Which Chris do you like? A question that boggles Partridge fans alike. Some like Jeremy Gelbwaks (Chris #1) and some like
Brian Forster (Chris #2). My favorite Chris is Jeremy because he has good taste in playing the drums, he's funny,and he had a little crush on Suzanne Crough.

Do you like Jeremy or Brian as Chris?

Brian, definetely. That brown haired kid is really annoying, he could'nt even FAKE playing the drums.

Here's what I found on the ORIGINAL Christopher Partridge. Jeremy Anthony Gelbwaks was born on May 22,1962. He is the son of Anthonthy Thomas Gelbwaks and Hayley
Cynthia Gelbwaks. They have a daughter named Patricia Gelbwaks. When Jeremy was 4 years old,he made a cameo in "The Family Way" starring Hayley Mills,John Mills and Hywel Benett. Jeremy soon caught the acting bug,and soon he auditioned for the part of Bobby Brady on "The Brady Bunch". He lost the role to Michael Lookinland. It was that audition that Screen Gems casting director Renee Valentee wanted him to play Chris on "The Partridge Family". He only did one season on the series. His dad was going to take on a new job,so he had to have Jeremy transfered out of the area. Jeremy didn't return for a second season. Luckily,another child star filled his shoes: 11-year-old Brian Forster.
Today,Jeremy is a student at New York's Columbia Business College,and he resigns in
New Orleans with his family.

Definitely, Brian Forster was better. At least he looked like a happy and pleasant kid and tried really hard to appear like he was really playing the drums as opposed to Jeremy who always looked cranky and had no sense of rhythym. His drum faking is as painful to watch as Danny's "singing" and "playing" the bass - ouch!!

My vote is for Jeremy because to my way of thinking, he had personality, and I think, was a pretty good actor. Brian was good too, in a different way, but I guess I just always liked Jeremy a bit better. No slight to Brian intended.

There is no contest here! Brian was definitely the better of the two. I couldn't even stand Jeremy. In fact, I'd like to know what Brian is up to today. I'd love to see him appear on some other show somewhere.
Where are you Brian??? You were always one of my favorite Partridges.

Ah, the best, my fav, and the One & True Chris is by far Jeremy. He was hired to look cute, and that he did.

I don't really have a favorite, because I think both Jeremy Gelbwaks and Brian Forester were special in their own way. Jeremy had those big, adorable eyes and I loved it when he asked, "Who"? whenever Shirley would mention somebody famous from her younger days. Remember in the first episode when Shirley mentioned Dinah Shore, and both Chris and Tracy asked, "Who"? Chris (Jeremy) would have this little squeaky voice and those huge eyes! It was so cute! And Brian Forester is also cute. He just has this sweet personality that makes you think of him as somebody who could be your friend. So, I like both Jeremy and Brian.

[This message has been edited by KeithsSweetheart (edited 07-20-2001).]

Whoops! I misspelled Brian's last name! It's Forster, not Forester. Silly me! LOL!

the second Chris...the blonde one....was cuter. My older sister says the first one was downright scarey lookin!

Brian was my favorite because he was on the show much longer than Jeremy was.

I thought Jeremy was weird looking, I always preffered Brian because I thought he could act and mime playing the drums better.

I loved Jeremy as Chris!! I just thought he was sooooooo cute!!!!!! I was sad when he had to leave but I like Brian too and he was also cute!! Jeremy was such a cutie!!

I liked Jeremy better in the role. He was more animated. I think he was closer to Danny while Brian was closer to Tracy.

Brian!

My vote would have to be for Brian.

Jeremy was unwatchable on drums. At least Brian could play.

Danny said in his book that he didn't get along with Jeremy. Maybe that was the reason he was canned.

Jeremy had more personality and if he had stayed, there would have been more story lines with him and Tracy.
Brian was good natured and didn't have the personality to be center stage. This is why the two little ones were so ignored on the show.
The True Hollywood Story said Jeremy was fired because he misbehaved and fought with Danny.

Jeremy.

You all know the story on the 1st Chris Partridge(Jeremy Gelbwaks),but what about the 2nd Chris? Brian Alan Forster was born on April 14,1961. His parents are Robert Thomas Forster and Melissa Sylvia Forster. He's the brother of Preston Forster.
He's alo the great-great grandson of writer Charles Dickens,and actor Alan Napier Forster. Brian started doing commercials at a young age,then he started doing guest appearances on shows like "Family Affair","Mayberry R.F.D." and "The Brady Bunch". Brian was one of 800 children that auditioned for "The Partridge Family",a sitcom that's based on the musical family The Cowsills.
Brian was only 11 when he auditioned for the role of Christopher Partridge in 1971 when Jeremy Gelbwaks left. In 1974,when Brian was 15,"The Partridge Family" was cancelled. Brian went back to school and has never done another television sitcom since then. Today,Brian is a race car driver,and spends most of his time doing community theater. Brian says,"auditioning for the role of Chris was great,and i would do it again as soon as possible!"

WAY TO GO,BRIAN!

Originally posted by Lamont Holmes
Which Chris do you like? A question that boggles Partridge fans alike. Some like Jeremy Gelbwaks (Chris #1) and some like
Brian Forster (Chris #2). My favorite Chris is Jeremy because he has good taste in playing the drums, he's funny,and he had a little crush on Suzanne Crough.

Do you like Jeremy or Brian as Chris?

Here is a color photograph of each Chris: First,the 1st Chris;Jeremy Gelbwaks.

And now,here's Brian Forster.

Both photos are nice of Jeremy & Brian that I saw.

you should know, you posted it

That's not Jeremy OR Brian. That is Michael Lookinland(from "The Brady Bunch").

And I know where that picture of Michael Lookinland came from. It was from the last episode of The Brady Bunch where he sells that shampoo door to door and the shampoo turns Greg's hair orange.

WOW! You sure know the difference between "The Brady Bunch" & "The Partridge Family"!

Of course. Did you think we wouldn't know two pictures of Bobby Brady? :rolleyes:

Brian, definitely.

My vote is for BOTH! Jeremy was okay while filming the episodes,but he and Danny didn't get along on the set. When I was watching "When The Partridge Family Ruled The World",Danny said "When the director said "Action!",Jeremy would just kick me under the table,so I just beat the living crap out of him!"

Brian was the best Chris Partridge in the 3 years he was on. How come he and co-star Suzanne Crough didn't have a little romance
when the series ended? I would like to know!

I was 7 years old when The Partridge Family came out. When I first saw Jeremy, I fell in love. He was my first crush. I was his number one fan. :) I was heartbroken when he left the show. I never forgave Brian for taking him away from me. I'd like to know what's happening with him these days.

Jeremy, the song "I Think I Love You" was my favorite. I used to sing that to you.

I was 7 years old when The Partridge Family came out. When I first saw Jeremy, I fell in love. He was my first crush. I was his number one fan. :) I was heartbroken when he left the show. I never forgave Brian for taking him away from me. I'd like to know what's happening with him these days.

Jeremy, the song "I Think I Love You" was my favorite. I used to sing that to you.


From what I've recently heard about Jeremy he was really disruptive on the set and they had an almost impossible time directing him. Just wasn't an actor type I guess. Also, they never could get him to fake playing the drums well enough. Once I heard that I closely watched reruns to see and he was really bad alright! Cute kid, but not good for the role at all.

I'm afraid my choice would be Brian for sure.

Someone asked about Brian. He has shown up to several Hollywood Collectors and Celebrities Shows - he and Suzanne, along with Shirley, were at the one last weekend. Brian and Suzanne are there quite often.

Donna

Who was better, Jeremy Gelbwaks or Brian Forster? That's an easy one: Jeremy, by far! He was cute and charming, was a good actor, and could even handle comedy when called upon by the script. He was cool. Okay, maybe Brian faked drumming better, but who cares? Brian was stiff, stilted, and boring. He brought the Chris character down to the level of icky Tracy. But for a 9 year old, Jeremy brought much to a peripheral role, and was really adorable.

Jeremy was HOT! Brian was like a piece of wood.
Just check out the episode where Jeremy is sitting on the hood of the bus. No doubt he is all boy. I went to Columbia with him. Very talented, both in the classroom and out. Too bad he got married.

