It's safe to say that without Paul Henning, there never would have been a "rural comedy" genre. Henning made a name for himself with programs like Petticoat Junction and Green Acres. Born in Missouri, Henning left to become a television writer, though he never forgot his roots.

During an interview with The Associated Press, Henning got the idea for what would become The Beverly Hillbillies during a cross-country road trip.

"I'd finished up five years of writing The Bob Cummings Show," said Henning, "and spent the next two months driving 4,000 miles around the country. That was in 1959."

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Although Henning was fresh off a long-term job, he was dissatisfied with the current direction that most television shows were heading in.

"I was finding television drama depressing," said the director. "Everything seemed to start with mayhem and then get worse. I decided that if I ever did another TV show, it would be for the people who live in Kentucky, Iowa, Illinois, Virginia - all those places between the two coasts where people don't think they are sophisticated."

Henning was more than honest about the intent behind The Beverly Hillbillies; he wanted to make his audience laugh.

"It is just for amusement," said Henning of the series. "No messages, no illnesses, no violence, no rebellious kids - just simply good humor. And we've had literally thousands of letters that say in effect, 'Thank you for a half hour in which I could forget my troubles...'"