May 25th, 1977 "Brady Bunch Hour," last airs on ABC-TV

...and it went on to live forever in infamy!! (The recent photo is of Geri Reischl aka Fake Jan and Susan Olsen with Erin Murphy of Bewitched!)

And now, for your viewing pleasure (or horror):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_8uHGWFOnQ

There are plenty more where that came from on YouTube!!! :eek: :crazy: :lol:

Somebody please pass the cheese!!!At least Eve Plumb had the common sense to stay far away.

Also, in the first picture, why is Cindy's outfit lighter than the other girls' outfits??? It's kind of bugging me.

If you look closely, they are wearing three different shades of pink.

and FTR, had ABC not been in such great shape with the shows it had, the Variety Hour would have been renewed!! ABC's reasoning for giving it the ax was that it simply did not have room on the fall schedule, because it already had a schedule of hits and new shows picked up were simply favors to the producers of the existing hit shows. One wonders why they didn't order any more for a mid-season berth, but it's all moot....we have 9 of these gems :lol:

If you look closely, they are wearing three different shades of pink.

and FTR, had ABC not been in such great shape with the shows it had, the Variety Hour would have been renewed!! ABC's reasoning for giving it the ax was that it simply did not have room on the fall schedule, because it already had a schedule of hits and new shows picked up were simply favors to the producers of the existing hit shows. One wonders why they didn't order any more for a mid-season berth, but it's all moot....we have 9 of these gems :lol:
True, but I don't think many of the cast and crew were shedding any tears once the axe fell!

http://i47.tinypic.com/azgd9f.jpg

That's an awful lot more than can be said for MOST televisions shows on the air today.
You can't sit down and watch what's on t.v. today without having to explain sex, drugs
and violence to children that aren't ready to understand the seriousness of those concepts.

And now, for your viewing pleasure (or horror):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_8uHGWFOnQ

There are plenty more where that came from on YouTube!!! :eek: :crazy: :lol:

Monika, you can get the death penalty in some states for doing what you just did.

ABC cancelling The Brady Bunch Hour was one of the few times they did a good thing by pulling the plug on a show.

Monika, you can get the death penalty in some states for doing what you just did.

ABC cancelling The Brady Bunch Hour was one of the few times they did a good thing by pulling the plug on a show.
Hey, I warned people!! :lol:

Hey, I warned people!! :lol:
On those grounds you are hereby acquitted!

I would just like to point out a grammatical error in the caption that was posted at 8:13 P.M. It read "'A' Honest Attempt'" when it should have read "'An' Honest Attemt"!

If you look closely, they are wearing three different shades of pink.

and FTR, had ABC not been in such great shape with the shows it had, the Variety Hour would have been renewed!! ABC's reasoning for giving it the ax was that it simply did not have room on the fall schedule, because it already had a schedule of hits and new shows picked up were simply favors to the producers of the existing hit shows. One wonders why they didn't order any more for a mid-season berth, but it's all moot....we have 9 of these gems :lol:


You're right, Jude. I did give it second look and they are all wearing different shades of pink, and Marcia's wearing a V neck.

I think shows like this are kind of fun to make fun of. Not really my cup of tea. But this show is like Shakespeare compared to the likes of Hannah Montana.

I said it before and I will say it again

This show was fun to watch because of Mike Brady


He just looked so foolish out there-lol

I would just like to point out a grammatical error in the caption that was posted at 8:13 P.M. It read "'A' Honest Attempt'" when it should have read "'An' Honest Attemt"!

http://i49.tinypic.com/2uzrzmp.gif
http://i49.tinypic.com/2coivq0.gif

There. Is THAT Better?

The Brady Bunch Hour was essentially Donny & Marie with a different cast.

Same cheesy comedy bits, same cheesy musical numbers, same producers.

Apparently one cheesy comedy/variety show was enough, because the ratings for TBBH weren't nearly as good as those for D&M.

