Ep 9. The Widow Poke Arrives

The Beverly Hillbillies follows the lives of the Clampett family, a group of hillbillies from the Ozarks who strike it rich when they discover oil on their land. In season 3 episode 9, titled The Widow Poke Arrives, the Clampett family welcomes a new addition to their household.

As the episode begins, Uncle Jed, Jethro, and Elly May are out shopping for groceries when they bump into an old friend of Uncle Jed's - Widow Poke (played by character actress Florence Sundstrom). Widow Poke is a scrappy, tough-talking woman who hails from the same neck of the woods as the Clampetts.

After exchanging pleasantries, Widow Poke reveals that she's come to Beverly Hills to start a new life. Her husband passed away recently, leaving her with no family and no means of support. She tells the Clampetts that she heard they were living in Beverly Hills and figured they must be doing pretty well for themselves.

Uncle Jed, being the generous soul that he is, invites Widow Poke to come live with them. Jethro and Elly May are initially hesitant, but Uncle Jed reminds them that "we Clampetts stick together" and insists that they make room for the new arrival.

So, Widow Poke moves into the Clampett mansion, much to the consternation of the rest of the household. Granny is immediately suspicious of the newcomer, thinking that she might be after Uncle Jed's money. Meanwhile, Jethro starts to develop a crush on Widow Poke, much to Elly May's chagrin.

Despite the initial tension, Widow Poke quickly proves herself to be a valuable member of the Clampett household. She helps Granny in the kitchen, teaches Elly May some new dance moves, and even shows Jethro how to shave. Uncle Jed is impressed with her work ethic and her no-nonsense attitude, and begins to think of her as a member of the family.

Of course, things are never completely smooth sailing in the Clampett household. Granny becomes convinced that Widow Poke is up to no good when she catches her snooping around Uncle Jed's desk. Jethro's crush on Widow Poke becomes increasingly awkward, culminating in a disastrous attempt to woo her with a song.

Eventually, though, all misunderstandings are cleared up and the Clampetts learn to accept Widow Poke as one of their own. In the end, she decides to stay in Beverly Hills and make a new life for herself with the help of her new family.

Overall, The Widow Poke Arrives is a heartwarming episode that explores the theme of family and the bonds that tie us together. It also provides some great comedic moments, particularly from Granny and Jethro. Fans of the show will enjoy seeing the Clampetts taken out of their comfort zone as they learn to adapt to a new family member.