Buchanan appeared as Uncle Joe Carson in all 222 episodes of "Petticoat Junction", the only actor from the show to do so, as well as in 17 episodes of "Green Acres", and three episodes of "The Beverly Hillbillies". On "Petticoat Junction", he took over as proprietor of the Shady Rest Hotel following the 1968 death of show star Bea Benaderet, who had played Kate Bradley; Buchanan had starred as second lead since the series' inception. In 1969, in the episode "Kathy Jo's First Birthday Party", he appeared with his real-life son, Buck (who had a cameo as an ice cream vendor). Another star from "Petticoat Junction" and he appeared together in the 1974 movie "Benji"; the other "star" was Higgins the dog, which portrayed the title character.