducated, did not lack common sense or wisdom.
It was at this point that the show began to recycle previous gimmicks and "fish out of water" plotlines.
2. And this is a personal preference---it was midway through the third season when the characterisation of banker Milburn Drysdale began to change. Up to this point, while he had a grounded interest in keeping the Clampetts' fortune in his bank, he was portrayed as a level-headed, respectable businessman. This was the depiction I preferred. The last half of the third season saw his conversion into the self-centered, money-grubbing miser. In short, he went from being the show's straight man to one more of its comic elements. I did not care for this.
To be sure, the writers did find some elements ripe for humour in the colour seasons. I'm thinking particularly of the Clampetts' first trip to England. (I attend a live chat every Friday conducted by a British lass who maintains a cruise-related blog, and I continue to greet her and the other Brits in the room with "Faversham") But those novel situations exhausted quickly, and by the last two or three seasons, the show had devolved into absurdity.
I wonder if the show's creators were afraid that if they let the Clampetts "assimilate" into Beverly Hills society, it would kll the show's gimmick.
My former boss and I and one of his long-time friends still greet each other with "Faversham!"
Oh, and that last season of The Beverly Hillbillies was sometimes a slog to get through.
I began recording the episodes I'm watching now a while ago off MeTV when I noticed they were getting close to the end of the series, so we have watched some of the later episodes fairly recently. The difference between the later episode and the earliest ones is striking, most especially,perhaps, the character of Milburn Drysdale. He had become a caricature by the end, and I was surprised to see him depicted as an actual human being in these early episodes. The thing I like about these early episodes (in addition to the cinematography) is the episode-to-episode continuity. By that I mean they must be experienced in episode order, whereas later episodes (and mini-arcs) where more-or-less interchangeable. I don't know where the change will occur for me, be it season three or season four, but I'll be sure to let you know when I get to that point.
And Faversham to you, Mr. Domo.
The Beverly Hillbillies ran from 1962 to 1971. It began when I was 14 and ended when I was 23. I do remember Milburn Drysdale being a complex character. He wanted what was good for his bank but also wanted what was good for the Clampetts, which sometimes was in conflict.
One of the things that stuck in my mind was their making fun of the Los Angeles River being just a trickle. Years later I found out that lacking controlled channels had resulted in half the city being washed away. The L.A. River and our two other rivers to its east fill up completely with rushing water in rainy seasons, even with our dams.
I’m not sure when I stopped watching the show, but it was early in its run. I just discovered that Sharon Tate was in almost half of season 2, so I am inclined to watch that season.
This remimds me of a scene from Them! (1954) where G-Man Bob Graham (James Arness) and New Mexico Statie Ben Peterson (James Whitmore) are in L.A. interviewing an old guy (Olin Howland, here credited as "Olin Howlin") who's a semi-permanent resident of an alcoholic ward that overlooks the river. There's a bit where the old guy, who has been quite manic, suddenly becomes quiet and says, wistfully, "I remember when it had water in it."
SHE-HULK: Now that Wednesday is on "mid-season hiatus"* or whatever, we've begun re-watching She-Hulk.
*This is so pathetic. Season two has reached the "mid-season" mark at a paltry four episodes. It's funny (in a sad way) because, as I mentioned above, I'm currently watching season one of Leave It To Beaver (39 episodes) and The Beverly Hillbillies (36 episodes). Sometimes I enjoy living in this "brave new world"... other times I could take it or leave it.
WEDNESDAY: S2 pt.2 drops today.
Plus, I think the late night talk shows came back this week (we usually watch the monologues the day after).
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