My favorite episodes tend to be the mid to late season 1 ones.... I THINK this is where they're from, like when Jed is with the French woman, Pearl is trying to woo Jethro's doctor, Pearl trying to get into high society, The ones where Mrs. Drysdale's high society friend takes an interest in the Clampetts. I also like it when Granny and Pearl would scheme together, Lucy and Ethel style lol

I sorta wish that had stayed the paradigm through out the series. Jethro was a bit dumb, but still had some sense, Granny was sometimes grouchy but more laid back, Mr Drysdale was greedy but still had a shred of humanity.

Oh yeah, I love the talented Bea Benederet. But if she had stayed on BH, she wouldn't have had time to do her own great show, Petticoat Junction!

I did a similar thread on this many years ago
https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=236262

and I still feel the same way. Yes, absolutely I wish she had stayed. Season 1 will always be my favorite because of Pearl.

Look Paul's heart was in the right place wanting to give his friend her own show but....how do you take arguably the funniest character and make her the STRAIGHT MAN?!

Kate was no Pearl by any stretch and I would gladly have sacrificed her on PJ.

In fact when Rosemary DeCamp subbed for Bea I realized how great it would have been if she had been cast as Kate and Bea stayed with the hillbillies.

I did a similar thread on this many years ago
https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=236262

and I still feel the same way. Yes, absolutely I wish she had stayed. Season 1 will always be my favorite because of Pearl.

Look Paul's heart was in the right place wanting to give his friend her own show but....how do you take arguably the funniest character and make her the STRAIGHT MAN?!

Kate was no Pearl by any stretch and I would gladly have sacrificed her on PJ.

In fact when Rosemary DeCamp subbed for Bea I realized how great it would have been if she had been cast as Kate and Bea stayed with the hillbillies.


I think Pearl is a character people either love or hate... I know many agree and wish she had stayed, but also hear people say they hate the "Pearl episodes"

Since all the characters later became sorta parodies of themselves, I wonder what Pearl would have been like in later seasons.

I think Pearl is a character people either love or hate... I know many agree and wish she had stayed, but also hear people say they hate the "Pearl episodes"

Since all the characters later became sorta parodies of themselves, I wonder what Pearl would have been like in later seasons.

Her "man hungriness" amped up off the charts would be my guess going after everyone from Larry Chapman at Mammoth studios to Mr. Cushing at the other bank.

I would have loved Pearl to stay in Beverly Hills. But as Bea warranted her own show, why couldn't it have been a direct spin-off with Pearl Bodine running a country hotel in Hooterville? With ample crossovers.

I would have loved Pearl to stay in Beverly Hills. But as Bea warranted her own show, why couldn't it have been a direct spin-off with Pearl Bodine running a country hotel in Hooterville? With ample crossovers.

That would have really made sense. Especially with those later Clampett visits to Hooterville. They could have had the same characters--Joe could be Joe Bodine, Pearl's brother, and the girls could be his daughters.

Also, Pearl is a more interesting character for Bea than Kate, IMO.

That would have really made sense. Especially with those later Clampett visits to Hooterville. They could have had the same characters--Joe could be Joe Bodine, Pearl's brother, and the girls could be his daughters.

Also, Pearl is a more interesting character for Bea than Kate, IMO.

That she is.

In retrospect this really would have been a perfect compromise and I dare say PJ a funnier show if they played to Pearl/Bea's strengths.

If I had one wish I would love to talk to Linda Kaye Henning to see what the behind the scenes were like when the idea of removing the succesful Pearl from BH to have her become Kate on PJ.