Joyce Bulifant was the original choice to play Carol on The Brady Bunch.

If Joyce Bulifant had played Carol Brady I'm guessing The Brady Bunch Hour would have never happened. Joyce is a fine comic actress but I don't imagine she can sing and dance like Florence Henderson.

I can't imagine anyone else but Flo as Carol. Likewise I can't picture anyone else as MTM's Marie Slaughter but Joyce.

I can't imagine anyone else but Flo as Carol. Likewise I can't picture anyone else as MTM's Marie Slaughter but Joyce.
I feel the same way!

Florence is the better choice in my mind as well. I wasn't into her singing sometimes but, other times like the show she did with Maureen which is one of
Mo's favs and they sing Together Wherever We Go proves the correct fit for the remaining cast was with Florence as Carol.

To tell you the truth, I had never even heard of the other actress who was considered for the part! However, one thing that I do know is that before Kari Michaelson was picked for the part of Katie from "Gimme a Break!" Helen Hunt was considered. How do you guys think she would have done? My first time reading this thread was about an hour ago and I have since started threads about related topics on the pages of "Gimme a Break!" and "Mad About You". I would be very interested in what you guys think of them!

Joyce Bulifant was the original choice to play Carol on The Brady Bunch.

After all these years, it would be hard to imagine, any body but Florence Henderson, but Bulifant probably would have worked out. Even more hard to imagine is Gene Hackman as Mike Brady!:eek:

After all these years, it would be hard to imagine, any body but Florence Henderson, but Bulifant probably would have worked out. Even more hard to imagine is Gene Hackman as Mike Brady!:eek:

He would have had the fifth season "curly hair" down pat, though! ;)

After all these years, it would be hard to imagine, any body but Florence Henderson, but Bulifant probably would have worked out. Even more hard to imagine is Gene Hackman as Mike Brady!:eek:
Imagine how different things would've been had Gene Hackman been cast as Mike Brady and Robert Reed been cast in The French Connection. :eek: :lol:

Imagine how different things would've been had Gene Hackman been cast as Mike Brady and Robert Reed been cast in The French Connection. :eek: :lol:



Robert Reed in The French Connection :eek: no way that would have worked. Reed was a great actor but I dont think he could have pulled off Popeye O'Doyle. I cant see Reed being that kind of a character.

Robert Reed in The French Connection :eek: no way that would have worked. Reed was a great actor but I dont think he could have pulled off Popeye O'Doyle. I cant see Reed being that kind of a character.
I guess we'll never know!! :lol:

I remember reading how Joyce Bulifant was the original choice to play Mrs. Brady, but upon learning of her birth date (December 16, 1937), she was only 17 (no, 16!) when Barry Williams was born. That wouldn't have worked given the age difference, or lack thereof. Florence Henderson was the more logical choice since she was already 20 at the time.

Joyce Bulifant was the original choice to play Carol on The Brady Bunch.

In that photo, she looks a lot like Jan. But I can't imagine anyone other than Flo playing Carol.

In that photo, she looks a lot like Jan. But I can't imagine anyone other than Flo playing Carol.
Yes, I definitely can see a physical resemblance between Joyce and Eve Plumb. I never thought of it that way before.

I remember reading how Joyce Bulifant was the original choice to play Mrs. Brady, but upon learning of her birth date (December 16, 1937), she was only 17 (no, 16!) when Barry Williams was born. That wouldn't have worked given the age difference, or lack thereof. Florence Henderson was the more logical choice since she was already 20 at the time.
The age difference between Carol and Greg isn't that big a deal since Carol isn't Greg's biological mother. In fact it's quite normal when a man gets married for the second time (as Mike Brady did when he married Carol) to marry a younger woman.

Florence and Joyce do have another connection - both appeared in the movie Airplane! Joyce was the mother of the sick girl (Jill Whelan) and of course, Flo was the Jive Lady. :lol:

Florence and Joyce do have another connection - both appeared in the movie Airplane! Joyce was the mother of the sick girl (Jill Whelan) and of course, Flo was the Jive Lady. :lol:


Wrong Sitcom Mom!!! Flo was not the "jive lady". That was Barbara Billingsly,who was Mrs.Cleaver, Beaver's mom! :eek:

Wrong Sitcom Mom!!! Flo was not the "jive lady". That was Barbara Billingsly,who was Mrs.Cleaver, Beaver's mom! :eek:
D'OH!! You're right - what was I thinking?? wallbang: :o

D'OH!! You're right - what was I thinking?? wallbang: :o


Thats OK!:lol: We're all entitled to a few slip-ups! But there was another co-incidence on Airplane worth mention: Jill Whelan played Joyce Bulifant's daughter in Airplane! and Gavin McLoud's in Love Boat. (Jill should have been one of Murray and Marie's kids on MTM)

Thats OK!:lol: We're all entitled to a few slip-ups! But there was another co-incidence on Airplane worth mention: Jill Whelan played Joyce Bulifant's daughter in Airplane! and Gavin McLoud's in Love Boat. (Jill should have been one of Murray and Marie's kids on MTM)
Good catch! I never even thought of that! :D