We all know they ditched Dorothy and Mr B at the beginning of the last season and introduced the new Baxters, saying that Mr B and Dorothy would be in the middle east of "several months". Well that season certainly seemed to last several months. Did they expect the show to do more seasons? How would they have handled the Baxters being away an even more extended period of time? (and poor Harold basically abandonded):confused:

I think they could have easily had George & Dorothy return from their sojurn to the mid-East right at the beginning of the 6th season. They could then have done 1 of 2 things, never mention or show Steve & Barbara again OR have them be a new part of the show as visitors to the George Baxter house and vicey versey Harold could visit with the Steve Baxters. And since reality would strike the Hazel program with a rude awakening (what with the almost immediate deaths of both Mr. Griffin & Deidra in 1966 & '67) having the Steve Baxter family still involved as visitors would have provided a little slack for the absence of Griffin & Deidra. I think the show could have continued for several more years, though it would hopefully have ended before poor Harold bites the dust in another slap to the face from reality. But the show probably would have already ended before Harold met his maker.

You know, come to think of it, maybe it's a good thing the show DID end after the 5th season, seems everyone kicked the bucket rather quickly after the show was over.

My guess is that since they seemed to have burned their bridges with the late Mr. DeFore and Miss Blake, there was zero chance George or Dorothy would have returned to the show so, if the show had come back, I imagine they would have opened with a 'very special episode' of the Original Baxters having had a fatal camel accident with Steve and Barbara needing to decide whether to adopt Harold and keep Hazel permanently!

P.S. I always thought it odd that they never considered having Harold visit them in the Middle East- even with it happening offcamera with Harold and Hazel talking about their visit to Steve, Barbara and Susie after the fact.

Realistically, George and Dorothy would never come back. I could even see them never being mentioned again. Perhaps Harold is cut from the cast, which would require a mention of his parents, which would be forgotten in subsequent episodes. Look how My Three Sons handled eldest son Mike- only a few mentions, some not even by name, and possibly none after Beverly Garland joins the cast.

The last season has always been hard to watch because George was always my favorite character.

I think they could have easily had George & Dorothy return from their sojurn to the mid-East right at the beginning of the 6th season. They could then have done 1 of 2 things, never mention or show Steve & Barbara again OR have them be a new part of the show as visitors to the George Baxter house and vicey versey Harold could visit with the Steve Baxters. And since reality would strike the Hazel program with a rude awakening (what with the almost immediate deaths of both Mr. Griffin & Deidra in 1966 & '67) having the Steve Baxter family still involved as visitors would have provided a little slack for the absence of Griffin & Deidra. I think the show could have continued for several more years, though it would hopefully have ended before poor Harold bites the dust in another slap to the face from reality. But the show probably would have already ended before Harold met his maker.

You know, come to think of it, maybe it's a good thing the show DID end after the 5th season, seems everyone kicked the bucket rather quickly after the show was over.

Oh, I've never looked up the actor who played Harold.

I can look it up of course but what's the story?

Was he that young when he passed away?

Realistically, George and Dorothy would never come back. I could even see them never being mentioned again. Perhaps Harold is cut from the cast, which would require a mention of his parents, which would be forgotten in subsequent episodes. Look how My Three Sons handled eldest son Mike- only a few mentions, some not even by name, and possibly none after Beverly Garland joins the cast.

The last season has always been hard to watch because George was always my favorite character.

True, Hazel was obviously off on a new direction that last season, pretty much a reboot.

The George Baxters could return to the US every summer to beat the Arabian heat, leave again just before the fall TV episodes start.

The George Baxters could return to the US every summer to beat the Arabian heat, leave again just before the fall TV episodes start.

Eventually taking Harold along with them, after getting settled in the Middle East.