That was the one where Bobby is selling hair pomade to make some spending cash but he can't give the stuff away. Greg takes pity on his kid bro and buys some of the hairdressing, but when he applies it, the stuff turns his strands the color of a children's fruit drink.

Was I the only one who thought the tangerine tresses made him resemble David Bowie (one of my "Heroes") in his Space Oddity-Ziggy Stardust-Aladdin Sane period?

http://msp51.photobucket.com/albums/f388/Venusjoli/orange___hair.jpg
I don't know about looking like Ziggy Stardust, but it's nice to see he started a fashion trend for some people.

That was the one where Bobby is selling hair pomade to make some spending cash but he can't give the stuff away. Greg takes pity on his kid bro and buys some of the hairdressing, but when he applies it, the stuff turns his strands the color of a children's fruit drink.

Was I the only one who thought the tangerine tresses made him resemble David Bowie (one of my "Heroes") in his Space Oddity-Ziggy Stardust-Aladdin Sane period?


I really don't remember much about the colour of Greg's hair, but it couldn't have looked like Bowie's then!

One commonly known fact about this episode is that Robert Reed refused to be in it. At one point I read that it was originally supposed to be set up so that Mr. Brady was the one who used Bobby's hair tonic and expereinced the color change. I am not sure how accurate this is. In any event, after Robert read the notes for this episode, he said, "this is 'Gilligan's Island' in the suberbs!" I would be very interested in knowing what other people think about the similarities between the type of things that went on in "Gilligan's Island" and the type of sillieness that went on in this episode.

Ya wanna bet? :-)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32527183@N06/

O would be very interested in what exactly the last poster is asking us if we want to bet on!

That Greg Brady's tangerine mane in the series finale didn't resemble early Bowie

Thank you very much for clearing that one up for me!

Greg New Look was that Susposed to be the Series Finale.

Ya wanna bet? :-)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32527183@N06/


? You're the one who originally asked if anyone else thought Greg's hair looked like Bowie's during his Aladdin Sane period and I proved that he didn't by posting the album cover. I don't understand why you want to bet against that. Also, the picture you've linked isn't what Bowie's hair looked like then - I know, I was a fan back in 1973 onward. ;)

One commonly known fact about this episode is that Robert Reed refused to be in it. At one point I read that it was originally supposed to be set up so that Mr. Brady was the one who used Bobby's hair tonic and expereinced the color change. I am not sure how accurate this is. In any event, after Robert read the notes for this episode, he said, "this is 'Gilligan's Island' in the suberbs!" I would be very interested in knowing what other people think about the similarities between the type of things that went on in "Gilligan's Island" and the type of sillieness that went on in this episode.


I think probably that both shows had run their course at that point and should have been off the air! What do you think Smartboy?

In the first place, by the time that the "Brady Bunch" came out, "Gilligan's Island" was off the air! This sereis only lasted for three seasons. However, back then, you got more episodes per season than you do now. In any event, the fact that it did not last longer was probably because the slapstick humor that the sereis depended on had gone as far as it could go. Watching Gilligan ruin one rescue after another could only be funny so many times! I would say that by season five, the "Brady Bunch" had also run its course. In my opinion, the only thing that the two shows had in common is that they were both situation comedies. After that, they were entirely different! Bringing in Cousin Oliver was a desperate attempt to make the show go a little farther. By the end of the fifth season, they were resorting to the same type of slapstick humor that made "Gilligan's Island" so popular. The public was not buying it and that was the end of the show!

One commonly known fact about this episode is that Robert Reed refused to be in it. At one point I read that it was originally supposed to be set up so that Mr. Brady was the one who used Bobby's hair tonic and expereinced the color change. I am not sure how accurate this is. In any event, after Robert read the notes for this episode, he said, "this is 'Gilligan's Island' in the suberbs!" I would be very interested in knowing what other people think about the similarities between the type of things that went on in "Gilligan's Island" and the type of sillieness that went on in this episode.


"sixfingers" started just such a thread this past summer, discussing similar plots which were used in "Gilligan's Island" and "The Brady Bunch".


http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=228599


Some examples:

In Allergy Time The Skipper develops an allergy to Gilligan but it turns out it is Gilligan's shampoo that he's allergic too. in Katchoo Jan is allergic to Tiger but it turns out to be his flea powder.

