Beverly Abbey
by Roz Warren
If you,
like me, are a Boomer who is addicted to Downton
Abbey, that show just might remind you of a
wildly popular TV show of our youth, a 1960s
classic that reflected the essential
culture of the country that produced it, just as
Downton does now.
I’m
thinking, of course, of the Beverly Hillbillies.
Has anyone
else noticed the many similarities between the
two shows?
Both are about
close-knit families who didn’t earn their
vast wealth, but instead lucked into it.
The Earl of
Grantham and Jed Clampett are both patriarchs of
clans made up of loyal and loving but independent-minded
family members whom they often find difficult to
control.
Elly May
Clampett and Lady Mary Crawley? Both attractive,
yet unattainable. Avidly pursued by countless
suitors, neither proves to be an easy catch.
The theme of
both shows? A family struggles to survive,
although often at odds with the world around them.
(A formula known in the TV biz as a “culture
conflict” program.) For the Crawleys, the
challenge is maintaing their aristocratic values
in a world that’s increasingly modern and
democratic. For the clan from Bugtussle, it’s
maintaining their simple country ways amidst a
shallow, materialistic “swimming pools and
movie stars” culture.
Both shows are
about money. For the Crawleys? Getting enough to
keep their way of life going. For the Clampetts?
Having so much that their basic identity is
challenged.
We see the
Crawleys through the eyes of their servants, the
Clampetts through the eyes of their bankers.
Yes, Jed is a
widower, whereas Cora is alive and well. And you’ve
got Cousin Jethro rather than sisters Edith and
Sybil.
But Granny
Clampett and the Dowager Countess of Grantham?
Practically identical! Both are feisty old ladies
who dress retro, speak their minds, happily
manipulate family members, and offer plenty of
sage advice to the “young ‘uns. “
As similar as
the two shows are, there are, of course, a few
differences:
DA: No
banjo playing.
BH: No jazz vocals.
DA: More
elegant costumes.
BH: More laughs.
DA: Isis
the dog
BH: Elly May’s “critters.”
DA: Tragic,
snooty, cold-hearted Lady Mary
BH: Warm, sexy, tender-hearted Elly May.
BH: Texas tea
DA: Actual tea
But the most
important difference between the two shows?
Driving skills! The best thing about the Beverly
Hillbillies is that nobody ever dies in a tragic
car crash. Jethro may have driven it around
packed to the gills with his family and their
possessions, but he never once totaled that
truck. Mathew Crawley, alas, wasn‘t as lucky.
(Weird fact? The Hillbillies’ vehicle was a
1921 Oldsmobile. The year that Mathew Crawley
shockingly perished behind the wheel? 1921.)
Besides “Drive
Carefully,“ both shows offer the viewer
valuable life lessons.
Downton Abbey:
(1) Hurrah for the British upper classes! A stiff
upper lip will get you through almost anything.
(2) Marry for money. Resist change.
When in doubt, ring for a servant.
(3) The family that pulls together will
triumph and endure.
The Beverly
Hillbillies:
(1) Who needs a deeply entrenched class
system? Just strike oil, and you too, can live in
a mansion.
(2) Enjoy life. Stay true to your roots.
When in doubt, cue up some bluegrass.
(3) The family that pulls together will
triumph and endure.
The special
episode I’d love to see? After Jethro
invents a time machine, the Clampetts travel
back in time to weekend with the Crawleys. Elly
May bonds with Lady Mary and gets her to loosen
up a little. Jethro falls for Lady Edith, who
finally gets a sexy dude of her own. Jane
Hathaway and Thomas Barrow both come out of the
closet. And Granny and the Duchess of Grantham
get on like wildfire, trading confidences over
tea and moonshine, while Jed and Lord Grantham go
hunting together.
The Lords and
Ladies and the Hillbillies learn that they’ve
got more in common than you’d think,
including a pronounced skill at getting terrific
ratings, and everyone lives happily ever after.
Ya’ll
come back now, Blimey!
First
published by www.broadstreetreview.com.
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