The Beverly Hillbillies was an iconic piece of 1960s TV, and these are the 10 best episodes of the show, according to IMDb.
The exploits of the Clampett clan was the subject of The Beverly Hillbillies, which followed the simple family as they shook things up in one of the ritziest neighborhoods in the world. With an iconic cast, and hilarious scenarios, the show made a permanent impression on popular culture and was a touchstone of the 1960s.
Though the series ended more than 50 years ago, some of the episodes live on in popular memory and are shining examples of what made the show so great. While there are many classic episodes, some garnered much higher scores on IMDb.
“The Clampetts Entertain” (S1 E31) – 8.3
Many of the best episodes of sitcoms are based around a farcical misunderstanding, and The Beverly Hillbillies excelled at those types of stories. In “The Clampetts Entertain” Jed throws a party for Granny after she gets in a funk, and Mr. Drysdale is shocked to find that his boss wants to attend. Drysdale worries that his job in on the line after lying about the Clampett’s sophistication to his boss.
Mr. Drysdale’s over-the-top antics anchor the hilarious episode, and it is funny to watch him squirm under the pressure. While the Clampetts are caring and loving people, they are unrefined and they would often clash with the posh elites that were their neighbors. “The Clampetts Entertain” is a rare episode where the Clampett’s misunderstandings aren’t the center of the story.
“Jed Buys The Freeway” (S1 E23) – 8.3
The Clampetts often proved to be too pure for the greedy world that they moved into, and in “Jed Buys The Freeway”, the family is almost taken advantage of. A huckster shows up to the Clampetts’ home and pretends to be an old family friend with a great investment deal. In order to swindle the family, the con-man offers to sell Jed the land that compromises Griffith Park, The Hollywood Bowl, and the freeway.
The humor of the episode comes from just how easily tricked the family can be. Though the con-man has sinister motives, the story never gets too dark and it is fun to watch the family slowly catch on that they are being duped. Also, the episode features a fair amount of familiar Los Angeles locations for the Clampetts to visit.
“The Clampetts And The Dodgers” (S1 E29) – 8.3
In one of the best athlete appearances in a sitcom, the Clampetts meet the legendary Los Angeles Dodgers coach Leo Durocher. Jed and Jethro take a golfing excursion with the coach of the Dodgers, and Jethro finds himself scouted to be a pitcher when the skipper sees how well he can throw.
While Jethro is often shown to be slower than most people because of his lack of education, the first season of the show saw him exhibit many intuitive talents. Though he was never destined to be the next Sandy Koufax, Jethro’s brush with success is a funny diversion from the show’s usual plotlines and showed that Jed’s nephew was more than he seemed.
“The Clampetts Strike Oil” (S1 E1) – 8.3
In the episode that started it all, the audience was introduced to the Clampetts, and the twist of fate that eventually landed them in the lap of luxury. An oil company stooge informs the simple farmer Jed Clampett that his land is rich in oil, and a deal nets the family a fortune. Jed’s cousin suggests that the family move to Los Angeles, and the clan packs up for the ritzy neighborhood of Beverly Hills.
The fish-out-of-water concept is the heart of the humor of The Beverly Hillbillies, and the premier episode is great example. Upon arriving in L.A. the Clampett family immediately mistakes their new surroundings for something more sinister, and the culture clash begins. As far as first episodes go, “The Clampetts Strike Oil” is one of the best sitcom pilots of all time.
“Granny Vs. The Weather Bureau” (S2 E25) – 8.4
Granny was always a great source of laughs on The Beverly Hillbillies, and her over-the-top antics carried many hilarious episodes. “Granny vs. The Weather Bureau” sees the cantankerous matriarch in a tizzy after her weather beetle predicts a different forecast than the high-tech satellites at the weather bureau.
Not only does Granny represent an older way of looking at things, but so too do the entire Clampett family. While their side-splitting clashes with the big city life is hilarious, they also usually represent an important lesson that there is something positive to be found in both ways of doing things.
“The Family Tree” (S1 E25) – 8.4
What made The Beverly Hillbillies a unique sitcom for its time was that many of the storylines played out over several episode arcs. In “The Family Tree” and the subsequent episode, Mrs. Drysdale attempts to get the Clampetts kicked out of the First Family society after she learns of the arrival of an important member in Beverly Hills.
The entire arch is a great chance for the audience to learn more about the Clampett family, and how important their heritage is to their identities. Being descendants of the first European settlers in North America is something that Jed is proud of, but he is willing to renounce his status to please someone that he considers a friend. Jed may not be the brightest man on the planet, but “The Family Tree” showed he was capable of tremendous feats of kindness.
“Jed Becomes A Banker” (S1 E24) – 8.5
One of the reasons the The Beverly Hillbillies is considered one of the best 1960s sitcoms is because it knew exactly how to place its characters in hilarious situations week after week. “Jed Becomes A Banker” sees Jed become a bank employee when Mr. Drysdale needs a partner in his company’s skeet shooting competition.
While the skeet shooting shows off Jed’s marksmanship, his banking savvy is sadly lacking. As was often the case with his friend Mr. Drysdale, their conflicting worlds met somewhere in the middle, and the two men found value in their friendship for different reasons.
“The Giant Jackrabbit” (S2 E16) – 8.5
While other episodes of the show would be better received critically, “The Giant Jackrabbit” is perhaps the most iconic episode of The Beverly Hillbillies. Granny’s world is turned upside down when she sees a kangaroo that she thinks is a gigantic jackrabbit. Unfortunately for the elder Clampett, no one seems to believe her strange tale.
Watching the characters narrowly miss seeing the kangaroo is classic television humor, and Granny’s reactions are priceless. Showing the Clampetts’ ignorance of the animal kingdom, the episode illustrates just how behind the times the clan really is when it comes to the outside world.
“Jethro’s Friend” (S1 E36) – 8.6
In the final episode of the first season of the show, the Clampetts get a chance to show off their trademark hospitality to a new friend. In “Jethro’s Friend”, the younger Clampett invites a new acquaintance over to meet the family, and the Clampetts’ unique form of hospitality gives the young child a new lease on life.
Usually, the Clampetts are shown to be ignorant and backwards, but often the series gave them a chance to show off their better aspects as well. Freeing the kid from his stodgy lifestyle, the Clampetts show that there is always something good to live for, and he is able to cut loose and live a little.
“The Clampetts In Court” (S1 E32) – 8.6
The Clampetts’ naiveté would often run them afoul of people who had bad intentions, and “The Clampetts In Court” was one of their first big lessons. When a couple is involved in a car accident with the Clampetts, they fake injuries in order to sue for damages once learning that the family is rich.
Unable to understand why someone would be so greedy, the Clampetts show that they are almost too good for the public at large. Attempting to navigate the confusing court system, the simple family is run through the wringer and nearly lose their fortune. Fortunately, Jed’s own compassion saves the day, and he learns his lesson concerning the outside world.
