Acting for Two: Max Baer, Jr. portrayed Jethro and Jethrine in the series. Diedrich Bader portrayed them in the film.
The Character Died With Her: The reason Granny isn't seen in Return of the Beverly Hillbillies, as Irene Ryan had passed away in 1973.
I Am Not Spock: With the exception of Buddy Ebsen, who managed to move immediately to Barnaby Jones, the cast struggled to move beyond this series and their iconic roles.
The Other Darrin: Return of the Beverly Hillbillies replaced Max Baer, Jr. with Ray Young as Jethro.
Real Song Theme Tune: "The Ballad of Jed Clampett" recorded by legendary Bluegrass duo Flatt & Scruggs.
What Could Have Been: Return of the Beverly Hillbillies was produced as a quasi-Pilot Movie for a possible revival of the series, but said revival never came to pass.
20th Century Fox was initially against Penelope Spheeris' idea of casting Jim Varney as Jedd Clampett, wanting Sam Elliott in the role as they thought Varney was too well-known as Ernest P. Worrell and likely thought he would play the part as such. However Varney gave such an impressive screen test that Spheeris got her way and as such, Varney's performance as Jedd is one of the best things about the film.
Originally; Bea Benaderet was intended to play Granny before Irene Ryan won the role on the strength of her audition. Benaderet, as mentioned under You Look Familiar, would eventually play Cousin Pearl before moving on to sister show Petticoat Junction as Kate Bradley.
Bea Benaderet went from playing Cousin Pearl to starring in Petticoat Junction (a sister show to Hillbillies, also created by Paul Henning, with the two shows occasionally crossing over).
