The Best Episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies Season 1

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   8.4/10(436 votes)

   #1 - The Clampetts Strike Oil

   S1:E19/26/1962

   The pilot starts after the theme song when Jed struck oil in his Lake. A rural Ozark family relocates to Beverly Hills after oil is discovered on their property worth $25 million. After finding oil on the land, the family is surprised when Mr. Brewster of the OK Oil Company offers to buy it. After much coaxing by Cousin Pearl, Jed sells the swamp and moves the family to a mansion in Beverly Hills. Upon their arrival, they are arrested because of a case of mistaken identity but are later returned to the mansion safely.

   Director:Ralph Levy

   Writer:Paul Henning

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   Director:Ralph Levy

   Writer:Paul Henning
2. 

   8.1/10(300 votes)

   #2 - Getting Settled

   S1:E210/3/1962

   The Clampetts begin to settle in their new home in Beverly Hills. They are having to adjust to things such as refrigerators, ovens and the "cement pond" (swimming pool). Jethro also encounters a flamingo that he thinks is a chicken (which causes Jed to suspect Jethro has been sneaking drinks of moonshine). Meanwhile, Miss Hathaway, executive secretary to banker Milburn Drysdale, mistakes the Clampetts for "domestic" help. She thinks Granny is a cook and Elly a maid.

   Director:Richard Whorf

   Writer:Paul Henning

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   Director:Richard Whorf

   Writer:Paul Henning
3. 

   7.9/10(256 votes)

   #3 - Meanwhile, Back at the Cabin

   S1:E310/10/1962

   Jane Hathaway finds that making the Clampetts more sophisticated will be harder than expected, while Pearl Bodine tries to get the attention of Mr. Brewster.

   Director:Richard Whorf

   Writer:Paul Henning

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   Director:Richard Whorf

   Writer:Paul Henning
4. 

   8.1/10(252 votes)

   #4 - The Clampetts Meet Mrs. Drysdale

   S1:E410/17/1962

   Mr. Drysdale panics when Mrs. Drysdale comes back from Boston early, because she'll meet the Clampetts. He sets Miss Hathaway on a plan to get them to go to Palm Springs. Meanwhile, Granny and Jed come to think Mrs. Drysdale is a drunk and make plans to cure her.

   Director:Richard Whorf

   Writer:Paul Henning

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   Director:Richard Whorf

   Writer:Paul Henning
5. 

   8.1/10(216 votes)

   #5 - Jed Buys Stock

   S1:E510/24/1962

   Upon Mr. Drysdale's advice to buy good stock, Jed purchases cows, pigs, and chickens to raise. Granny prepares her special mash to help cure Mrs. Drysdale of her drinking problem. Meanwhile, Mrs. Drysdale is convinced she's imagining things, because she sees Granny hovering outside her window and sees a goat and a chicken in her bathroom.

   Director:Richard Whorf

   Writer:Paul Henning

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   Director:Richard Whorf

   Writer:Paul Henning
6. 

   7.6/10(234 votes)

   #6 - Trick or Treat

   S1:E610/31/1962

   Granny wants to go home because folks are so unfriendly and no one has come to call. Jed convinces her they should call on them, and they find that people welcome them and give them all manner of gifts when they show up on Halloween in their normal hillbilly clothes. Meanwhile, Jed works on getting Pearl to come visit while she's trying to get hitched to the oilman and find a young man for Jethrine.

   Director:Richard Whorf

   Writer:Paul Henning

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   Director:Richard Whorf

   Writer:Paul Henning
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7. 

   7.7/10(199 votes)

   #7 - The Servants

   S1:E711/7/1962

   Elly May starts wearing dresses but takes it as an insult when someone says she looks like a city girl. Mr. Drysdale talks Jed into taking in his butler Ravenswood and upstairs girl Marie in a plan to civilize the Clampetts, but they don't quite understand the idea of servants.

   Director:Richard Whorf

   Writer:Paul Henning

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   Director:Richard Whorf

   Writer:Paul Henning
8. 

   7.8/10(212 votes)

   #8 - Jethro Goes to School

   S1:E811/14/1962

   Pearl continues to pursue Mr. Brewster, while a Jasper Depew courts Jethrine. Jed tries to enroll Jethro at an exclusive Beverly Hills elementary school. When the headmistress learns that the Clampetts are neighbors of Mr. Drysdale, who holds the mortgage on the school, she warms up to the idea. There is a bit of a shock when she comes by to pick up Jethro and realizes who will be her new fifth grader.