And Monika, yes you are acquitted, but be very careful.

We may not be as forgiving next time.;)

...had ABC not been in such great shape with the shows it had, the Variety Hour would have been renewed!! ABC's reasoning for giving it the ax was that it simply did not have room on the fall schedule...:lol:

Man, there's not enough room in ANY season of ANY network for this dreck :lol:

Wow, when those bathing beauties came out at about 1:10 into the clip, how bad was the synchronization of their moves?

The Brady Bunch Hour was essentially Donny & Marie with a different cast.

Same cheesy comedy bits, same cheesy musical numbers, same producers.

Apparently one cheesy comedy/variety show was enough, because the ratings for TBBH weren't nearly as good as those for D&M.

And Monika, yes you are acquitted, but be very careful.

We may not be as forgiving next time.;)
:lol: Duly noted.

Hey, I warned people!! :lol:

Well, true, you did, but THAT video required a skull-and-crossbones kind of warning, know what I mean?

You should have used really BIG letters!

I heard that they were showing videos of The Brady Bunch Hour to detainees at Gitmo and they were forced to stop, as it was "cruel and unusual punishment."

One detainee said "Please! Please! I'd rather be waterboarded!"

Too bad we can't find Bin Laden - if these videos won't get him to surrender, I don't know what will!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Too bad we can't find Bin Laden - if these videos won't get him to surrender, I don't know what will!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

I think if they played the BB performing "Do The Hustle" and their immortal rendition of "Love To Love You Baby," he'd crack.;)

You'll notice that they made fun of the original show sometimes "our old house didn't have a bathroom..." etc.

I think if they played the BB performing "Do The Hustle" and their immortal rendition of "Love To Love You Baby," he'd crack.;)
Or their unforgettable version of "If They Could See Me Now" dressed up like wind-up toys...:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Or their unforgettable version of "If They Could See Me Now" dressed up like wind-up toys...:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

You must really dislike me, Monika -- you keep filling my head with images I can't get rid of...!:eek:

You must really dislike me, Monika -- you keep filling my head with images I can't get rid of...!:eek:
Hey, it could be a lot worse - I COULD post the link here!!! *evil laugh*

Hey, it could be a lot worse - I COULD post the link here!!! *evil laugh*
I double dog dare you!!!!!

WARNING - CLICK LINK AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Hcr7lhDd-U

Ha! I clicked on it. I watched the clip, and I lived to tell the tale!! Apparently I'm tougher than Bin Laden! (either that or I'm silly enough to actually enjoy the Variety Hour!)

WARNING - CLICK LINK AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Hcr7lhDd-U


Ah, that's better!

YIKES!!!! I just watched that one...

1) What was the deal with the red/blue beasts that were joined at the stomach? I'm sure Eve Plumb was probably 1/2 of it, but who was in the other half? Alice?

2) Why do audiences automatically burst into loud applause whenever any "dancers" line up on stage and do a couple of kicks? (starting at about 1:57)
What's so great about that?

3) Did this show have an actual studio audience while it was actually being taped? The applause and laughter sounds incredibly canned. Did we ever actually see an audience? I don't think anyone was really out there.



WARNING - CLICK LINK AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5Lc8qXmClA&feature=related)

I'm getting really worried here, folks.

Monika is starting to show her evil side more and more. I always thought Monika was a nice, sweet girl, but she's showing signs of going to the dark side more and more lately...:(

Oops, I clicked. I'll going to have nightmares tonight.

I feel like the Robot in Lost in Space - "Warning! Danger, Will Robinson, danger!" :rofl:

Ah, that's better!

YIKES!!!! I just watched that one...

1) What was the deal with the red/blue beasts that were joined at the stomach? I'm sure Eve Plumb was probably 1/2 of it, but who was in the other half? Alice?

2) Why do audiences automatically burst into loud applause whenever any "dancers" line up on stage and do a couple of kicks? (starting at about 1:57)
What's so great about that?