Jack Rusinoff

Jeremy is a creepy ugly bad actor, brian is so cute and so much better.
Go Brian:cool:

Jeremy by a mile. Like has been previously stated, Brian was just too "wooden" for me.

Chris

I always thought it was weird they replaced the dark haired kid with a blond haired kid. Why didn't they find somebody that looked like the original, like the 2 Marilyn Munsters?

I don't really have a preference. Chris wasn't very central to the plots, so I tended not to notice him as much. They were both OK.

I think Brian had a lot better chemistry with the rest of the cast than Jeremy. Also Brian was a better fake drummer so he gets my vote.

Brian was my favorite because he was on the show much longer than Jeremy was.

I'd like to change my answer. That post is 8 years old. I've seen a lot more of the show since then. Brian is annoying. I vote for Jeremy.

Glad you came around to the right side! :D

Brian.

The posts here are an astonishing revelation of people's minds.
There must be people who posted who are now no younger than their late 50s and they are engaging in a childish argument similar to "Who is stronger Superman or Captain Marvel"?
I have read some of David Cassidy's book "C'mon Get Happy" (which was revised as "Could It Be Forever?") and in it he describes how only within the first two years of the Partridge Family being broadcast on TV, he had to deal with being hounded by thousands of "fans" at airports, hotels, and even outside his own home and elsewhere. I wondered who those "fans' were. Who had time and energy to just stand outside of a hotel or airport or filming studio for hours or even days waiting just to catch a glimpse of David Cassidy and then only be among a gigantic sea of other "fans" and not be able to really see him?
Judging from the film footage of that time at David's concerts, and also the descriptions in old articles about The Partridge Family and David Cassidy, there were millions who somehow just went ahead and gathered wherever they knew David Cassidy was appearing or traveling. I used to wonder how all those fans find out where their idol is going or staying. It had to take a very intensely crazed mind to do such a thing. It makes me realize that people who follow celebrities closely are largely very strange and obsessed people.
I find it strange that some people posting here are delusional and think that
either of the two young actors who played "Chris Partridge" actually played drums , or that one did better than the other. Both actors were hired to act as if they were playing drums. I have read that Brian Forster himself admitted many years after The Partridge Family went off the air, that he never actually learned to play drums and that on the show he had to mimic the movements of a real drummer in front of him whenever there were any closeups of him playing the drums.
As far as Jeremy Gelbwalks, I have read that he was a problem child on the set. I actually did not read anything about that back when he was replaced, and I often read those magazines aimed at teens. Gelbwalks may have had what is today known as ADHD but back then it was not recognized. He nevertheless grew up to work in the computer industry.

But as one other person who posted here said, whichever actor it was who played "Chris Partridge," Jeremy or Brian, the particular character just had no significant part in the entire context of the show.

Anyone who says that she or he thought Jeremy or Chris was "cute" and "my first crush" etc etc, probably was a very young child when the Partridge Family was originally on the air. Of course there could be people who were 3-year-olds in the 1980s or 1990s and started watching the reruns then and who developed a "crush" on the youngest cast members of "The Partridge Family" and it is a situation like a teenager in the 1960s seeing old movies of the 1930s with Mickey Rooney in them and having a crush on a former child actor who decades past his teens.

It seems to me that if Jeremy Gelbwalks was difficult to get to do scenes, somehow the producers and editors of "The Partridge Family" did a good job of taking the best scenes to hide it as much as possible even though when you look closely, you can see he isn't using those drumsticks like a generally tained drummer would. With Brian it seems they were better able to do closeups of him "playing" drums. I don't see any superior acting ability on one over the other. Their ability to act was not given much of a chance since , again, the character was not a major part of the storylines. I don't see how some people found one or the other "annoying." There are some really touchy people here.

I think it is really loony to say that the young male actor who played "Chris" and the young female actor who played "Tracy" would have dated each other if Gelbwalks were kept instead of replacing him with Brian Forster.
I wonder about the mindset about that. A lot of us know that Susan Dey had a crush on David Cassidy. It turned out to be miserable for them both.

One thing I can sort-of "agree" with is that when they replaced the first "Chris" they should have gotten a kid who looks more like the first actor they used. I was about 10 when the Partridge Family was originally on the air and I thought it was such a stretch of the imagination to have such a different looking kid with blond hair play the youngest brother when months back there was a dark haired boy.

