THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES The Beverly Hillbillies first aired on September 26, 1962 and remained on the air for 9 seasons and 274 episodes. It quickly rose to #1 in the ratings, faster than any other show ever and it did t... more »his within the first three weeks of its debut. This feat is still unmatched to this day! It also remained at the top for two years. The 1971 cancellation of the series was the result of CBS' desire to erase its image as a "rural network" and was not a reflection on the popularity of the show in the ratings. Other similar shows, including Green Acres and Petticoat Junction were cancelled as well. INCLUDES THESE CLASSIC EPISODES: