Betty Jo's due date is fast approaching, with everyone in Hooterville excited by another baby being born in the valley delivered by Doc Stuart. Uncle Joe and his friends discuss names for the baby, which they want to sound strong and presidential, such as Joe Carson Elliott, Sam Drucker Elliott, or Newt Kiley Elliott. Steve throws Betty Jo and all the Bradleys for a loop when he announces that he has made arrangements with relatives in Baltimore for Betty Jo to stay there and have the baby delivered by one of the finest gynecologists in one of the finest hospitals in the country. While Betty Jo would rather stay in Hooterville and have the baby delivered by Doc Stuart in Hooterville Hospital, she is conflicted as she knows that Steve only wants what's best for her. While the Bradleys believe the decision is Steve and Betty Jo's to make, the townsfolk see Betty Jo leaving as a slight on the valley and as such they decide to snub Betty Jo and Steve. Will anything make Steve reconsider? ... Written by Huggo

While passing through the area, Ted Swift, a booking agent, hears the Bradley Sisters singing on the radio. He loves them and wants to book them for the fall season opening show of the Omaha based Buddy Buster television program. After Sam shows him a photo of the girls, he is more convinced than ever and signs a contract with Uncle Joe for the girls' appearance. What Uncle Joe forgets until he talks to Kate and the girls about it is that Betty Jo's pregnancy is not exactly television friendly. Betty Jo's appearance also does not match the Singing Sweethearts name that Buddy Buster himself wants to use for the girls. When Ted sees Betty Jo, he knows that he is in a bit of a bind with days until the show, and Uncle Joe can't renege on the contract as he has already spent the advance. So they all collectively have to come up with a way to solve all their problems. Written by Huggo

After a chat with Uncle Joe, Steve feels like he is not only playing second fiddle in the Elliott household to his yet unborn child, but that he is an unimportant and unnecessary part of the whole issue of having the baby. That feeling is fostered by Betty Jo focusing on issues around the baby instead of focusing on his needs. That feeling is also fostered by others in the valley, who want solely to deal solely with Betty Jo in anything having to do with the baby. To get Steve out of feeling the way he is, Uncle Joe concocts a plan for himself and Steve to disappear, with the expected result being that Betty Jo and the rest of the family will go out rushing to find them during this crucial time in Betty Jo's pregnancy. But will anyone even notice that they're gone? Written by Huggo

Betty Jo and Steve's baby is due anytime now. This baby has become a true community project, with the Douglases the last to know and to get involved. Steve thinks that it a good idea if they move back to the Shady Rest until the baby comes. Wendell has been on an around the clock watch for the last week keeping the train engine stoked. This 24-hour a day watch is taking its toll on his body. Betty Jo is trying to hold off the baby's arrival as Billie Jo is out of town on a singing engagement, and is trying to make it back as soon as she can. But more importantly, Kate is out of town taking care of their ailing Aunt Ruth. When Betty Jo finally goes into labor, will Wendell be awake to get them to the hospital? And will both Billie Jo and Kate make it back in time? Written by Huggo

Gus Huffle, the owner of the Pixley Bijou, the only movie theater in the area, has decided to close due to lack of business. The people of the valley will do anything they can to help Gus stay open. Joe thinks that a big part of the problem is that Richard Arlen and Charles 'Buddy' Rogers, who were supposed to come to the Bijou for the world premiere of their movie Wings (1927), decided instead to attend a premiere at the Roxy in New York City, which left a bad feeling between the theater and the community. Joe decides to write a scathing letter to Arlen and Rogers. After receiving the letter, Arlen and Rogers, in turn, believe that attending a world premiere of the movie at the Pixley Bijou - albeit forty years late - would be good publicity. When that news hits the valley, the arguments begin amongst the valley residents on who will lead the official event. As Uncle Joe takes over due to the dissent, everyone else quits the event committee leaving only Joe as the only one who will ... Written by Huggo

Doc Stuart surprises the people of the valley by announcing that he is going into semi-retirement, working part-time but hiring a new associate, whose arrival in the valley is imminent. Doc Stuart is as surprised as anyone when his new associate, Dr. Craig, arrives. The new doctor has the first name Janet and is female. Janet is as aware as anyone that her gender places her in an uphill battle in winning acceptance as a trusted physician in this rural area, with where she immediately falls in love. She didn't want to announce her gender before arriving in the probability that she would be refused before she even started. Indeed, those in the older generations are against a female doctor for several reasons. Even Betty Jo deep down has the same problem as most of the other wives of the valley of her husband going to see an attractive female doctor. Joe comes up with a plan to get rid of Dr. Craig from the valley. Will Janet buckle under the stress of Joe's plan? Written by Huggo

Joe continues his campaign to rid Dr. Janet Craig from the valley. He concocts a plan with Sam and Wendell to give her the old freeze. But Janet, who has every intention of staying in the valley which she loves, has ways of thawing the old freeze. Sam and Wendell quickly melt under Janet's defrosting machine. Joe, on the surface, is a slightly more difficult case, although he too is thawing under the ice veneer. When Joe sees that Sam and Wendell have gone over to the side of the lady doctor, will Joe still try to beat them or will he join them? Written by Huggo

Joe's campaign to rid the valley of Dr. Janet Craig takes on new importance for him when he learns that she is setting up an office at the Shady Rest. She and Doc Stuart are splitting up the patients in the valley based on geography, meaning that Joe will have to go to her if he gets sick. His new plot is for someone to come up with a fake illness - something that she can't diagnose - which will lead to no one having any confidence in her abilities. After losing a lagging contest with Sam and Wendell, Joe himself is elected the patient with the mysterious illness. With heating pad and ice cubes in hand to mimic hot and cold spells on different parts of his body simultaneously, Joe enacts his plan. What Joe doesn't count on is that doctors talk to each other, they, who in combination, come up with a diagnosis and remedy. What Joe also doesn't count on is that illnesses really do happen when you least expect them. Written by Huggo

An unknown but well appointed man arrives in the valley. He ends up being Dennis Roberts, a friend of Janet's. Janet seems happy to see him, but somewhat nervous about his visit. It's because she knows he's here not only to rekindle their relationship, but to ask her to marry him, the answer about which she will have conflicting emotions regardless of if it's yes or no. If she says yes, it means she will be leaving the valley. No one wants to see Janet leave - not even Joe and Sam, who worked so hard to try and get her to leave originally - and will do anything to keep her in the valley. The one exception is Steve, who as sad as he would be to see her leave, feels the decision is hers and hers alone. Regardless, the others feel that the only way to keep Janet in the valley is to provide her and Dennis individually with what they are getting from the other, namely romance, but from a different source. Written by Huggo

With a crop dusting job completed which included a bonus, Steve wants to take Betty Jo out on the town. But Betty Jo doesn't want to leave the baby with sitters. They let a professional decide: Janet. She sides with Steve, mentioning that she, Uncle Joe and Bobbie Jo can look after Kathy Jo at the hotel. Betty Jo reluctantly agrees but doesn't seem to be able to focus on anyone else but the thought of Kathy Jo during the dinner date. Meanwhile back at the hotel, Bobbie Jo is first called off on a date she forgot about, then Janet is called off on a medical emergency, leaving Uncle Joe alone to look after the baby. How much trouble can Joe get into taking care of Kathy Joe on his own? Plenty, when a friendly poker game, the editor of the Pixley newspaper and the sheriff are thrown into the mix. Written by Huggo

The Cannonball's arch enemy, Homer Bedloe, has arrived in the valley on some undisclosed business. All he seems to be doing is riding the train. Sam and Joe believe he's out to get Wendell, who they think will incriminate himself through his naivety, honesty and helpful manner at all cost, as much of that help isn't part of his railroad job and as the result of his actions often is at the expense of keeping on schedule. They ultimately learn that Bedloe is watching Wendell's performance to use as an excuse to scrap the Cannonball in favor of a bus service for the valley, which in turn would put the Shady Rest out of business as there is no road that goes by the hotel. Although Bedloe requires an impartial and reliable third party verification of his report (he is hoping to use Janet), Janet in turn comes up with an idea that no one else in the valley has ever thought about in dealing with Bedloe's mean ways. A cake sent to the Elliotts from Granny in Beverly Hills plays an unwitting ... Written by Huggo

Bobbie Jo is enthralled with a new book she is reading called The Feminine Mistake which has the basic premise that women are being denied their humanity by men by being forced into domestic lives rather than real careers. After speaking to Janet who she believes is a fully realized woman, 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. In the process, a few people get hurt by Bobbie Jo's actions, however unintentional the results were. Will Bobbie Jo find her true calling in life and thus will she in turn find out who she really is as a person? If not, she may take drastic measures. It may take a case of reverse psychology to make Bobbie Jo fully understand her life in Hooterville. Meanwhile, Uncle Joe tries to build a motorized bicycle so that he doesn't have to pedal. Written by Huggo

Bobbie Jo, who is babysitting for the Elliotts while Betty Jo is out shopping and Steve is at home doing some paperwork, believes that Steve is ignoring Betty Jo, to who he hasn't said I love you in quite some time. In an effort to make it up to her, Steve professes his love to her. Betty Jo, in turn preoccupied with her chores, doesn't pay too much attention to Steve's professing his love. When Betty Jo learns from Bobbie Jo why Steve said what he did, Betty Jo feels that she has to make it up to him. But now with Steve preoccupied, Betty Jo really does feel like she's being ignored when she tries to profess her love for him. Despite Bobbie Jo's meddling getting them into the predicament they're currently in, Steve follows one last piece of advice from Bobbie Jo based on advice from worldly Lisa Douglas to Betty Jo earlier in the day. Written by Huggo

Betty Jo has arranged with Reverend Barton to hold Kathy Jo's christening this Sunday. Janet reminds both her and Steve that it is customary to have the godparents stand up with Kathy Jo during the christening. As such, they have only a few days to decide on who Kathy Jo's godparents will be. They also realize that whoever they don't choose will be hurt and offended. Although she says that her mentioning the issue was not supposed to be a plug for herself, Janet is honored that Betty Jo and Steve ask her to be godmother. Janet's counterpart is a different matter as Uncle Joe, Sam, Bert, Wendell and even Doc Stuart hope and believe they will be chosen godfather, many who will do whatever it takes to convince Steve and Betty Jo. Ultimately, Betty Jo and Steve believe that the godmother should have one extra duty. Written by Huggo

Billie Jo arrives back to Hooterville from a gig in Omaha with her new boyfriend, the show's headliner, comedian Rick Wayne. Rick doesn't make a very good first impression in Hooterville - in Steve's words, he's always on - but Billie Jo ensures everyone that they'll get to love him the way she does. Billie Jo thinks that a good way for him to ingratiate himself into the hearts of the valley residents is for him to star in the Hooterville charity radio show (much to the chagrin of saxophonist Selma, who saw herself as the star of the show). Rick agrees, if only to please Billie Jo. Billie Jo wishes she could take back the invitation when she hears a part of Rick's routine for the show, which is a put-down of the valley and its residents. Billie Jo has to figure out how to get Rick from doing that routine, which would make her and Rick personae non gratae in valley. Written by Huggo

Steve receives a lucrative job offer from his old Air Force commanding officer to work in his new company. The job, however, is in New York. Steve has a hard time passing up the thought of the offer. Much to his surprise, Betty Jo, who has lived her entire life in the valley, doesn't object to the move, stating that she'll do whatever is best for Steve. However, without the other knowing, Steve and Betty Jo are both looking for an excuse not to go. Will they end up leaving despite neither really wanting to go? Meanwhile, as Steve has no use for his plane in New York, Uncle Joe tries to find someone he can push around to take over the Elliott portion of the Carson-Elliott Airlines, which means someone to fly the plane. Uncle Joe believes any sap could learn how to fly, except of course him when it comes right down to it. Written by Huggo

As she is the only attractive single female in their age range in the valley, Sam and Bert are fawning over Janet. Their attentions change when Janet's friend, Adelle Colby, arrives in the valley. A librarian by trade, Adelle is in the valley to open up a new library. They have the books and the money, but now need a location. Janet suggests a mobile library in the form of the Cannonball. Sam, Bert and Uncle Joe, each wearing his Sunday best and with gift in hand, does whatever he can to spend time aboard the mobile library to be with Adelle to garner her favor. This competition for Adelle causes a rift between the three friends. But an unlikely person, who has greater access and a more similar mentality, may have the upper hand in attracting Adelle's attention. Written by Huggo

The valley folk are preparing for the annual Founder's Day celebrations. Janet's idea is to hold a musical tribute spanning time, with Billie Jo, Bobbie Jo and Betty Jo being the featured performers. Selma, whose husband's great great uncle Cyrus Plout founded Hooterville, hates the idea - especially the mini-skirt wearing number for the current period - as she doesn't think it's dignified enough for the memory of one of her family members. After she berates the girls, Uncle Joe kicks Selma out. Beyond Selma yelling at the girls, Uncle Joe actually agrees with her beliefs about such a number ruining Founder's Day, and he too takes up the argument where Selma left off. Uncle Joe believes his thoughts are paramount since the Royal Order of the Camels - his lodge - is hosting this year's celebrations. Somehow, the Bradley clan and the older and younger generations are going to have to figure out a way both to get over their feud and decide who has what say in how the celebrations are ... Written by Huggo

After Sam makes some major (in reality, not so major) renovations and introduces some streamlined processes to the post office, he learns from the government that they are planning on shutting down his postal substation. The Bradleys, led by Uncle Joe, scheme on ways to make the government change their minds and keep the Hooterville substation open. Their plan is to encourage all the valley residents to mail themselves preferably parcels, but also letters, to show that there is a need and demand by the valley for that substation to remain open. The residents agree, so much so that Sam has no time to run the store as he is dealing solely with the mail. Uncle Joe takes a photograph of the overloaded post office, with the intention of going to Washington DC to show the photograph to his local congressman for his support in the matter. Janet and Bobbie Joe tag along to Washington for moral support. Getting to see the congressman is a difficult task, so the threesome take a tour of the ... Written by Huggo

