I was just watching my DVD of the 1st season....does anyone wish they had kept Pearl and/or Jethrine?

Jethrine might be the worst character in the history of sitcoms. Pearl was created specifically for Bea Benaderet, the character was not part of the original cast. With Pearl the show would have had 7 regulars plus Mrs. Drysdale probably too many characters to utilize effectively.

Max Baer has said that he hated doing Jethrine and he was thrilled when Bea Benaderet got her own show (Petticoat Junction) because that meant that Jethrine would never be seen again.

I wish they had made appearances, but it's as if Jethrine never existed, I don't think she was even ever mentioned in the color episodes.

I would have not minded Pearl showing up on occasion. I liked the character. I realize Bea was busy with PJ and then got sick. She did show up in one color episode though.

I would have not minded Pearl showing up on occasion. I liked the character. I realize Bea was busy with PJ and then got sick. She did show up in one color episode though.



If I remember right, Pearl just appeared briefly on the phone in that episode. It makes me wonder if her scene was just recorded and sent in.

The character of Pearl became a regular during the latter half of the first season, and a number of storylines focused on her. They should have at least had her back for one appearance each season afterwards. The Jethrine character was just plain awful. Bad, bad idea.

Jethrine might be the worst character in the history of sitcoms.
Lol. I could see why you'd say that, but the nice thing about Jethrine is that you get to listen to Linda Henning's beautiful voice. That's what I try to focus on anyway :)

I just started seeing the series again and just began on Season 1. As for Pearl I liked in spurts. Felt she was to be more involved with Mr Brewster back in the hills so we wouldn't be seeing her all that much in California. As for Jethrine, well she was a big girl. I did wonder if Max complained of the part. The character didn't do much so was best that the daughter of Pearl's was written out. I have popped into later episodes season 6 and Granny is hollering more. The early season she is more quiet.

Redundant post, sorry

I just started seeing the series again and just began on Season 1. As for Pearl I liked in spurts. Felt she was to be more involved with Mr Brewster back in the hills so we wouldn't be seeing her all that much in California. As for Jethrine, well she was a big girl. I did wonder if Max complained of the part. The character didn't do much so was best that the daughter of Pearl's was written out. I have popped into later episodes season 6 and Granny is hollering more. The early season she is more quiet.

I liked Granny in the early episodes, she is more like Grandma Walton, cranky but still down to earth and good-hearted.... She got a bit unbearable in the later episodes, flying into a rage if anyone so much as looked at her

Jethrine was so underdeveloped, we didn't get a chance to warm up to her.

What I don't understand is when the Clampetts made a trip back home in seaosn 8, why didn't they visit Pearl, Yeah I know that wasnt' possible in real life but they could have MENTIONED her, and why didn't they visit their beloved cabin, that Granny loves so much? I mean they spent the night in the cabin when they visited for xmas in season 1, it was cold, but this looked like warm weather, why didn't they stay at the cabin?

In looking at the series on METV as it unfolded, I can't understand what Paul was thinking with respect to the Jethrine character. It was such a superfluous character and there was so many already in the show. The core 4 of course, Drysdale and Miss Jane and Mrs. Drysdale, that's 7 characters already. On top of that Pearl becomes a regular around midseason (more on that in a moment). Nancy Kulp was so great in the show but Miss Jane has limited screen time because of the need to service all the rest of the cast, plus the bizarre Jethrine.

With respect to Pearl, I think Paul and the network may have wanted to give Bea a push before Petticoat Junction. She was a featured player in many of the episodes she appears in, and they redid the ending of the show to add her to the rest of the Hillbillies waving goodbye to the audience. As amazing a talent as Bea was she really had spent her career in supporting roles, there may have been some concern about her moving into a lead role, thus the need to build her name recognition.

With respect to Pearl, I think Paul and the network may have wanted to give Bea a push before Petticoat Junction. She was a featured player in many of the episodes she appears in, and they redid the ending of the show to add her to the rest of the Hillbillies waving goodbye to the audience.
I've been following the METV reruns also, and I did notice them adding Pearl to the end sequence. The whole thing is kind of odd. They started out deciding to go with Irene Ryan instead of Bea for Granny, with Pearl as a minor character. Then suddenly she's a regular and is added to the end sequence, but she's still not on the opening theme.

