A Man for Kate

[WhoisJillScott]

Kate was such a devoted mother who always put her daughters' happiness before her own (for example, in Season 3 she sold her own engagement ring to help pay for Billie Jo's trip to New York, and she always let the girls buy new outfits before she got clothes for herself), that she tended to forget her own needs. She was also a saint to put up with Uncle Joe's shenanigans around the hotel. I would've liked to see Kate find some happiness of her own for once.

Do you think that Kate should have gotten remarried, and if so, to whom?

Personally, my vote is for Sam Drucker You could tell he was sweet on Kate, and I've noticed that he liked to do nice things for her girls too (for instance, he led the effort to get Steve and Betty Jo's cabin fixed up before the wedding, and when Billie Jo got her first apartment in Season 3 he gave her free groceries).

[OH Nuts!]

Would have loved to see her get re-married—and the man who did should treat her like the queen she was. I agree Sam would have made a good husband,; he certainly would have been devoted to her.

[alanrosof148@gmail.c]

The episode where the pres. of the railroad arrives has the man for Kate. Sitting under the tree, he picks a flower for her and said " you know Kate, I think these past few days have been the happiest days of my life." Watch closely at the end when the 2 are sitting on a bench, he puts his hand on hers, then embarrassingly takes it off when joe walks by. Marrying her would also be the first time I can think of where the city slicker thinking about how happy he now is, decides to make the big change and live there. Many Andy Griffith episodes like "man in a hurry" shows he's learned he has more money, education, material things then those in mayberry, but they have more happiness. Bill Bixby was also in a similar type episode. The Waltons had a visiting writer ready to buy small house and settle there, but didn't. Would open up new plots showing how a city guy with everything but real happiness finds happiness where we fantasize about living. He would represent us.

[PracTz]

IMO, it was fine to see Kate have flirtations with Sam Drucker and others but, truly, it would spoiled the show's dynamic had she gotten remarried. She could get away with berating Uncle Joe's laziness and bemoaning having to work hard to support her family (and keep the Shady Rest from totally going under) while still being relatable (and likable ) to the audience . Whereas had she remarried, it would have somewhat been challenging if not impossible for the home audience to keep rooting for her- especially if her 2nd husband proved shiftless as Uncle Joe . Even if her 2nd husband was hardworking and/or successful, it would have somewhat dissipated the show's comic potential to have things going so smoothly for the protagonist.

[Bonniegirl]

I think if Kate were to have ended up marrying anyone it should be Sam Drucker ! He was such a good, solid, kind man !

It would have been cool if the last episode was Kate about to return home to Hooterville to marry Sam Drucker ! That would have been a nice, sweet ending and brought Kate back !

A shame it just kept the storyline of Kate leaving ( I think to take care if a sick relative out of town) ? and her never coming back ! This way we would have had closure that she was coming back and going to marry Sam ! Wouldn't that have been sweet ?

[PracTz]

Yes, I agree that it would have made a nice series ending episode to have had Kate get remarried to solid 2nd husband (and had NO episodes without her). Alas, they sent her off to limbo and let the audience think she'd just left behind her daughters, new granddaughter and the Shady Rest to be cared for by Uncle Joe. Nope. And, yes, I actually liked the character of Uncle Joe (and unlike Steve, he NEVER attempted to sing) a great deal but it was unbelievable that he could do anything besides sponge and ineffectually scheme.

[WhoisJillScott]

PracTz, that is a great point that if Kate got remarried and things started "going well" for her, that would potentially remove some of the comedy in an already gentle show. However, a point in Sam's favor is that he was never afraid to call Joe out on his BS and had a hilarious "frenemy" dynamic with him. If Sam and Kate got married, that could potentially lead to some funny stories where Kate has to decide whether to side with her husband or defend Uncle Joe against his shenanigans.

I know I shouldn't get worked up over a sitcom character, but Uncle Joe *really* got on my nerves at times. Especially since Kate was a single mother of 3 and it was overtly suggested that Kate was always on the brink of going broke. Uncle Joe's willingness to take advantage of Kate's generosity and continue to cause her grief with all his hare-brained schemes and laziness really rubbed me the wrong way. Kate deserved to be with a man who could step in and put Joe in his place.

I also agree that the way Kate's departure was handled was TERRIBLE. We're supposed to believe that Kate would leave behind her daughters and first grandchild in the hands of Uncle Joe?? Honestly, I would have liked to see the show end in Season 5 with "Kate's Homecoming." Perhaps Sam Drucker realizes he can't live without Kate, so he proposes and they get married as a series finale. That would have given Kate her happy ending, and we wouldn't have to watch the show struggle to continue on without her. And that would spare us from all the singing in Seasons 6 + 7