And So It Begins: March 10, 1962

And So It Begins: March 10, 1962: "

The Beverly Hillbillies shot to #1 in the ratings in a mere three weeks. That was unprecedented; even I Love Lucy - at a time when there were fewer sets and fewer choices - took three months just to get to #2. To complicate matters, most serious critics hated this show. Renowned author (and then-critic for TV Guide) Gilbert Seldes practically found himself apologizing for liking it: 'The whole notion on which The Beverly Hillbillies is founded is an encouragement to ignorance -