View Full Version : B&W vs. color
tlc38tlc38 08-17-2018, 12:02 PM Which episodes do you like better?
B&W or color?
I like both but the B&W episodes seem more special to me. The show had more of a "simpler time" feel to it then.
Kasey 08-17-2018, 01:01 PM This is a tough call. I loved Jeannine Riley as her portrayal was spot-on as Billie Joe. Pat Woodell on the other hand, was too sedate in her role. I also like how the B&W eps have that real 'rural' look and feel to them, almost like an old movie from the 1940s.
The color seasons that I like best are Seasons 3 and 4 and I really like Lori Saunders in those seasons (before Bobbie's intelligence dipped). Seasons 5-7 are kind of "meh" to me. Meredith, though lovely, was just SO vanilla and Betty Jo got boring too after she married. I guess I will say the B&W ones, but they would have been better if Pat had been more animated sometimes like Lori was.
tlc38tlc38 08-17-2018, 03:13 PM Of the color seasons, season 3 is my favorite; it has some really good episodes.
The show got dull when Steve started singing all the time.
I also like Lori better than Pat but Pat did a pretty good job, IMO.
Kasey 08-18-2018, 09:45 AM I agree with everything you said. I do like Pat too but she always seemed so serious. I did love seeing her rock out on The Ladybugs episode, she seemed to be having a ball in that.
Season 3 is my favorite too except I wish Gunilla hadn't been sick and missed so many episodes. On the whole, this season has most all the episodes I like best, but my Top 2 faves are the Pilot (though not really a pilot) and With This Gown I Thee Wed from S5 because I like the dream sequences--especially seeing Bobbie and Billie in those funky go-go boots and Betty roaring off on that motorcycle---I love when those '60s shows did episodes about Flower Power, hippies or Rock & Roll.
I also didn't care for all the singing once Meredith joined the cast and the Steve character became a regular. Maybe I would like it better had they sang contemporary '60s stuff, but those corny old songs from 1912 made me cringe sometimes!
tlc38tlc38 08-18-2018, 10:03 AM ^Yeah, the "pilot" is one of the best episodes of ANY sitcom. That ending scene with Kate walking beside the Cannonball is pure poetry.
Kasey 08-18-2018, 12:25 PM Yes, it is a very nice scene. When TV Land launched in 1996, this episode aired on their premiere night (simulcast on Nick@Nite) and it was a big deal to see this since the B&Ws had not been aired in decades. They only aired 1 other B&W episode (for an Election special) when they ran the show.
TV Guy 08-18-2018, 12:42 PM The B&Ws are so good. The same writers stayed for season 3, then left and the show headed downhill.
Jeannine Riley was quite a good comic actress - she gave her line readings a tart twist and put some real life in her character. Gunilla Hutton was a bit of a goody-two-shoes as Billie Jo, and Meredith was downright dull.
I agree that Lori Saunders was a better comic actress than Pat Woodell, but Pat did a nice job and was gorgeous to boot. And that voice!
It’s a shame that for years, it was the last five seasons that were in syndication rather than the first five seasons (which would have cut off the June Lockhart years). I think the show would be better regarded today had the earlier episodes been playing in syndication all these years.
Kasey 08-18-2018, 01:25 PM The B&Ws are so good. The same writers stayed for season 3, then left and the show headed downhill.
Jeannine Riley was quite a good comic actress - she gave her line readings a tart twist and put some real life in her character. Gunilla Hutton was a bit of a goody-two-shoes as Billie Jo, and Meredith was downright dull.
I agree that Lori Saunders was a better comic actress than Pat Woodell, but Pat did a nice job and was gorgeous to boot. And that voice!
It’s a shame that for years, it was the last five seasons that were in syndication rather than the first five seasons (which would have cut off the June Lockhart years). I think the show would be better regarded today had the earlier episodes been playing in syndication all these years.
Yes I agree completely about the Billie Jo trajectory and the last 2 seasons should have been left out of syndication rather than 1 and 2.
tlc38tlc38 08-18-2018, 01:26 PM Yes I agree completely about the Billie Jo trajectory and the last 2 seasons should have been left out of syndication rather than 1 and 2.
Completely agree.
I'm going to watch the first couple episodes tonight.
Hazel Anyday 08-19-2018, 09:38 PM I loved Lori as Blankety Jo, the other was too stiff acting, (even after all these years I still can't tell which Blankety Jo is named what) and I agree when Steve starts singing that's when I hit the fast forward, he sounds like a Dick Haymes wanna-be and this was the 1960's for criminy's sakes yet! But I do really like the whole series in general, the b/w's were well written but so were most of the color shows too, in spite of June, and I like it in color better anyway. I think they should have kept Cousin Mae, Bea's southern cousin (Leela from Great Gildersleeve) instead of using June Lochart to replace Bea, Mae would have been better. Too bad Bea Benaderet died 1/2 way in the series, the series sort of lost it's anchor when she kicked off. But Uncle Joe saved it as far as consistency goes, he was always good.
