The family is awaiting the return of Betty Jo, who has been traveling through Europe for the past three months. The trip was a graduation present from Kate's cousin Mae. Billie Jo and Bobbie Jo believe that the trip probably has changed Betty Jo, who will not want to see all her childhood belongings that Kate has so prominently displayed in Betty Jo's bedroom. Kate, in this act of decorating Betty Jo's room, doesn't think anything, even this exciting trip, will have changed Betty Jo. But Billie Jo and Bobbie Jo are right. Accompanying Betty Jo from New York City are three friends - Peter, Brad and Ronnie - who are all stuck up and pretentious, just like Betty Jo is now. Unknown to Betty Jo, who says farewell to them at the city airport, Peter, Brad and Ronnie plan to make their way to Hooterville and the Shady Rest to see first hand Betty Jo's rural life. Upon their arrival, Betty Jo becomes ashamed and embarrassed of her background as she tries to put on airs for her three friends.... Written by Huggo

Betty Jo is feeling like she's at that stage of her life where she needs to learn how to cook to snag a husband. Beyond the snagging a husband part, Kate agrees and offers to teach Betty Jo. But Betty Jo may be on her own after Kate, who sees one of Billie Jo's costumes for her nightclub act at the Flamingo Room, demands to go with Billie Jo to provide her first hand motherly critique of Billie Jo's career. Kate can't help but be the typical stage mother in trying to protect Billie Jo. But Kate may have bigger issues with which to deal when she telephones home to see how things are going. When Sam tells her not to worry since there's nothing you can do about it now - Sam referring to the fact that Steve became ill after eating Betty Jo's cooking - Kate jumps to a conclusion, a wrong one, but one that makes her rush back home to save her youngest from what she considers a big mistake. Written by Huggo

Betty Jo has been receiving a large number of very expensive floral bouquets, all the associated cards signed solely From an Admirer. Billie Jo and Bobbie Jo believe that the sender is probably one of the many boys she met on her travels, especially those in New York. However, Betty Jo's surprising admirer does eventually make himself known to Betty Jo and the rest of the family. He is neither who Betty Jo expected or wanted and she has to try to let him down easy. Against Kate's wishes, Bobbie Jo suggests to Betty Jo that she come up with someone to act as her boyfriend to scare away the admirer. Part of the issue with that plan is that person almost wishes he was the one who sent the flowers. Meanwhile, Uncle Joe is trying to setup a labor saving luggage pulley system between the Shady Rest stop and the hotel's front porch. Written by Huggo

While flying back from Springdale, Steve and Betty Jo are caught in an unexpected thunderstorm. Although there were some tense moments - for both those up in the air and those on the ground waiting for them - Steve and Betty Jo make it down safely. The emotions from their experience together throw Steve and Betty Jo into each others' arms, which turns into one of the first expressions that they are falling in love with each other. Betty Jo confides her feelings for Steve to her mother, who cautions her to take a wait and see approach and not jump to conclusions about Steve's feelings. But Steve later confirms with Kate that he indeed does have those feelings for her youngest daughter. This news places a possible strain in the Bradley family with the other two girls, especially Billie Jo, who Steve has been going with for quite some time. While Kate tries to figure out a way to smooth the possible rough waters with Billie Jo and Bobbie Jo, Steve may take matters into his own hands, ... Written by Huggo

Uncle Joe tells Kate that he believes that it is inevitable that Steve and Betty Jo will get married sooner than later. Steve implies as much to her that he does intend to marry Betty Jo. Kate doesn't know what to think as she still sees Betty Jo as her little girl. After a chat with Sam, who ends up being her voice of reason, Kate decides to give Steve her blessing to propose. That's just the first hurdle for Steve, who is pretty sure that Betty Jo will say yes, but there still is that small part of him that is scared she'll say no. So Steve and Kate, without telling anyone else what's going on, try to arrange the perfect setting for a romantic proposal and a positive outcome. One thing or another seems to be getting in the way for Steve to ask the question. Steve may have to hurry when Uncle Joe gets wind of what's going on, news which he is happy to spread across the valley. Written by Huggo

