Who did you usually side with? And who do you think had more rights to the kitchen?

Honestly I thought Granny did, after all she stepped in and helped raised Elly after the death of Jed's wife and was kinda in a "wife" role with Jed.

Pearl may have been Jed's blood cousin, but she was not there as family like Granny was.

But you have to remember that Pearl was Jethro's mother! So she was immediate family to at least one member of the household. That should give her at least some rights!

But you have to remember that Pearl was Jethro's mother! So she was immediate family to at least one member of the household. That should give her at least some rights!


Yeah I know Pearl was Jed's blood relative, but it just seemed like Granny filled the role of Elly's mother and she always took care of that family like the wife usually would.

It seems like Pearl never came around much, until Jed got money.


When I was a little kid watching the show, I used to side with Pearl more, just b/c it seemed like it was Granny who did most of the yelling and I guess in a child's eyes she SEEMED more like the villain, but as I got older I could see things more clear, I think.

The minute Pearl got to the mansion, she just walked in the kitchen, and tried to take over. She never considered how Granny would feel, if she thought she wasn't needed.

What Pearl SHOULD have done was to walk in and ask Granny what she could do to help. She should have respected Granny as her elder, and the head of the domestic side of the household.

The minute Pearl got to the mansion, she just walked in the kitchen, and tried to take over. She never considered how Granny would feel, if she thought she wasn't needed.

What Pearl SHOULD have done was to walk in and ask Granny what she could do to help. She should have respected Granny as her elder, and the head of the domestic side of the household.


It's funny b/c Pearl *bea Benederett/sp* was originally supposed to PLAY Granny, eventhough she was supposed to be about 20 years younger, I'm guessing, since it's mentioned that Grannys is in her 70s and Pearl was in her 45ish.

But yeah it was Jed's fortune and Granny filled the matriarch role in Jed's family. I know she was Jethro's mother, BUT at that time Jethro was REALLY just a visitor there.

no, Bea Benederit wasn't supposed to play Granny originally. When she saw the script, she asked her agent (who was also Irene Ryans agent) to let her audition for the role. Her agent knew she wouldn't get it but he let her audition anyway.

I loved the Granny/Pearl rivalry. The episode where Granny and Pearl firght for the kitchen is one of my favorite episodes. I wish Pearl could have stayed a few more seasons or at least made some appearances.

:lol: I loved it when Mrs. Drysdale came over, and started chewing out Granny, and Pearl spoke up, "You leave OUR Granny alone"! Not that Granny needed anyone to defend her, but its clear the family stuck up for each other when an outsider was on the attack!

:lol: I loved it when Mrs. Drysdale came over, and started chewing out Granny, and Pearl spoke up, "You leave OUR Granny alone"! Not that Granny needed anyone to defend her, but its clear the family stuck up for each other when an outsider was on the attack!
I liked when they threw Hog Jowls at Mrs Drysdale as she ran off LOL.

It's funny b/c Pearl *bea Benederett/sp* was originally supposed to PLAY Granny, eventhough she was supposed to be about 20 years younger, I'm guessing, since it's mentioned that Grannys is in her 70s and Pearl was in her 45ish.

But yeah it was Jed's fortune and Granny filled the matriarch role in Jed's family. I know she was Jethro's mother, BUT at that time Jethro was REALLY just a visitor there.


I THOUGHT originally Bea was scripted to play Granny, BUT they thought she was too...."chesty", and I heard it was actually Bea who reccomened Irene Ryan for the part.

no, Bea Benederit wasn't supposed to play Granny originally. When she saw the script, she asked her agent (who was also Irene Ryans agent) to let her audition for the role. Her agent knew she wouldn't get it but he let her audition anyway.


I THOUGHT originally Bea was scripted to play Granny, BUT they thought she was too...."chesty", and I heard it was actually Bea who reccomened Irene Ryan for the part.