_______________________________________

In Gilligan Goes Gung-Ho gilligan is deputized and his authority goes to his head, causing him to go beyond his authority. At firt Skipper and the Professor support him when he arrests Mr. Howell, but then things get out of hand.

In Law and Disorder Bobby is named Safety Monitor and it goes to his head. He is at first supported when he cites Cindy, but then things get out of hand.
_______________________________________

In All About Eva Ginger helps out a "plain Jane" named Eva and then Eva becomes her rival.

In My Fair Opponent Marcia helps out Molly who becomes her rival.

The big difference between these two plots is that Molly doesn't look like or try to replace Marcia.


_______________________________________



There were some other instances mentioned in that thread as well (e.g. look-alike episodes)

Never once saw "Gilligan's Island", however I do love "The Brady Bunch".

I always did think this episode was dumb. But I dont think it was as bad as the episode "Out of This World" The U.F.O episode was by far the worst episode of the series in my opinion.

I always did think this episode was dumb. But I dont think it was as bad as the episode "Out of This World" The U.F.O episode was by far the worst episode of the series in my opinion.
It just seems like everyone was just phoning it in that last season. Actors, writers, etc. Robbie Rist was NOT the worst part of Season 5 - the ship was already sinking when he came on.

I agree, the ship was sinking when Robbie Rist joined the cast. Remember the Brady Bunch went up against Sanford And Son on Friday nights. My family and I watched that one over the Bradys.

I agree, the ship was sinking when Robbie Rist joined the cast. Remember the Brady Bunch went up against Sanford And Son on Friday nights. My family and I watched that one over the Bradys.
You're right - S&S was at a white-hot peak and was just pounding the Bradys in the ratings. The scripts and acting were so anemic that who could blame America for flipping over to watch Fred and Lamont??

It just seems like everyone was just phoning it in that last season. Actors, writers, etc.

How were they "phoning it in", Monika? I never noticed any differences in their styles from the first season. In fact, I thought their styles were very consistent throughout the series.

How were they "phoning it in", Monika? I never noticed any differences in their styles from the first season. In fact, I thought their styles were very consistent throughout the series.
It's kind of hard to describe...alien plots, Shirley Temple...it seemed like the kids were too old to be playing that kind of material. They looked uncomfortable. Then again, this is MY opinion, so it's OK if you see it differently.

It's kind of hard to describe...alien plots, Shirley Temple...it seemed like the kids were too old to be playing that kind of material. They looked uncomfortable. Then again, this is MY opinion, so it's OK if you see it differently.

Oh man, that Shirley Temple episode was bad! Even Susan Olsen said that was her least favorite episode, and with good reason.

What a plot!

It was funny when Cindy, after reading Marcia's diary, was all in a panic and said, "I've got to start being Shirley Temple right away!!" (cut to commercial break)

Fortunately for Cindy, the local record store just happened to have a Shirley Temple album in stock that she could purchase and listen to, in order to learn the songs.

That might have worked better in Season one than Season Five.

^ I don't blame Susan one bit for feeling that way. As painful as it was to watch, it had to be a hundred times more so to have to play it. :eek: She deserved hazard pay for that one!!!

^ I remember Susan commenting in Barry William's book, "Growing Up brady"
that she thought the Shirley Temple episode would have been great if it were shot the first season. :D

With the bad ratings they were getting during the last season, Sherwood Schartz was shocked that it was picked up for the rest of the season, and had to scramble for scripts, hence the thinness of the episodes during this last stretch.

One commonly known fact about this episode is that Robert Reed refused to be in it. At one point I read that it was originally supposed to be set up so that Mr. Brady was the one who used Bobby's hair tonic and experienced the color change. I am not sure how accurate this is. In any event, after Robert read the notes for this episode, he said, "this is 'Gilligan's Island' in the suburbs!" I would be very interested in knowing what other people think about the similarities between the type of things that went on in "Gilligan's Island" and the type of silliness that went on in this episode.

I heard that the script always called from Greg's hair to turn orange, coinciding with how to get his hair back to normal before graduation day. However, Robert Reed did find the script and storyline ludicrous. He refused to accept that Bobby and Oliver would be interested in selling "hair tonic." (Why is never really explained) It's almost like they needed the hair tonic theme to embark on a very poor script. Why Greg or anyone would want to possibly damage his hair, scalp, or skin with an unknown product does not make sense. Greg Brady would also not be caught dead in a Beauty Salon. You will also notice that the reason he tells Susie and Gretchen why he came in with Carol is not fully explained either. He whispers it to them, and one says to the other about Mrs. Brady wearing a wig, and the other says, "Who would believe that poor woman? Totally bald." A very stupid line. The answer never accounts for Greg's strange behavior. (Wearing a ski hat? "Oh not if you're going skiing.)

