The hilarious blooper in The Beverly Hillbillies most-watched episode

It’s simple to understand why The Beverly Hillbillies has consistently been one of my favorite television programs. No politics, no profanity, no sex—just heartwarming comedy.

Consider the amusing scene in which Granny believes a kangaroo to be a gigantic jackrabbit. It embodies the simplicity and sweetness that made The Beverly Hillbillies so adored.

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It may surprise you to learn that this specific episode became the most watched half-hour sitcom ever. The worst part is that, if you know where to look, the makers made a huge error.

criticized and despised by the reviewers. “Strained and unfunny,” the New York Times said. The Beverly Hillbillies, however, is among the best and funniest television programs ever, in my opinion. This was during a time when watching TV was enjoyable; it was traditional family television. Shows like this one could teach today’s comedy a lot.

The cast of the show, which included Max Baer Jr., Donna Douglas, Nancy Kulp, and Raymond Bailey, kept viewers chuckling for years with their characters, from Buddy Ebsen’s easygoing charm to Irene Ryan’s fiery Granny.

However, even this beloved sitcom has its share of gaffes, and we’re here to highlight the most hilarious ones that were shown on air.

Ocean is on their left

The Clampetts are cruising home from Malibu in the first scene, but there’s a humorous little misunderstanding.

If they are traveling east, the ocean should be on the right as Malibu lies west of Beverly Hills. In reality, they are driving away from home because it is on their left instead.

The Clampetts must have chosen the picturesque path. or simply twisted around a bit.

The Boston Strong Girl

Granny allegedly throws the Boston Strong Girl out of the ring in the episode “The Rass’lin’ Clampetts” of season six. However, if you look closely, you’ll see that the Strong Girl jumps a little to get over the ropes.

The interesting twist is that Jerry Randall, a drag-clad stuntman, was the real Boston Strong Girl. Additionally, the title’s “Rass’lin” is simply their way of expressing “wrestling,” in typical hillbilly fashion.

The missing fish

Mr. Drysdale sends the Clampetts to Marineland in the episode The Clampetts Go Fishing in an attempt to pique their interest in deep-sea fishing.

However, this is when things truly go awry! The backseat of Miss Hathaway’s and Mr. Drysdale’s car is entirely vacant when they arrive at the Clampett home.

However, by the time they exit the vehicle, a gigantic fish miraculously materializes in the rear!

Jane Hathaway’s first car

The Beverly Hillbillies’ location shots for the majority of seasons one and two include Jane Hathaway’s first vehicle, a 1962 Plymouth convertible.

However, if you pay close attention, you’ll see that there’s some TV magic going on. In certain sequences, the camera cuts abruptly to a close-up of her coming in a 1963 or 1964 Dodge, which is a totally different vehicle.

Jane apparently had a talent for making impromptu car improvements.

The groundskeeper

An unexpected visitor made a surprise appearance during the final credits of Elly’s First Date (1962), the Thanksgiving episode from season one.

A groundskeeper wearing a white tank top and casually holding a rake enters view on the right side of the screen. However, he discovers abruptly that he has wandered directly into the shot.

He abruptly alters his direction and runs out of the picture with a look of complete dread, likely wishing he could erase that moment from the screen.

This is an amusing antics from the episode: Mr. Drysdale gives Jethro his hat to use in an illusion during Jethro’s magic presentation. It goes without saying that Jethro immediately ruins the hat.

Max Baer Jr. played his twin sister

The character of Jethro Bodine, played by Max Baer Jr., was the son of Jed’s cousin Pearl. He was a simple-minded and rather dimwitted man who demonstrated his exceptional mathematical abilities with the multiplication formula “five gozinta five one times, five gozinta ten two times.”

He portrayed other characters on the show, though. Actually, for 11 episodes in the first season, Max Baer Jr. played Jethro’s twin sister Jethrine.

Despite playing Jethrine Bodine, Max Baer Jr. was unable to mimic her voice.

Consequently, he was given a nickname. Linda Kaye Henning, the daughter of the show’s creator, Paul Henning, was the one who actually spoke her lines.

Mr. Drysdale’s magic hat

This is a great joke from “The Great Jethro”: Mr. Drysdale gives Jethro his hat to use in an illusion during Jethro’s magic presentation.

