Since a poster here is using Jed as his avatar, I must say a little about this great man.
I believe The Beverly Hillbillies is the most genius thing ever on television. The intro song is a groundbreaking classic. The whole concept is entertaining and inviting - from dirt poor to filthy rich overnight. It is the stuff of great fantasy, and great comedy. Laughs at both rich and poor. But so much more.
It is a commentary on American life. Look at the greed of Drysdale, and how frantic and miserable he is. It is the lesson that the
want of money is the root of all evil, not the money itself. Contrasted with the serenity of the Clampett clan, we can see so much in our lives that is foolish, chasing after material things.
Jed looks a little like my dad, at one point in his life, with the grey mustache. And my dad was often gone, I was left at home watching the show. I think I got my moral direction from Jed Clampett. Enjoy the simple things in life, tell the truth, have genuine concern for others, show restraint (he often restrained Granny, a symbol of other things deep inside me). Do work well. Do for yourself when you are able, be slow to criticize.
There were some moments of truth, I was on the edge of my chair when Jed was confronted with rock music, beatnicks, etc. but he accepted it all, and judged all of it with his simple beliefs. He was true to what he believed, no matter if it was presented in a new wrapper. And he believed in having fun and sharing the fun with others when possible.
Yes, I love Jed Clampett. I could choose much worse role models.
-Chuck, Vegetarian fanboy
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