21. “The Beverly Hillbillies” – Christmas at the Clampetts – S2E14- aired December 25, 1963

21. “The Beverly Hillbillies” – Christmas at the Clampetts – S2E14- aired December 25, 1963

In this second Christmas episode of “The Beverly Hillbillies”, the Clampetts experience their first Christmas at home in Beverly Hills. And discover artificial snow. Or “Beverly Hills” snow as Jed refers to it.

As Ellie May, Jethro and Granny begin to open their gifts, there seems to be a reoccurring theme to them: water. Ellie May receives a hair dryer, which she thinks is a hat with a hose attached to it to “let the water drain off” her hat when she’s walking in the rain. Jethro opens a “new suit” made of rubber, which is a skin diving suit. And Granny gets a new TV, which she thinks is a fancy electric washing machine and the antennas are the clothes drying rack.

The Clampetts give Mrs. Drysdale what she wants most for Christmas: a mink. A LIVE mink. Jed states that Mrs. Drysdale wanted a “full-length mink” and Ellie May replies that “it’s as long as they come”.

But the Clampetts have yet to see the biggest gift of all: a boat parked in their driveway, complete with a chimp for a “skipper”, much to Ellie May’s delight. All the gifts are a ploy from Mr. Drysdale to try to keep the Clampetts in Beverly Hills.

The Drysdales go over to visit the Clampetts and try to clear up all the confusion. Granny gifts Mrs. Drysdale a smorgasbord of hillbilly foods such as “candied catfish and owl burgers”. Ellie May then informs Mrs. Drysdale that she’s lost her gift, greatly upsetting Mrs. Drysdale, who is under the impression that the gift is a diamond. If only she knew.