Also, since Jeremy was kept such a short time in his role, a role that was given such sparse dialogue, there is not a lot of his acting ability to really see. With Brian there were a few seasons to watch him in the role of "Chris."
But again, "Chris" was a mainly invisible character and so was Tracy.

Danny got the attention and the spotlight and the glory as the one who mischiveously creates problems and adventures for everyone else.
What about Danny's acting ability?
Bonaduce never did any other role in which he was as-famous for. He essentially was no longer in acting after The Partridge Family got cancelled.
(Remember him in a Good Year tire commercial, and in a role as a troubled teenager in a Saturday morning kid's show "Captain Marvel" after the termination of The Partridge Family? What else?).


Sme typos were corrected

Jeremy had better facial expressions and seemed more lively than Brian. But both were okay given the small part they played during the shows run.

I was 7 years old when The Partridge Family came out. When I first saw Jeremy, I fell in love. He was my first crush. I was his number one fan. :) I was heartbroken when he left the show. I never forgave Brian for taking him away from me. I'd like to know what's happening with him these days.

Jeremy, the song "I Think I Love You" was my favorite. I used to sing that to you.

Now, after all these years you still have a grudge?
It was not Brian's fault that Jeremy was replaced. If it is true that Jeremy was just unprofessional and not meant to be an actor, it can be said to be his parents' fault for trying to make a child actor out of him when he was not really ready for it.
I don't think Jeremy went on to do much else if anything in acting or show business after his short stint in The Partridge Family.
I do wonder if , eventually, he saw how The Partridge Family became so popular and the cast become famous, especially David Cassidy, and wished that he would have carried out the scenes as he was directed to do. It would be interesting to know if Jeremy ever attended a David Cassidy concert or if Suzanne Crough did. David was popular with kids that age. It seemed that Danny Bonaduce interacted with David more than most of the other cast members so I guess he took it for granted that he knew the biggest pop star of that particuilar time.

I didn't even know this was a question! Of course Brian. I think the producers 86'd Jeremy because no one in the cast and crew liked him, and probably viewers felt the same way.

Not only was he more likable, Brian really looked like he was playing the drums, so there was much more skill as an actor.

The posts here are an astonishing revelation of people's minds.
There must be people who posted who are now no younger than their late 50s and they are engaging in a childish argument similar to "Who is stronger Superman or Captain Marvel"?


Then there are people in their 50s, like you, who just wrote 1000 words on how lame other people are who debate the merits of various sitcom actors from the 1970s. Just saying...

I didn't even know this was a question! Of course Brian. I think the producers 86'd Jeremy because no one in the cast and crew liked him, and probably viewers felt the same way.

Not only was he more likable, Brian really looked like he was playing the drums, so there was much more skill as an actor.

I doubt you can officially verify that all viewers "disliked" Jeremy, nor can you speak on behalf of all the millions of people who watched the show. Not all could not have felt the same way.
"Chris" along with "Tracy" were only in the background. How could most viewers get to know them much? The show was about Danny, Keith, Mr Kinkaid, Lori, and Shirley. I guess there must have been a lot of viewers who disliked Danny as he was annoying at times, but that was his character and he was not replaced. In the very beginning there was little news as to why Jeremy was "86d" even in those teen magazines. I read some of them and they mostly talked about the replacement.
The rest of the cast might have disliked Jeremy.
That , I guess, will mainly be something that only the cast themselves will ever know, the crew also.
I guess if the cast and crew disliked Jeremy they also disliked his parents. I recall hearing Shirley Jones say decades after the show went off the air, that Jeremy did have "stage parents." Probably Jeremy and his parents were a problem.

Brian's chin always bugged me. It didn't look like he could have been born into that family. And the fact that he was a replacement added to it.

Brian seemed a better fit for the family. And I've heard the original was a lot of trouble on set. Brian IMO was better suited for the role as small as it was.

Brian: his acting was better then Jeremy’s on the show

I don't think Jeremy was cut out for the acting gig and ultimately him being unprofessional is what got him let go from the show. I think he was cute, but Brian was the better actor of the two and he was as adorable and played the part really well. I think Brian was the better of the two.