1971 - "The Beverly Hillbillies" was seen for the final time on CBS-TV

I think most fans will agree that the final season of BH was the weakest overall, although I really enjoy being able to see Lori Saunders, Charles Lane, and Mike Minor in guest roles -- all of whom had lost their steady Petticoat Junction employment when that series ended in the spring of 1970 (cancelled one season earlier than BH and Green Acres).

How can Jed be Jethro's uncle and cousin?

How can Jed be Jethro's uncle and cousin?
Jed is Jethro's uncle. Elly Mae is his cousin.

Jed and Pearl are first cousins, which would make Jed and Jethro second cousins. Sometimes in the south, people refer to their older relatives as 'aunt' or 'uncle', whether or not they are technically their aunt or uncle, which is why Jethro and Jethrene call Jed 'Uncle Jed' and Elly May calls Pearl 'Aunt Pearl'.

That's right on the money. This topic tends to be beaten to death on the imdb board. "Uncle" Jed is a way to address Jed with respect, as he is an elder and people usually didn't address their elders by first name only. This convention seems to be totally lost on modern era viewers.

1971 - "The Beverly Hillbillies" was seen for the final time on CBS-TV


If it had a tree in it CBS cancelled it.

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Do you remember the dreaded rural purge (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/UsefulNotes/TheRuralPurge)? The year that CBS (https://www.tvhistorypod.com/?p=178) cancelled every TV show with a tree in it? Shows like Mayberry RFD and The Beverly Hillbillies were victims of the purge. Here's my take on one of the most controversial moves (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcbpkJGCmgk) in television history.

For anyone visiting this 2010 thread which was just updated (?), I like to comment on the post by someone using the handle Old Grouch who stated the following:

"Jed and Pearl are first cousins, which would make Jed and Jethro second cousins"

I don't believe what he indicated is correct. If Jed is Pearl's first cousin that would make Jethro, Jed's 1st cousin once removed. If Jethro has a child that would be Jed's 1st cousin twice removed etc. The initial relationship defines all subsequent relationships in that line.

Elly Mae and Jethro are then 2nd cousins, their children would be 2nd cousins once removed to either Elly or Jethro and 3rd cousins to each other.