Beverly Hillbillies: The Official Third Season

The Beverly Hillbillies: The Official Third Season brings laughter and good humor into the homes of television viewers with the antics of this dysfunctional mountaineer family from Tennessee. The Clampett family, after suddenly striking oil, are relocated and displaced socially, physically and educationally into the upper crust of the privileged and elite of Beverly Hills. Their attire, manners and lifestyle mimic that of their beloved Tennessee hills, but their moral, generous and kind natures are often misinterpreted and misunderstood. The series features patriarch Jed Clampett (the late Buddy Ebsen) who believes in the simple life, closeness of family, and a helping hand to a neighbor or friend in need. His curvaceous daughter, Elly Mae (Donna Douglas), is a friend of animals and showcases her performing entourage throughout the episodes. Jethro Bodine (Max Baer, Jr.) is the son of Cousin Pearl who suggested they all up-and-move to Beverly Hills. He takes to the mansion and all its amenities with the gusto of James Bond and his ambitions are to be a folk singer, brain surgeon or double-naught spy -- even though he only boasts of a 6th grade education. The glue that keeps this crew in shape is doctoring, cooking, caring Granny (Irene Ryan), a spunky little woman who keeps a house spotless with hot meals on the table and discipline to see that everything stays ship-shape.

Through the investments of trusted friend and banker Wilburn Drysdale (Raymond Bailey), Jed becomes the proud owner of Mammoth Pictures where Elly Mae lands a part in a beach party movie in "The Movie Starlet." Hollywood hunk Dash Riprock steals her heart in "Elly in the Movies," while Jethro plasters his bedroom walls with posters of his movie starlet love. In "Hedda Hopper's Hollywood," Jed is invited to take a stroll through Mammoth Pictures history when Hedda suggests he visit the hand and footprints of movie legends in front of the Mann's Chinese Theater. Longing for the hills of Tennessee, Granny becomes melancholy and homesick, but a visit from music notables Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs brings joy into her heart when she's invited to join them on tour in "Flatt, Clampett and Scruggs." Cool-kat beatnik extraordinaire Sheldon Epps finds a warm heart and friend in Daddy-O Jed when he asks him to lend a hand to help finance his coffee house in "Big Daddy, Jed." And sophistication goes awry when the prestigious Brewsters avail themselves of the Ozarkian hospitality of the Clampett family in "Brewster's Honeymoon." Of course, you'll see Jethro ambitiously masquerading as a double-naught spy when he haphazardly tries to imitate the espionage tricks of James Bond in "Double Naught Jethro," while Mr. Drysdale's devoted secretary Jane Hathaway (Nancy Kulp) has starry eyes for bold, brawn and nothing else Jethro. And Granny and Jed court romance when Granny conjures up her Spring Tonic in "Jed and the Countess" and "Granny's Romance." Bernie Kopell and Don Rickles make appearances respectively in "The Movie Starlet" and "Jed's Temptation."

The Beverly Hillbillies: The Official Third Season's special features include "The Legend of the Beverly Hillbillies," narrated by country singer Mac Davis with commentary by Reba McEntire, Ray Charles and others on the history of the Clampetts. You'll have an option to enjoy the Original Episode Sponsor Openings and Closings and see ads in their original television viewings; and a Photo Gallery highlight photos of the cast.

I initially thought this down-home comedy would seem naive and displaced in today's television viewing, but I found it wholesome, enjoyable and fit for the whole family. I think young kids today would get a kick out of the illogical perspective of this hillbilly family compared to the label-conscious, pretentious materialism of the Beverly Hills' wealthy.

Beverly Hillbillies: The Official Third Season

Features:

Related Links: