MovieChat Forums > The Beverly Hillbillies (1962) Discussion > George Burns/Gracie Allen Show

George Burns/Gracie Allen Show

posted 9 years ago by ronaldt49
6 replies | jump to latest

Have been watchin it lately on ANTENNATV and remembering bits from seeing it way back then when about 9 or so.

One thing I enjoy is Bea Benaderet (Cousin Pearl) being straight-man to Gracie.
This has made me wonder just how it might have played if Gracie could have guested on TBH during the Cousin Pearl episodes. I can also imagine a conversation Gracie having with Jethro, Granny, etc.

I know of Gracie's health issues the last years of her life and also know she wanted out of tv, but a guest shot possibly could have been arranged?

Think it could have gone over well.

[–] steely3000 9 years ago

I suppose many shows at the time would have welcomed a Gracie Allen appearance. But yes as I recall (and I was a tot back then) she was quite ill for years with a heart ailment, and she retired from show business altogether in 1958.

As I recall Bea Banaderet was supposed to play Granny, but became Pearl instead. Then later Kate Bradley on Petticoat Junction, and once that happened they pretty much wrote Pearl out of the shows (which is too bad).

[–] crlnrgbrght5 9 years ago

It would never have been possible, for Gracie Allen to guest star on "TBH", since she passed away in 1964, before the show aired.

[–] tearsnhoney 9 years ago

I believe the show began in '62, if I'm reading my Roman numerals correctly!

[–] trollomatic 8 years ago

yes, the show premiered in 1962.

If it had started in 1964 as the other poster stated, then Bea Benaderet was simultaneously playing Kate Bradley on Peetticoat Junction which premiered in 1963 so in the 1964 episodes also and Cousin Pearl on The Beverly Hillbillies first season in 1964.

But that's NOT what happened.

TBH premiered/started in 1962.

[–] snsurone 8 years ago

While playing Cousin Pearl, Bea Benaderet was also the voice of Betty Rubble on THE FLINTSTONES.
However, when Bea took the lead in PETTICOAT JUNCTION, CBS fired her from THE FLINTSTONES, replacing her with (the far inferior, IMO) Gerry Johnson.

[–] trollomatic 8 years ago

>>>While playing Cousin Pearl, Bea Benaderet was also the voice of Betty Rubble on THE FLINTSTONES.
However, when Bea took the lead in PETTICOAT JUNCTION, CBS fired her from THE FLINTSTONES, replacing her with (the far inferior, IMO) Gerry Johnson.

How could CBS fire her from "The Flintstones"?

"The Flintstones" was produced by Hanna Barbera and aired on ABC, not on CBS.