She certainly was gorgeous enough to join the Hooterville clan, but as I watch the 3rd season eps (currently running on ME-TV) I'm wondering why she's so often missing?
Does anybody have hard info on the revolving door of actresses playing Billie and Bobbie Joe Bradley?:confused:

I don't know why Gunilla missed so many of the episodes from the season she worked (#3 only). We may need to check the production order versus airings, to see if she was already let go but some eps with her were possibly delayed. But here is some info on the changing Billies and Bobbies:

Billie #0 - Sharon Tate -- original choice, cast in the role, but never appeared on the series. From IMDb: "...she walked away from the show on advice from her manager (Martin Ransohoff). He didn't feel it was a good launching pad for her career."

Billie #1 - Jeannine Riley -- left the series after the first 2 seasons by her own decision to pursue other roles

Billie #2 - Gunilla Hutton -- was let go after her only season (3) stemming from her scandalous relationship/affair with Nat King Cole, who was a married man at the time

Billie #3 - Meredith MacRae -- stayed to the end (Seasons 4-7)

Bobbie #1 - Pat Woodell -- left the series after the first 2 seasons by her own decision. Left on good terms and actually helped in selection of her successor.

Bobbie #2 - Lori Saunders -- stayed to the end (Seasons 3-7)

That's a good idea about checking production order vs. airings (help, anyone?)

In the meantime, I learned a lot from your post.

Way to go, Biff; thanks!

...Gunilla became disenchanted with her role, and simply decided "not to show up" when she was supposed to (her affair with Nat "King" Cole happened before season three began, as Cole died in February 1965)- so "Billie Jo" was written out of most third season episodes while producers Paul Henning, Jay Sommers and Charles Stewart looked for another actress to take her place for season four [the "winner": Meredith MacRae].

Incidentally, Lori Saunders' given name was LINDA {and was credited under her own name in 1965's "Mara of the Wilderness"}- of course, there was already a "Linda" in the cast, and she had to change her first name!

:tv:

According to Pat Woodell herself in the extra's and introductions on the Petticoat Junction DVD's singing was her first love and she left Petticoat Junction when she was given an opportunity to pursue a singing career.

I heard that Sharon Tate was let go before production began because she had posed for Playboy.

I heard that Sharon Tate was let go before production began because she had posed for Playboy.
According to the book The Beverly Hillbillies by Stephen Cox Sharon Tate, who played the recurring role of Janet Trego on "Hillbillies" was originally cast as Billie Jo on PJ. Just before PJ was about to go into production nude photos that Tate had previously posed for were published in Playboy. Filmways immediately released Tate from her contract fearing controversy relating to the photos.

I can't recall exactly where I read it, perhaps a vintage TV Guide, but it was said somewhere that Gunilla was sick with hepatitus and that's why she missed so many shows during her season on PJ.

I also read, but can't remember where, about GH being sick with hepatitis.
To me that makes the most sense.

Before that, I had read about the Nat King Cole thing, however as was already stated in this thread, the timeline didn't fit.

Where has everyone seen the first 2 years? They are not part of the rerun package, at least not the rerun package that I saw.

I also read 2 versions of why Sharon Tate didn't appear on PJ. One was the playboy thing and the other was that it was thought the PJ role was not the right one in which to lauch her career. I tend to believe the PJ role not being the right role as being the real reason as opposed to the Playboy thing.

Seasons 1 and 2 are out on DVD--official releases from CBS. I only wish now that CBS would go ahead and release seasons 3 and 4 of PJ because I love Bea Benederet.

I also read, but can't remember where, about GH being sick with hepatitis.
To me that makes the most sense.

Before that, I had read about the Nat King Cole thing, however as was already stated in this thread, the timeline didn't fit.

Where has everyone seen the first 2 years? They are not part of the rerun package, at least not the rerun package that I saw.

I also read 2 versions of why Sharon Tate didn't appear on PJ. One was the playboy thing and the other was that it was thought the PJ role was not the right one in which to lauch her career. I tend to believe the PJ role not being the right role as being the real reason as opposed to the Playboy thing.
The problem with that theory is that her career was already underway prior to PJ. She played the recurring role of Janet Trego an employee at the Commerce Bank on the first couple of seasons of The Beverly Hillbillies.

MichaelK - Thanks for the info. I for some reason assumed everyone here saw seasons 1 & 2 on TV and I was baffled by that.

Marvo301 - On the Beverley Hillbillies, Sharon Tate wore a dark wig which I'm sure there was a reason for that. Also, like you said, it was a very recurring role and the not a main role like it would of been on PJ.

Another question concerning the Billie Jo's. Anyone notice that after Bea Benaderet passed, Merideth Macrae was not in quite a few episodes in the last 2 seasons.

According to many sources, Gunilla had hepatitis, which is why she missed the mid-season episodes. According to TV.com, she missed episodes 8-15, then later 21, 23 and 34, which was the last of the season. According to epguides.com, almost the entire season aired in production order, with the exception of episodes 31 and 32 which were swapped -- though Gunilla appeared in both of those episodes.

Being sick would explain 8-15, but couldn't find anything about the other missed episodes, which were both filmed and aired later in the season.

In an interview on the PJ Ultimate Collection (the first DVD release, which only contained a portion of the first-season episodes), Gunilla says she was offered a musical in the West End in London, and that's why she left the show. The musical folded before it even began, but when she came back to talk to Paul Henning, he'd just hired Meredith MacRae. I believe Gunnilla said she was friends with Meredith (maybe even former roommates -- can't quite recall) and she was happy for her friend. Overall, Gunilla said she definitely regretted leaving the show.

Did they explain on the show why Billie Jo is not present? Specifically the early season 3 episodes (#8-15). For example, did they say Billie Jo went away on vacation, or some other excuse like that. Me-TV is showing these episodes right now and I must have missed something.

I gotta catch up and see what's going on. I want to find out for sure what the deal was with Mr. Hutton.

Did they explain on the show why Billie Jo is not present? Specifically the early season 3 episodes (#8-15). For example, did they say Billie Jo went away on vacation, or some other excuse like that. Me-TV is showing these episodes right now and I must have missed something.

Well, I just recently watched those early season 3 episodes again, and I never heard them mention Billie Jo's disappearance or why the character was not around (I know the actress was sick with Hepatitis).
Selma Plout's daughter, Henrietta, was in the first episode she missed, and it looks like the director gave her most of Gunilla's lines.
When Gunilla did return to the show a few episodes later, she was talking about almost finishing secretarial school, so I assume that is where she was. They did a whole episode about Uncle Joe trying to use her skills as a stenographer to drum up a side business at the Shady Rest.
Maybe they started talking about Billie Joe going to secretarial school as far back as season two when Jeannine Riley played Billie Joe because it appears the character graduated high school then.
Now it looks like I'll have to start watching season two.

Yep, Billie Jo was attending secretarial school in the black and white era. It wasn't until season 5, when that plot was FINALLY exhausted and Billie focused seriously on a singing career.