Ultimately, my favorite cast was the 3rd season cast: Gunilla Hutton, Lori Saunders, and Linda Kaye.

I may be in the minority here, but Meredith McRae was my least favorite Billie Jo. I know Meredith was the longest lasting and most remembered, but I liked the other two better. Jeannie Riley and Gunilla Hutton played Billie Jo as she was originally supposed to be: boy crazy and ditzy. Plus, Jeannie and Gunilla looked enough alike to keep the role consistent. Meredith looked way different than the other two and acted way different. Her Billie Jo was not boy crazy, was rather smart, and concentrated more on singing. Totally different personality. Also, Meredith didn't pull off the country girl thing very well. She wasn't as believeable as a country girl. The other two seemed like country girls who would have grown up in Hooterville. Gunilla was probably my favorite Billie Jo, and ironically she was on the least amount of time. Season 3 of "Petticoat Junction" is my favorite season. It is classic PJ, the show at its finest.

As far as Bobbie Jo, I liked both Bobbie Jos the same. I think Pat Woodell and Lori Saunders did equally well. Both could have been in any season and would have gone well with any Billie Jo. They looked enough alike to keep the character consistent, and at least in the early seasons the writers kept Bobbie Jo as the bookish daughter. Later in the show, Bobbie Jo became more ditzy and more of a dingbat. I didn't like the character that way because that wasn't how Bobbie Jo was originally written. If I had to pick one, I might pick Pat as my overall favorite because she played Bobbie Jo as the bookish, smart daughter so very well.

I can't imagine anyone besides Linda Kaye Henning playing Betty Jo. Of course no-one ever did so we never saw anyone else, LOL. Still, I think Betty Jo would have been the hardest to re-cast. Maybe because she was more unique. I don't know of any other actresses that remind me of Linda. She was the one and only Betty Jo.

So, overall it would have to be the 3rd season cast of daughters, but Pat Woodell would have fit just fine in this season too had she stayed. I just don't care for Meredith McRae. I sure wish Gunilla hadn't left.

That's a hard one because I liked the first Billie Jo and Bobbie Jo but I also liked the two who played them in season three. But if I had to choose, I'd go with the original actresses.

Liked Meredith Macrae also, but as noted she played the part too differently from the original conception of that part.

Meredith was too bland for the role, which as you said was written as flirtatious and boy-crazy. Jeannine was fantastic and I wish she had stayed on. I liked Gunilla but she lacked the cunning, sly streak Jeannine brought to the character at times.

I too like Season Three the best. Lori was still playing Bobbie as the bookworm when Bea was still on the show. I didn't like how Billie and Bobbie switched personalities in the later seasons to fit Meredith and Lori's personalities.

While Pat embodied the studious characteristics of Bobbie as created by Mr. Henning perfectly, she could be a little dull at times. Lori's interpretation worked better for the comedy.

Weighing in these factors, I'd have to say Jeannine/Pat/Linda is my favorite trio followed by Linda/Gunilla/Lori (but most of my favorite episodes are from S3).

Yes, you are right about Jeannie being sly and cunning, and this added to the character of Billie Jo. Jeannie was a very good Billie Jo. I wonder what made them hire Meredith? As I said before, she looked nothing like the other two, and her personality was completely different. It seems like they could have found someone that fit the role better. The ONLY characteristic that Meredith had that fit the Billie Jo role was blonde hair. There were numerous other actresses that also had blonde hair but would have fit the Billie Jo role much better. Gunilla said in an interview that she tried to come back, but that Meredith had already been hired. Does anyone know the history of why they went with Meredith?

Robmic, in answer to your question of why the producers may have gone with Meredith, I will throw out a guess, and it may be wrong, but it's a thought.

Meredith's dad was Gordon McRae, a famous actor. He may have known Paul Henning or they may have been friends. Perhaps it was suggested to Paul that he consider Meredith because of this?

Robmic, in answer to your question of why the producers may have gone with Meredith, I will throw out a guess, and it may be wrong, but it's a thought.

Meredith's dad was Gordon McRae, a famous actor. He may have known Paul Henning or they may have been friends. Perhaps it was suggested to Paul that he consider Meredith because of this?
That sounds reasonable. You may be right. Kind of like Bea Benederet suggesting to Paul Henning that he let his own daughter audition for Betty Jo, but Linda turned out great. Apparently, Gunilla called Paul Henning on the exact day that he had hired Meredith to tell him she wanted to return. What bad luck.

