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The Worst Episodes of Petticoat Junction

Every episode of Petticoat Junction ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Petticoat Junction!

The Worst Episodes of Petticoat Junction

The Bradley family are proud owners of the Shady Rest Hotel. Kate and her three young daughters do the job of running the hotel.
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  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Petticoat Junction Season 7 Episode 20 - Susan B. Anthony, I Love You
    5.8/10(51 votes)

    #1 - Susan B. Anthony, I Love You

    S7:E20

    Bille Jo returns from Chicago with a visionary zeal for the women's liberation movement, and enlists her sisters in ""the cause.""

    Director:Elliott Lewis
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Petticoat Junction Season 2 Episode 7 - The Great Buffalo Hunt
    6.5/10(52 votes)

    #2 - The Great Buffalo Hunt

    S2:E7

    Uncle Joe shocks Kate by bringing home a buffalo! Kate tells him to take it back, but all sales were final. It's part of his scheme to dupe wealthy British sportsman Lord Harold Faversham into coming to "Shady Rest Hunting Lodge" to hunt wild buffalo. But, the buffalo is far from wild and the girls want to keep him as a pet. Another problem arises when Joe spooks the buffalo, who runs off, leaving Lord Faversham nothing to hunt for. Joe stalls Faversham for three days. The Lord is growing tired of Joe and threatens to sue, while the girl try to protect their new pet. Kate comes up with a way for Faversham to have all the hunting he wants.

    Director:Richard L. Bare
    Writer:Jay Sommers

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  3. Petticoat Junction Season 2 Episode 8 - Betty Jo's Pen Pal
    6.6/10(59 votes)

    #3 - Betty Jo's Pen Pal

    S2:E8

    The girls are trying to learn some Japanese to make Betty Jo's Japanese pen pal, Nobuko Takamura, feel at home for her visit. Nobuko has come to the US to attend college to improve her English so that she can teach it back in Japan. She would also like to learn American customs. Nobuko tells Joe that in Japan, the women do the yard work. Joe gets Nobuko to do his chores until Kate puts a stop to it. On a picnic, Nobuko can't help but serve Billie Jo and Bobbie Jo's boyfriends. Kate tells Nobuko that the men should be the ones helping the women. Nobuko catches on to that custom quite quickly.

    Director:Guy Scarpitta
    Writers:Jay Sommers, Lou Huston

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  4. Petticoat Junction Season 2 Episode 13 - Smoke-Eaters
    6.6/10(49 votes)

    #4 - Smoke-Eaters

    S2:E13

    Uncle Joe has formed the Hooterville Volunteer Fire Department Volunteer Band. The band is so bad that it is driving paying guests away from the hotel. Joe hoped to raise money with the band to form an actual Hooterville Volunteer Fire Department. An upset Joe tells Kate she should come up with a better way to raise the money. After asking for donations only raises $62, Kates decides they need professional help. Kate wants to contact Henry Phillips, who works for a company that manufacture fire equipment, and ask his help. Calling in an outsider irks Uncle Joe and he says he can get all the equipment they need for the $62 they have. Joe winds up buying a bunch of junk. Mr. Phillips arrives and after a plan gone wrong by Joe, Kate finds a way to have Mr. Phillips get them what they need. Another plan of Joe's goes wrong and the Hooterville train station winds up burning down.

    Director:Richard L. Bare
    Writer:Jay Sommers

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  5. Petticoat Junction Season 4 Episode 24 - The Fishing Derby
    6.6/10(32 votes)

    #5 - The Fishing Derby

    S4:E24

    Business at the Shady Rest is worse than usual. Uncle Joe speaks to Sam about the Shady Rest and Drucker's Store jointly hosting a fishing derby on Lost Lake. Joe figures that they can advertise expensive prizes, such as a boat, outboard motor and fishing gear, and order the prizes on a 30-day layaway plan. Since Sam and Joe always catch the biggest fish on Lost Lake year after year, Joe figures one of the two of them will win the derby and they can return the prizes before the 30 days. In the meantime, the hotel will be filled up and Drucker's Store will be busy with new customers. Kate has no idea of the underlying scam when she agrees to the derby. The derby does bring in business to both the hotel and store. But it also brings in Rod Granger from the Riverside Chronicle, who seems able to out-fish Sam and Joe. Just when it looks as though Mr. Granger is going to win, Joe comes in with a bigger fish.