Secluded in the woods near Pixley and literally a stone's throw away from the rail line, Betty Jo has found what she believes is the perfect house for herself and Steve for after their marriage. Perfection is in the eye of the beholder as once Betty Jo is able to locate the house once again to show Steve and Kate, all Steve and Kate can see in the building is an old, dilapidated shack, and one that has no bathroom to boot. Steve wants to be supportive of Betty Jo's dream - which in this case is a difficult thing to do - so he makes an off the cuff comment about the up side of owning that house. That comment places a strain between Steve and Betty Jo, one that could be a deal breaker for their relationship and upcoming marriage. While Billie Jo and Bobbie Jo side with and support their sister in the matter, Kate tries to talk some sense into Steve and particularly Betty Jo to get their future life together back on track. Written by Huggo

Floyd is in love. Because he's so shy, he doesn't want anyone to know just in case it doesn't work out. He eventually confides in Kate, but doesn't mention who the girl is, not wanting to jinx the situation. Even after it looks like Floyd has proposed and the girl accepted, he doesn't divulge who she is. After he asks Steve for an unusual and huge favor, everyone at the Shady Rest is more curious than ever about who the girl is. Uncle Joe, who once took a private investigator's course, believes he can uncover the identity of the mystery girl. One key piece of evidence is Floyd's request to Steve, which is deemed uncharacteristic of Floyd's nature. But Kate knows a surefire way to find out: Selma, the biggest gossip in town. Kate has to try to get the information from Selma without Selma figuring out that they don't know. Selma does readily divulge the information, which throws everyone into a tailspin and threatens to ruin Steve and Betty Jo's own wedding. Written by Huggo

Steve and Betty Jo's wedding is fast approaching. They are working hard trying to complete the renovations on their cottage by the time of the wedding, which is a tall order. Thrown into the mix is a letter from Steve's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Elliott, who have decided imminently to stop by Hooterville on their way to a business meeting. Although Steve doesn't see their visit as a big deal and although their letter states that the Bradleys should not make a fuss, Betty Jo is freaked by one other line in the letter: We just want to meet your Betty Jo, have one of her delicious meals, and see your dream house. Steve stretched the truth about Betty Jo's cooking and the cottage when writing home to his parents. With Kate's coaching, Betty Jo is determined to prepare dinner for her new in-laws. That may not come to pass when Kate is ordered bed-rest by Doc Stuart for what looks to be a 48-hour cold. With Betty Jo stuck in the kitchen alone without Kate, there is little time for her ... Written by Huggo

On a trip into Riverdale, Betty Jo finds what she thinks is the perfect wedding dress, which she takes back to Shady Rest to show Kate for approval. What Betty Jo is unaware of is that Uncle Joe has bought her a wedding dress himself, that in a country style with a big sunflower emblazoned on the front. Also upon her arrival, Kate's cousin Mae comes bearing another wedding dress for Betty Jo, a mini dress off the fashion runways of Paris, complete with white high heeled boots. Neither Uncle Joe or Cousin Mae are aware that Betty Jo has bought her own dress. As much as she loves both Uncle Joe and Cousin Mae, neither of the dresses they got for her are her style, but she doesn't have the heart to tell them that she plans on wearing her own purchased dress for fear of hurting their feelings. Billie Jo thinks she has the solution to all Betty Jo's wedding gown problems, Billie Jo's idea which divulges a secret that Kate herself was keeping from Betty Jo in an effort to make her daughter ... Written by Huggo

Sam receives a cablegram for Kate from Betty Jo and Steve on the cruise ship as they're sailing to Hawaii for their honeymoon. The cablegram has perhaps the biggest news the valley has ever seen in its communications history: Betty Jo and Steve will be telephoning at 4pm the following day from Hawaii. The previous long distance telephone record into the valley was from Uncle Joe in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Kate and the family are excited about the news, with Kate and Sam doing whatever they can to ensure that there are no interruptions or obstacles for the telephone call to make it through. As 4pm approaches and Kate, the girls and Uncle Joe are in their Sunday best in Sam's store waiting for the call, they face unforeseen obstacles in having the telephone call be a smooth one. Meanwhile, Betty Jo and Steve, while on their honeymoon, are getting used to the idea of being Mr. and Mrs. Steve Elliott. Written by Huggo

