Petticoat Junction - The Official First Season DVD Review - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TJ · 12-02-2008, 01:50 AM

All aboard! The Cannonball is about to leave the station and take you on a ride down to that place we call the Junction... Petticoat Junction! The classic rural sitcom from creator Paul Henning comes to DVD for the first time ever in a season format. The Official First Season contains all 38 episodes from the 1963-1964 season of the series on a five disc set that contains plenty of special features. While nearly half of the episodes contained within this set have been released in public domain releases, as well as MPI’s Ultimate Collection release, this is the first time that all of the episodes have been released on DVD, and these episodes may be “new” to some fans, as the first season has largely been ignored in most syndicated runs of the series.

Petticoat Junction stars Bea Benaderet as Kate Bradley, the owner of the Shady Rest Hotel... where it all happens in the Junction. Benaderet had previously played Cousin Pearl on Paul Henning’s other hit series, The Beverly Hillbillies. But Uncle Joe (played by Edgar Buchanan) somehow manages to have his own ways, as he is “movin’ kinda slow at the Junction,” and creates major problems every now and then. Kate also has three daughters, Billy Jo, Bobbie Jo, and Betty Jo that help her keep things in line at the Shady Rest, and sometimes help her get out of the problems that happen every now and then. The series ran for seven years on CBS and eventually led the successful spinoff Green Acres (which became an even bigger pop culture phenomenon). So get ready to head on down to the Junction... Petticoat Junction!

Read our review by Skees here:
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/pettico...dvdreview.html

Please post any questions or comments about this set.

catlover79 · 12-02-2008, 01:53 AM

Very cool - thanks for posting!!

OH Nuts! · 12-02-2008, 08:23 AM

Please book me for a ride on the Cannonball Express. Woo woo!! Looking forward to this!!

janet42 · 12-03-2008, 01:40 AM

Me too. Especially to see how Pat Woodell looks after all these years and see what she has to say about the show.

OH Nuts! · 12-03-2008, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by janet42

Me too. Especially to see how Pat Woodell looks after all these years and see what she has to say about the show.

And I'm hoping I can "come ride the little train that is going down the track" into Seasons 2, 3, 4 and more! The more I think abt this show the more fond I am of it.

Jude The Obscure · 12-03-2008, 10:36 AM

Mine is already pre-ordered and hopefully will arrive before Christmas Day! I'm also keeping my MPI set, just because it has different extras and sponsorship closings on the credits.

janet42 · 12-04-2008, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OH Nuts!

And I'm hoping I can "come ride the little train that is going down the track" into Seasons 2, 3, 4 and more!

I hope that they do more seasons too. I really like this show.

Dusty's Fan · 12-04-2008, 08:36 AM

Thanks for the review. I'm really looking forward to seeing the interview material especially, and of course the otherwise unavailable episodes that will finally appear.

I might offer a few small corrections for the review:

Billie Jo, not "Billy."
Bobbie Jo and the Beatnik is the correct episode title, not Betty.
And Pat Woodell's last name is misspelled once.

Thanks again, PJ fans will be pleased to have the review available.

catlover79 · 12-04-2008, 12:30 PM

I've never seen this show, so I'm looking forward to checking it out.

Dusty's Fan · 12-05-2008, 02:39 AM

I believe it's one of the most consistently underrated series out there. The first episode establishes the premise quite effectively, and the scripts that follow are lively and highly entertaining.

Bea Benaderet is excellent in her role, Edgar Buchanan is consistently funny, and the beautiful three girls' personalities are firmly established. The train personnel (played by Smiley Burnette and Rufe Davis) are entertaining as well. And you will love seeing Betty Jo run the Cannonball!

In Season 1 you will also meet the characters Sam Drucker and Fred Ziffel, both of whom are well-remembered from later work on Green Acres as well. Fred has his pig farm, though Arnold is not yet introduced.

treky · 12-06-2008, 11:11 PM

Fred Ziffle was in that series? Funny, I don't remember him.

honeybea · 12-07-2008, 03:49 PM

Fred's pig farm seemed like a kind of hang out for the teens in Petticoat Junction. It's mentioned a lot throughout the series.

TripperFan · 12-07-2008, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I've never seen this show, so I'm looking forward to checking it out.

Oh you've got to see this classic show! Near the end I didn't like it as much (once Bea passed away). They seemed to go overboard with the sappy songs and pushing Mike as a stud singer.

But the first few seasons were great and I always enjoyed how they entertwined PJ with Green Acres and The Beverly Hillbillies.