I liked Gunilla, Lori Saunders and of course Linda kaye. But than I also liked Meredith as Billie Jo too. She played the role differently though, not like a country girl so much. To me Gunilla was the prettiest Billie Jo. I liked Bobbie Jo when Lori took over. Always liked Betty Jo, but she was cooler in the earlier seasons before she became a wife and cut her hair.

There were lots of wigs worn on PJ at times by the girls, and I believe Betty Jo's "haircut" was achieved by relatively short wigs worn by Linda Kaye Henning.

The reason I say that: In a late ep of Family Affair from those same years, she's seen with what's almost certainly her real hair -- and it's still very long...!

When I first started watching PJ it was with Lori Saunders, Meredith MacRae, and Linda, which were in color. I watched the B&W seasons when they first came out on DVD and I enjoyed those seasons but was more use to seeing Lori, Meredith, and Linda.

There were lots of wigs worn on PJ at times by the girls, and I believe Betty Jo's "haircut" was achieved by relatively short wigs worn by Linda Kaye Henning.

The reason I say that: In a late ep of Family Affair from those same years, she's seen with what's almost certainly her real hair -- and it's still very long...!


Oh yeah, that was common back than , ladies wearing wigs on TV! The shorter wig was supposed to be her wife haircut I guess. She was still cute. Linda Kaye Henning is a cute girl, but I liked her better as a tomboy with the longer hair. Even though her and Steve (Mike Minor ) were married in real life.:) IDK Steve being Billie Jo's boyfriend originally!! There wasn't ANY jealousy at all when Betty Jo won him over? I mean come on your little sister taking your boyfriend!! :mad: My older sister would beat my A** LOL!!!:mad: And poor Bobbie Jo, I wonder if she ever felt like Wow, both my sisters, how come Steve never liked me? :confused: :(

Back to the wigs, now days it isn't the full wigs with the actresses , it's the hair extensions that are really big these days!! ;)

My three: Jeannine Riley (who it must be noted appeared in a 1962 episode of "Route 66" that may have attracted the producers' attention), Lori Saunders and Linda Kaye HENNING. Linda Kaye was Paul Henning's daughter, so that may have given her a slight edge as regards her longevity. Interestingly, the story was told that Paul Henning worked as a writer for George Burns and Gracie Allen in their 1940s radio days; during that time the show was sponsored by Lever Brothers' Swan Soap (a virtual clone of Ivory), and Mrs. Henning noted that Linda Kaye played with the bars of soap they received from Lever as if they were building blocks!

How ironic the Petticoat Junction girls sold quite a bit of Ivory Soap back in the day!

There were lots of wigs worn on PJ at times by the girls, and I believe Betty Jo's "haircut" was achieved by relatively short wigs worn by Linda Kaye Henning.

The reason I say that: In a late ep of Family Affair from those same years, she's seen with what's almost certainly her real hair -- and it's still very long...!


OMG !! Yesterday I saw Linda Kaye in an episode of Adam 12!!! My "boyfriend" the cutie pie Randolph Mantooth (Gage from Emergency) was in it too!! :happyface How cool huh? ;) It took place at a riding stable ! The owner was an old Western actor and Randy M. played a ranch hand with a criminal record (he is SO cute, was wearing a cowboy hat, and a little younger than his Emergency days)!!! :happyface . Linda played the daughter of a rich lady. Anyway the cops were called because the owner and the rich clients that came there to ride their horses were being robbed and of course my sweetheart was getting blamed!!!! :( Turned out Linda was a kleptomaniac and SHE was the one doing the stealing and trying to pin it on my hotty!!!:( :mad: Good epp. though!!! Her hair was long and red but straighter than her long haired days in PJ!:)

Mantooth's episode of The Love Boat aired on MeTV recently (morning hours).

I liked Meredith MacRae a lot. When I first saw her nudists' episode of Love, American Style, I nearly had a heart attack. Her hair was long and straight (as in the last season or 2 of PJ) and strategically covering her upper bod. Anyway, recently I FINALLY saw her Magnum, PI episode on Cozi TV. As expected, she was still hot -- even in '80s styles.

I've recently been watching season 3 on DVD and I'm really enjoying the season 3 cast. (Gunilla Hutton, Lori Saunders, and Linda Kaye Henning)

I've recently been watching season 3 on DVD and I'm really enjoying the season 3 cast. (Gunilla Hutton, Lori Saunders, and Linda Kaye Henning)


I really liked season 3!! The epp with King Ring a Ding was really funny! :lol:

I liked seeing Gunilla in Season 3 -- a very pretty lady. Lori is cute, but I didn't really care for her dippity-do hairstyle in Season 3.

