The Beverly Hillbillies - Season 2
The Beverly Hillbillies DVDs
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 10/07/2008 Run time: 918
minutes Rating: Nr
Amazon.com:
The Beverly Hillbillies's second season is "funnier than a hog on
ice" as the Clampetts continue their adjustment to life in tony
Beverly Hills. Not for nothing was the clan honored with Favorite
Fish Out of Water at the TV Land Awards. They are shocked for
example, that the community does not observe Possum Day, and it is
up to their banker and next door neighbor, Mr. Drysdale, who will do
anything to keep the Clampetts' $35 million in his bank, to convince
the mayor to stage a parade. Wealth has not spoiled the Clampetts,
who remain true to their mountain roots. They endeavor to plant
crops in their front yard, and Granny (Emmy nominee Irene Ryan), "no
bigger than a minute and scrappy as a bantam hen," continues to
practice her spells, outraging the local medical community. And when
critter-lovin' Elly Mae (Donna Douglas), simple-minded Jethro (Max
Baer), and Granny do "go Hollywood" (Jethro's Brando-esque Wild One
is a real hoot), it takes Jed (Buddy Ebsen) outfitted as a
rhinestone cowboy to show them how ridiculous they look. Critics
"mean-mouthed" The Beverly Hillbillies, but it was the ultimate
"People's Choice." It was TV's top-rated show its first two years,
and ran for nine seasons. At the heart of its success was that the
Clampetts were not the objects of ridicule. As in classic
Depression-era screwball comedies, it was the rich who were mostly
made to look foolish and no match for the Clampetts' plain-spoken
common sense and traditional mountain ways. In one episode, the
Clampetts transform snobby Mrs. Drysdale's boring garden party into
a wild success, thanks to some bluegrass music and spiked punch.
This season does contain "The Giant Jackrabbit," which, if not the
series' funniest half hour (Granny is bedevilled by a wayward
kangaroo), was certainly its highest rated and is reportedly among
the 20 top-rated TV episodes of all time. Memorable guest stars
include Henry Gibson as Granny's favorite TV cowboy, who is revealed
to be a faker, and bluegrass legends Flatt & Scruggs, who can be
heard in each episode performing the TV theme song that even those
who have never watched the show can probably recite. Peter Whitney
is a welcome guest in a three episode arc as no-account mountain con
man Lafe, who schemes to get his hands on some of the Clampett
fortune. And that's the ill-fated Sharon Tate as Mrs. Drysdale's
secretary in several episodes. This is The Beverly Hillbillies'
first official DVD release (episodes from the first season are in
the public domain), and they've done it up right proud with a heapin
helpin' of extras, including Irene Ryan's screen test, network new
show previews and promos, and an informal interview with series
creator Paul Henning. Viewers have the option of watching each
episode with the original Winston cigarette openings and episode
tags. Mmm, doggies! --Donald Liebenson
The Beverly Hillbillies is an American sitcom that was one of the
most successful comedies in the history of American television. It
ranked among the top 12 most watched series on television for seven
of its nine seasons, twice ranking as the #1 series of the year with
a number of episodes that remain among the most-watched television
episodes of alltime. The series was about a hillbilly family
transplanted to Beverly Hills, California after finding oil on their
land. A Filmways production, the series aired on CBS from September
26, 1962 – September 7, 1971 and comprises 274 episodes—106 in
black-and-white (1962–1965) and 168 in color (1965–1971). The show
starred Buddy Ebsen as Jed Clampett, Irene Ryan as Daisy May
"Granny" Moses, Donna Douglas as Elly May Clampett and Max Baer, Jr.
as Jethro Bodine.