    Director:Charles Barton
    Writer:Dick Conway

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  6. Petticoat Junction Season 2 Episode 34 - The Brontosaurus Caper
    6.7/10(53 votes)

    #6 - The Brontosaurus Caper

    S2:E34

    Betty Jo is giving up baseball to devote her life to science. The family finds out that she has a crush on Roland Barrett, her new science teacher. Dog brings home a large animal bone which Betty Jo takes to Roland. Roland is very interested in the bone and would like to find out where Dog got it from. Dog brings home more and more bones and Roland believes they could be from a brontosaurus. The family starts to believe the bones are buried below the hotel. Kate is not thrilled when they start digging a hole in the lobby floor. Clarence McGill, curator for the Pixley museum, comes to the Shady Rest. It seems the museum has been closed for repairs. Clarence caught Dog sneaking in and stealing the bones from the baby brontosaurus skeleton.

    Director:Richard L. Bare
    Writers:Stan Dreben, Howard Merrill

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  7. Petticoat Junction Season 3 Episode 8 - Hooterville A-Go-Go
    6.7/10(49 votes)

    #7 - Hooterville A-Go-Go

    S3:E8

    The Every Other Wednesday Afternoon Discussion Club, with its new member Lisa Douglas, is planning on holding a square dance as a high school benefit. The Bradley girls decide to try and get King Ring a Ding, the big rock 'n' roll star, to perform at the benefit instead. Who shows up unexpectedly at the hotel instead is Herbie Willits, who used to live in Hooterville and who Kate encouraged to become a singer. Kate wants Herbie to sing at the benefit. What Kate and girls don't realize is that Herbie is King Ring a Ding. When Herbie hears that no tickets have been sold mainly because he's the "headliner", he comes up with a plan. Uncle Joe has his own plan, not realizing what Herbie's plans actually are, and in the process almost ruins the benefit.

    Director:Charles Barton
    Writers:George O'Hanlon, Charles Tannen

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  8. Petticoat Junction Season 3 Episode 29 - Kate Bradley, Peacemaker
    6.7/10(45 votes)

    #8 - Kate Bradley, Peacemaker

    S3:E29

    The cheap refrigerator that Uncle Joe bought isn't working, so Kate sends him into Pixley to get some ice for the icebox. Floyd and Charley are having a fight over who is the boss of the Cannonball and then they have a fight over a missing apple. Because of this, Joe can't get to Pixley and Kate's food will spoil. Kate gets the two to patch things up, but then Joe says something and they start fighting again. Kate has Betty Jo bring in the analytical mind of Mr. Douglas to assist in convincing the two to make up, but that doesn't work. Joe uses the hand car to get some ice, while the Cannonball strike continues. Floyd and Charley make up, but once again Joe does something to break them up again. Kate finally comes up with a way to get the two to be friends again.

    Director:Charles Barton
    Writers:Al Schwartz, Lou Huston

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  9. Petticoat Junction Season 7 Episode 12 - Goodbye, Mr. Chimp (2)
    6.7/10(38 votes)

    #9 - Goodbye, Mr. Chimp (2)

    S7:E12

    Uncle Joe tries to get rid of the pet chimp who is gradually wrecking the Shady Rest hotel.

    Director:Elliott Lewis
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Petticoat Junction Season 7 Episode 18 - The Valley's New Owner
    6.7/10(38 votes)

    #10 - The Valley's New Owner

    S7:E18

    Shy Orrin Pike becomes a big man when an old deed indicates he is the legal owner of the entire Hooterville Valley.

    Director:Elliott Lewis
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Petticoat Junction Season 7 Episode 24 - Love Rears Its Ugly Head
    6.7/10(43 votes)

    #11 - Love Rears Its Ugly Head

    S7:E24

    Billie Jo tries to spread love through the valley with a new theory of sensitivity training.

    Director:Elliott Lewis
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Petticoat Junction Season 3 Episode 30 - Whatever Happened to Betty Jo?
    6.8/10(43 votes)

    #12 - Whatever Happened to Betty Jo?

    S3:E30

    Kate is cleaning out the storage closet. She wants the family members to go through their belongings to see what can be thrown away. Uncle Joe thinks they should start an antiques business with the junk. Everyone is around to help except Betty Jo, who should have been on the afternoon Cannonball run from school. Floyd and Charlie tell Kate that they saw Betty Jo that morning. She was all made up and had a suitcase. It looked like she was about to run away to elope. Kate and the girls look for clues in Betty Jo's room. They find a notebook that leads them to believe that Betty Jo might be thinking of eloping with the new boy in town, Peter Latimer. Betty Jo is actually just coaching baseball to Peter were no one can see them. Kate visits Mrs. Latimer to tell her that their children have eloped. When Betty Jo and Peter come home, everyone finds out that they were worrying over nothing.

