17. The Beverly Hillbillies
On The Air For: 9 seasons
Est. Star’s Salary: Unknown
The Beverly Hillbillies was an entirely novel concept for a show, predicated on excellent writing and stellar performances. Centering on a family who strikes it rich, finding oil in their backyard in the Ozarks, and deciding to head west for a glamorous life in Hollywood, humor, and chaos ensue as they don’t quite fit into the upper echelon of society, despite being able to afford it.
The Beverly Hillbillies @versability / Pinterest.com
Starring Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Max Baer Jr., Donna Douglas, and a whole host of other excellent actors, the show was massively popular in its day, airing from 1962 all the way until 1971. It even inspired two subsequent shows, Petticoat Junction and Green Acres.