12 Facts About ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’ Even True Fans Probably Don’t Know
With their bold move from the boondocks to Beverly Hills, the Clampetts quickly became a big hit with American families in the TV sitcom, The Beverly Hillbillies.
Viewers fell in love with Jed, Granny, Elly May, and Jethro, watching them make their way through hilarious situations in every single episode. The breakthrough show rewarded audiences with some southern charm and a ton of comic relief.
Although the show is well-known and adored by several generations, there are still a few facts that not every fan knows. There were behind-the-scenes relationship issues, late-career struggles, and even some financial shockers that happened within the program’s nine seasons that will definitely surprise even the most avid viewer.
Scroll through the little-known facts below, and if you think we missed anything about the famous rural family, let us know in the comments!
1. Critics Hated The Show
Although audiences loved The Beverly Hillbillies, critics didn’t seem to share the same feelings. The New York Times called it “strained and unfunny.”
The show was criticized often for its humor, but viewers couldn’t get enough of it — and that was really all that mattered, anyway!
2. Filming In The Mansion Was Very Cheap
The creator of the show, Paul Henning, only paid $500 to film in the beautiful mansion shown on TV. Now, that’s a steal.
3. The Show Was Originally Set In New York
The show wasn’t always supposed to take place in Beverly Hills. When Paul first thought of the idea for his sitcom, his mind went straight to New York for the proposed location. It eventually changed to the Beverly Hills setting we all know and love.
Imagine how different the show would have been if they had followed through with the Big Apple!
4. Buddy Ebsen And Nancy Kulp Never Got Along
There was a bit of a feud going on in Beverly Hills. Nancy, who played Miss Jane Hathaway (Mr. Drysdale’s secretary), never seemed to get along with Buddy, the man playing Jed Clampett. Their behind-the-scenes arguments were mostly surrounded politics, with Nancy and Buddy on opposite ends of the political spectrum.
Their relationship issues carried on past the show. When Nancy ran for office at 62 years old, Buddy bashed her in a radio interview and supposedly caused her to lose the election — something for which she never forgave him.
5. There Was A Strange Age Gap
Actor Louis Nye, who played Sonny Drysdale, was actually only 8 years younger than actress Harriet MacGibbon, who played his mother.