It would have been funny if Oliver noticed Mrs. Ziffel was different

[TheLittleFaerie]

Given the type of surreal universe Green Acres is set in, they can read the credits on the screen, etc.... I think when the new actress who played Mrs Ziffel was brought in, it would have been funny if Oliver had said something like, "THAT'S MRS. ZIFFEL??!!" While all the other characters didn't even notice lol

OR maybe the other way around all the other characters would see the difference while Oliver didn't.

[PhoenixAcres]

I agree that would have been funny. I could definitely see that happening.

But given the sensitive nature surrounding the change (i.e. Barbara Pepper dying) Jay Sommers probably didn't want to draw any attention to it or even joke about it.

[Hazel Anyday]

Agree with PhoenixAcres on everything said. But it would have been perfect for a Oliver type joke where everyone but him doesn't notice. Who'd a thunk the ancient looking Mr. Ziffel would outlive the younger wrinkle free Doris.

[Duster76]

This must have been a rough time around the Paul Henning shows, Bea Benaderet passed in October of 68 and Barbara Pepper passed less than a year later, making light of her passing wouldn't have been well received by the audience. I doubt the production team or the performers would have wanted any part of that type of levity.

[TheLittleFaerie]

Yeah I guess that's true. It just made me think of it considering the type of show G.A. was.

[PracTz]

Maybe Oliver could have said something along the lines of 'I can't put my finger on it but Mrs. Ziffel looks a little different now. '

Mr. Ziffel,'Nah. I don't Doris has improved none!'

Oliver,' Maybe not but I think I'll miss the way she was before,'

That way the change in performer would have been acknowledged AND there would have been a small tribute to the late Barbara Pepper in the tag without derailing the comedy.

[TheLittleFaerie]

Originally Posted by PracTz

Maybe Oliver could have said something along the lines of 'I can't put my finger on it but Mrs. Ziffel looks a little different now. '

Mr. Ziffel,'Nah. I don't Doris has improved none!'

Oliver,' Maybe not but I think I'll miss the way she was before,'

That way the change in performer would have been acknowledged AND there would have been a small tribute to the late Barbara Pepper in the tag without derailing the comedy.

Yeah lol I think Mr Ziffel could have said something like, "Nah, she's just wearing her hair down"

Because it was obvious Fran Ryan did not try to imitate Barbara Pepper at all. And wearing her hair down was one of the most notable differences.

[vitoscotti]

I liked Barbara Pepper better, but Fran Ryan was a good replacement. Barbara Pepper was a glamorous Hollywood starlet when she was young.

[SitcomsHeydayfan]

Originally Posted by vitoscotti

I liked Barbara Pepper better, but Fran Ryan was a good replacement. Barbara Pepper was a glamorous Hollywood starlet when she was young.

Wow! You'd never guess THAT was the original Mrs.Ziffel.

[forn]

Originally Posted by PracTz

Maybe Oliver could have said something along the lines of 'I can't put my finger on it but Mrs. Ziffel looks a little different now. '

Mr. Ziffel,'Nah. I don't Doris has improved none!'

Hah, that would have been a good line.

My favorite line out of the whole series is a Christmas episode, and Eb tells Fred that his wife is standing under the mistletoe. And Fred says "Why don't you mind your own business?"

[Bonniegirl]

I loved Barbara Pepper ! She and Lucille Ball were really good friends , and she had small roles in a few I Love Lucy episodes ! Younger and still kind of pretty! But to me Barbara Pepper was still beautiful as Doris ( a sweet , fun, down to earth woman , she had inner beauty ) !

[stevea]

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

I loved Barbara Pepper ! She and Lucille Ball were really good friends , and she had small roles in a few I Love Lucy episodes ! Younger and still kind of pretty! But to me Barbara Pepper was still beautiful as Doris ( a sweet , fun, down to earth woman , she had inner beauty ) !

She was great on GA. It's a shame she didn't make it thru the whole series.

[Duster76]

A couple of years ago I commented on the two women who played Doris Ziffel:

Pepper lost her husband in 1949, she was left with two small children to raise and unfortunately she turned to alcohol. She was under consideration for the Ethel Mertz role but with heavy drinker Bill Frawley already on board Ball and Arnaz didn't want to chance it. Pepper was born in 1915, she was only 50 when Green Acres started (27 years younger than Hank Peterson), 9 years younger than Eddie Albert and only 4 years older than Eva but the drinking really took a toll on her and her looks.

Barbara Pepper, Doris Ziffel I, and Fran Ryan Doris Ziffel II have a rather strange thing in common. In their personal lives the two women were married a total of three times, Pepper once in 1943 to a man named Craig Reynolds and Ryan twice to a Walter Wayne and later to a Howard Schafer. Reynolds died in a motorcycle accident in 1949, Wayne and Ryan wed in 1949 and two years later he was killed in a private plane crash (he was the pilot). In January of 1953 Ryan wed again to Howard Schafer, 5 months later he died in a private plane crash (he was the pilot).

I took a look at some of the reference material concerning the series and it appears Barbara was actually let go before the end of the third season, her final appearance was in "Spring Festival" which was aired in 2/68. Barbara died in July of 1969, she was not in any of the episodes during season 4 (1968-69). She did appear in an episode of Mayberry RFD during the 68-69 TV season as well as an episode of The Doris Day Show. By the time Fran Ryan appears as Doris Ziffel number two it's season 5 ("The Road" airdate 11/69), it actually had been almost two years since Barbara had appeared in that role.

[TheLittleFaerie]

I did notice in Fran Ryan's first episode, what I suggested maybe ALMOST happened....MAYBE..... I forget what was going on, but Fred had Dorris lay down on the ground in front of a truck or tractor or SOME vehicle to stop it from moving ~great husband lol~ Oliver and Lisa walk up and Oliver looks at Dorris for a few seconds with a confused look on his face...... It COULD have been because she was laying on the ground, but who knows

[Duster76]

Originally Posted by TheLittleFaerie

I did notice in Fran Ryan's first episode, what I suggested maybe ALMOST happened....MAYBE..... I forget what was going on, but Fred had Dorris lay down on the ground in front of a truck or tractor or SOME vehicle to stop it from moving ~great husband lol~ Oliver and Lisa walk up and Oliver looks at Dorris for a few seconds with a confused look on his face...... It COULD have been because she was laying on the ground, but who knows

That was the road paving episode. Oliver had complained that a long forgotten allocation for roadwork be acted upon by the State. As it turned out part of the allocation was to go for straightening the road which required the demolition of the Ziffel residence which had been purchased by the State years earlier. Doris was blocking the bulldozer from tearing the house down, Oliver was surprised to see her on the ground. You might recall the bulldozer was going to back up to go around Doris but Lisa was now on the ground behind it, Fred immediately cautioned her to up she might get hurt.