In order to like this show, you need to believe that the four Clampett hicks are so stupid, they can live in Southern Cal suburban culture for 9 years - 9 years! - and not learn a single thing about that culture. And that the two 'young-uns' are completely sexless, despite being many years beyond puberty. Or that anyone with half a brain would be amiable towards the diseased Clampetts simply out of nostalgia for white-trash 'down-home' cooking and banjo playing.Watch "Deliverance" and grow-up.If you think this show is funny because you believe you are smarter than they are - you aren't.Evidence suggesting that there may be no intelligent life on this planet. Nothing believable or even remotely humorous here - move along.

The show was corny but funny, or funny but corny, wherever anyone would want to place the emphasis. But the big question concerned how it lasted as long as it did, all the way from 1962 to 1971. Of course, the basic storyline was not atypical: there are times when people by serendipity strike it rich and resulantly end up in an area, both metaphorically and physically, definitely out of their element. Ostensibly, such was the case with these hillbillies. They apparently had never heard the term "swimming pool", which was to them a "cement pond", and they never did know "where that music was coming from" anytime the doobell rang. Now, really! the cast was well-chosen: Buddy Ebsen was capable of playing any type of role, and thus was most likely the most versatile actor Hollywood ever knew, Donna Douglas was a very pretty Elly Mae, Max Baer, Jr. was excellent in his role as the stupid Jethro so much so that it's hard to believe that he earned a degree in philosophy, (which would beg the question "Who? Him?"), and Irene Ryan, in real life, was not as stupid as she acted. The show did, again, have recommendable qualities. But how could a show replete with so many corny lines-some too ridiculous to be funny- last as long as it did? I will always wonder.

I loved this show when I first saw it at the age of eight. I still love it. I watch it with my ten year old daughter.She loves it too. The humor is funny and clean. That can't be said about a lot of modern shows. The Clampetts ( with the possible exception of Jethro ) are as bright as anyone else. They come from a different culture so their ways are different. The downhome values of the Clampetts are something we could use more of. They were always forgiving of and friendly to Mrs. Drysdale no matter how much she insulted them. They were hardworking and grateful for what they had. They were honest and decent people. The Beverly Hillbillies is cute, funny and wholesome.

Normally I don't critique sitcoms because, frankly, it's not worth the effort and are so crassly superficial that they don't require any serious attention. But in the case of "The Beverly Hillbillies" I will make an exception. This is because of one character: Jed Clampett, played by Buddy Ebsen. Jed Clampett is one of the most endearing yet complex characters ever created by the television industry. Superficially, Jed Clamptett doesn't seem to be the type of character that warrants much serious attention. After all he's just a simple, uneducated backwoodsman from the hills who's lived in a shack all of his life, and by pure dumb luck comes into a pile of money which doesn't seem to change him one bit. Which is what makes Jed Clampett such a wonderful character. For Jed Clampett has dignity and integrity and nothing will divert Mr. Clampett from remaining true to himself or altering the way he treats everyone - with openness, honesty and a real desire to be hospitable. Further, Jed Clampett commands respect, and is respected, not only by his immediate family who are utterly devoted to him, but even by that crass and conniving banker who, despite his air of superiority, reveals, episode after episode, what a buffoon he is compared to the calm and self-assured Mr. Clampett. Also, it should be noted the Jed Clampett protects and cares for not only his daughter, but his nephew and mother-in-law, the latter two a constant challenge to Jed's patience, which he never loses. If there were more Jed Clampetts in this world, then maybe we'd all be living in shacks, but at least we'd be getting along with each other and treating each other better.