I agree Jethrine seems superfluous and the cast feels kind of crowded. Looks like they're still trying to find their footing, but you'd think they'd have a more solid concept for the show before starting out.

I like Pearl with Mr. Brewster best, honestly. I would have liked to see them get together.

They started out deciding to go with Irene Ryan instead of Bea for Granny, with Pearl as a minor character. Then suddenly she's a regular and is added to the end sequence, but she's still not on the opening theme.

Just for the record, Bea was the original choice for the role of Granny. She then was the one who, referring to Irene, said "There's your Granny." No doubt Henning and company were thrilled to have Bea's talents at their disposal afterward as Pearl, and they did several episodes where Pearl was the center of attention. It was not a 'decision' to place Irene in the Granny role over Bea, it was simply a case of Bea turning it down.

As far as the opening and closing themes, it was much easier to include Bea at the close, a simple shot, than to re-do the complex opening to accommodate the Pearl character. And consider the expense.

It was not a 'decision' to place Irene in the Granny role over Bea, it was simply a case of Bea turning it down..
All I know about this is what I've read here, but I was aware Bea was first choice for Granny, and that she had recommended Irene Ryan. Although I hadn't heard that she had turned it down, I think someone here said she didn't get the part because she was too shapely.

If, as you say, she turned it down, I wonder why she would turn down the part, only to stick around and become a major part of the first season anyway? Did she simply not want to play so elderly a woman?

All I know about this is what I've read here, but I was aware Bea was first choice for Granny, and that she had recommended Irene Ryan. Although I hadn't heard that she had turned it down, I think someone here said she didn't get the part because she was too shapely.

If, as you say, she turned it down, I wonder why she would turn down the part, only to stick around and become a major part of the first season anyway? Did she simply not want to play so elderly a woman?

Bea didn't turn the role down. There was a process to casting the parts, according to an interview with Irene Ryan the production team thought she was too young for the role of Granny. Irene then worked with her agent and possibly an acting coach to develop the Granny look and Granny persona. She did a screen test (the test is available on YouTube) and she hit it out of the park. Here is a write-up from Wikipedia, the scource material was a bonus track from a Beverly Hillbillies DVD:

"According to Filmways publicist Ted Switzer, series creator and producer Paul Henning had decided to cast Bea Benaderet as Granny, but when Ryan read for the role "with her hair tied back in a bun and feisty as all get-out," everyone was taken with her performance. Executive producer Al Simon and Henning immediately said, "That's Granny!" Later, when Benaderet saw Ryan's audition, she agreed. Benaderet was cast as Jed Clampett's cousin, Pearl Bodine".

Paul had worked with Bea in the past and knew how talented she was, but she wasn't the right fit for Granny so although he wanted her for the role he knew she wasn't the right choice. Bea understood his reasoning, but Paul still wanted her for the show so he added the character of Pearl, a character which was not in the original series treatment.

Let's go to what Paul Henning said, I've added bold emphasis:

“When we had the screen tests Bea Benaderet was there to try out for the part of Granny and as soon as Irene Ryan read the part, Bea came over to me and she says ‘There’s Granny,’” Henning said.

https://outsider.com/entertainment/the-beverly-hillbillies-actress-joined-show-different-role-after-missing-out-granny-clampett/

That's not quite the same as how Switzer remembered things. When Benaderet said "There's Granny," she was conceding the role to Irene. To me that's pretty much the same as turning it down -- it's not like she was denied the role, she could have fought for it.

The "turning down" has been pounced on by Duster76, but the point was that Ryan was cast after Benaderet conceded she would be a great choice -- in other words, that's not quite the same as saying Ryan was selected for the role "over" her -- implying rejection -- which prompted my reply.

In looking at the series on METV as it unfolded, I can't understand what Paul was thinking with respect to the Jethrine character. It was such a superfluous character and there was so many already in the show.

Jethrine becoming inebriated when Jazzbo Depew is there to court her in Pearl's parlor: one of the funniest episodes of the entire series. The character may be considered "bizarre" to your sophisticated 21st century eye, but the episodes she appeared in were far superior to what the series settled into. Another classic scene was her standing on a chair and shrieking at the Clampett mansion, believing Elly's chihuahua was a large rat.

