Petticoat Junction: Season 03 (1965)

Since the first two black-and-white seasons of Petticoat Junction have not been included in the series' syndicated package, for many contemporary viewers Petticoat Junction "begins" with season three, when the show switches over to color. This is hardly the only change implemented as the program enters its third year: Jeannine Riley and Patricia Woodell, who since the series' inception had played the roles of Billie Jo and Bobbie Jo Bradley, both left the series at the end of the second season for personal reasons. Thus, Gunilla Hutton and Lori Saunders are introduced as the "new" Billie Jo and Bobbie Jo, joining established regulars Bea Benaderet (Kate Bradley), Edgar Buchanan (Uncle Joe Carson) and Linda Kaye Henning (Betty Jo). Originally networkcast from the fall of 1965 to the spring of 1966, this was also the season that the Petticoat Junction spin-off Green Acres debuted on CBS. Inasmuch as several of the Petticoat regulars were now making crossover Green Acres appearances -- notably Edgar Buchanan and Frank Cady (Sam Drucker) -- it is only fair that Green Acres stars Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor return the favor. Thus it is that Oliver and Lisa Douglas are prominently cast in such Petticoat episodes as "The Baffling Raffle," "The Good Luck Ring," "Joe Carson, General Contractor," "Hooterville a Go-Go" and "Betty Jo Goes to New York," among others. Ranked 15th in the Top Twenty programs of the 1964-1965 season, Petticoat Junction fell back to 23rd place in 1965-1966; ironically, its "stepchild" Green Acres made it to 6th place that same season! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi