It is almost impossible to imagine how excited the creators, actors, producers and crew became when “The Beverly Hillbillies”, which had only been on the air for three weeks, became number one in television ratings. This was the fastest rise to the number one spot in the history of television.
The wacky sitcom broke all kinds of TV records. It remained the number-one-rated show for a whopping two years and stayed in the top 20 for an incredible eight seasons. Hats off to the hillbillies!
Never Too Old
It is never too late to make your dreams a reality, something which Irene Ryan took to heart after “The Beverly Hillbillies” came to an end. Although she was best known for her role as Granny and was offered a similar role on TV soon after the show was canceled, Irene Ryan decided to decline.
Instead, she decided to move to New York and try out her skills on Broadway. Her success is a lesson for all of us that you are never too old to reinvent yourself!
Time To Say Goodbye
All good things must come to an end, even with a track record of incredible ratings and adoring fans. The network decided to cancel “The Beverly Hillbillies” in 1971 after nine successful seasons. CBS executive Fred Silverman felt that the show had lost its appeal and was no longer unique in its portrayal of rural life.
By then, the network was running similar shows like “Petticoat Junction” and “Green Acres.” Due to the popularity of these competing shows, which also portray small-town life, the Clampetts were no longer welcome.
Too Little Too Late
Almost thirty years after the release of “The Beverly Hillbillies,” a movie spinoff came out in 1993. The show was an instant and lasting hit, so the movie would probably break box office records, right? Unfortunately, that was not the case.
It could be the long break between the series and the film or having new actors play the beloved Clampetts. Regardless of the reasons, critics and audiences alike rejected the movie and declared it as one of the worst films ever. The funny thing is, we really enjoyed the campy classic.
Dr. Granny M.D.
Folk remedies are still popular in almost every home, especially when there is a need to save some money on expensive medicine. This is especially true for a real hillbilly like Granny, who went by doctor on the show.
Her full title was actually Dr. Granny M.D., but instead of standing for Medical Doctor, the initials stood for Mountain Doctor, and she was one heck of a fine physician. It seems like a lot of her advice would be better for you than a lot of fancy prescriptions we get nowadays.