    Director:Guy Scarpitta
    Writers:Al Schwartz, Lou Huston

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  13. Petticoat Junction Season 3 Episode 32 - The Young Matchmakers
    6.8/10(43 votes)

    #13 - The Young Matchmakers

    S3:E32

    It seems that every night everyone has something to do except for Kate. Uncle Joe tells Kate that she needs to get out herself. The girls decide to try and find Kate an eligible bachelor. They first tell Kate that they're grown up now, she doesn't need to take care of them and she should go on a date. That direct approach doesn't work. Their next attempt fails as well. They then ask Mrs. Douglas for her advice. Mrs. Douglas suggests holding a lonely hearts club gathering at the hotel. Three desperate men show up at the hotel hoping to meet some women. Once she knows what is going on, Kate finds a way to get each of the men to leave

    Director:Charles Barton
    Writers:Al Schwartz, Lou Huston

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  14. Petticoat Junction Season 3 Episode 34 - Betty Jo's Bike
    6.8/10(46 votes)

    #14 - Betty Jo's Bike

    S3:E34

    Betty Jo wants to buy her friend Willie's motorized bicycle. Kate says she can if she is able to come up with the money. Betty Jo gets a babysitting job on the condition that Kate is around to supervise, to which Kate reluctantly agrees. Kate winds up doing most of the work. Now many other babysitting offers and many other babies come out of the woodwork. Unfortunately, the jobs are all for the same night and under the same condition of Kate supervising. With help from the family, they make it through the night. Willie says he'll trade his bike for the family dog, but Betty Jo refuses.

    Director:Guy Scarpitta
    Writers:Jay Sommers, Howard Harris

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  15. Petticoat Junction Season 4 Episode 3 - Hooterville, You're All Heart
    6.8/10(47 votes)

    #15 - Hooterville, You're All Heart

    S4:E3

    Steve's plane is still sitting damaged where it crashed near the railroad tracks by the hotel. Henry Sharp, from the finance company, comes by because Steve has missed a payment. Steve has barely enough money to repair the plane let alone make his regular payments. Trying to get Sharp to give Steve some time fail. Steve decides to cut corners in repairing the plane. Kate, the girls and Uncle Joe try to help him raise some money, which ends up not being easy. Sunday at church, Reverend Jones enjoyed Steve's singing so much, he starts a contribution drive. They raise enough money to fix the plane and Steve decides to stay in the valley.

    Director:Guy Scarpitta
    Writers:Charles Stewart, Dick Conway

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  16. Petticoat Junction Season 6 Episode 13 - The Feminine Mistake
    6.8/10(37 votes)

    #16 - The Feminine Mistake

    S6:E13

    Bobbie Jo really likes a new book she is reading called "The Feminine Mistake". It talks about how women are denied their humanity by men by being forced into domestic lives rather than real careers. Bobbie Jo decides to look for a job so that she can gain an identity through her work. Her first attempts at jobs end in disaster. Sam let's Bobbie Jo write for the paper. Bobbie Jo writes an article about Dr. Craig that incorrectly portrays her as a snob, causing an uproar in the valley. A remorseful Bobbie Jo decides to leave town. It may take Janet using some reverse psychology to make Bobbie Jo fully understand her life in Hooterville. Bobbie Jo decides to stay, stating "I'm the only one left to give that woman's touch to the Shady Rest..." Meanwhile, Uncle Joe tries to build a motorized bicycle so that he doesn't have to pedal.

    Director:Ralph Levy
    Writer:Joanna Lee

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  17. Petticoat Junction Season 6 Episode 15 - The Christening
    6.8/10(47 votes)

    #17 - The Christening

    S6:E15

    Betty Jo has arranged with Reverend Barton to hold Kathy Jo's christening this Sunday. Janet reminds Betty Jo and Steve that it is customary to have godparents stand up during the christening. They have only a few days to decide on who Kathy Jo's godparents will be. They also know that whoever they don't choose will be hurt and offended. Uncle Joe, Sam, Bert Smedley, Wendell and even Doc Stuart all compete to be chosen godfather. Janet is honored that Betty Jo and Steve ask her to be godmother. Betty Jo asks Janet to decide who will be godfather. Janet then asks the Reverend's advice. He comes up with the only choice that makes sense.