As a fan of Meredith too, it's Seasons 4-up for me. Especially how she and Lori looked in Season 7: Both of them rocked with long, straight hair! Lori's bangs became almost too long.

I liked seeing Gunilla in Season 3 -- a very pretty lady. Lori is cute, but I didn't really care for her dippity-do hairstyle in Season 3.

As a fan of Meredith too, it's Seasons 4-up for me. Especially how she and Lori looked in Season 7: Both of them rocked with long, straight hair! Lori's bangs became almost too long.

Oh yes, that hairstyle!!! It was called a flip ! That was really popular back than. Cissy from Family affair and Anne Marie from That girl. AM's was cool because hers was all teased up on the top too! ;) My older sister wore a flip. I was kinda young , the little girls didn't wear them so much. I guess it would be too much work for mom, she just put me in pig tails! LOL!!! I have a black and white picture of my sister and I together from 1966 or so, ( I have it in a frame in my living room) and she has the flip hair style!! Headband, bangs to the side, the whole bit!!! :lol:

The "flip" was the hair style for sure :) Always liked how that looked on young women. My favorite trio would also be from Season 4 onward. I guess it's because that's when I first started watching the show in reruns after school way back in the 1980's.

I like a respect all the actresses because they all did an excellent job with their characters but my favorite season was 3 with Gunilla, Lori, and Linda; they seemed to have better chemistry together.

I'm still looking forward to more seasons being released on DVD....hurry up CBS!!

Jeannine Riley was a very solid comedic actress. She gave her line readings a tart twist and made Billie Jo the sassiest of the three girls. She was terrific. Gunilla was pretty but bland in comparison, and Meredith always seemed too sophisticated to be believable as one of the Bradleys. Pat Woodell was drop-dead gorgeous, but a little dull; Lori Saunders had better comic chops.

I liked Gunilla, Lori Saunders and of course Linda kaye. But than I also liked Meredith as Billie Jo too. She played the role differently though, not like a country girl so much. To me Gunilla was the prettiest Billie Jo. I liked Bobbie Jo when Lori took over. Always liked Betty Jo, but she was cooler in the earlier seasons before she became a wife and cut her hair.


How funny! I posted this exactly one year ago! July 25, 2014! Adding to my post. In the last year, I watched a lot of the early seasons with Jeanine Reilly. She was a really good Billie Jo! Gunilla was prettier but Jeannine was funnier! And the original Bobbie Jo, Pat Woodell was beautiful, but she didn't capture the spirit of Bobbie Jo like Lori did. I loved the silly Bobbie Jo ( Lori) a lot better !!!;)

Wow, I could imagine what the show would be like with Jeannine and Lori together as Billie Jo and Bobbie Jo, both of them silly and kind of ditzy. They would be hysterical together! :D

Same thoughts on Meredith and Linda Kaye. Meredith was cool, did a different spin on the Billie Jo character! ;) And Linda, same thing as I posted before. I liked her longer hair and tom boy persona a little better than the later season Betty Jo! :)

I'm fairly certain Linda Kaye Henning began wearing a (relatively short) wig in the seasons where you see her character married to her real-life hubby of the time, Mike Minor ("Steve Elliott"). When Linda did her Family Affair episode from that time period, you could see she hadn't cut her lovely long hair.

By the time she worked on Happy Days years later though, I believe we're seeing Linda wearing her own hair in not-so-long styles (on Mork & Mindy too, though I haven't seen that one in years).

Everyone's made good observations of what Lori and Meredith did with their characters -- each going in opposite directions as far as seriousness. Although the writers must have had something to do with that as well...!

For many of the cast members, my absolute favorite appearances came outside of PJ:

Jeannine Riley: Hot on Gomer Pyle, and a risque upskirt scene on Dusty's Trail

Pat Woodell: Smokin' hot on The Munsters as Eddie's teacher. WOW!

Lori Saunders: Backless swimsuit scene on The Beverly Hillbillies. Very brief scene with ultra-long hair on Dusty's Trail.

Even Frank Cady's best stuff appeared elsewhere, like on Advs. of Ozzie & Harriet, and -- rescued by Steve McGarrett on HAWAII FIVE-O!!!

Ultimately, my favorite cast was the 3rd season cast: Gunilla Hutton, Lori Saunders, and Linda Kaye.