Janet gives Kathy Jo a clean bill of health as the rash that had been plaguing her has cleared. Janet figures Kathy Jo was allergic to something that is no longer in her environment. But Kathy Jo's rash reappears when Steve returns from a week long business trip. As Janet doesn't know to what Kathy Jo is allergic, Steve states that they should try to use some deductive reasoning to figure out the culprit. Unfortunately for Steve, the biggest change to when Kathy Jo does and does not have the rash is him. While Janet consults with Dr. Nicholson, an allergist colleague of hers, she suggests an experiment of Steve moving out of the house to see if the rash clears once again while he's away. It does. While they all collectively wait for news from Dr. Nicholson, Steve and Betty Jo have to combat one other issue: the rumor spreading through the valley that the two have separated. Written by Huggo

Everyone at the Shady Rest is curious as to the date that Uncle Joe has circled in the calendar - today's date - and why he has been marking off the days until that date. He announces the reason: he is going into retirement. That news shocks everyone as they all figured he was already retired. Uncle Joe learns that his big news has made him the laughing stock of the valley as everyone is talking about what a big deal he's made of retiring from nothing to doing what he always does: fish, play checkers and take naps. Feeling unappreciated, Uncle Joe decides to run away. When Janet finds out he's leaving, he lies that the reason is that he is off to do all those things he's wanted to do but couldn't before his retirement. Knowing that he is lying, Janet has to rally the residents of the valley to make Uncle Joe feel like he's a wanted and needed member of society. The plan make take a misstep as Uncle Joe tries to apply a little of his own form of retribution. So they may have to resort ... Written by Huggo

Reverend Barton has hired Freddie Kirby, a professional fund-raiser, to raise money for their organ fund as the fund, which has been in existence for ten years, only has just over $100 in it, and they need $2,000 for the new organ. The valley residents soon blindly follow Freddie in whatever he suggests and trusts him with their money. But Freddie is not all that he appears, as his company plans to abscond with the money while leaving the church with an inferior second hand organ worth $20. As all the residents of the valley continually thank Freddie for his hard and noble work, will guilt get the better of him, and even if so will he be able to do the right thing with his boss Marco still wanting to pull the scam? Written by Huggo

Hank Thackery is the owner/operator of the rival hotel to the Shady Rest, the Pixley House. Hank's mentality is all about modernization. As such, he proposes to set up a jitney service between Pixley and Hooterville as an alternative to the Cannonball. He bets Joe and the Cannonball to a race from Pixley to Hooterville, the loser to act as the bellboy at the other's hotel for a month. In addition, Hank convinces the county commissioner that the Cannonball's fate should depend on the outcome of the race. If the Cannonball ceases to operate, that means that the Shady Rest goes out of business. Part of Joe's problem in winning the race is getting Wendell into fighting mentality, rather than be his usual helpful self at the expense of speed in operating the train. But both Hank and Joe figure that some unconventional operating tactics and some sabotage are fair game all in the name of battle to the death of the jitney or the Cannonball. Written by Huggo

Janet has just returned from a business trip with some news: she has decided to take a position working with a famous neurologist, Dr. Pope, which means that she is leaving the valley for good. The trip reinforced how much she missed the field of neurology, in which she was originally going to specialize before she decided on general practice. The news hits everyone especially in the Bradley clan pretty hard and they vow to do whatever it takes to convince her to stay. They are hoping that the handsome Ted Thorsen, the forest ranger who has just injured his ankle, may provide that romantic impetus for Janet to stay. Their cause is helped by the fact of Ted staying at the Shady Rest during his recuperation period. Joe tries to help matters along not on the romantic side of things, but trying to make Ted's injury worse than it really is so that Janet will feel compelled to stay to take care of her new patient. But an act of nature may ultimately be the deciding factor. Written by Huggo

Steve is working late into the night to submit a bit for a lucrative government contract. When Uncle Joe finds out about the contract after Steve has submitted his bid, Uncle Joe chastises him for not using Joe's administrative skills in greasing the process to ensure that Steve wins the contract. When Steve continues not to hear if he was awarded the contract, Joe can't help but continue to rub it into Steve that he should have consulted with him first. An angry Steve in turn blows up at Uncle Joe, dissolving the Carson-Elliott Airlines. After Steve hears if he was awarded the contract, one half of the old company is willing to bury the hatchet, but the other half isn't. It isn't until Steve hears from a government official named William R. Blake - an old Air Force nemesis of Steve's, who he refers to mockingly as By the Book Blake - that both Steve and Uncle Joe figure that neither knows everything that one needs to know about running the company effectively. Meanwhile, Bobbie Jo ... Written by Huggo