I was re-reading Barry's book and he mentions Robert Reed being drunk in a scene involving the mouse (which Jan had hidden in the hamper where he chewed his way out).

Just like Barry, he got called in to work on a scene unexpectedly. (There's been a lot of discussion of Barry's marijuana-induced scene, but I haven't seen anything about this.)

Does anyone know the exact scene?

I also wanted to mention, this was the episode about which Robert Reed wrote a 3-page memo about the "ink stain" joke in this episode. (You can read it in it's entirety in Barry's book.)

It makes me wonder if he wrote the memo partially in an attempt to divert attention away from his onscreen intoxication being discovered.

Was he saying that the ink stain was illogical? If so, what was illogical about it in his opinion?

Was he saying that the ink stain was illogical? If so, what was illogical about it in his opinion?
Bob Reed's issue was with a 'gag inkblot' that one of the kids used in the episode as a practical joke. This 'gag inkblot' was made metal and was therefore shiny. Bob's argument was that if you put it on a hard surface like a floor or countertop if would look like a puddle of ink and be realistic. But if you put it on a shirt as was done in the episode it wouldn't look realistic because a real ink stain on a shirt would soak into the fabric and not be shiny. This was part of a five page memo he sent to Sherwood Schwartz regarding this scene which took place in the teaser before the opening credits not even in the actual episode itself!

Reed did create a memo about the tag sequence for "Impractical Joker" according to Barry's book, Growing Up Brady. But there was another scene that Robert hated in that same episode. It has been cut from syndication, but it's on the TV Land print, and of course on DVD:

Greg is teaching Myran the mouse how to run a maze in the garage. Mike is there and does not look at all happy about it. They are trying to get Myron to get to a piece of cheese on the other side of the maze, and Myron's having trouble. Mike halfheartedly encourages Myron by trying to blow in the direction that the mouse is supposed to move. Robert must have thought this was idiotic.

Greg says something and Mike says, "Maybe he's just not hungry." Very cold and distantly.

But if you really want to see Robert angry, watch his mannerisms in the soap commercial. "And Now A Word From Our Sponsor." An episode that I can't stand as well! His looks and body language speak volumes!

Jack

Bob Reed's issue was with a 'gag inkblot' that one of the kids used in the episode as a practical joke. This 'gag inkblot' was made metal and was therefore shiny. Bob's argument was that if you put it on a hard surface like a floor or countertop if would look like a puddle of ink and be realistic. But if you put it on a shirt as was done in the episode it wouldn't look realistic because a real ink stain on a shirt would soak into the fabric and not be shiny. This was part of a five page memo he sent to Sherwood Schwartz regarding this scene which took place in the teaser before the opening credits not even in the actual episode itself!

The reasoning for why Bob was upset is correct, however this episode's scene is in the tag scene with Carol and Jan peeling and cutting up fruit and putting it into a bowl. The Brady Bunch had no teasers before the episode began. The closest thing to any pre-opening sequence was Season 1 with the Brady Bunch logo "In Color" and a brief musical interlude before the "Here's the story...." opening began.

Barry's quotes in his book as to how this scene plays out are not exact either. Watch the episode for evidence of this.

The "In Color" still print and brief musical interlude were gone by Season 2.

Jack

The reasoning for why Bob was upset is correct, however this episode's scene is in the tag scene with Carol and Jan peeling and cutting up fruit and putting it into a bowl. The Brady Bunch had no teasers before the episode began. The closest thing to any pre-opening sequence was Season 1 with the Brady Bunch logo "In Color" and a brief musical interlude before the "Here's the story...." opening began.

Barry's quotes in his book as to how this scene plays out are not exact either. Watch the episode for evidence of this.

The "In Color" still print and brief musical interlude were gone by Season 2.

Jack
Sherwood Schwartz refers to this scene being in the teaser in the book Brady Brady Brady.

Sherwood Schwartz refers to this scene being in the teaser in the book Brady Brady Brady.


Evidence of Sherwood's failing memory and even in the errors in Barry's book, Growing Up Brady. The most accurate book on The Brady Bunch is Elizabeth Moran's, Bradymania. You should be able to find a copy at Amazon.com and just about any book store.

Jack

Bob Reed's issue was with a 'gag inkblot' that one of the kids used in the episode as a practical joke. This 'gag inkblot' was made metal and was therefore shiny. Bob's argument was that if you put it on a hard surface like a floor or countertop if would look like a puddle of ink and be realistic. But if you put it on a shirt as was done in the episode it wouldn't look realistic because a real ink stain on a shirt would soak into the fabric and not be shiny. This was part of a five page memo he sent to Sherwood Schwartz regarding this scene which took place in the teaser before the opening credits not even in the actual episode itself!

See, that didn't take five pages.

The reasoning for why Bob was upset is correct, however this episode's scene is in the tag scene with Carol and Jan peeling and cutting up fruit and putting it into a bowl. The Brady Bunch had no teasers before the episode began. The closest thing to any pre-opening sequence was Season 1 with the Brady Bunch logo "In Color" and a brief musical interlude before the "Here's the story...." opening began.

Barry's quotes in his book as to how this scene plays out are not exact either. Watch the episode for evidence of this.

The "In Color" still print and brief musical interlude were gone by Season 2.

Jack

Truth be known, the "In Color" still print and brief musical interlude was featured in Season 2 as well, though not in every episode, to my knowledge. I watched a Season 2 episode the other night and it was there before the title song.

Sherwood Schwartz refers to this scene being in the teaser in the book Brady Brady Brady.

A teaser can refer to any scene of a show that airs before the first commercial break, whether or not it airs before or after the opening credits. Gilligan's Island and The Brady Bunch both had teasers that followed the opening credits. A 30-minute show is usually split into a teaser (if there is one), Act I, Act II, and a tag (scene following the last commercial break, if there is one). Other shows like Mary Tyler Moore and All in the Family were broken into two acts, with no teaser or tag. The Brady Bunch pilot had a teaser but no tag, since it went right into the closing credits after the last commercial break.

Truth be known, the "In Color" still print and brief musical interlude was featured in Season 2 as well, though not in every episode, to my knowledge. I watched a Season 2 episode the other night and it was there before the title song.

Do you know when the "In Color" still print with the music intro stopped?

I have the series on DVD and it was so cool to see these prints restored!

Jack

Do you know when the "In Color" still print with the music intro stopped?

I have the series on DVD and it was so cool to see these prints restored!

Jack

To my knowledge, it either stopped somewhere in the later second season or at the start of the third season. I know it wasn't in the third season at all.

To my knowledge, it either stopped somewhere in the later second season or at the start of the third season. I know it wasn't in the third season at all.
Seems like it was for the first season only, as by 1970 every show was shot in color by this time.

Evidence of Sherwood's failing memory and even in the errors in Barry's book, Growing Up Brady. The most accurate book on The Brady Bunch is Elizabeth Moran's, Bradymania. You should be able to find a copy at Amazon.com and just about any book store.

Jack
Bradymania is a good read as is Barry Williams book. Yes, the later had some minor flaws with details about episodes, but I am sure Barry Williams hasn't watched and rewatched every episode like the legions of fans have.

I just watched this episode last night on DVD, and I couldn't tell Bob Reed was unhappy about the episode at all. I don't think he allowed his feelings to enter into the character of Mike Brady, as any competent actor wouldn't.