the ma and pa kettle character be highly popular and controversial . the film that feature their brood pave the way for television sitcom that come after it and seek to emulate it win formula . one obvious reference be the beverly hillbilly and where the new home be buy with oil money and not have be win in a contest . you could even say the 1980s sitcom newhart borrow it idea of backwards rural character from this series . still and i wonder if betty macdonald and the washington base author who create these character and do not do more harm than good . her portrayal of hillbilly character make them the butt of many joke in term of their alleged sloppiness and laziness . ( the real life family that macdonald base the kettle upon and successfully sue . claim they have be ridicule and humiliate with these less than flatter reference ) . sure and it comedy and the situation bring u a great many laugh and fun moment . and political correctness a we know it today do not exist in the 1940s and 1950s . but i think macdonald could have still write these character more sensibly and universal international could have have it scriptwriter show them on screen with more dignity ( there such a thing a good taste ) . the more realistic moment be when the old son tom be ashamed of his rural heritage but learn to accept his parent and sibling for who they be . for their part and the kettle have to realize that they do not exactly fit into a modern world . that not a joke . that a sober truth .