Guys,

For some reason my post didn't post! What I had commented on was I think that the reason that Robert Reed was so opposed to this episode was because it should have centered on Greg's graduation in a more serious approach. A retrospective would have been a better way to have ended the series than Bobby selling Hair Tonic. While I don't belive that the "Hair Brained Scheme" is THAT bad, I could see how this particular ending to the series could be seen as a let down by Brady fans. How do you guys feel about this?

Jack

Guys,

For some reason my post didn't post! What I had commented on was I think that the reason that Robert Reed was so opposed to this episode was because it should have centered on Greg's graduation in a more serious approach. A retrospective would have been a better way to have ended the series than Bobby selling Hair Tonic. While I don't belive that the "Hair Brained Scheme" is THAT bad, I could see how this particular ending to the series could be seen as a let down by Brady fans. How do you guys feel about this?

Jack

The thing that I find most unbelievable about this ep is that Mike missed his own son's graduation after going to such lengths to see such other events as Cindy appearing on "Quiz the Kids" and Jan making her "Most Popular Girl" speech.

I don't know, I just wish they had done something else for the last episode, and that the whole cast, Robert Reed included would've been in the episode. :(

The thing that I find most unbelievable about this ep is that Mike missed his own son's graduation after going to such lengths to see such other events as Cindy appearing on "Quiz the Kids" and Jan making her "Most Popular Girl" speech.

I agree. Mr. Brady would NEVER miss his son's graduation!

Maybe I'm not remembering this correctly, but I don't think they knew this was going to be the last episode. I thought it was cancelled sometime after the episode was filmed. I'd have to do a little research to find out for sure, though.

They were hoping for a renewal, but given that the rest of ABC's Friday night sitcoms had been cancelled at midseason, it couldn't have been much of a surprise. In fact, Sherwood Schwartz was surprised when the show was picked up for the second half of the fifth season, and had to scramble for scripts (which is why some of those final episodes are so weak).

Back then, it was much more rare for shows, especially sitcoms, to film wrap-up episodes; last episodes of shows were usually just regular episodes that didn't tie anything up. These days, it's expected.

I don't think it was completely rare to have series finales during this time. That trend was changing by the 70's.

It certainly wasn't the norm. The number of successful sitcoms without wrap-up episodes far outnumbered those that had them. The "M*A*S*H" finale in the early 80s is what really began to swing the pendulum.

From what I undrstand if the show had gone one there were plans to either kill off or recast Mike Brady.I do agree many of the last season episodes are rather weak.

It certainly wasn't the norm. The number of successful sitcoms without wrap-up episodes far outnumbered those that had them. The "M*A*S*H" finale in the early 80s is what really began to swing the pendulum.

Hmm...I did not know that.

From what I hear, Robert Reed WAS on the set for some of the episode's filming and was even cast in it. He refused to participate. So, Mike Brady wasn't going to miss it, Robert Reed just didn't let Mike Brady be there.

It was a common notion that a series with a final wrapup episode wouldn't do as well in syndiction. That was the justification for the unresolved cliffhanger at the end of Soap, for example.

The final episode of The Fugitive set a record that wouldn't be broken until the "who shot JR?" episode of Dallas yet a whole generation (mine) grew up without knowing such a show even existed!

On the other hand, it isn't difficult to think of counter examples.

For instance Barney Miller had a four part final episode in which the staton was closed down, yet that show did better in syndication than it did on the network!

Whether or not they should have done a final wrapup episode is really a moot point, since nobody knew the show was going to be cancelled.

Seeing how Robert Reed was such a stickler for perfection and how things should really reflect "real life" then, didn't it dawn on him that no father would allow a job to come before a son's graduation???? :crazy: That was probably thee most ridiculous thing out of all the ridiculous things to ever come out of the BB and it was all because of Robert Reed, the one person who dictated so many things on the show. What a bad reflection he left by not appearing on the episode.

As for the Barney Miller comment above, here is some info regarding the show:

Few observers thought Barney Miller would succeed against the top-ten series THE WALTONS. As feared, initial ratings were not good. But the fifth episode drew notice after ABC censors refused to air it. The show centered on Wojo falling in love with a prostitute. ABC argued it was not the network of hookers; the episode went on the air after Arnold threatened to shut down production. The ratings jumped for that episode and more viewers began tuning in. Though there would be grumbling from the censors in future years, ABC renewed the show for a second season.

Seeing how Robert Reed was such a stickler for perfection and how things should really reflect "real life" then, didn't it dawn on him that no father would allow a job to come before a son's graduation???? :crazy: That was probably thee most ridiculous thing out of all the ridiculous things to ever come out of the BB and it was all because of Robert Reed, the one person who dictated so many things on the show. What a bad reflection he left by not appearing on the episode.
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Yeah, agreed. I always thought that Reed could have compromised with Sherwood, maybe have Mike be out of town while all the silly stuff with the hair was going on, but at least let him fly back into town in time for the graduation ceremony.

Mike could have walked in the front door with the rest of the family and talk about how he "wouldn't have missed that night for the world".. just like a REAL father would have done.

There probably are a lot of fathers somewhere out there who were on business trips and barely made it back for the graduation of a child. I think that would have worked there... of course, that's just my gifted hindsight :)

Yeah, agreed. I always thought that Reed could have compromised with Sherwood, maybe have Mike be out of town while all the silly stuff with the hair was going on, but at least let him fly back into town in time for the graduation ceremony.

Mike could have walked in the front door with the rest of the family and talk about how he "wouldn't have missed that night for the world".. just like a REAL father would have done.

There probably are a lot of fathers somewhere out there who were on business trips and barely made it back for the graduation of a child. I think that would have worked there... of course, that's just my gifted hindsight :)

I never thought about that, but it makes perfect sense!

Jack