3) Did this show have an actual studio audience while it was actually being taped? The applause and laughter sounds incredibly canned. Did we ever actually see an audience? I don't think anyone was really out there.



WARNING - CLICK LINK AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5Lc8qXmClA&feature=related)
According to the book Love to Love You Bradys, co-authored by Susan Olsen, there was only a live audience used during the final numbers each episode. Everything else was a laugh track and canned applause.

You're right, Jude. I did give it second look and they are all wearing different shades of pink, and Marcia's wearing a V neck.

I think shows like this are kind of fun to make fun of. Not really my cup of tea. But this show is like Shakespeare compared to the likes of Hannah Montana.

I've seen that pic from the cover of Susan's book before, and the wardrobe looks so mismatched it reminds me of the Partridge Family ep where the skunk had gotten on the tour bus, forcing the family to wear whatever fit, making for a bizarre wardrobe for that performance.

I've seen that pic from the cover of Susan's book before, and the wardrobe looks so mismatched it reminds me of the Partridge Family ep where the skunk had gotten on the tour bus, forcing the family to wear whatever fit, making for a bizarre wardrobe for that performance.
The book really is good - it goes into a lot of depth of what went on behind the scenes, the ambivalence of the cast, and how no matter how hard everyone worked, they just couldn't make the show a success. Plus there are lots of cool pictures and clippings of old articles included.

According to the book Love to Love You Bradys, co-authored by Susan Olsen, there was only a live audience used during the final numbers each episode. Everything else was a laugh track and canned applause.

That explains a lot.;)

And now, for your viewing pleasure (or horror):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_8uHGWFOnQ

There are plenty more where that came from on YouTube!!! :eek: :crazy: :lol:
An interesting thing about this particular number is that only 7 Bradys participated. Maureen McCormick showed up late at this particular taping and everything had to be restaged. Her lines were divided up and given to the other kids. She finally showed up, at which point Marty Krofft read her the riot act in front of the entire cast and crew. This is when her drug problem was starting to rear its ugly head, and it got worse when The Brady Brides was filming. (All this according to the Love to Love You Bradys book.)

If I was on The Brady Bunch Hour, I'd be doing lots of drugs just to cope!;)

If I was on The Brady Bunch Hour, I'd be doing lots of drugs just to cope!;)
Susan Olsen had to lip-synch Maureen's pre-recorded solos in this particular number. The book really is interesting reading - I've always been a sucker for behind the scenes stories, no matter how bad the show is. The story about the Krofttettes is also very interesting - especially how physically and emotionally taxing their double duty as dancers and swimmers were. The working conditions were less than ideal, and they had to smile throughout the whole thing!!!

Susan Olsen had to lip-synch Maureen's pre-recorded solos in this particular number. The book really is interesting reading - I've always been a sucker for behind the scenes stories, no matter how bad the show is. The story about the Krofttettes is also very interesting - especially how physically and emotionally taxing their double duty as dancers and swimmers were. The working conditions were less than ideal, and they had to smile throughout the whole thing!!!
I found this book absolutely fascinating. Once i started reading it I couldn't put it down! And you're right about the Krofftettes. After reading in this book about their experiences making the show I gained so much respect and admiration for those ladies!!

I found this book absolutely fascinating. Once i started reading it I couldn't put it down! And you're right about the Krofftettes. After reading in this book about their experiences making the show I gained so much respect and admiration for those ladies!!
So did I. I don't know how they did it - I certainly wouldn't have been brave enough!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

Susan Olsen had to lip-synch Maureen's pre-recorded solos in this particular number. The book really is interesting reading - I've always been a sucker for behind the scenes stories, no matter how bad the show is. The story about the Krofttettes is also very interesting - especially how physically and emotionally taxing their double duty as dancers and swimmers were. The working conditions were less than ideal, and they had to smile throughout the whole thing!!!

