What relation to Jed Clampett is Pearl Bodine? If she's referred to as "Cousin Pearl", then why does her son Jethro refer to Jed as "Uncle Jed"? If Jethro is Jed's uncle wouldnt that make Pearl Bodine a sister or perhaps a sister-in-law? Is Jed's cousin Pearl also his sister? Is this peculiar family tie an insinuation of hillbilly inbreeding of some sort?

I don't know what their actual relation is. I do know some people call older relatives Aunt and Uncle as a show of respect. I have some young step cousins. They call me Aunt Lu.

Pearl is Jed's cousin. Jethro calls Jed "uncle" as a term of respect, I guess.

By the way, it was clearly stated that Granny is NO blood relation at all to Jethro, which makes sense, 'cause she's only Jed's in-law, and no blood relation to him, either. Jethro calls Granny "Granny" the same way everyone else does, even Mrs. Drysdale, who hates her guts.

2-4-02

I THINK THAT EVEN THE WRITERS CONFUSED THIS ISSUE AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. IN INTERVIEWS AND ON THE E NETWORK SHOWS ON THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES, PAUL HENNING AND /OR HIS WIFE REFERRED TO PEARL AS JED'S SISTER. SHE WAS IN FACT, HIS COUSIN. ELLIE REFERRED TO HER AS AUNT PEARL AT TIME, SO THIS RELATIONSHOP OFTEN GOT BLURRED SO TO SPEAK.

The entire Clampett family tree does seem at times to be
a bit convoluted when it comes to how everyone is related
to each other.
I bet it would drive a Genealogist nuts just trying to figure
it all out!:)

Jed actually explained the family make-up in one episode: Pearl is Jed's first cousin, as Jed's father and Pearl's mother were brother and sister. Jethro is Jed's second cousin, as is Elly May to Pearl, but out of respect for their elders, they refer to them as "Aunt" (or "Ain't") and "Uncle". Granny is Elly May's Grandmother, but everyone else calls her "Granny" out of respect as well, even Pearl. She is no blood relation to Jed or Jethro. But I think Jethro's official relation to Granny is that of Grand Nephew (this line led Jethro to remark to Jed, "And you're a great uncle, too!")

I really don't think the producers were trying to imply there was any "inbreeding" going on with the Clampett clan, and they probably wouldn't have gotten away with depicting that kind of activity on a 1960's sitcom, anyway...you had to wait for "Married: with Children" to hear those kinds of jokes. Besides, those kinds of stereotypes about southerners in general and mountaineers in particular are really hurtful. (I'm not a mountaineer myself, but I was born and raised in Kentucky, and I hear those comments from northerners all the time.)