It's Kate's birthday. Even though she is grateful for all the presents and the birthday sentiments - even the less than friendly one from Selma - she feels like one is missing, specifically from Betty Jo and Steve who are still on their honeymoon in Hawaii. Kate would have thought that they would have sent a present or a greeting of some sort on this day. But as the mail comes and goes with no gift from the honeymooners and as the day goes on with no word, Kate is empty handed but still can't believe the two would have forgotten her birthday. Neither can Uncle Joe and Sam, who go to extreme lengths to find that present, which they feel must be lost somewhere in the postal system. What everyone in Hooterville is unaware of is that Betty Jo and Steve have a special surprise for Kate for her birthday, but getting that surprise to her by the end of her actual birthday may be a bit of an issue. Written by Huggo

Steve and Betty Jo are back from their honeymoon and have settled into their cottage. Betty Jo is still in honeymoon phase in her mind, she who feels that she and Steve will always be in love and never have a fight. She doesn't want Steve to go to work, but since he has to, she wants to spend every other moment of his free time with him. Steve is equally still in honeymoon phase, he who wants to buy Betty Jo a three week anniversary present. So when 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. And when Joe and Sam invite Steve to a boys' night out for Saturday - he who really wants to go just to prove that he doesn't need Betty Jo's approval - he too has to decide what to do. Betty Jo and Steve's respective decisions test the power within the new Elliott household and whether they truly still are mentally in honeymoon phase. In the process, they learn... Written by Huggo

Kate receives a sickeningly sweet letter from Homer Bedloe stating that he will be imminently arriving at the Shady Rest for a few days stay. Kate knows that the sweeter the letter, the more sour the reason for Bedloe's visit. Upon his arrival, Bedloe is as sweet as his letter. He does tell Kate that the reason for his visit is that a valuable race horse is being transported from Hooterville to Pixley on the Cannonball and he wants to be on hand to make sure all goes smoothly with the job. Upon his arrival at the Shady Rest, Ray Rogers, the race horse owner, further tells Kate that the horse is ultimately being transported to Riverdale for the county fair. But when Kate sees the broken down nag that is passing for the race horse, Kate knows that Bedloe and Rogers are in cahoots to shut down the Cannonball. She just has to figure out how they plan on doing so. When she does figure out Bedloe and Rogers' scheme, Kate knows the only person who can solve their problem is Betty Jo. But ... Written by Huggo

Kate is livid. She received a traffic ticket for jaywalking against the new traffic light in Pixley. She refuses to pay the $2 fine as her assertion is that the traffic light, which is supposed to be in operation only peak hours, was in operation during a non-peak time when she crossed against the light. So she decides to take the case to court. Besides her family, Kate, in the court of public opinion, finds that most of the people in the valley, even her friends like Sam, Floyd and even Steve, believe she's in the wrong. With the case, Kate goes back to Pixley to try and find anyone who can attest to her whereabouts on the date of the incident, showing that she was at the traffic light during an off peak time. If she can't find any witnesses, it may end up being her word against that of the ticket issuing deputy. Uncle Joe vows to help Kate prove that she's in the right, which could potentially get her into more trouble. Written by Huggo

Billie Jo and Uncle Joe, who accompanied his niece, have just arrived back from Omaha, where Billie Jo had a singing engagement. Beyond Billie Jo's singing success, Uncle Joe can't help but tell of his exciting news from their stay at the fancy Omaha hotel. He applied for the Shady Rest to be listed in the Master Plan hotel directory, membership in which costs $50 just for the application. Uncle Joe figures they can get more than that money back back from the throngs of guests who learned about them from the directory. Although this scheme seems like just another of Uncle Joe's hair-brained ideas, Billie Jo, who saw the respect Uncle Joe got in Omaha as being a fellow hotelier, thinks that they should show that same respect to him instead of always laughing at him and laughing about him. As such, Kate goes along with Uncle Joe's idea behind the Master Plan. Meanwhile, they receive an unexpected hotel guest in the form of well appointed Gaylord Martindale. Although Martindale states ... Written by Huggo