I'm a sucker for these books too, Monika. I might just have to take the plunge and get this one.

According to the book Love to Love You Bradys, co-authored by Susan Olsen, there was only a live audience used during the final numbers each episode. Everything else was a laugh track and canned applause.

Ah ok...thanks!

I'm sure that, while watching this show as a kid (yeah, I watched it whenever I knew it was on), I probably assumed that there actually was an audience. But I'm a little better at spotting canned laughter and applause than I used to be. Plus, it's a variety show... I figured, why not have an audience?

It must be strange as a performer to be doing variety-show-type things, but not having an audience react to what you're doing on "stage".

Susan Olsen had to lip-synch Maureen's pre-recorded solos in this particular number...

Boy, it's not enough that we have a fake Jan on the show...now we have the real Cindy being a fake Marcia!! :eek: :eek: :eek:



...The book really is interesting reading - I've always been a sucker for behind the scenes stories, no matter how bad the show is. The story about the Krofttettes is also very interesting - especially how physically and emotionally taxing their double duty as dancers and swimmers were. The working conditions were less than ideal, and they had to smile throughout the whole thing!!!


Yeah, I can see the appeal of a book like that.

Even though there are a LOT of shows that I've loved over the years, for some reason, the Brady _____ (fill in the blank with any of their shows) seems to be the most fascinating to me.

Normally, I don't care about behind the scenes stuff, even on shows that I love... but I have a feeling I might break down one of these days and get Susan's book.... and read it. For some reason, Brady behind the scenes stuff holds my interest.

I'm not all that interested in what they're doing now, other than I hope that they are all able to do everything they want to do and that they're all happy and healthy. But to me, that's a fascinating period, those years when they were all working together on various shows and projects.

Here is the official website of the book - it's got exerpts, reviews, etc. It really is worth a read. Susan's commentary is hilarious. She's frank, blunt and never minces words. But another story that is sad is that Fred Silverman, president of ABC at the time, started pressuring Susan to lose weight. At the time of the show, Susan was 15, 5'2" and 115 lbs. ohno:

http://www.lovetoloveyoubradys.com/

WARNING - CLICK LINK AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Hcr7lhDd-U

Thanks, Monika!

Thanks, Monika!
Sure. :lol:

Here is the official website of the book - it's got exerpts, reviews, etc. It really is worth a read. Susan's commentary is hilarious. She's frank, blunt and never minces words. But another story that is sad is that Fred Silverman, president of ABC at the time, started pressuring Susan to lose weight. At the time of the show, Susan was 15, 5'2" and 115 lbs. ohno:

http://www.lovetoloveyoubradys.com/

Like he should talk. Fred himself could have stood to lose a few pounds himself back in those days!

Well, here's Fred back in the day:

...and here's Susan back in the Variety Hour days.

Not to mention the sets themselves look like something from a big LSD or acid trip. MY EYES!! MY EYES!!! :eek: :crazy: :lol:

The scary thing is that the people who designed and built these sets thought they were cool! Oh well it was the 70's !! Far out!!!! Who am I to talk. Back then I wore pink and purple polyester bell bottoms. (I was so groovy!!)

Here's more WAY groovy (:crazy:) photos:

Look at Mo's eyes in the last picture and you can tell she was doing drugs at that time.

And finally...

