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Do you remember when Jim Backus guest starred on The Beverly Hillbillies?
From Season 1, Episode 31!
Now we know what he was up to before that three-hour tour!
In April of 1963, The Beverly Hillbillies aired the episode "The Clampetts Entertain," in which Jim Backus guest starred as Marty Van Ransohoff. That puts the appearance just about 16 months ahead of Backus' first appearance on Gilligan's Island, where he played Thurston Howell III, the millionaire.
Before Backus was stranded at sea, he visited the Clampetts for a traditional hillbilly party. Jed arranged the little shindig to cheer Granny up. She's been feeling lonely, but the chance to host a mountain folk hootenanny perks her right up. As Granny sets to cooking, the guest list is made.
Not only will Mr. Drysdale and Miss Jane Hathaway attend, but so will Drysdale's boss, the head of the bank. Enter Jim Backus as Mr. Marty Van Ransohoff, who's keen to meet Jed. Van Ransohoff considers Jed the bank's "financial wizard," and is determined to be acquainted with his firm's top client. Obviously, the banker is unaware that Jed, and his kin, are all hillbillies.
So, Backus shows up to the Clampett household thinking he's attending a yokel-themed party. It turns out Drysdale has been lying about the family, and now he's in fear for his job.
Will Drysdale get the boot, or will Van Ransohoff find something to love in the likable, back-home stylings of Granny and company?
Here's an interesting trivia fact: Backus' character, Marty Van Ransohoff, has a name that's strikingly similar to Martin Ransohoff, who was the head of Filmways. Filmways, founded in 1952, was the production company not only for The Beverly Hillbillies but also for all of CBS's "rural" comedies of the day!
Do you remember this classic episode? Do you prefer Backus as Thurston Howell III, or would you have liked to see more of Mr. Drysdale's boss? Let us know in the comments below!
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