I may be in the minority here, but Meredith McRae was my least favorite Billie Jo. I know Meredith was the longest lasting and most remembered, but I liked the other two better. Jeannie Riley and Gunilla Hutton played Billie Jo as she was originally supposed to be: boy crazy and ditzy. Plus, Jeannie and Gunilla looked enough alike to keep the role consistent. Meredith looked way different than the other two and acted way different. Her Billie Jo was not boy crazy, was rather smart, and concentrated more on singing. Totally different personality. Also, Meredith didn't pull off the country girl thing very well. She wasn't as believeable as a country girl. The other two seemed like country girls who would have grown up in Hooterville. Gunilla was probably my favorite Billie Jo, and ironically she was on the least amount of time. Season 3 of "Petticoat Junction" is my favorite season. It is classic PJ, the show at its finest.

As far as Bobbie Jo, I liked both Bobbie Jos the same. I think Pat Woodell and Lori Saunders did equally well. Both could have been in any season and would have gone well with any Billie Jo. They looked enough alike to keep the character consistent, and at least in the early seasons the writers kept Bobbie Jo as the bookish daughter. Later in the show, Bobbie Jo became more ditzy and more of a dingbat. I didn't like the character that way because that wasn't how Bobbie Jo was originally written. If I had to pick one, I might pick Pat as my overall favorite because she played Bobbie Jo as the bookish, smart daughter so very well.

I can't imagine anyone besides Linda Kaye Henning playing Betty Jo. Of course no-one ever did so we never saw anyone else, LOL. Still, I think Betty Jo would have been the hardest to re-cast. Maybe because she was more unique. I don't know of any other actresses that remind me of Linda. She was the one and only Betty Jo.

So, overall it would have to be the 3rd season cast of daughters, but Pat Woodell would have fit just fine in this season too had she stayed. I just don't care for Meredith McRae. I sure wish Gunilla hadn't left.

Definitely tough choice for me, as each one was gorgeous, and so easy to accept.

:)

How funny! I posted this exactly one year ago! July 25, 2014! Adding to my post. In the last year, I watched a lot of the early seasons with Jeanine Reilly. She was a really good Billie Jo! Gunilla was prettier but Jeannine was funnier! And the original Bobbie Jo, Pat Woodell was beautiful, but she didn't capture the spirit of Bobbie Jo like Lori did. I loved the silly Bobbie Jo ( Lori) a lot better !!!;)

Wow, I could imagine what the show would be like with Jeannine and Lori together as Billie Jo and Bobbie Jo, both of them silly and kind of ditzy. They would be hysterical together! :D

Same thoughts on Meredith and Linda Kaye. Meredith was cool, did a different spin on the Billie Jo character! ;) And Linda, same thing as I posted before. I liked her longer hair and tom boy persona a little better than the later season Betty Jo! :)

Okay, I suppose soon I will graduate from long-time casual viewing (50 years I've watched this show!) to a serious study, perhaps pick up the three existing DVD volumes and at least get a good bead on the very early years.

Since, to be honest, all the Bradley sisters seem almost hopelessly complicated, they changed so much.

:)

Gunilla Hutton was a pretty woman, and did the Billy Jo quite well. I liked her hair up better than Jeanine Riley's hair when put up. I never saw Meredith McRae as "Billie Jo," but from her pictures, is almost a classic example of a miscast. However, Jeanine will be the standard "Billie Jo" for me. Why? The part call for a beautiful young woman, and Jeanine's big wide, "jeepers creepers, where'd you get them peepers" eyes, with her small lower face, is textbook definition of BEAUTY.

As cute as Lori Saunders fit the character, I think Pat Woodell had the poise and the beauty as desperately needed by a "bookworm." Her singing ability certainly fit the old theatric standard of singing or hoofing the way through.

Who would be better than Linda Kay Henning as "Betty Jo?" She need to be at least tolerable looking when she wore a dress to school, and have some true tomboy prowess at other times, even piloting (?)/driving the train.

I do not know. This question could open the door to a franchise reboot. One thing I must advise: Get a motherly aged woman to play "Kate Bradley." Bea Benederet got away with doing so at a grandmother's age, because she was an attractive woman at the time. Since Billie Jo, the eldest, was 21 in season one, that actress should not be far off the 40 mark.

Of all of the actresses, Gunilla Hutton was the weak link. In her one season, she missed a lot of episodes too, so there was not time for her to develop in the role. If i have to pick one group, it the the final one. Meredith and Lori were great. I don't really care for Linda Kaye Henning's Betty Jo. She was featured way too heavily due to nepotism.