have been watching the first season Beverly Hillbillies (for maybe the hundredth time), and two questions come to mind.
1. If Pearl is Jed's cousin, and Jethro is Pearl's son, than Jethro and Jed are second cousins. So why does Jethro call him Uncle Jed. As to why does Elly May call Pearl, Aunt Pearl, they are second cousins as well.
2. In the beginning theme Jed shoots the ground and strikes oil. And he runs into cabin all excited about striking it rich. However when the wildcatter comes in and tell Jed about the oil, he acknowledges him that he knows about the oil, but he seems to care less and thinks it is a nuisance. I know it is just a television show, and doesn't need to make sense, but these thoughts crossed my mind.

well, as to your first question: no one knows-you're not the first person to be confused by the Clampett family tree. Plenty of people have wondered about it.

As to your second question: in the unaired pilot, that scene where Jed runs into the cabin all excited; isn't because he's excited about striking the oil, like you said he just considers it a nuisance.
In the scene he's all excited because Pearl & Jethro are coming.

Yeah, that part I know about the pilot. As it is on the DVD. That is the scene where Jed tells Granny to hold on to something because Jethro and Pearl are coming (In a truck with no brakes). But when shown in conjunction with the theme song it sort of alludes that Jed is excited about striking oil.

Yeah, that part I know about the pilot. As it is on the DVD. That is the scene where Jed tells Granny to hold on to something because Jethro and Pearl are coming (In a truck with no brakes). But when shown in conjunction with the theme song it sort of alludes that Jed is excited about striking oil.
Jed isn't excited about striking oil because it will make him rich, he's exited because it's an unusual occurrence in an existence were every day is virtually the same. And he wanted to share this out of the ordinary experience with Granny and the rest of the clan.

have been watching the first season Beverly Hillbillies (for maybe the hundredth time), and two questions come to mind.
1. If Pearl is Jed's cousin, and Jethro is Pearl's son, than Jethro and Jed are second cousins. So why does Jethro call him Uncle Jed. As to why does Elly May call Pearl, Aunt Pearl, they are second cousins as well.
2. In the beginning theme Jed shoots the ground and strikes oil. And he runs into cabin all excited about striking it rich. However when the wildcatter comes in and tell Jed about the oil, he acknowledges him that he knows about the oil, but he seems to care less and thinks it is a nuisance. I know it is just a television show, and doesn't need to make sense, but these thoughts crossed my mind.

On point #1, 2nd cousin (or technically 1st cousin-once removed) is a relationship somewhat similar to aunt/uncle-niece/nephew, especially if the relatives are close. I know of friends who referred to their mother's cousin as their "uncle", though the relationship was not the same.

Okay, it all works for me.;)

I guessed Jethro called Jed "Uncle Jed" and Elly Mae called Pearl "Aunt Pearl" because it sounded more respectful for these young people than "Jed" or "Pearl"