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homes, and it was just sheer fun. There wasn't a message or anything covert in the show. It was all about laughs and Hazel's jolly spirit. Hazel was heartwarming as she took care of the Baxters. Don DeFore was Mr. B and was so good at being flustered and ending up on the losing end of the stick. It's too bad that when Hazel changed networks, DeFore and Whitney Blake didn't come with it. The replacement family just didn't have it, and the show was canceled after that season. Still, Hazel served up years' worths of laughs, making her a worthy contender for this list.

8) The Rural Comedies (Petticoat Junction, The Beverly Hillbillies, and Green Acres) - I had to put these three shows together because they are somewhat of a joint package. Though they didn't all begin the same year, they were quickly associated with one another because of the show tie-ins. Petticoat Junction took place near Hooterville, and the Douglas' of Green Acres resided on farm land outside of Hooterville. They all shopped at Drucker's Drug Store, and cross overs were frequent. While the Clampetts of The Beverly Hillbillies lived in Beverly Hills, they came from the hills and were the same kind of folks. They, too, crossed over with the people in Hooterville. All three comedies were full of laughs and good times. Petticoat Junction was my favorite, watching the three Bradley girls grow up and seeing ole Uncle Joe keep moving kind of slow. Life was good at the Junction, as it was with the other two very memorable and often rerun shows.

7) The Lucy Show - Is there more that needs to be said other than Lucille Ball? The woman was, is, a TV legend, and this was her main show of the sixties. Vivian Vance was with her for the first few years, and it was during this show that Gale Gordon first appeared as Lucy's boss. The show only ended after six seasons because of the sale of Desilu to Paramount. Every show was full of the very best comedy. My favorite episode will always be Lucy Gets Jack Benny's Account, when Lucy proves to Jack that his money would be safe in the vault at her bank. That show was a riot, and it's the perfect example of why The Lucy Show was a success.

6) The Dick Van Dyke Show - For years, I've said that Dick Van Dyke is underrated. He's had this awesome career, and I simply don't believe he's gotten his due. Here in the show that carried his name, Van Dyke was at his best. With Mary Tyler Moore and her 'Oh, Rob' sob, it was magic. Van Dyke's agility and

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