And Cindy and Oliver trying to breed rabbits??? LOL! Where did that come from? The final episode was not the worst of the series, but all of Robert's gripes made sense. It is believed that Carol's conversation with Bobby about winners not quitting things was originally intended to be spoken by Mike. The reference to Carl Mahakien (sp?) was a gag aimed at the shows post-production manager. Other characters named in the series, such as Lloyd Leeds were take-off gags on the producers Howard Leeds, and Lloyd Schwartz.

The story is that although Robert was not in "The Hair Brained Scheme" he showed up on the set during all the days it was being shot and complained about how bad it was. Paramount asked Sherwood if they should get security to take him off the set, and he said, "No way. I can't allow the kids to see their father forcibly removed from the set." If Bob stays out of the way, I won't do anything." However, it was this episode where Sherwood finally went over the edge at Robert's storylines and scene changes, and said if The Brady Bunch had gone on to a 6th Season, Robert Reed would no longer be involved, or "Mike" would be replaced by a different actor.

It's sad that the last episode did not take a more serious tone as to Greg's graduation. We could have had a good story there.

Jack

However, it was this episode where Sherwood finally went over the edge at Robert's storylines and scene changes, and said if The Brady Bunch had gone on to a 6th Season, Robert Reed would no longer be involved, or "Mike" would be replaced by a different actor.

Specifically, Sherwood would have had Mike die (off camera, of course!) in some tragedy like a car crash. Either that or send him off far away on some construction project.

It's sad that the last episode did not take a more serious tone as to Greg's graduation. We could have had a good story there.

Jack

Yes, not to mention better closure! I believe somebody brought up the idea of having Mike be off screen (like in the car in the driveway) while the scene was filmed near the front door. I guess Sherwood was REALLY disgusted with Robert and wanted no mention of him whatsoever, except Carol's quote about him being out of town on business.

As far as Bobby and Oliver selling "hair tonic", Reed said that this was something that "Our Gang" might have done in the 1920s or 30s, but no kid in his right mind would be interested in selling something as generic (and mysterious) as "Hair Tonic" in the 1970s.

And I totally believe that Carol's speech to Bobby about "quitters" was written for and meant to be spoken by Mike. It really did sound a bit contrived and forced having Carol give that speech. That wasn't the kind of character she was.

And of course, the remark by Carol about Mike's being out of town was undoubtedly shoe-horned into the script after Sherwood dismissed Mike from the episode. I wonder if that part of the script was written right away (as soon as it was certain that Reed would not take part in the episode) or if someone suddenly said at the last second, "wait, how are we going to account for Mike not being at Greg's graduation".

Not a very good finale to the series. Of course, they didn't know at the time that it was the finale.

I wonder if there had been a season 6, if they really would've followed through on getting rid of Robert Reed. Even though the kids were really the stars of the show, he and Florence Henderson were really believable as the parents. Just one more thing we'll never know!

^ I don't blame Susan one bit for feeling that way. As painful as it was to watch, it had to be a hundred times more so to have to play it. :eek: She deserved hazard pay for that one!!!


There, once again, seems to be a lot of interest in discussing the Shirley Temple episode. Well, one thing that I have done several times on this page as well as the page for "Gimme a Break!" is compare and contrast what happened to Cindy on this episode and what happened to Katie on an episode of that series. The episode of that show that I compared this one to is from the third season and it is called "Samantha's Protest". In my opinion, both girls got what they deserved for acting the way that they did! In any event, I recently started a new thread on that page and called it "Buddy Hinton". I gave it this name in recognition of another episode of this sereis in which there were situations that were similar to what happened on that episode of that show. The last time I checked, it had five views and zero responses. I would be very interested in what you guys think of it!

I wonder if there had been a season 6, if they really would've followed through on getting rid of Robert Reed. Even though the kids were really the stars of the show, he and Florence Henderson were really believable as the parents. Just one more thing we'll never know!
They could have brought in Gene Hackman to replace Robert Reed! lol!