does anyone know if they ever showed her again after the first season? I know they mentioned her in a later, color episode when Granny and Elly went back to visit her and they showed her house. Was that the only other time, besides the first season?

I'm not sure. But, according to Stephen Cox's book THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES:
when the show first aired, it almost became THE BEA BENADARET SHOW because she practically stole every scene in which Cousin Pearl appeared. In
fact, Henning (who was a big fan of Benadaret) had her in mind for a lead in the
series but instead cast her in the role of Jethro's mother. Wouldn't if have been
cool if Cousin Pearl had met Kate Bradley (also Benadaret) in one of the
Hooterville visits? (Unfortunately, by the time those PETTICOAT JUNCTION/
BEVERLY HILLBILLIES crossover episodes were made, Bea had passed away
from cancer, on Oct. 13, 1968.)

that's right; she first auditioned for the role of Granny. In fact, when she didn't get it, she reccomended Irene Ryan for the role.

Oh, that's interesting. I didn't know that. I do recall reading that she toured
with Bob Hope (years before THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES); and I saw her in an
episode of WAGON TRAIN (on DVD), which was also before the HILLBILLIES.
Of course, it was her role as Granny that made her famous. She was always
my favorite character on that show.

on the DVD of "THE BEVERLLY HILLBILLIES-THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION" from MCI, they show a clip of Irene Ryan from some variety show with Roy Rodgers & Dale Evans-I guess they were the hosts-but, I was a little dissapointed, because I thought it was going to be without her "Granny" makeup & costume but it wasn't

Bea Benaderet did appear one more time as Pearl after she left the series as a regular in 1963. It was a 1968 episode of "The Beverly Hillbillies", just before she died. I remember her talking on the phone to Granny.

she did? I know there was a color episode where Granny and Elly went to visit her; and ther was a scene where they called Jed from her house.

I DO KNOW Pearl was in a colored episode.

But I think it just showed her on the phone.

She was just in one Episode after the first season,It was a color Episode from season six.The Episode was called Greeting from the President.It first aired on October 11,1967.It was Episode 174.It aired in 1967 not 1968.

that's right; she first auditioned for the role of Granny. In fact, when she didn't get it, she reccomended Irene Ryan for the role.
acording to Steven Coxes book THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES; when she first saw the script she said "Oh, let me try out for Granny"!! When she auditioned and was walking out, she saw Irene Ryan waiting to also audition for the role. She pointed to her and said "There's your Granny"!

Just on a side note, Bea Benadaret was the voice of Betty Rubble on the Flintstones.

and she was also a phone operator on Jack Bennys radio series, Blanche Morton on George Burns and Gracie Allens radio and TV series, and the wife-I forget her name-on GRANNBYS GREEN ACRES which was the forerunner of the TV show GREEN ACRES.

She was also in an episode of I Love Lucy as an old lady that Lucy tries to teach her how to get a man.

I love the episodes of The Beverly Hillibilles with Pearl

She was also in an episode of I Love Lucy as an old lady that Lucy tries to teach her how to get a man.

Lucille Ball & Desi Arnaz offered the role of Ethel Mertz to Bea Benaderet but she couldn't accept because of her prior commitment as Blanche Morton in The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show.

So Vivian Vance was not the first lady that was offed the Role of Ethel Mertz

And William Frawley wasn't the first choice for Fred. Lucy and Desi's first choice for that role was Gale Gorden. Unfortunately he was under contract to another studio and therefore unavailable. Of course Mr. Gorden would go on to appear with Lucy on The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy, and Life With Lucy. I wonder what I Love Lucy would have been like with Bea and Gale as the Mertz's?!?:wave:

Gale Gordon was on ILL a couple times. When Rickys nightclup got a new owner; Gale Gordon played him. And he was on THE LUCY-DESI COMEDY HOUR once; as a judge.