   Director:Richard Whorf

   Writer:Paul Henning

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   Director:Richard Whorf

   Writer:Paul Henning
9. 

   7.7/10(218 votes)

   #9 - Elly's First Date

   S1:E911/21/1962

   Misunderstandings abound as the spoiled college student Sonny Drysdale attempts to woo Elly May, only to flee to his mother in the end. In an attempt to smooth things over Granny and Jed invite the Drysdales for Thanksgiving.

   Director:Richard Whorf

   Writer:Paul Henning

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   Director:Richard Whorf

   Writer:Paul Henning
10. 

    7.4/10(188 votes)

    #10 - Pygmalion and Elly

    S1:E1011/28/1962

    Sonny Drysdale decides he needs to be Pygmalion to Elly's Galatea and remake her from a hillbilly into a woman of society. Meanwhile Granny makes love charms for Elly, Miss Jane and Jed.

    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writer:Paul Henning

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    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writer:Paul Henning
11. 

    7.5/10(176 votes)

    #11 - Elly Races Jethrine

    S1:E1112/5/1962

    When Sonny Drysdale promises to give Elly May a ring, Granny thinks he's going to propose and becomes a matchmaker. Cousin Pearl can't stand the idea that Elly May will get married before Jethrine, so she sets to matchmaking Jethrine with Jasper Depew.

    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writer:Paul Henning

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    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writer:Paul Henning
12. 

    8.1/10(207 votes)

    #12 - The Great Feud

    S1:E1212/12/1962

    The Clampett clan takes great offense when Sonny Drysdale jilts Elly May, and they start a feud with the Drysdales to avenge their kinfolk's honor. When Jed goes to the Commerce Bank to talk to Drysdale, everyone thinks he's a robber and he gets arrested. Mr. Drysdale says he will get Sonny to propose, but Elly says she doesn't want to marry him. Lyle Talbot and Ken Drake appear as a psychiatrists interviewing Jed in jail.

    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writers:Paul Henning, Phil Shuken

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    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writers:Paul Henning, Phil Shuken
13. 

    7.9/10(257 votes)

    #13 - Home for Christmas

    S1:E1312/19/1962

    The Clampetts take their first plane flight back home for Christmas to visit cousin Pearl, who is busy cooking up a feast to win Mr. Brewster's unwilling heart. Mr. Brewster insults Pearl when he asks her to be his housekeeper, while she thought it was going to be a proposal.

    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writers:Paul Henning, Phil Shuken

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    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writers:Paul Henning, Phil Shuken
14. 

    7.3/10(194 votes)

    #14 - No Place Like Home

    S1:E1412/26/1962

    Back home for Christmas, Elly May bonds with her old animal friends. Pearl plays the piano for the "new" movie in town (the silent version of Ben Hur) to impress Mr. Brewster. While Mr. Brewster tries to sneak out of the movie, Homer Winch declares his love for Pearl.

    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writers:Paul Henning, Phil Shuken

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    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writers:Paul Henning, Phil Shuken
15. 

    7.5/10(178 votes)

    #15 - Jed Rescues Pearl

    S1:E151/2/1963

    Mr. Brewster doesn't want to get married, but the whole county knows that Cousin Pearl had her heart set for him. Jed comes up with a plan for her to save face by having Mr. Brewster propose in public and then have her turn him down. Jed didn't count on Mr. Brewster's background in the theater and him making a huge production out of it. Mr. Brewster does such a convincing job that Pearl, after repeatedly saying no, then says yes.

    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writers:Paul Henning, Phil Shuken

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    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writers:Paul Henning, Phil Shuken
16. 

    7.6/10(176 votes)

    #16 - Back to Californy

    S1:E161/9/1963

    The Clampetts pack up to return to Beverly Hills, so Jethrine tries to pack Jazzbo Depew. Elly says goodbye to her animals. Back in Beverly Hills, Miss Hathaway dresses the vamp to meet Jethro at the airport. Once home the feuding starts between Granny and Pearl over who's running Granny's kitchen.

    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writers:Paul Henning, Phil Shuken

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    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writers:Paul Henning, Phil Shuken
17. 

