Beverly Hillbillies, the American comedy sitcom, centers on Jed Clampett, a Californian hillbilly who accidentally discovers oil in his backyard. With his new found fortune, he packs up and moves his family to Beverly Hills.
On this day, September 26th, in 1962, Beverly Hillbillies debuts on CBS. It aired for nine years and topped Nielsen’s ratings for several seasons. The storyline was not typical; Jed and his family, regardless of their posh environment, still grew their own food and held on to their hillbilly culture and way of life.
Beverly Hillbillies received two Emmy Award nominations and during its time was the most watched half-hour comedy show.