The first season is by far my favorite because of Pearl. I wish she could have been on longer, but I guess she took to much away from Granny. And she deserved her own show, (Petticoat) but I favor Pearl Bodine over Kate Bradley.

Actually, Paul Henning did want Benaderet for Granny, but realized early on she was built wrong. Namely, she was "busty" and it would have been very hard to cover completely. It was only after Ryan auditioned that Benaderet said "There's your Granny!", mainly knowing more than anything, Ryan knocked the audition out of the park.

Her boobs were pretty big. I think that if Pearl had been played by anyone other than Bea, it wouldn't have been the same. Bea was perfect for the part of Pearl. Bea Benaderet was a very beautiful woman.

I'm not sure. But, according to Stephen Cox's book THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES:
when the show first aired, it almost became THE BEA BENADARET SHOW because she practically stole every scene in which Cousin Pearl appeared. In
fact, Henning (who was a big fan of Benadaret) had her in mind for a lead in the
series but instead cast her in the role of Jethro's mother. Wouldn't if have been
cool if Cousin Pearl had met Kate Bradley (also Benadaret) in one of the
Hooterville visits? (Unfortunately, by the time those PETTICOAT JUNCTION/
BEVERLY HILLBILLIES crossover episodes were made, Bea had passed away
from cancer, on Oct. 13, 1968.)
I don't think she could have satyed at the Clampetts full time. Granny would have killed her for getting in her kitchen.

what's with the bumping up an old thread?

I like Bea Benaderet, but saying TBH almost became "The Bea Benaderet Show" is a stretch. If anything, it should have almost become "The Irene Ryan Show". Much of the show's success had to do with Ryan in my opinion.

Bea Benaderet did appear one more time as Pearl after she left the series as a regular in 1963. It was a 1968 episode of "The Beverly Hillbillies", just before she died. I remember her talking on the phone to Granny.
On the Beverely Hillbillies did they say why she wasn't on anymore? Did they say she went back to the hills or what? On METV I'm watching the first season and she was on alot and she just all of a sudden stoped being on the show, but nothing was mentioned of her.

On the Beverely Hillbillies did they say why she wasn't on anymore? Did they say she went back to the hills or what? On METV I'm watching the first season and she was on alot and she just all of a sudden stoped being on the show, but nothing was mentioned of her.
You'd be surprised how many actors turned a roll in a hit TV show or movie. Several actors turned down the chance to be on Friends. Tom Sheleck was the first choice for Indiana Jones and not Harrison Ford, But Tom couldn't do it because of Magnum PI.

On the Beverely Hillbillies did they say why she wasn't on anymore? Did they say she went back to the hills or what? On METV I'm watching the first season and she was on alot and she just all of a sudden stoped being on the show, but nothing was mentioned of her.
no, they never said anything, like you said-suddenly she just wasn't there anymore.

You'd be surprised how many actors turned a roll in a hit TV show or movie. Several actors turned down the chance to be on Friends. Tom Sheleck was the first choice for Indiana Jones and not Harrison Ford, But Tom couldn't do it because of Magnum PI.
what's that have to do with Pearl on "THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES"?

she did? I know there was a color episode where Granny and Elly went to visit her; and ther was a scene where they called Jed from her house.
Something was saying how Bea(Pearl) auditoned for Granny and didn't get the part and somebody said how Vivan wsn't lucy's first choice to play Ethel. But I did see the show not long ago and Granny had said Pearl went back home to get Jethrene a husband and then the next episode whe was on again.

You'd be surprised how many actors turned a roll in a hit TV show or movie. Several actors turned down the chance to be on Friends. Tom Sheleck was the first choice for Indiana Jones and not Harrison Ford, But Tom couldn't do it because of Magnum PI.

Julia Duffy was the first one to audition for Diane on "CHEERS".

Johnny Carson was among the candidates for the lead in "THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW".

I loved Pearl. She always cracked me up. Season 1 is my absolute favorite season of TBH.