    7.8/10(169 votes)

    #17 - Jed's Dilemma

    S1:E171/16/1963

    Granny and Cousin Pearl are at each other's throats over who's going to take care of cooking and the house, so Jed has to find ways to keep them apart. Jed tries to calm things down by taking a sightseeing tour of Beverly Hills.

    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writers:Paul Henning, Phil Shuken

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    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writers:Paul Henning, Phil Shuken
18. 

    7.7/10(162 votes)

    #18 - Jed Saves Drysdale's Marriage

    S1:E181/23/1963

    Mrs. Drysdale leaves for a health farm saying Mr. Drysdale is "going to have a new wife" when she returns. Mr. Drysdale tells Cousin Pearl he'd like her to be his housekeeper. However, the Clampett's think he wants to marry Pearl, so Jed comes up with a plan to "save" the Drysdale's marriage.

    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writers:Paul Henning, Phil Shuken

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    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writers:Paul Henning, Phil Shuken
19. 

    7.8/10(160 votes)

    #19 - Elly's Animals

    S1:E191/30/1963

    Many animals and even the police respond to the unique sounds from Pearl's yodeling lessons.

    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writers:Paul Henning, Phil Shuken

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    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writers:Paul Henning, Phil Shuken
20. 

    8.2/10(180 votes)

    #20 - Jed Throws a Wingding

    S1:E202/6/1963

    Two of Pearl's most ardent former suitors come to visit her in Beverly Hills. Pearl thinks they're there to propose because a letter they sent mentions an engagement. But, the duo were actually referring to a concert they have in the Los Angeles area and in fact are already married. Jed throws a wingding for them and the duo play music for the Clampetts.

    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writers:Paul Henning, Phil Shuken

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    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writers:Paul Henning, Phil Shuken
21. 

    7.9/10(152 votes)

    #21 - Jed Plays Solomon

    S1:E212/13/1963

    Granny can't stand Pearl's yodeling so she reports her to the police. When one of the officers takes Pearl outside to the squad car, Granny thinks she got Pearl in trouble and becomes sad and contrite. Meanwhile, the police find Granny's still, and new trouble results.

    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writers:Paul Henning, Phil Shuken

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    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writers:Paul Henning, Phil Shuken
22. 

    8.0/10(156 votes)

    #22 - Duke Steals a Wife

    S1:E222/20/1963

    Granny says Jed and Duke his dog are both down without a woman in their lives. French woman Mlle. Denise and her poodle that she brought to breed with Mrs. Drysdale's dog arrive. Duke takes a fancy to the poodle and Jed takes a fancy to Denise. Meanwhile Mrs. Drysdale has arranged a "marriage" between her dog Claude and Mlle. Denise's, complete with a decorated bedroom.

    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writers:Paul Henning, Phil Shuken

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    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writers:Paul Henning, Phil Shuken
23. 

    8.0/10(170 votes)

    #23 - Jed Buys the Freeway

    S1:E232/27/1963

    The conman Harry Jones, who pretends to be an old friend, gives Jed a "bargain" when he offers to sell Griffith Park, the Hollywood Bowl, and the freeway to the millionaire.

    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writer:Paul Henning

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    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writer:Paul Henning
24. 

    8.7/10(173 votes)

    #24 - Jed Becomes a Banker

    S1:E243/6/1963

    When rival banker Bill Hacker challenges him to a skeet shoot, Mr. Drysdale has no choice but to enlist the sharpshooting skills of Jed by making him a bank vice president. But, when Hacker finds out about Drysdale's scheme, he demands that he be allowed to pick a different employee. Hacker sees Granny cleaning Jed's office and, assuming she is the cleaning lady, picks her. The only thing is, Granny is just as good a shot as Jed.

    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writer:Paul Henning

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    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writer:Paul Henning
25. 

    8.3/10(183 votes)

    #25 - The Family Tree

    S1:E253/13/1963

    Mrs. Drysdale wants to get rid of the Clampett's before the arrival of Mrs. Smith-Standish, the head of a 'first family' historical society. But Smith-Standish goes to the Clampett's first and becomes enchanted with their antiques and way of life. She also finds evidence that Jed's ancestors came to America prior to the arrival of the Mayflower. She ropes Mrs. Drysdale's into helping with chores done the old way, to Mrs. Drysdale's horror.

    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writer:Paul Henning

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    Director:Richard Whorf

    Writer:Paul Henning