I THOUGHT originally Bea was scripted to play Granny, BUT they thought she was too...."chesty", and I heard it was actually Bea who reccomened Irene Ryan for the part.
you're wrong about the first part, but right about the second-it was Bea who reccomended Irene for the role. When she saw her, she pointed to her and said "THERE'S YOUR GRANNY!"

you're wrong about the first part, but right about the second-it was Bea who reccomended Irene for the role. When she saw her, she pointed to her and said "THERE'S YOUR GRANNY!"


Ok well thanks for telling me.

I've read a LOT of things about how the show was to be COMPLETLY different from what it finally became. For instance,

I read that originally there was NO Jethro character and Jed was supposed to be a total idiot, but Ebsen REFUSED to play the role unless they let him have some commun sense, so that's why they brought in Jethro, and than MANY of Jed's original lines were given to Jethro.
And I read originally they were to move to Manhattenm, NY and live in a Penthouse. And it would be called the "Manhatten Hillbillies".

I guess I read most of this on IMDB which could be wrong.

Ok well thanks for telling me.

I've read a LOT of things about how the show was to be COMPLETLY different from what it finally became. For instance,

I read that originally there was NO Jethro character and Jed was supposed to be a total idiot, but Ebsen REFUSED to play the role unless they let him have some commun sense, so that's why they brought in Jethro, and than MANY of Jed's original lines were given to Jethro.
And I read originally they were to move to Manhattenm, NY and live in a Penthouse. And it would be called the "Manhatten Hillbillies".

I guess I read most of this on IMDB which could be wrong.

The story I've heard regarding Bea, was that Paul Henning had Bea Benaderet "in mind" for the role of the grandmother, while he was creating the series. When it came the time for auditions, I'm not sure if Bea actually auditioned, or if this was the point that it was decided she was too bosomey.
But, yes it was Bea that said to Paul that Irene was "your Granny".

...And the role of Pearl was either created for Bea, or expanded to more than a neighboring relative, back in the hills, to part of the family in BH. I think Paul just loved her dearly, and wanted her as part of the show. I often wonder, that if Henning's opportunity to create PJ didn't come along, the next season, if Bea would have continued on as Pearl. I think there was concern that her performance was so strong, that it overshadowed the character of Granny.

As far as the character of Jethro not part of the original plan, I never heard that, although it IS known that Buddy Ebson refused to play the role of a total bumpkin!

Ok well thanks for telling me.

I've read a LOT of things about how the show was to be COMPLETLY different from what it finally became. For instance,

I read that originally there was NO Jethro character and Jed was supposed to be a total idiot, but Ebsen REFUSED to play the role unless they let him have some commun sense, so that's why they brought in Jethro, and than MANY of Jed's original lines were given to Jethro.
And I read originally they were to move to Manhattenm, NY and live in a Penthouse. And it would be called the "Manhatten Hillbillies".

I guess I read most of this on IMDB which could be wrong.
well, I DO know that it was originally going to be set in New York; so that part's true. They switched the setting though because they got to thinking what the eventual cost of location filming would be ecspesially if the show was a hit. And it's also true that Ebsen refused to play an idiot.

Oh yes, the Manhatton Hillbillies story is true, also. I have The E! Hollywood Story of The Beverly Hillbillies as well as The Beverly Hillbillies Book by Stephen Cox. Between the two, I've learned quite a bit!

Actually I don't think the NY idea would have been SO BAD, realistically I think ppl like the Clampettes would have a MUCH HARDER time fitting in to a place like Manhatten than Beverlly Hills.

I think in reality in Ca. ppl are more layed back and maybe over all accepting, I don't think they'd REALLY have such a problem with the Clampettes.

Though in NY I think they would have a really hard time adjusting. I think Granny would be at war with someone everyday.

The Clampetts do visit New York in the later part of the series, when they deal with "Honest John" (Phil Silvers' character). Honest John "sells" Jed several of the famous NY landmarks. They run into trouble when they want to build a cabin in Central Park...!

If it's true that the idea for the series had been to take place in NY, then maybe some of the gags the producers had in mind (originally) finally made their way into some episodes after all.