Ep 8. Betty Jo's Pen Pal

Betty Jo's Pen Pal is the eighth episode of the second season of the classic sitcom Petticoat Junction. The episode originally aired on November 4, 1964, on CBS, and was directed by Richard Whorf. Its runtime is approximately 25 minutes and is meant for a general audience.

In this episode, Betty Jo (Linda Kaye Henning), the second eldest daughter of the Bradley family, becomes excited about receiving a letter from her pen pal, who she has been writing to for several months. She shares the news with her sisters, Billie Jo (Jeannine Riley) and Bobbie Jo (Pat Woodell), who show little interest in the subject, as they are busy with their own activities. Betty Jo tries to convince them of the excitement and importance of having a pen pal, but they remain unconvinced.

Meanwhile, Uncle Joe (Edgar Buchanan), who lives with the Bradley family and often schemes to make a quick profit, overhears Betty Jo talking about her pen pal and sees an opportunity. He convinces Betty Jo to sign up for a pen pal service that he claims will provide her with dozens of pen pals. However, unbeknownst to Betty Jo, Uncle Joe is the one running the service and plans to charge a fee for each letter Betty Jo receives.

Betty Jo excitedly writes a letter to her pen pal and eagerly awaits a response. However, when Uncle Joe begins to receive responses addressed to Betty Jo, he intercepts them and responds on her behalf, using different handwriting to try and throw off suspicion. Betty Jo becomes suspicious when the letters start sounding suspiciously similar, and when Billie Jo and Bobbie Jo admit that they never received letters from the service they signed up for with Uncle Joe, Betty Jo confronts Uncle Joe.

Uncle Joe confesses to his scheme, and Betty Jo is disappointed and hurt. However, Uncle Joe realizes the error of his ways and apologizes, offering to help Betty Jo find a legitimate pen pal service. Together, they find a trustworthy service and Betty Jo is delighted to receive a letter from a real pen pal.

During the course of the episode, the audience is treated to the classic humor and charm of the Bradley family and their friends in the small town of Hooterville. The show's focus on family values, good-natured humor, and relatable situations make it a beloved classic that still holds up today. Betty Jo's Pen Pal is a heart-warming episode about the importance of honesty, trust, and the joy of making genuine connections with others.