The Beverly Hillbillies (TV Series) Big Daddy, Jed (1965) User Reviews

BIG DADDY, JED IS SUPER COOL!

[tcchelsey · 10/10 · 24 May 2024]

Yes. Right off the bat, I agree with the last reviewer, there are similarities between beatnik Sheldon Epps (Alan Reed, Jr.) and Bob Denver's Maynard G. Kreb's offbeat character in DOBIE GILLIS. What an outrageous, campy story.

This episode marked the second apperance of Reed, son of Alan Reed, a popular radio actor and voice of Fred Flintstone. Sheldon Epps and his beatnik pals live in a shabby apartment (in a building owned by Mr. Drysdale no less), which doubles as a rather unique coffee house. And as aspiring, starving Hollywood artists -- they need money.

Of course, Jed and Granny get into the picture, also caught up in their hilarious slang. When they refer to money as bread and lettuce, Jed and Granny get them food? Hilarious story, and somewhat poignant, certainly a time capsule of the day. Definitely the star of the show is Reed, having a blast as the jive talking head man.

Naturally with Jed concerned about the kids, tightwad Mr. Drysdale changes his tune and even dances with Miss Jane. A gotsta' see with a lot of memories. The only debit here is that it's in black and white. It would have been absolutely amazing in color, ya think?

Well written by the famous team of Eric Freiwald and Robert Schaefer, best known for all the classic episodes they wrote for LASSIE. Freiwald later wrote for THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS.

And yes, Sheldon Epps will return!

Best of SEASON 3 EPISODE 27 remastered. Check out the classic color dvd box set cover.

Return of the Beverly Beatnik

[jivers01 · 6/10 · 25 July 2016]

Alan Reed Jr. makes his second of three appearances as eccentric Beat Generation painter Sheldon Epps (preceded by "Clampett A-Go-Go"). Epps is a stereotypical bearded Beatnik hipster in a dirty sweatshirt similar to Maynard G. Krebs from "Dobie Gillis". He needs rent money ("green, bread, lettuce to feed the kitty") from the Clampetts but, once again they are confused by his slang-filled expressions and take him literally. Epps and four beatnik friends live in a dingy basement rented out by Mr. Drysdale. It has that typical East Village coffee- house look with a jukebox and surreal paintings on the walls done by Epps.

Reed dominates this episode and his hep-cat jive-talk expressions are amusing. ("May the saxophone of life only blow you cool notes.") Jethro and Elly go to "Cool School" and become pseudo-beats. Jethro changes into some worn-out clothes ("cool threads") and tries to use hipster expressions. Two years later he will fail in similar fashion to adopt the hippie and protest student ethos.

The Clampett family is tolerant and accepting of this band of kooks and joins them in a swinging music session in their basement crash pad. Even stuffy Drysdale is forced to go along and dances with Mrs. Hathaway. Epps and his friends will return later in the season in "Cool School Is Out". All in all, the Sheldon Epps trilogy serves as a cultural time capsule for 1965.