Perhaps if Henning had not abandoned such funny stuff so readily, the series would've really benefited. Compare those scenes with Granny's obsession with Mark Templeton turning into a frog. Hilarious vs. 'bizarrely' dumb.

Let's go to what Paul Henning said, I've added bold emphasis:

“When we had the screen tests Bea Benaderet was there to try out for the part of Granny and as soon as Irene Ryan read the part, Bea came over to me and she says ‘There’s Granny,’” Henning said.

https://outsider.com/entertainment/the-beverly-hillbillies-actress-joined-show-different-role-after-missing-out-granny-clampett/

That's not quite the same as how Switzer remembered things. When Benaderet said "There's Granny," she was conceding the role to Irene. To me that's pretty much the same as turning it down -- it's not like she was denied the role, she could have fought for it.

The "turning down" has been pounced on by Duster76, but the point was that Ryan was cast after Benaderet conceded she would be a great choice -- in other words, that's not quite the same as saying Ryan was selected for the role "over" her -- implying rejection -- which prompted my reply.

You can't turn down something that was not offered. The casting decisions have many twist and turns and understand this, the network bankrolling the project has a big seat at the table. Henning has to be able to defend his choices to the network, if his gut instincts and the instincts of the executive producer thought Ryan nailed the role that's what they were bringing to the network for final signoff.

Jethrine becoming inebriated when Jazzbo Depew is there to court her in Pearl's parlor: one of the funniest episodes of the entire series. The character may be considered "bizarre" to your sophisticated 21st century eye, but the episodes she appeared in were far superior to what the series settled into. Another classic scene was her standing on a chair and shrieking at the Clampett mansion, believing Elly's chihuahua was a large rat.

Perhaps if Henning had not abandoned such funny stuff so readily, the series would've really benefited. Compare those scenes with Granny's obsession with Mark Templeton turning into a frog. Hilarious vs. 'bizarrely' dumb.

You must be kidding, the show was one of the biggest hits of the 1960's. Two years at number 1, two years at number 7 and a year at number 10, not too shabby. In it's first 7 years on the air it never finished lower than number 12. The Jethrine character was horrible, Max Baer hated playing the part, the dubbing was bad, it was a mess from beginning to end. Paul Henning was entitled to at least one mistake.

You can't turn down something that was not offered. The casting decisions have many twist and turns and understand this, the network bankrolling the project has a big seat at the table. Henning has to be able to defend his choices to the network, if his gut instincts and the instincts of the executive producer thought Ryan nailed the role that's what they were bringing to the network for final signoff.

You get a kick out of hanging me out to dry in public. So I remembered Bea saying "That's Your Granny" etc. without further research. So you've found that she didn't turn down the role. I MADE A MISTAKE. There are others amid more than 6000 posts, I can lead you to them if you're interested.

Great job, now can you reconcile the differing accounts that Henning & Switzer gave -- or is it possible that neither remembered accurately just how the casting went?

You get a kick out of hanging me out to dry in public. So I remembered Bea saying "That's Your Granny" etc. without further research. So you've found that she didn't turn down the role. I MADE A MISTAKE. There are others amid more than 6000 posts, I can lead you to them if you're interested.

Great job, now can you reconcile the differing accounts that Henning & Switzer gave -- or is it possible that neither remembered accurately just how the casting went?

Please don't take my comments so personally. It's fun to talk about these shows and exchange ideas. I see this site as bunch of people sitting around talking about common interests. The back and forth is all about fun stuff, TV, sports, music.

You must be kidding, the show was one of the biggest hits of the 1960's. Two years at number 1, two years at number 7 and a year at number 10, not too shabby. In it's first 7 years on the air it never finished lower than number 12. The Jethrine character was horrible, Max Baer hated playing the part, the dubbing was bad, it was a mess from beginning to end. Paul Henning was entitled to at least one mistake.

For a "horrible" character, she/he had very funny scenes. "Drive them horses, Ben, Ben,..." Just a difference of opinion. I'm well aware that the show continued to have tremendous ratings. Are you trying to say that if Jethrine were not excised from the series, the ratings would have suffered? No one knows the answer to that. The later seasons had lots of lukewarm humor, like "Super Banker," Soupy Sales, Silver Dollar City, etc. that paled in comparison to early stuff like Sonny Drysdale, Homer Winch, Pearl playing at the theater & yodeling, and so much more.

