Well of course I know that they wouldn’t have been worrying about strict consistency in that kind of show at that time. But my default assumption is that the first episode, the theme song, and the opening sequence would have been created around the same time by the same people. So there may be some specific explanation about why they don’t agree other than carelessness, like kanicbird’s suggestion that the first episode was a pilot created significantly before the rest of the series.
It’s like if the pilot episode of Gilligan’s Island showed the 7 people on an ocean liner cruise, and then they took a boat from the liner to go visit an island, the boat was wrecked there in calm weather. Wouldn’t you wonder why the story in the theme song differs?
In commercial presentation, speed is paramount. Get it to market, get it to cash in, on whatever wave you can surf on. Reality and consistency take second place to this.
That’s true, but what’s amazing about the show is that at first, the business people Jed deals with are portrayed as kind, decent, and honorable people.
Even Mr Drysdale’s and Miss Hathaway’s main concerns, in the first few shows, is to teach the Clampetts about modern life, and to protect them from humiliation by Beverly Hills’ residents’ vicious snobbery. Mr Drysdale appeared calm and sensible for the most part. It was Miss Jane who appeared a little prone to panic on the hillbillies’ behalf. Although she did make a few clever quick saves with some lying, as when she convinced some snotty rich girls at an exclusive school that Elly Mae was a sophisticated world trend-setter, making a cutting edge fashion statement with jeans and a rope belt.
It was only later that Mr Drysdale became an extreme caricature of a scheming money grubber, and Miss Jane became his usually unwilling assistant.
But the show stayed funny even with the exaggerations because it was so well written.
Did the show ever discuss Lisa’s family’s socioeconomic status in the old country? She may have actually been more of a fish out of water in Manhattan, and once she got used to the Hooterville locals she fit in better there.
Actually, for sheer laugh value, I favor the Hillbillies, although “Green Acres” is also a fine show.
I think people’s opinions on the Hillbillies are soured because it lasted about two or three seasons longer than it should’ve. There was a definite decline in quality after the trip to England. The episodes in Silver City and in New York with Phil Silvers never should’ve happened, and by the end, Elly Mae was little more than a mannequin. Her Navy boyfriend was no Dash Riprock.
Jethro’s adventures as a double-naught spy were hilarious. And one of my favorite lines of all time was, “If I can’t have her, nobody can!” as he prepared to cast an anvil tied to his leg into the cement pond. Luckily, Jed advised him to think about it a little longer.
There was an episode of how Lisa and Oliver met back in the old country; seems to me she was a war bride from a family of poor means. But it’s been at least 50 years since I saw it, so my memory might be faulty on this score.
My favorite line was also from Jethro in the “Possum Day” episode:
*You expect me to ride through the streets of Beverly Hills on **that **horse pullin’ **that **monkey in **that *wagon? What kind of jerk do you think I am?
Followed by
Shut up, Bessie [Elly May’s chimp]. I don’t wanna 'tract no attention! :mad:
IIRC, one episode explained a huge piece of jewelry that Lisa wore as having been smuggled out of Budapest in a jar of chicken fat. I don’t think it was spelled out, but the impression was she was some kind of aristocrat fallen on hard times. Like the stereotypical Russian prince waiting tables in 1920s Paris.
Her family was probably(the war and especially 1956 were still fresh memories) escaping the communists and any wealth they had left would have to be portable.
I wish I could find this exact scene but no luck so far. Jethro is going to school and tells Uncle Jed about his “cipherin’” class: “Today I learned pi R square.” As he walks away Jed shakes his head and says “I don’t know what they’re teachin him in that school. Everyone knows pie are round. Cornbread are square.”