    Director:Guy Scarpitta
    Writers:Charles Stewart, Dick Conway

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  18. Petticoat Junction Season 6 Episode 24 - The Great Race
    6.8/10(44 votes)

    #18 - The Great Race

    S6:E24

    Hank Thackery is the owner of the Shady Rests rival hotel, the Pixley House. He plans to set up a jitney service between Pixley and Hooterville as an alternative to the Cannonball. He bets Joe that he can be faster from Pixley to Hooterville than the Cannonball. The loser to act as the bellboy at the other's hotel for a month. Part of Joe's problem in winning is getting Wendell into racing mentality. Hank also convinces the county commissioner that the Cannonball's fate should depend on the outcome of the race. The Cannonball wins with some unexpected help. Hal Smith appears as Jug Gunderson

    Director:Ralph Levy
    Writers:Charles Stewart, Dick Conway

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  19. Petticoat Junction Season 7 Episode 6 - The Glen Tinker Caper
    6.8/10(43 votes)

    #19 - The Glen Tinker Caper

    S7:E6

    An unknown singer tries to smuggle an adorable Vietnamese orphan into the United States by bringing her to Hooterville.

    Director:Elliott Lewis
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Petticoat Junction Season 7 Episode 15 - How to Arrange a Marriage
    6.8/10(42 votes)

    #20 - How to Arrange a Marriage

    S7:E15

    Bobbie Jo attempts to soften up Billie's Jo's new boyfriend for marriage.

    Director:Elliott Lewis
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Petticoat Junction Season 7 Episode 19 - Steve's Uncle George
    6.8/10(43 votes)

    #21 - Steve's Uncle George

    S7:E19

    Steve's Uncle George visits the Shady Rest hotel and lives up to his repulation as a troublemaker.

    Director:Elliott Lewis
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Petticoat Junction Season 1 Episode 15 - Herbie Gets Drafted
    6.9/10(87 votes)

    #22 - Herbie Gets Drafted

    S1:E15

    Herby is depressed when he gets drafted, so the girls cheer him up by suggesting he could be an astronaut. Uncle Joe hears this and decides he needs to promote Herby's future political career to the whole town. When Herby gets a discharge for minor medical problems, Kate finds a way for him to save face with Billie Jo and the rest.

    Director:Jean Yarbrough
    Writers:Dick Wesson, John Elliotte

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  23. Petticoat Junction Season 1 Episode 31 - Charley Abandons the Cannonball
    6.9/10(55 votes)

    #23 - Charley Abandons the Cannonball

    S1:E31

    Charley begins to believe that everyone seems too busy to spend any time with him. Floyd has started to call on the widow Sarah Lawrence. Uncle Joe has a speech he has to prepare, so has no time to go fishing with him. Kate has far too much work to do around the hotel. Charley doesn't want to spend his time alone and miserable running the Cannonball. He decides to quit and move to the big city. Kate tries to manufacture ways of keeping Charley in the valley before his replacement Bill Tuttle comes and takes over his job. When Charley realizes how much he is loved and needed, he finds a way to talk Tuttle out of staying.

    Director:David Alexander
    Writers:Harry Winkler, Hannibal Coons

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  24. Petticoat Junction Season 3 Episode 6 - Bobbie Jo's Sorority
    6.9/10(58 votes)

    #24 - Bobbie Jo's Sorority

    S3:E6

    Bobbie Jo has been nominated for membership into Hooterville High's only sorority. She is worried as she knows many girls who were nominated but didn't pass the initiation. The head of the sorority, Henrietta Watson doesn't want Bobbie Jo in the sorority. She devises what she believes is an impossible initiation task for Bobbie Jo. Bobbie Jo must get a date with the school's star athlete, Stonewall Jackson, who seems only interested in sports and not girls. Bobbie Jo enlists Betty Jo to teach her some things about sports. Thanks to Betty Jo, Bobbie Jo gets the date and her membership. Bobbie Jo also has a way to get back at Henrietta for the difficult initiation task.

    Director:Guy Scarpitta
    Writers:Al Schwartz, Lou Huston

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  25. Petticoat Junction Season 3 Episode 13 - Uncle Joe Plays Post Office
    6.9/10(43 votes)

    #25 - Uncle Joe Plays Post Office

    S3:E13

    Joe insults Sam about the way he runs the post office, so Sam lets Joe take over. Joe decides to set up the post office at the hotel's reception desk. Kate tries to persuade Joe to give the post office back to Sam and for Sam to take it back. Joe tries to gather the equipment he needs to run the post office, even if it means confiscating what he needs in the name of the federal government. Customers treat the new post office like it was still in Drucker's Store, wanting to buy groceries. Things start falling apart around Joe and after the Government steps in, the post office is moved back to Sam's store.

    Director:Stanley Z. Cherry
    Writers:Al Schwartz, Lou Huston

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Susan B. Anthony, I Love You" is the worst rated episode of "Petticoat Junction". It scored 5.8/10 based on 51 votes. Directed by Elliott Lewis and written by Unknown, it aired on 2/7/1970. This episode scored 0.7 points lower than the second lowest rated, "The Great Buffalo Hunt".