Remember - it's also the first appearance of the legedary "Benji" known on this show as "Dog" or "Boy" (why they didn't give him a better name I'll never figure out).

Dusty's Fan · 12-08-2008, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

Fred Ziffle was in that series? Funny, I don't remember him.

I believe Fred made his debut in "Please Buy My Violets" (Season 1). He mentions his wife in that ep, but she is not named Doris (as she is known on Green Acres).

richieonline · 12-08-2008, 10:27 PM

Fred Ziffle is the BOMB!! Definitely one of the great characters from Hootersville (as Lisa would say).

12-02-2008, 01:50 AM	#1
TJ Site Owner Administrator Forum Star Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 10,676	Petticoat Junction - The Official First Season DVD Review All aboard! The Cannonball is about to leave the station and take you on a ride down to that place we call the Junction... Petticoat Junction! The classic rural sitcom from creator Paul Henning comes to DVD for the first time ever in a season format. The Official First Season contains all 38 episodes from the 1963-1964 season of the series on a five disc set that contains plenty of special features. While nearly half of the episodes contained within this set have been released in public domain releases, as well as MPI’s Ultimate Collection release, this is the first time that all of the episodes have been released on DVD, and these episodes may be “new” to some fans, as the first season has largely been ignored in most syndicated runs of the series. Petticoat Junction stars Bea Benaderet as Kate Bradley, the owner of the Shady Rest Hotel... where it all happens in the Junction. Benaderet had previously played Cousin Pearl on Paul Henning’s other hit series, The Beverly Hillbillies. But Uncle Joe (played by Edgar Buchanan) somehow manages to have his own ways, as he is “movin’ kinda slow at the Junction,” and creates major problems every now and then. Kate also has three daughters, Billy Jo, Bobbie Jo, and Betty Jo that help her keep things in line at the Shady Rest, and sometimes help her get out of the problems that happen every now and then. The series ran for seven years on CBS and eventually led the successful spinoff Green Acres (which became an even bigger pop culture phenomenon). So get ready to head on down to the Junction... Petticoat Junction! Read our review by Skees here: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/pettico...dvdreview.html Please post any questions or comments about this set.

12-02-2008, 01:53 AM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Very cool - thanks for posting!!
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

12-06-2008, 11:11 PM	#11
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	Fred Ziffle was in that series? Funny, I don't remember him.
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

12-02-2008, 08:23 AM	#3
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	Please book me for a ride on the Cannonball Express. Woo woo!! Looking forward to this!!

12-03-2008, 01:40 AM	#4
janet42 Three's Company Fan! Senior Member Join Date: Feb 22, 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,757	Me too. Especially to see how Pat Woodell looks after all these years and see what she has to say about the show.

12-03-2008, 10:36 AM	#6
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	Mine is already pre-ordered and hopefully will arrive before Christmas Day! I'm also keeping my MPI set, just because it has different extras and sponsorship closings on the credits.

12-04-2008, 08:36 AM	#8
Dusty's Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 13, 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,093	Thanks for the review. I'm really looking forward to seeing the interview material especially, and of course the otherwise unavailable episodes that will finally appear. I might offer a few small corrections for the review: Billie Jo, not "Billy." Bobbie Jo and the Beatnik is the correct episode title, not Betty. And Pat Woodell's last name is misspelled once. Thanks again, PJ fans will be pleased to have the review available.

12-04-2008, 12:30 PM	#9
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I've never seen this show, so I'm looking forward to checking it out.

12-05-2008, 02:39 AM	#10
Dusty's Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 13, 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,093	I believe it's one of the most consistently underrated series out there. The first episode establishes the premise quite effectively, and the scripts that follow are lively and highly entertaining. Bea Benaderet is excellent in her role, Edgar Buchanan is consistently funny, and the beautiful three girls' personalities are firmly established. The train personnel (played by Smiley Burnette and Rufe Davis) are entertaining as well. And you will love seeing Betty Jo run the Cannonball! In Season 1 you will also meet the characters Sam Drucker and Fred Ziffel, both of whom are well-remembered from later work on Green Acres as well. Fred has his pig farm, though Arnold is not yet introduced.

12-07-2008, 03:49 PM	#12
honeybea Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 06, 2005 Location: SC Posts: 503	Fred's pig farm seemed like a kind of hang out for the teens in Petticoat Junction. It's mentioned a lot throughout the series.

12-08-2008, 10:27 PM	#15
richieonline Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 31, 2006 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 216	Fred Ziffle is the BOMB!! Definitely one of the great characters from Hootersville (as Lisa would say).