Like he should talk. Fred himself could have stood to lose a few pounds himself back in those days!
Susan wasn't fat - and she admits in the book that because of all the dancing they were doing, she was bulking up. It was muscle. But the more pressure she got from the network and wardrobe, she ate. Lisa Whelchel would tell a similar story years later when she was playing Blair on Facts of Life. I think it's a horrible pressure on young kids in show business. Just terrible. ohno:

Look at Mo's eyes in the last picture and you can tell she was doing drugs at that time.
Yeah...and there were clips were her eyes just looked so vacant. Thank God she was able to clean up her act for good a few years later. Her husband sounds like a prince - he had to put up with A LOT from her. :eek:

This "tribute" was edited and compiled by Susan herself!! (She mentioned this in some interview I heard.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfWvhXfY00E

Susan wasn't fat - and she admits in the book that because of all the dancing they were doing, she was bulking up. It was muscle. But the more pressure she got from the network and wardrobe, she ate. Lisa Whelchel would tell a similar story years later when she was playing Blair on Facts of Life. I think it's a horrible pressure on young kids in show business. Just terrible. ohno:


Heck, I remember when the variety show came on... we hadn't seen the Brady kids in a couple of years, and I remember that me and my friends all thought that "Cindy" had grown up to be quite a cutie :)

And I always thought "Blair" was a beauty as well.

It really is terrible the way they treat these young ladies.

This "tribute" was edited and compiled by Susan herself!! (She mentioned this in some interview I heard.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfWvhXfY00E
Now that's entertainment! (even though the Forman's think it's crap!)

Now that's entertainment! (even though the Forman's think it's crap!)
:lol: :lol: :lol:

Heck, I remember when the variety show came on... we hadn't seen the Brady kids in a couple of years, and I remember that me and my friends all thought that "Cindy" had grown up to be quite a cutie :)

And I always thought "Blair" was a beauty as well.

It really is terrible the way they treat these young ladies.
I totally agree - so what if a woman has a few extra pounds on her? It makes her more relatable to the women in the audience. Plus, it is a double standard. I don't ever recall hearing about Dennis Franz, Johnny Brown or William Conrad ever being pressured into losing weight. :mad: Ironically, William Conrad passed the same day as Sorrell "Boss Hogg" Booke (2/11/1994). Only in Mr. Booke's case, he wore padding for the role of Boss Hogg to appear much heavier than he really was.

...and here's Susan back in the Variety Hour days.

I was 10 years old. When I saw how Susan had, um, "grown," I went :eek:

I was 10 years old. When I saw how Susan had, um, "grown," I went :eek:
She was no longer just the "youngest one in curls", for sure!

Here's Maureen with her take on Jim Croce's "Time in a Bottle". I think it's very good, but I think the key was too high for her voice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-LHRgt1tps&feature=related

She was no longer just the "youngest one in curls", for sure!

She was no longer a little girl and I knew that it was more than a hunch.

She was no longer a little girl and I knew that it was more than a hunch.
*rimshot* BAD PUN!!! :crazy:

*rimshot* BAD PUN!!! :crazy:

;)

Chris, did you happen to see these? I know you've had a crush on Maureen/Marcia forever!

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=267896

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=267824

*rimshot* BAD PUN!!! :crazy:


While we are on the topic of puns, I am going to offer one that came to mind about two years ago. I know I have used it time and time again, but I find it very hard to throw in the towel! I figure that, if I keep trying I might eventually get a reply by someone who thought it was amusing! I know I have posted messages about it on the page of the show that the pun is related to as well as a bunch of others. I am not sure, however, whether I have ever worked it into a thread on this page. In any event, the pun has to do with Paul's mother Sylvia from "Mad About You". One time that I really enjoyed the site of her was when she was in designer jeans and her back was to the audience! Wow! In my opinion, Jamie and Fran from that series were hot stuff and Lisa and Sylvia were not far "behind"!

Chris, did you happen to see these? I know you've had a crush on Maureen/Marcia forever!

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=267896

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=267824

Monika, I love you.

Monika, I love you.
Yeah, I had a feeling you'd enjoy those. :lol:

Yeah, I had a feeling you'd enjoy those. :lol:

:eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

.

Monika, you're killing me.

But what a way to go!!

158910
It's always Marcia, Marcia, Marcia !!!!

158910
It's always Marcia, Marcia, Marcia !!!!
Well, hey, she chose not to participate in the Variety Hour, so she shouldn't whine!! :lol:

Monika, you're killing me.

