Why did Steve and his wife move back to the Shady Rest on the season June Lockhart was the doctor? I always thought their cottage was so cute, if a little too green (lol). I am enjoying watching on ME tv this fall. Also, was the game warden character in many shows? It seems like his character was introduced to provide love interest....

My guess is that it was to save money. One less set and all the action can now take place at one location. (the Shady Rest) I think you're right that Orrin was added to the cast just to be a love interest for Bobbie Jo.

I thought they used the excuse that they were "running out of room" at their cottage, that they were having to add more things, especially for the baby. But the place wasn't that small, I didn't think. The real reason, I'm sure, was to 'consolidate' most the action back at the big set of the hotel. And that, I suppose, is acceptable enough, as it was fixed up for their honeymoon cottage, not thought of as a place to raise a family.

And Orrin, the game warden, really served a multiple purpose. A new addition in the area, Bobbie Jo's new love interest, Uncle Joe's nemesis, and a nervous, well-meaning but incompetent guy who happens to be an officer of the law. As all that, especially the way those roles overlapped, he was easily the source of new conflicts in the final season.

:) I thought they used the excuse that they were "running out of room" at their cottage, that they were having to add more things, especially for the baby. But the place wasn't that small, I didn't think. The real reason, I'm sure, was to 'consolidate' most the action back at the big set of the hotel. And that, I suppose, is acceptable enough, as it was fixed up for their honeymoon cottage, not thought of as a place to raise a family.

And Orrin, the game warden, really served a multiple purpose. A new addition in the area, Bobbie Jo's new love interest, Uncle Joe's nemesis, and a nervous, well-meaning but incompetent guy who happens to be an officer of the law. As all that, especially the way those roles overlapped, he was easily the source of new conflicts in the final season.
Thanks for the new insights. Have a great day!

I thought they used the excuse that they were "running out of room" at their cottage, that they were having to add more things, especially for the baby. But the place wasn't that small, I didn't think. The real reason, I'm sure, was to 'consolidate' most the action back at the big set of the hotel. And that, I suppose, is acceptable enough, as it was fixed up for their honeymoon cottage, not thought of as a place to raise a family.

And Orrin, the game warden, really served a multiple purpose. A new addition in the area, Bobbie Jo's new love interest, Uncle Joe's nemesis, and a nervous, well-meaning but incompetent guy who happens to be an officer of the law. As all that, especially the way those roles overlapped, he was easily the source of new conflicts in the final season.
Yea, their cottage was too small. But what did they ever do with it? Was it just empty?

Yea, their cottage was too small. But what did they ever do with it? Was it just empty?

I think there were at least 2 final season eps in which Betty Jo and Steve returned there... no, maybe both incidents were in the same ep. Anyway, they had it for sale, and the 'realtor' trying to sell it for them was Mr. Haney, known from Green Acres. S and BJ spend a night there, just to be alone again, and Mr. Haney has a couple as potential buyers whom he brings in to show on that same night. Shifty, unscrupulous Haney even brings them right into the bedroom as S & BJ are kissing, and he says, "Don't mind us, folks!-- just go on with whatever you're doin'." Steve finally throws him out with direct threats. Then-- and I now think it was the same ep-- they are awakened when a couple of bums come in, and they find out those guys have been "borrowing" the place regularly.

And maybe Betty Jo had to help run the hotel. Billie Jo was probably getting more singing gigs and was busy with her career , and the lady doctor of course was busy with her medical practice. And Uncle Jo was getting older and more lazy .So it was too much for Bobbie Jo to handle by herself!

And it was a small honeymoon cottage. Such a cute cottage.( And boy I sure would love to do some "honey mooning" with that hot Steve ) ! LOL!!! Also I think maybe they wanted Kathy Jo to grow up in the hotel like her Mom and Aunts!

Just like in the final season of My Three Sons when Katie and the triplets moved back into the Douglas home after Robbie went away to Peru when Don Grady quit the show.

And Orrin, the game warden, really served a multiple purpose. A new addition in the area, Bobbie Jo's new love interest, Uncle Joe's nemesis, and a nervous, well-meaning but incompetent guy who happens to be an officer of the law. As all that, especially the way those roles overlapped, he was easily the source of new conflicts in the final season.[/QUOTE]

Sounds a little Barney Fifeish to me.
Which happened first; Barney left TAGS or Warren joined PJ?
Interesting that both shows were on CBS.

