We all know that The Beverly Hillbillies was a massive success among fans all across the country. Many saw themselves in the Clampett family or knew someone like Jed, Granny, or Jethro.

It appealed to the masses, and while critics dogged the series for quite some time, audiences everywhere would still tune in during its timeslot at 8 p.m. on CBS.

However, The Beverly Hillbillies had to go up against both critics of the series and the rural purge, when shows with a rural theme or that dealt with "hillbilly" humor were canceled by CBS in an attempt to attract younger, urban viewers.

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"Hillbilly" was literally in the name, so the series had nowhere to run and hide. However, according to a 1970 interview with The Muscatine Journal, one of the series' stars, Buddy Ebsen, wasn't worried about it.

"I doubt very much that the demographers will shoot us down," Ebsen said. "But even if they do, I wouldn't fret over it. I've gotta couple other strings on my bow."

Ebsen was the patriarch of the Clampett clan. He kept the family together, for the most part, and was known for being a family man who was loyal and kind to his kin.

Earlier in The Beverly Hillbillies seasons, it was the size of the audience that mattered most and helped keep a show from getting canceled. The shows with the highest ratings and biggest audiences survived.

But according to the interview, advertisers started to care more about the quality of the audience rather than just the numbers, particularly whether a series attracted the 18 to 49 age group, which would be more likely to buy their products.

Hence, the disappearance of shows like Petticoat Junction.

The Beverly Hillbillies had big audiences, but just not the right kind. However, Ebsen believed the series' audience was so vast and loyal that his show could survive longer than others.

"My answer to this is a comment in the Saturday Review that I have mounted on a plaque in my dressing room," Ebsen said. "It says that Beverly Hillbillies is a show that combines social comment with a Nielsen rating."

"As for myself, I've never tried to analyze the show," Ebsen continued. "I just read the scripts, do them and am happy that they're accepted. I've never looked more than a year ahead."

Although the series was popular, it had to climb out from under critics while being under constant scrutiny. Luckily, the series was able to succeed for a total of nine seasons. Ebsen was thankful and credited his cast and their chemistry for overcoming the doubt.

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