But what a way to go!!
No one can accuse me of not being nice to my S.O. pals!! :cool:

Well, hey, she chose not to participate in the Variety Hour, so she shouldn't whine!! :lol:
True enough! She made her choice and I guess she should learn to live with it! :lol:

True enough! She made her choice and I guess she should learn to live with it! :lol:
Exactly!! As much as I love Geri (and who wouldn't; she's an absolute sweetheart), I wonder sometimes how things would've turned out had Eve done the Variety Hour. Now THAT would've been interesting!!!

Exactly!! As much as I love Geri (and who wouldn't; she's an absolute sweetheart), I wonder sometimes how things would've turned out had Eve done the Variety Hour. Now THAT would've been interesting!!!
I think it was a very fortunate thing for the Bunch to have Geri as part of the Variety Hour since she was a very good singer. But I'm also curious as to what the Variety Hour would have been like had Eve chosen to participate.

I think it was a very fortunate thing for the Bunch to have Geri as part of the Variety Hour since she was a very good singer. But I'm also curious as to what the Variety Hour would have been like had Eve chosen to participate.
Alas, we'll never know. But we can dream, right? :crazy:

Alas, we'll never know. But we can dream, right? :crazy:
We certainly can! :D

Here's another current pic of Mo:

We certainly can! :D

But why would we want to...?:confused:

But why would we want to...?:confused:
Why wouldn't we want to?

But why would we want to...?:confused:
I think Susan Olsen would concur with you on this one (not to mention most of the rest of the cast). :lol:

I think Susan Olsen would concur with you on this one (not to mention most of the rest of the cast). :lol:

I can watch it for maybe a minute, then I start to cringe and the irritation factor gets amplified.

I probably thought this was cool when I was 10, but now it's just...:mad:

But it is fun in a cheesy way and in small (very small) doses, it's okay.;)

I actually didn't think the musical numbers were that bad. The comedy bits, on the other hand, were totally cringeworthy. :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

I actually didn't think the musical numbers were that bad. The comedy bits, on the other hand, were totally cringeworthy. :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

To me they were more like sketches on Saturday Night Live.

To me they were more like sketches on Saturday Night Live.
I think that's what they were going for, but they were still awful!! :eek:

In the original Brady Bunch the humor was driven by the story lines. The sketches on the Variety Hour were more like a vaudeville routine. A set up line followed by a punch line and repeat the formula for the whole sketch.

In the original Brady Bunch the humor was driven by the story lines. The sketches on the Variety Hour were more like a vaudeville routine. A set up line followed by a punch line and repeat the formula for the whole sketch.
That's true - there never really was much of a plot on any of the Variety Hour episodes.

That's true - there never really was much of a plot on any of the Variety Hour episodes.
Of course it would have been very difficult for the Variety Hour writers to develop any plots considering how unfamiliar they were with the characters. It amazes that they never hired a single writer, director, or producer from the original show who could have explained the characters to the other writers and helped them write much better scripts.

Very true. I wonder how things would've turned out had the Schwartzes been involved!!!

Very true. I wonder how things would've turned out had the Schwartzes been involved!!!
Well for one thing Robert Reed wouldn't enjoyed himself nearly as much since he would have probably spent alot of time fighting with Sherwood! :lol: :crazy:

Well for one thing Robert Reed wouldn't enjoyed himself nearly as much since he would have probably spent alot of time fighting with Sherwood! :lol: :crazy:
Sherwood Schwartz wouldn't have let Dad Brady dress up in a bunny suit, that's for sure!!

Sherwood Schwartz wouldn't have let Dad Brady dress up in a bunny suit, that's for sure!!
And he probably wouldn't have let Mike Brady wear a dress either! :lol:

Heck no - Mike Brady wouldn't have been dressed up as Carmen Miranda if Sherwood Schwartz'd had his way!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: