The TV Zone

John Wayne may not usually be thought of as a TV star. But he he did make a bunch of guest appearances on sitcoms over the years, most notably the two-episode “I Love Lucy” in 1955 in which Lucy discovers that the cement slab with Wayne's footprints in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater has come loose.

But who out there remembers when Wayne cameod on “The Beverly Hillbillies”? (The Duke should not be confused with Duke, the Clampetts’ hound). You’ll get your chance to see Tuesday night at 9 when TV Land airs the 1967 episode, “The Indians Are Coming.”

This mega-politically incorrect plot has something to do with Indians (or “Injuns” as Granny says) taking over the Clampetts' land back in Bug Tussle. Turns out it’s just a lil’ ol’ boundary dispute. Nevertheless, Chief Running Wolf and Little Fox travel to Beverly Hills to settle the problem, but Granny is alarmed and she prepares to take on the Injuns by herself. Wayne visits Granny at the end after the Indians “attack.”

According to several sources, Wayne asked for only a bottle of bourbon as payment for the episode.

By the way, an excellent recap of Wayne’s TV career can be found on the TV Party website.

And if you want a great Clampett fix, check out this commercial in which they shill for Kellogg's Corn Flakes!