It goes without saying that Jethro immediately ruins the hat.

The true magic trick here, however, is a classic TV error and isn’t featured in the broadcast! Following Jethro’s damage, the camera pans to Mr. Drysdale, who is seen sitting comfortably with his immaculately fine hat in his lap.

In the following image, the hat emerges again on the magician’s stand as though by magic. Mr. Drysdale is seen carrying the damaged hat once more a short while later.

John Wayne got paid in bourbon

Many fans still recall John Wayne’s iconic cameo in the episode “The Indians Are Coming,” despite the fact that his name is not mentioned in the credits.

Remarkably, John Wayne just asked for a fifth of Jack Daniel’s bourbon in exchange for his cameo. After his performance, let’s hope he got paid!

The Giant Jackrabbit

At the time of its broadcast, the legendary season-two episode “The Giant Jackrabbit” became the most-watched program, and it continues to be the most-watched half-hour episode of any sitcom.

These astounding ratings may appear confusing at first. But everything starts to make sense when you take into account the historical background.

America was going through a difficult time in early 1964 after President Kennedy was tragically assassinated only six weeks earlier. In search of comfort and a break from the harsh facts of life, the country was in sorrow. The Beverly Hillbillies’ whimsical charm and lively humor provided audiences with the ideal diversion in this setting.

The blooper

However, it’s remarkable that many people have overlooked a small gaffe in this episode, given how many have loved watching Granny mistake a kangaroo for a jackrabbit. And to be honest, it makes sense—it truly requires a sharp eye to notice it.

Here it is: at 09:02, a man’s foot, perhaps that of the trainer, momentarily shows in the lower left corner of the screen as the kangaroo first leaps up to the Clampetts’ back door. This small element makes this timeless moment even more enjoyable.

A nod to the casting genius

As we are delving into this historic incident, let us discuss the proprietor of “Beverly Caterers.” The others are suspicious that Granny may have had a little too much moonshine when she sees the runaway kangaroo and thinks it is an enormous jackrabbit.

The Clampetts struggle to get food from Beverly Caterers in the meantime. Interestingly, the name Bill Tinsman, the proprietor, is a reference to William Tinsman, the casting director for various HenningVerse series, including The Beverly Hillbillies.

The creator was ashamed

Did you know that Paul Henning, the show’s creator, felt embarrassed by the 1981 television film “The Return of the Beverly Hillbillies”?

Henning wrote and produced a television film that brought the Clampett family back together ten years after the famous show’s conclusion. However, it was unpopular with critics and spectators, who felt that the film had lost the original spirit of the series.

Paul acknowledged that he was really embarrassed when the final result was shown on the CBS network.

Different original title

The show was formerly known as “The Hillbillies of Beverly Hills,” as viewers of the pilot “The Clampetts Strike Oil” may have noted.

However, the original title was altered to “The Beverly Hillbillies” after the first episode since it was a bit more catchy and easier to say.

Sonny was 8 years younger than his mother

There have been plenty of impossible mothers in Hollywood. For instance, Laurence Harvey, who played Angela Lansbury’s son in The Manchurian Candidate (1962), was just two years older than Lansbury. The Beverly Hillbillies were no exception to the endless list.

Did you know that Sonny Drysdale, the pampered, wealthy step-son of Milburn Drysdale, was just eight years older than the actress who played Mrs. Drysdale?

Why CBS axed the show

The Beverly Hillbillies were having trouble with their ratings at the end of the 1960s.

However, the show was still quite profitable and popular, so many were astonished when CBS announced that it was being canceled in 1971. Paul Henning’s other hit song, “Petticoat Junction,” suffered the same fate.

Known as a “rural purge,” CBS took the initiative by canceling a number of well-liked programs. The decision by the networks and marketers to focus on a more sophisticated, urban audience brought about the shift.

The Green Acres actor Pat Buttram is renowned for saying, “CBS canceled everything with a tree — including Lassie.”

What a fantastic show with amazing performers and actresses!

As we get to the end of our exploration of these characters’ funny world, it is evident that even the most cherished television programs have their peculiarities and errors.

These minor errors, which range from the kangaroo mix-up to the mishandled magical hat feats, give the series an additional touch of charm.

Watch for the behind-the-scenes fun the next time you tune in; you might discover a new reason to laugh at these endearing characters!