Bonniegirl 08-19-2018, 11:08 PM I always LOVED Petticoat Junction!! :)Actually the first ones I ever saw were the later season ones because of my age ( I was really little when PJ premiered ) ! So I Basically saw it in reverse ! I totally remeber Betty Jo (with shorter hair) and Steve married, and June Lockhart first run on Saturday nights in prime time!:)
Than seeing reruns on a UHF channel a little later was when I first saw Kate, and the second Billie Jo (Gunilla Hutton ) ! It was only after METV started showing PJ that I even saw the B & W eps.:eek: !!I LOVE THEM!! But than I love ALL Petticoat Junction !!:) I for one LOVE Steve! I LOVE his singing!! I think he's TOTALLY HOT!!;):heart: So I like the newer eps. as well the very old eps. ! I do love Kate and miss her VERY MUCH as well as Floyd and Charlie so for that it is a plus for the older eps. ;)
I like the original Billie Jo (Jeannie) very much! I think she was the best Billie Jo ! :) However I like Lori much better as Bobbie Jo than Pat!;) So therefore I really can't make a decision which era of Petticoat Junction was best?:confused: IMO they all were great!:)
God bless this wonderful show!!:heart: Probably one of, if not my favorite TV show of all time!! :)
tlc38tlc38 08-20-2018, 07:37 AM I think we pretty much all agree that Lori was better than Pat. Not saying that Pat was horrible, Lori was just better.
Kasey 08-20-2018, 09:42 AM I think we pretty much all agree that Lori was better than Pat. Not saying that Pat was horrible, Lori was just better.
Yes, she was, I just wish she and Meredith's characters hadn't switched personalities as the series wore on.
AMackII 08-21-2018, 03:27 PM The Color Episodes with Lori Saunders, Gunilla Hutton* & Meredith McRae in it.
*= appearing in the 1965-1966 season
tlc38tlc38 08-21-2018, 06:43 PM PJ is probably one of the few shows that I actually like the seasons the best in the order they ran. 1st season is my favorite, 2nd is my 2nd favorite...etc.
1960'sTVfan 08-22-2018, 01:04 PM Petticoat Junction is a show I've never really gotten into, I've tried watching but to me the episodes are mostly on the dull side. I've never really gotten into The Andy Griffith Show or Beverly Hillbillies either.
Green Acres is my favorite of the rural sitcoms because I think overall it's funnier than the other rural sitcoms. If I was voting for the funniest rural sitcom I'd vote for Green Acres.
Bonniegirl 08-22-2018, 01:15 PM Petticoat Junction is a show I've never really gotten into, I've tried watching but to me the episodes are mostly on the dull side. I've never really gotten into The Andy Griffith Show or Beverly Hillbillies either.
Green Acres is my favorite of the rural sitcoms because I think overall it's funnier than the other rural sitcoms. If I was voting for the funniest rural sitcom I'd vote for Green Acres.
Hi Retro Lee! :wave: There was a PJ vs. GA poll thread here a while ago !! I think I was the one who started it even! ;)
I love both PJ and GA ,I too really never was into Beverly Hillbillies! ;) I would think you would like Petticoat though cause of the pretty daughters! :)
1960'sTVfan 08-22-2018, 01:30 PM Hi Retro Lee! :wave: There was a PJ vs. GA poll thread here a while ago !! I think I was the one who started it even! ;)
I love both PJ and GA ,I too really never was into Beverly Hillbillies! ;) I would think you would like Petticoat though cause of the pretty daughters! :)
Hello Bonnie :wave:
The daughters are pretty but not really my type, I tend to be attracted to cute looking women.
I recently bought the Lotsa Luck DVD set, watching some episodes and I like Beverly Sanders, in the show they usually made her up to look unappealing/unattractive but it didn't work, no matter how she's dressed she's cute in any scene she's in. :eyes: :lol:
MichaelKeith 11-05-2019, 03:45 PM This is one show I wish they had always filmed in color from the start of season one! However, I like the first three seasons the best and two of those were in B&W!
OH Nuts! 11-05-2019, 04:40 PM For me Bea MADE the show, and when she passed, the show kinda did too.
Regarding whether I’d like the show better in B&W or color I’d have to say B&W. It feels much more authentic to me as a 60s show when it’s in B&W. But I know many feel just the opposite. So I’M GLAD both versions are available!
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