"Come and listen to the story 'bout a man named Jed" and the rest of the colorful Clampett family, perhaps television's most unlikely phenomenon to spring from the sixties. Hated by the critics but enthusiastically embraced by audiences around the world, to this day The Beverly Hillbillies still holds the Nielsen record for the highest rated half-hour show in the history of television. Over the years, the original television hit has inspired several highly rated network specials, an E! True Hollywood Story two-hour documentary, and even a big-screen motion picture from 20th Century Fox in 1993.Just in time to join the fortieth anniversary celebration of the classic television sitcom, The Beverly Hillbillies is filled with all the hillbilly country corn anyone could expect. Updated and expanded from the first edition, published in 1988, it is the ultimate TV book. Readers will also find hundreds of photographs, including 16 pages of color, fascinating trivia, behind-the-scenes stories, exclusive contributions from Paul Henning, the show's creator, a list of Granny's fixin's, the story of the popular theme song, Elly May's critters, Jethro's "Double-Naught" secrets, and an introduction by 93-year-old Buddy Ebsen, who played Jed Clampett in the series. Also included are a complete episode guide, cast biographies with all the inside scoop, and highlights from guest stars (John Wayne, Gloria Swanson, Sammy Davis Jr., and others).The Beverly Hillbillies is still shown every day on cable television's Nick at Night. This fortieth anniversary edition of the book will become a collector's item for all who loved and love the show. There's more here than you can shake a possum at. Sit a spell.