MetaFilter posts tagged with bradybunch

The Brady Bunch Variety Hour

Egg Shen — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 11:19:01 -0800

On November 28, 1976, ABC televised the premiere of The Brady Bunch Variety Hour. Few who saw it would ever forget it. Certainly not The Simpsons writer Steve Tomkins, whose "The Simpson Family Smile-Time Variety Hour" was an uncannily accurate parody - including its own "Fake Jan". In the decade since its last appearance in the blue, a definitive history of the show, co-authored by Susan Olsen, has been published.

While I had yet to really begin my tasting of all the mind altering substances life had to offer, Maureen was obviously having a problem with substances. ... But there came a point where she could not get away with it. Finally Marty Krofft had had enough and he took take a stand. Right in front of all of us, he let Maureen have it with both barrels. He gave her a tongue lashing that was truly scary. Physically, Marty is a presence. He is big and tall and has a booming voice. When Marty began his rant I think we all were in his corner. I know I was. How dare she? Who does she think she is? You tell her, Marty! But then it was like watching an elephant stomp on a fly. It was frightening. When he was done yelling, I experienced a dichotomy of emotions I will never forget. Maureen looked wounded. Fighting tears, she looked to all of us. She looked at us with these gigantic, sad and beautiful eyes.

In her own memoir, Maureen McCormick confirms:

I did coke throughout those shows. It was the first time I'd showed up for work high. I never should have crossed that line, because once past it, I kept going. One day I showed up strung out after three straight days without sleep.

She adds:

We joked that it was the first time any of us could remember [Robert Reed] wanting to do something Brady-related. But he sang and danced without caring that he was lousy and the show itself was worse. His inner Dorothy had found her calling.

Barry Williams wrote:

... we rehearsed hard, working night and day trying to pull this debacle into shape, but it didn't help. Actually, the situation can best be described by deploying the age-old Hollywood edict that "no matter how hard you try, you can't polish a turd."

All nine episodes are available on YouTube, for those who dare. But do not miss the Disco Medley.

‘Ike ‘ia no ka loea i ke kuahu

mazola — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 11:10:34 -0800

"I knew that by assembling seven different people and forcing them to live together, the show would have great philosophical implications". Television genius Sherwood Schwartz, dies at 94.

yabbadabbadoo, thankyouverymuch

oneswellfoop — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:27:23 -0800

For the 75th birthday of Elvis Presley (yesterday in most time zones), here is an Elvis Impersonator doing famous TV theme songs: The Flintstones, The Partridge Family, Rawhide, WKRP (opening theme, wish he'd try the end theme), Danger Man (Secret Agent Man, the full-length Johnnie Rivers version), The Brady Bunch, The Love Boat and Cheers (maybe next time Frasier's 'scrambled eggs song'?).

Other wacky musical repurposing from the same silly singer includes David Bowie (celebrating his 62nd birthday on the 8th) doing Elvis' Viva Las Vegas.

One Foxxy Brady

New Frontier — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:23:23 -0800

Jamie Foxx Performs the Theme to "The Brady Bunch". SLYT.

RIP Allan Melvin

Oriole Adams — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 11:13:53 -0800

Somehow, despite a varied career spanning several decades, including recurring roles on All in the Family and The Phil Silvers Show, we always knew that it would mention Sam the Butcher in the headline of his obituary.

Cousin Oliver Effect

MrMoonPie — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 12:02:46 -0800

Right up there with the Darrin Syndrome, the Cousin Oliver Effect is one of the most ridiculed devices in Sitcom-land. Until today, though, I didn’t know that Robbie Rist is still going strong.

and they knew that it was much more than a hunch!

nelleish — Thu, 31 Jul 2003 07:09:12 -0800

The Pop-Up Brady Bunch! Human ingenuity at its finest. Or truly frightening, your choice. (warning: will temporarily commandeer your screen, contains the Brady Bunch theme song, disturbingly pixelated Bradys, and will not work if you have 'pop-up killer' software)

Here's a story, of a man named Brady...

sassone — Thu, 17 Jan 2002 20:14:01 -0800

Here's a story, of a man named Brady... ...who's no longer allowed on the Brady Bunch merchandise! I noticed that his likeness was cut out of the Brady Bunch 2002 calendar. The Wash Post has an interesting article on the whole situation.

Here's a story...about a site named Brady.

plinth — Fri, 26 May 2000 06:12:16 -0800

Here's a story...about a site named Brady.