Here is the actor Jonathan Daly who played Orrin !! :)


https://www.aveleyman.com/Gallery/2017/D/tve23729-19680208-672.jpg


Here is the cottage before it was fixed up and an interior shot ! Wish I could find more pics of the cottage than this! ;)


https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lwZuk_8X2Kk/hqdefault.jpg


https://i.ytimg.com/vi/47ZgM-PVFjU/hqdefault.jpg


I love this show!! Wish it was still on!!:)

I meant Orrin, but confused him with Warren from TAGS.
Funny how their names rhyme. Coincidence or intentional?
Are they the same type of character?

Don Knotts had been gone from TAGS for more than a couple of years prior to Jonathan Daly joining PJ as Orrin for the final season, 1969-70 (Season 7). Jack Burns (Warren) had come and gone from TAGS by that time.

Warren and Orrin were very different characters. Orrin was not intended to be a particularly funny guy, though he does elicit laughs at times. He was mainly a love interest for Bobbie Jo, as stated in this thread. Warren was more quirky and did more funny things. Both could be a little incompetent at times, but they knew their job responsibilities.

Those of you who don't receive Decades should email some of your area's stations and ask them to try to acquire it -- lots of good stuff from the 60s to the 80s, including 2 eps of PJ, Monday through Friday. I think also MeTV airs PJ on Saturday mornings...!

The Orrin character was added as a love interest to Bobbie Jo. Had the series continued to the 1970-71 season, they probably would have married and he joins the main cast.

The show was becoming too fragmented, with Kate gone and Betty Jo not living at the hotel.

It’s just too bad Steve had to come with her when she moved back in. He was such a cheesemeister.

[QUOTE=TV Guy;5684387]The show was becoming too fragmented, with Kate gone and Betty Jo not living at the hotel.

It’s just too bad Steve had to come with her when she moved back in. He was such a cheesemeister.[/QUOT


As a plot device the cottage had run its course. The hotel was the primary staging area for the series action and without Bea Benaderet around having Betty Jo at that location made sense.

Funny comment about Steve. Mike Minor (Steve), the son of producer Don Fedderson (My Three Sons, Family Affair) who used his mother's maiden name, was as pedestrian an actor as I've ever seen.

A show that was a comedy needed people who were funny. Steve wasn’t. And even though he was a young guy, he acted Ike he was Betty Jo’s father, what with the corny singing and the cardigans. And worse, they completely domesticated the Betty Jo character when they married her off to him. I’d argue that aside from Kate’s departure, Steve’s arrival is the worst thing to happen to “Petticoat Junction.”

If you have to marry the red head off (which I still think they did too soon, the blonde one made more sense to be tying the knot) I guess one actor is as good as the next. My objection to Steve is his gosh-awful singing and everytime he starts to warble the show dies, the plot stops, the fun stops and my finger hits the Fast Forward button. He really brings down the show, they should never have had him singing esp. doing his lousy Dick Haymes impression.

Well, a female point of view here ! I thought Steve was HOT and I liked his singing, and I think he was a good addition to Petticoat Junction!:) I thought this first run as a little girl and I still think it now!;) But I suppose I will be bullied here for my opinion!!:confused::(

You have some nerve expressing your opinion.:rolleyes: I've only seen bullying on that other place. I'm still licking my peck wounds.

The original plan was for Steve to marry Billie Jo. Mike Minor and Linda Henning ended up dating in real life, so the plot was changed (rather clumsily, if memory serves).

I agree about the singing dragging the show to a standstill. It’s almost as if the writers were too lazy to write a full script.

I wish Steve had married Billie Joe (the Meredith MacRae version). Then they could have hopped in his plane and flown away to Timbuktu and off the show. They were both as dull as dishwater.

And yes, the switch in Steve’s girlfriends was abrupt and clumsy. MeTV just aired those episodes.

I didn’t know the show was still on the schedule. 5AM Saturday morning isn’t exactly a prime spot. Good to know it’s still on in some capacity. Other than a spot few B&W I stumbled upon, I haven’t seen the series in about 20 years.

This is a real odd corner of the history of TV in the 60's. Meredith Mac Rae a year removed from her run on My Three Sons as Mike Douglas fiancee/wife, moves over to Petticoat Junction to be hooked up with Steve (the son of the producer of My Three Sons).

Minor had no business on primetime TV at this stage of his career, he belonged in regional
theater or in plays in the park.