Warner contract player Jane Harker co-starred as Joe's wife, Alice, in eight comedies, beginning with "So You Want to Play the Horses" in 1946 and ending with "So You Want to Build a House" in 1948. Screen newcomer Phyllis Coates took over the role in "So You Want to Be in Politics". Coates had married producer/director Bare that same year; the working relationship between Coates and Bare would survive their divorce. Former singing star Jane Frazee assumed the role beginning with "So You Want to Be Your Own Boss" (1954), but Coates returned in 1956 for the last three installments. Harker, Coates, and Frazee each displayed a fine sense of comedy as Joe's long-suffering mate. While the Alice character would appear in most of the shorts, the actress playing her would not be billed, and unless the story required Joe to be married, not only would Alice not appear, but Joe could even be a bachelor again, as there was no continuity between installments.