In the episode "Goodbye Alice Hello", Marcia leaves the stereo on. When Carol asks who left it on, Alice says that it was Marcia, becasue she was listening, to a new album, a lot. So Carol punishes Marcia, by saying that she can't use the stereo for a week. Of course Alice, meant no harm, to Marcia about the stereo, she was just answering Carol's question. Marcia doesn't believe Alice was she explains that she meant no harm, and then she gives Alice the cold shoulder. So of course Marcia was wrong. But Carol was wrong too. I mean wasn't it Alice's stereo, that she won from Lloyd's Stereo Center in The Tattle-Tale episode". Alice was nice enough to put it in the family room, so the rest of the family could use it. So since it was Alice's stereo, shouldn't it been Alice' call on what Marcia's punishment would be.

In the episode "Goodbye Alice Hello", Marcia leaves the stereo on. When Carol asks who left it on, Alice says that it was Marcia, becasue she was listening, to a new album, a lot. So Carol punishes Marcia, by saying that she can't use the stereo for a week. Of course Alice, meant no harm, to Marcia about the stereo, she was just answering Carol's question. Marcia doesn't believe Alice was she explains that she meant no harm, and then she gives Alice the cold shoulder. So of course Marcia was wrong. But Carol was wrong too. I mean wasn't it Alice's stereo, that she won from Lloyd's Stereo Center in The Tattle-Tale episode". Alice was nice enough to put it in the family room, so the rest of the family could use it. So since it was Alice's stereo, shouldn't it been Alice' call on what Marcia's punishment would be.
No. Marcia left the stereo on. The kids must have left it on before and therefore Carol (being the parent) would be the one to dish out punishments, not the housekeeper.

Not to mention that Mike and Carol were paying the electric bill, not Alice (remember how bent out of shape he was when the phone bill went through the roof?).

After Alice donated it to the family, she didn't have ownership. Her ties to any sort of ownership were completely severed, especially since this was Bradyland. Can you imagine them always referring to the stereo as "Alice's stereo" from that point on until the end of the series?

Besides, what if Alice had completely different child-rearing philosophies than Mike and Carol? What if she believed in corporal punishment, for instance? Can you hear Carol saying, "Marcia, because you left the stereo on all night, Alice is going to give you a spanking."

No, I think it was better to leave the punishments to Mike and Carol, and leave the meatloaf to Alice.

this was a crazy thread. no housekeeper can or should dish out punishments.:rolleyes:

They didn't let Alice dole out any punishments when the kids were at fault for her sprained ankle in "The Big Sprain."

After Alice donated it to the family, she didn't have ownership. Her ties to any sort of ownership were completely severed, especially since this was Bradyland. Can you imagine them always referring to the stereo as "Alice's stereo" from that point on until the end of the series?

Oh, I don't know... I think it would still be Alice's stereo... she just chose to put it in a place that would be convenient for any member of the family to use. Otherwise, the kids would have had to hang out in Alice's room if they wanted to listen to the Banana Convention...

If Alice had left the Bradys after she won the stereo, she would have had every right to take it with her to her new home (or rather, her new employer's home).

In fact, that would have been a good season 6 episode... Alice leaves, and an argument ensues over who gets the stereo...

They end up in court, and Mike purposely drops his briefcase, making a loud noise... when Alice reacts to the noise and turns her head, Mike would say, "there, your Honor... Alice turned her head! This means that WE should be able to keep the stereo!".

The judge says, "but Miss Nelson isn't claiming to be injured, she's not even wearing a neck brace, you idiot!"

The judge rules in favor of Alice, and she takes the stereo (Exhibit "A") with her, taunting the Bradys as she exits the courtroom. Mike says to Carol, "I don't understand it...that trick worked so well with Mr. Duggan after that fender-bender you had..."

<audience chuckles...fade out>

(This would have been Mike's final episode...after complaining about the briefcase ploy, Sherwood would have had him killed off in the next episode).

I had never considered that the stereo may belong to Alice, or even that it belonged to everyone including Alice. But I don't think that's the point, anyway. The Brady house rule was that anyone using the electrical appliances of any kind turn them off unless someone else is waiting to use it-- likely enough in a house of 9.

Although I like this episode, clearly it puts an adult, Alice, on the level of children. The kids treat her like a trespasser at best, dirt at worst, all because they got in trouble of their own making. But then Alice has to make up a lie about needing to leave and take care of her "Uncle Winston" instead of owning up to the truth. She goes to her friend's home and cries her eyes out because of what's happened. Then later this same friend gives the kids a hint of how to get her back, and she flees this different job without scruples. Even though it's implied that her new employer doesn't particularly like her, a mature adult doesn't just leave a job on the spur of the moment like that, when a bunch of kids come in say they still like her and they're 'sorry.' She took for granted that Mike and Carol would hire her back right away; it was almost like cousin Oliver left in sadness then was persuaded to come back.