Petticoat Junction backdrop
Comedy•Family

The Worst Episodes of Petticoat Junction

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

Binge this in 3d 9h•Peaking at 8.0/10

The Bradley family are proud owners of the Shady Rest Hotel. Kate and her three young daughters do the job of running the hotel.

Airs on
CBS
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons7

All1234567

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
    Click to reveal
    Petticoat Junction Season 7 Episode 20 - Susan B. Anthony, I Love You
    5.7/10(54 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. Petticoat Junction Season 3 Episode 30 - Whatever Happened to Betty Jo?
    6.4/10(47 votes)

    #2 - 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. Petticoat Junction Season 3 Episode 32 - The Young Matchmakers
    6.4/10(48 votes)

    #3 - 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. Petticoat Junction Season 2 Episode 7 - The Great Buffalo Hunt
    6.5/10(56 votes)

    #4 - 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. Petticoat Junction Season 3 Episode 29 - Kate Bradley, Peacemaker
    6.5/10(48 votes)

    #5 - 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. Petticoat Junction Season 4 Episode 24 - The Fishing Derby
    6.5/10(37 votes)

    #6 - 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 BEST Episodes of Petticoat Junction

    READ
  7. Petticoat Junction Season 7 Episode 18 - The Valley's New Owner
    6.5/10(41 votes)

    #7 - 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. Petticoat Junction Season 7 Episode 24 - Love Rears Its Ugly Head
    6.5/10(46 votes)

    #8 - 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. Petticoat Junction Season 3 Episode 34 - Betty Jo's Bike
    6.6/10(49 votes)

    #9 - 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. Petticoat Junction Season 6 Episode 13 - The Feminine Mistake
    6.6/10(39 votes)

    #10 - 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. Petticoat Junction Season 7 Episode 6 - The Glen Tinker Caper
    6.6/10(46 votes)

    #11 - 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. Petticoat Junction Season 7 Episode 19 - Steve's Uncle George
    6.6/10(47 votes)

    #12 - 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. Petticoat Junction Season 2 Episode 8 - Betty Jo's Pen Pal
    6.7/10(64 votes)

    #13 - 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. Petticoat Junction Season 2 Episode 13 - Smoke-Eaters
    6.7/10(53 votes)

    #14 - 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. Petticoat Junction Season 2 Episode 34 - The Brontosaurus Caper
    6.7/10(58 votes)

    #15 - 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. Petticoat Junction Season 3 Episode 8 - Hooterville A-Go-Go
    6.7/10(54 votes)

    #16 - 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. Petticoat Junction Season 7 Episode 12 - Goodbye, Mr. Chimp (2)
    6.7/10(40 votes)

    #17 - 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. Petticoat Junction Season 7 Episode 15 - How to Arrange a Marriage
    6.7/10(45 votes)

    #18 - 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. Petticoat Junction Season 7 Episode 26 - Betty Jo's Business
    6.7/10(51 votes)

    #19 - Betty Jo's Business

    S7:E26

    Betty Jo Elliott starts a day nursery to augment the family income.

    Director:Elliott Lewis
    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. Petticoat Junction Season 4 Episode 3 - Hooterville, You're All Heart
    6.8/10(50 votes)

    #20 - 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. Petticoat Junction Season 4 Episode 14 - My Daughter the Secretary
    6.8/10(34 votes)

    #21 - My Daughter the Secretary

    S4:E14

    The local Discussion Club is sending their secretary to the weekend long national conventional, all expenses paid. That means Billie Jo, but she doesn't really want to leave Steve for an entire weekend. However, Selma doesn't ever remember voting for someone to fill the position permanently. She wants to hold a special vote to elect a permanent recording secretary. Selma is pushing for Henrietta to go instead of Billie Jo. The outcome of the resulting vote, with only Billie Jo and Henrietta on the ballot, is a tie. Both Selma and Kate think they have the answer to breaking the tie with their respective daughter coming out on top. Both daughters may have other things on their mind.

    Director:Guy Scarpitta
    Writers:Al Schwartz, Lou Huston

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. Petticoat Junction Season 4 Episode 19 - A Star is Born
    6.8/10(36 votes)

    #22 - A Star is Born

    S4:E19

    The National Amateur Hour is screening for new talent, and are holding auditions through the valley's own radio Station K. The winning performer is to receive $200. Once Uncle Joe hears about the prize money, he thinks that Steve and Billie Jo should enter. Sydney Sparks, a talent agent who heard Steve and Billie Jo, wants to represent them if they win the contest. His plans are for them to go on the road as a nightclub act. The family has mixed emotions. They are happy for the potential new career, but sad to see Steve and Billie Jo possibly leave for good. Billie Jo wants to do it and sees no down side. Steve doesn't as he doesn't want to be continually on the road living out of a suitcase. Uncle Joe thinks he may have a way so that Steve and Billie Jo don't have to make the decision themselves.

    Director:Charles Barton
    Writers:Al Schwartz, Dick Conway

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  23. Petticoat Junction Season 4 Episode 30 - Kate's Cousin Mae
    6.8/10(48 votes)

    #23 - Kate's Cousin Mae

    S4:E30

    Kate's southern belle of a cousin, Mae Belle Jennings, comes to Hooterville for an unexpected visit. Cousin Mae unintentionally causes problems between Floyd and Charley, who recently and happily celebrated their twenty-fifth anniversary of working together. The problem is that both men want to court her. They both will do whatever they can do earn her favor, even if it means breaking up their professional partnership and their friendship. Seeing what is happening between Charley and Floyd, Kate thinks she has a plan to bring the two friends back together, but Kate's plan worsens the matter. After having a chat with Cousin Mae, Kate turns to Plan B. But that almost backfires as well.

    Director:Charles Barton
    Writers:Charles Stewart, Dick Conway

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  24. Petticoat Junction Season 4 Episode 31 - A House Divided
    6.8/10(34 votes)

    #24 - A House Divided

    S4:E31

    Henry and Wilma Tuttle have decided to move into Hooterville Valley. With their arrival Hooterville is now eligible to have a representative on the County Board of Supervisors. Sam scoffs at Kate's suggestion for a good candidate for Supervisor because she picked a woman. This sets off a battle of the sexes for Hooterville's Board representative. The men decide to back Sam and the women decide to back Kate. With the valley equally divided based on gender, both sides feel the best way to win is gain the vote of those in the valley who have no previous allegiance, namely the Tuttles. The women try to convince Henry to vote for Kate, while the men try to convince Wilma to vote for Sam. Henry and Wilma decide to move away because of all the fighting.

    Director:Charles Barton
    Writers:Charles Stewart, Dick Conway

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  25. Petticoat Junction Season 5 Episode 12 - The Honeymoon is Over
    6.8/10(44 votes)

    #25 - The Honeymoon is Over

    S5:E12

    Steve and Betty Jo are back from their honeymoon and have settled into their cottage. Betty Jo and Steve are still in a honeymoon state of mind. Betty Jo wants to spend every moment of his free time with him. Billie Jo announces that she got a gig for the Bradley sisters to sing at a show on Saturday night. Betty Jo has to decide what to do, sing at the show or stay at home with Steve. Joe and Sam invite Steve to a boys' night out for Saturday. He really wants to go just to prove that he doesn't need Betty Jo's approval. Betty Jo has a plan that ensures she comes out on top.

    Director:Ralph Levy
    Writers:Charles Stewart, Dick Conway

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Worst Episodes Summary

"Susan B. Anthony, I Love You" is the worst rated episode of "Petticoat Junction". It scored 5.7/10 based on 54 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, "Whatever Happened to Betty Jo?".