How many promising series were canned due to poor initial ratings -- that's why, when we talk about quality, ratings are showing success that doesn't necessarily correspond to good writing & acting.

The early seasons, IMO, were superior to the color ones -- just my opinion, and Jethrine was part of those. Good for everyone that ratings remained high, but there was a gradual downward slide in quality. Watching Granny get advice from Dr. Klingner, the magic was long gone.

You think Henning made a "mistake" with the Jethrine character. Why not speculate -- did he admit to that? Did he apologize to Linda Kaye for having her provide the voice -- his own daughter, and to Baer for having him put on the costume? Just because you dislike something doesn't make it a mistake.

For a "horrible" character, she/he had very funny scenes. "Drive them horses, Ben, Ben,..."
I laughed just reading that. Jethrine may not have been the greatest characters, but I can't deny that she made me laugh sometimes. Like when she was tipsy in the parlor, with Pearl trying to get her to play the piano. So she wasn't all bad.

For a "horrible" character, she/he had very funny scenes. "Drive them horses, Ben, Ben,..." Just a difference of opinion. I'm well aware that the show continued to have tremendous ratings. Are you trying to say that if Jethrine were not excised from the series, the ratings would have suffered? No one knows the answer to that. The later seasons had lots of lukewarm humor, like "Super Banker," Soupy Sales, Silver Dollar City, etc. that paled in comparison to early stuff like Sonny Drysdale, Homer Winch, Pearl playing at the theater & yodeling, and so much more.

How many promising series were canned due to poor initial ratings -- that's why, when we talk about quality, ratings are showing success that doesn't necessarily correspond to good writing & acting.

The early seasons, IMO, were superior to the color ones -- just my opinion, and Jethrine was part of those. Good for everyone that ratings remained high, but there was a gradual downward slide in quality. Watching Granny get advice from Dr. Klingner, the magic was long gone.

You think Henning made a "mistake" with the Jethrine character. Why not speculate -- did he admit to that? Did he apologize to Linda Kaye for having her provide the voice -- his own daughter, and to Baer for having him put on the costume? Just because you dislike something doesn't make it a mistake.

Henning never said the character of Jethrine was a mistake, he indicated that the joke had run its course, I imagine Max who hated the role may have done some lobbying as well. The character was only in 11 episodes, I don't think the character had a major impact on the series.

I agree with you in respect to the earlier episodes being better, but I think that was the nature of the subject matter . The first time experiences of the Hillbillies (flying in a plane, thinking they're stopping prison break, the first time in the kitchen, looking to dig a well in the front yard etc) were so great, but once they were settled and the years started to go by the show expanded into more and more outlandish things, some worked, some didn't. I like the color episodes more than you but I think the golden era for the show are the black and white years.

I don't think the ratings would have suffered in any way had Jethrine stayed on. She was such a MINOR character, I don't think she'd have much affect, if any, on the ratings... Even in the few episodes she appears in, she's hardly even appears, maybe just a few minutes at the most. My most vivid memory of her longest appearance where the episode focused on her, was when she gets drunk when her boyfriend came over

I don't think the ratings would have suffered in any way had Jethrine stayed on. She was such a MINOR character, I don't think she'd have much affect, if any, on the ratings... Even in the few episodes she appears in, she's hardly even appears, maybe just a few minutes at the most. My most vivid memory of her longest appearance where the episode focused on her, was when she gets drunk when her boyfriend came over

"I don't think the ratings would have suffered in any way had Jethrine stayed on. She was such a MINOR character, I don't think she'd have much affect, if any, on the ratings"

I agree, but that's no argument for keeping the character, if anything it's an argument for eliminating the character. Paul Henning indicated in his Television Academy interview the importance of finely drawn characters that the audience will want to keep engaging. That wasn't going to happen here, Max hated playing the character, the show was already full of very interesting characters with great potential, and Paul saw the character as a joke which had run its course.

Who knows if Jethrene was even meant to be a permanent character. The episode that aired last night stated that Jethrene had returned to the hills and Pearl was missing her. Pearl was not in the episode either. The episode was about Jed becoming a VP at the bank. It first aired in March 1963.