Kentuckians wage war on plan to make real 'Beverly Hillbillies'

In the comedy TV series, the Beverly Hillbillies left their home in the Ozark mountains and headed for Hollywood, when Jeb Clampett struck oil "shootin' at some food, and up through the ground came a-bubblin' crude".

Forty years later, CBS is hoping to strike it rich by transforming the series into a reality show, bringing a family of real-life hillbillies to real-life Beverly Hills.

Researchers for The Real Beverly Hillbillies are combing the poorer, southern states looking for a family prepared to move to a mansion in the glitzy Los Angeles suburb. CBS is convinced the show will be hilarious. "Imagine the episode where they have to interview maids," said Ghen Maynard, a CBS executive.

But the proposals have angered those who say a little-represented sub-section of American society would be humiliated for entertainment. Dee Davis, director of the Centre for Rural Strategies in Kentucky, said: "CBS used to be the gold standard when it came to broadcasting. Now it seems they are racing to the bottom. They could not care less about the poor of America." Last week, the centre took out quarter-page adverts in national newspapers calling on CBS to abandon its plans.

CBS insists it means no harm with the show, which would "follow the adventures of a large family when they move out of their rural home and settle into a Beverly Hills mansion". Chris Ender, a spokesman, said there was a long tradition of "fish-out-of-water" scenarios and the show might highlight the pretensions of urban living.