Uncle Joe's latest scheme has him keeping bees, which he figures will be his most lucrative business ever. Needing some initial capital, he turns to his business partner Steve, who lends him $25 that he and Betty Jo set aside as mad money. This action leads to problems between Steve and Betty Jo, who made a pact never to lie to each other and always tell each other everything in an effort never to argue. With a little help from Kate, Steve and Betty Jo are able to weather this minor storm. But that storm reignites itself after some insect misidentification by Uncle Joe - he who thought the hornets he collected were actually bees - which leads to another argument between Steve and Betty Jo. As Steve tries to help Uncle Joe fix the problem of getting rid of the hornets, Uncle Joe may indirectly solve Steve and Betty Jo's problem by his act to get rid of the hornets on his own. Written by Huggo

Having a joint checking account is causing problems for Steve and Betty Jo. Betty Jo is writing checks faster than Steve is putting money into the account, which leads to the account being overdrawn. They make a deal: Betty Jo will not spend any more money for a month. What Betty Jo doesn't tell Steve when she accepts the agreement is that she has already purchased an extremely long sofa for $100 from Agnew's Furniture Store. She's certain he'll love it once he sees it. The problem ends up being that the extremely long sofa doesn't fit in their tiny living room unless a wall gets knocked down, and the sofa was a no return sale. Betty Jo and Steve run into further problems when Steve has an idea of his own for the living room, which Betty Jo misinterprets for her own wants. An exasperated Kate gets caught in the middle, she who Betty Jo co-opts to deal with a less than flexible but more than profit hungry Mr. Agnew. Written by Huggo

An excited Bobbie Jo passes on the news that she and the man of her dreams, journalism graduate student Jeff Powers, will be working on a newspaper together... perhaps. In lieu of a term paper for her journalism class, the professor has allowed students to put out an existing newspaper for a week if they can find an editor of one that will allow them to do so. Bobbie Jo is hoping Kate will ask Sam for her if she and Jeff can be the editors of the Hooterville World Guardian for the week. Kate and Bobbie Jo are surprised that Sam is more than willing to hand over the reigns. Jeff ends up having a hard hitting view of of newspaper journalism, naming names whenever they are known. Sam isn't too sure about that policy, but he changes his mind after Kate and Joe tell him that if the story is factual, it is news. Bobbie Jo may change her mind about the policy when one of the stories affects Uncle Joe negatively. If she can't change Jeff's mind about printing the story about Uncle Joe, Bobbie... Written by Huggo

J.P. Marshall, an industrialist who recently bought much of the farm land in the valley, has checked into the hotel. Uncle Joe sees his stay as an opportunity to secure the lucrative crop dusting contract for his fields. This news will be welcome for Steve and Betty Jo, as Steve lost his latest contract due to not wanting to kowtow to the client anymore, which in turn has turned the color of their books from black to red. Uncle Joe convinces Steve to do whatever Marshall wants to secure the contract. When Steve agrees, he didn't think there would be any difficulties in doing so, until he meets Marshall's daughter, the voluptuous Millicent Marshall, who has her sights set on Steve. It seems that winning Marshall's contract means being nice to Millicent. While Uncle Joe still wants Steve to cater to both Marshall and Millicent's whims, Betty Jo, with Billie Jo and Bobbie Jo at her side, doesn't like Millicent as the competition. Caught in the middle is Steve, who has to decide if being ... Written by Huggo

Uncle Joe's founded and led barbershop quartet - whose other members are Sam, Floyd and Newt - have entered the Winter Festival competition. Uncle Joe comes to the conclusion that their ability to win is being hindered by one member who is singing a bunch of clunker notes. After some investigation and deduction, they realize that the offending member is Joe himself. After a discussion with Sam, Joe decides to step aside if they can find somebody to replace him. He figures they won't be able to replace irreplaceable him. He's wrong as they quickly find Grampa Jenson to fill his baritone place. Joe sees this act as mutiny, which leads to the end of his friendship with Sam. As the girls and Steve try to repair Uncle Joe and Sam's friendship, Selma, the head of the Winter Festival's judging committee, asks Joe to be the third on the panel of judges. Her request has an ulterior motive as Henrietta has entered the contest. Selma implies that she will give the Carson-Elliott Enterprises her ... Written by Huggo

Everyone at the hotel is worried since Dog has been gone for most of the day, the longest he's been away. Unknown to them, he ran off to Betty Jo and Steve's. When Betty Jo brings him back to the hotel later in the afternoon, Billie Jo and Bobbie Jo are angry that Betty Jo didn't send him back sooner since the hotel is his home. Betty Jo doesn't take too kindly to their insinuation that Dog does not equally belong to her, especially as Dog's entry into the Bradley clan was when he followed Betty Jo home. The sisters' feud doesn't stop Dog from going where ever he wants, which means back to Betty Jo and Steve's. The feud escalates when Steve sides with Billie Jo and Bobbie Jo, and Sam, in an argument with Joe, sides with Betty Jo. Steve thinks he has the answer when he gets Betty Jo another dog, which ends up only compounding the problem. Dog, who can only take so much of the feuding, decides to show his extended family that the feuding has to stop in the only way he knows how. Written by Huggo

Florabelle Campbell, the valley's bombshell during Uncle Joe's growing up period, is coming to stay at the Shady Rest. News of her visit quickly spreads among her former courters, including Uncle Joe, Sam and Ralph. They all believe that they can rekindle their respective courtships with Florabelle. Uncle Joe and Sam in particular feel that they are in competition for Florabelle's affections, and will do whatever they can to gain the upper hand in Florabelle's heart. Their perceptions and the reality of Florabelle's visit end up being two totally separate things. A visual trip down memory lane may be what is required to fulfill Joe and Sam's fantasies regarding Florabelle's visit. Written by Huggo

While Kate is away, Uncle Joe has been left to manage the hotel. Beyond the regular maintenance and cleaning duties, one of the administrative things that Uncle Joe believes needs to be done is to collect rent from their guests. Their only guest is 'Old Man' Bill Clayton, who Kate allowed to stay despite he having no money. Her implied want is for the family to treat him like a regular guest while she's gone. However, Uncle Joe has every intention on collecting his rent or kicking him out. Uncle Joe ultimately changes his mind, but Mr. Clayton sees the hotel bill in Joe's hand and decides voluntarily to leave. Thinking that he kicked Mr. Clayton out, the girls, Sam and Floyd treat Uncle Joe like he's persona non grata. Knowing that he did wrong, Uncle Joe decides to run away. He gets a little help in surviving on the road from a few unwitting people. When the girls and Steve find out where Uncle Joe's been hiding, they have to come up with a meaningful way to get him back to the Shady... Written by Huggo

Billie Jo is ecstatic that her first 45 has been produced. The record company has plans to market it heavily, which evokes mixed emotions in Billie Jo. She is excited about her recording career potentially going through the roof, but is worried that she, as a personality, won't be exciting enough either for the press agent, Ted Swift, or the record buying public. Indeed, Swift is less than enthralled by life at the Shady Rest as a means to market Billie Jo. Eventually, Swift wants to market Billie Jo as a glamorous and sophisticated pampered southern belle, with the Shady Rest depicted as another Tara. To promote her career, Billie Jo likes the idea despite it being a total fabrication, which is why Steve and Betty Jo in particular hate the idea, especially since there is always the potential that the truth about her real life will be discovered. Betty Jo hopes that the question is this what Mom would want you to do? will make Billie Jo come to her senses, even if it risks her ... Written by Huggo

Life at the Shady Rest is going well despite Kate's absence. In fact, the hotel is all full. But things look to go downhill when the girls and Uncle Joe receive a letter from Cousin Mae, who is planning on flittin' by to take charge, since all, in her mind, is probably falling apart in Kate's absence. Cousin Mae's meddling quickly wreaks havoc for all concerned, from the hotel's relationship with Drucker's Store, to Steve and Betty Jo's remodeling plan for the cottage, to Bobbie Jo's love life with Jeff, to Billie Jo's singing career. In the middle of the Mae storm arrives sane and stable Aunt Helen, who is stopping by the Shady Rest to begin her world trip as she has now retired from teaching. As Helen too ends up a victim of Mae's meddling, she comes up with a plan to convince Mae that her time at the Shady Rest is at its end. Written by Huggo

Bobbie Jo's wannabe boyfriend, aspiring journalist Jeff Powers, is looking for a big story in his final week working as a reporter for the Hooterville World Guardian. While Jeff is away from the newspaper's headquarters at Drucker's Store looking for that big story, he misses what may be the biggest story to hit Hooterville in quite some time: Sam and Joe are held up by an armed masked bandit at the store. It is just the first robbery, with the bank in Pixley the next to be hit. As Joe bad mouths Pixley's Sheriff Crandall for not doing enough to stop the bandit, Sheriff Crandall decides to deputize him. Despite being truly frightened as a deputy, Uncle Joe is certain that he could identify the bandit if he saw him again. For example, the bandit is at least a foot taller than the newly checked-in hotel guest, Mr. Lawson. What Uncle Joe and the rest of the family are unaware of is that Mr. Lawson is the bandit. Will Uncle Joe ultimately get his man, who is unknowingly right under his ... Written by Huggo

The Cannonball arrives into the Shady Rest stop an hour early with two associated distresses: a For Sale sign, and Homer Bedloe. A week Thursday, the Cannonball will go to the highest bidder, with one bid already having come in from a junk dealer who wants it for scrap. Bedloe further tells them that the sale is out of his hands as the C and FW Railroad has been sold to the H. Greene Company, who is behind the sale and who has fewer scruples than Bedloe himself. The people of the valley decide to try and raise money in whatever way they can to outbid the junk dealer, with Aunt Helen taking it upon herself to find out what that bid is. When they find out that bid is higher than what they can probably raise, Uncle Joe moves to Plan B: go to the top in Chicago and meet with the powerful H. Greene himself... or so Joe thinks. Written by Huggo

Sam has decided to remodel the general store, so it will be closed, for the first time ever, for five days while Sam heads off on vacation. After contemplating where to go, Sam decides on what he considers the most hospitable place he can imagine: the Shady Rest. Joe is excited to be able to spend all this time with his best friend, he even thinking about putting an extra bed in his room so that they can bunk together. But what Joe doesn't account for is that Sam may have plans of his own. Even though Sam does plan on hanging out with Joe doing their guy stuff, Sam ends up spending most of his time helping Helen around the hotel. When Sam finds out on day four why Joe has been in such a foul mood, Sam tries to make it up to him all in one day, even if it kills both him and Joe. Written by Huggo

Betty Jo is celebrating Steve's return from a crop dusting convention in Cleveland - this trip marking the first time ever they've been separated overnight as a married couple - with a large homecoming party. But what seems to be the hottest topic that everyone wants to talk about but won't is that Steve comes home not wearing his wedding ring. Betty Jo later learns that Steve was not not wearing his ring to play the field while at the convention, but rather took it off to get it engraved, which Betty Jo had been wanting him to do for some time. Based on this incident, they make a pact never to remove their wedding rings ever again. But when Betty Jo takes her ring off to show Bobbie Jo the engraved text in it, Betty Jo accidentally drops it down the kitchen sink drain. With her sisters' help, Betty Jo tries to dismantle the drain so that she can get her ring back all without Steve finding out, which is more difficult than she imagines. Things get even more complicated when she ... Written by Huggo

The people of Hooterville receive news that Kate is finally on her way home. That's when the arguments begin about where her official welcoming celebration will take place and who will preside over such an event. Mayor Potts wants to preside over it at a downtown location. Sam wants to preside over it outside his store. Selma wants to preside over it in her garden. And Joe wants to preside over it at the Shady Rest. With hours left before Kate's scheduled arrival, concurrent preparations are being made by each of the organizing parties, with the most important part of that organization being the plan to nab Kate to bring her to their locale. As they all wait for Kate's three o'clock arrival in front of Sam's store, unfortunately for Kate she has plans of her own unknown to her family and friends. Written by Huggo