http://www.manic-expression.com/apps/blog/show/27301828-brady-week-top-6-worst-brady-bunch-episodes

#6. The Hair-Brained Scheme (Season 5)

This may strike everyone as an odd choice for the #6 slot. I mean, this was the final episode and so dumb Robert Reed was so angry about it he ended up being written out of it! But to be fair, if you accept the ludicrous plot the episode isn't the abosloute worst. In fact the worst thing is that Robert Reed is not in it, which makes no sense since the story is Greg's graduation and Mike would never miss that! In fact the episode right before it about Bobby thinking Sam was a spy was much more stupid. Don't get me wrong I get what happened and even respect Robert Reed for how he handled it, but his absence is what really hurts this episode. So yeah while it is bad, I can't say it's the worst ever.

#5. And Now a Word from our Sponsor (Season 3)

It seems like everytime a show does an episode where the characters appear on TV the characters have to turn into idiots. So, The Brady's are selected for a commercial and long story short, they learn from a horrible actress to overact and ruin the commercial. This was so stupid Robert Reed wrote a four page letter about it. Why is it stupid? Because the director does not rehearse with the family at all, and rather than just telling them to start again he loses his temper and fires them. Just dumb. To be fair the first half isn't all bad, as they test the detergent they will be selling. But when The Brady's take lessons from the actress it's all downhill. Even as amateurs they should know better. Even for a Brady episode it's just to silly. Maybe if they learned what "Motivating" meant.

#4. "Mike's Horror-Scope" (Season 1)

The episode is an example of two huge problems. One is the dreck of season one. I don't know what it was with the over somber tone of those early shows. Glad they lightened up a bit. The other problem is that this is the one time Mike gets the focus. This doesn't work because this show is done from the child's point of view. It's why the stories are so light. So to have this episode where Mike meets a new client who monopolizes his time justy feels out of place. The ending is kind of funny, but the kids are barely in it and the episode is a bore. Also while it's never said flat out the insinuation that Carol is worried that another woman would cause Mike to cheat on her just feels out of place. I realize that they were still newleyweds at this time, but still.

#3. Kelly's Kids (Season 5)

I hate backdoor pilots, in fact one of my very first articles was on that very subject, and that's what we have here. The whole episode is a pilot for another Sherwood Schwartz show that never went anywhere. Which means, of course, THE BRADY'S ARE NOT IN THE EPISODE! Well, they do appear but barely and are sure not the focus. Now I may not mind if the pilot is interesting. For instance "Assignment:Earth" on Star Trek was a backdoor pilot but it's not an unwatchable episode. This is, because the kids are so bland we just can't get invested. If you don't know the story is about the Brady's neighbors adopting three kids who happen to be three different races. Ok, not the worst idea I have ever heard but I WANT TO WATCH THE BRADY'S! This episode is just a dull bore.

#2. "Eenie, Meenie, Mommy, Daddy" (Season 1)

This was a Cindy episode but it's not her fault it was awful. It's another horrible season one episode. To be fair, it is well acted on Susan Olsen's part but say what you want about Season 5, some of these early shows were terrible. In this one Cindy is in a school play and all excited about her parents seeing her. However, there is a problem-there isn't enough seating for all the childrens parents so each child will have to pick one.This is dumb, has this school NEVER held a play before? It gets better because Cindy can only invite one parent and she has to decide which. Ok, WHAT SCHOOL WOULD MAKE A SIX OR SEVEN YEAR OLD DECIDE SOMETHING LIKE THAT?? Of course Cindy is beside herself, she wants both of her parents there. She even fakes an injury to get out of it, So what's the solution? The school stages a private showing JUST for the Brady's. Not just Mike and Carol, all of them.....AND ONLY THEM! Wait a minute, if you could do that then why not add a second show so all the kids can invite whoever they want???? Are you telling me the other kids wouldn't want some of their family at the "special showing", why is Cindy so special? AWFUL script. The problem is forced, the solution is contived, and the whole thing just falls apart.

#1. "Tell it Like it is" (Season 2)

Remember what I said about #4, that making it a Mike episode was a mistake because the series is supposed to be focused on the kids. Well this episode takes it a step further, and it's worst! Carol is writing an article for a magazine on a typical family. Her first story is rejected for being unrealistic (sure). The second time she tries by sugarcoating everything and it's a hit and she's published. Carol feels out of character this whole show, suddenly showing this ambition. Now here is where it gets really dumb. The magazine is sending people to meet her family. Carol for no reason mistakes the time they are arriving. When the magazine people get there she is not dressed, and then the kids walk in fighting with each other. The girls are fighting, Cindy has the hiccups, Bobby has wrecked his clothes, Pete has a black eye and Greg has poison oak. What?? Then Mike enters through the backdoor, for no reason, and crashes into Alice who had the snacks for the guests. The whole thing doesn't even feel like an episode of the Brady Bunch and that ending isn't funny, it's slapstick which is wrong on this show. Yes I said before that the characters weren't always perfect and happy on this show, but this seemed really forced,as if they were determined to prove that the family is not perfect no matter how contrived it is. If you have to take the characters out of character to make the scene work...you did something wrong. Oh and then the idiot magazine editor decides to go with the first article he originally rejected. Good thing Carol's a good sport.

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#2. "Eenie, Meenie, Mommy, Daddy" (Season 1)

This was a Cindy episode but it's not her fault it was awful. It's another horrible season one episode. To be fair, it is well acted on Susan Olsen's part but say what you want about Season 5, some of these early shows were terrible. In this one Cindy is in a school play and all excited about her parents seeing her. However, there is a problem-there isn't enough seating for all the childrens parents so each child will have to pick one.This is dumb, has this school NEVER held a play before? It gets better because Cindy can only invite one parent and she has to decide which. Ok, WHAT SCHOOL WOULD MAKE A SIX OR SEVEN YEAR OLD DECIDE SOMETHING LIKE THAT?? Of course Cindy is beside herself, she wants both of her parents there. She even fakes an injury to get out of it, So what's the solution? The school stages a private showing JUST for the Brady's. Not just Mike and Carol, all of them.....AND ONLY THEM! Wait a minute, if you could do that then why not add a second show so all the kids can invite whoever they want???? Are you telling me the other kids wouldn't want some of their family at the "special showing", why is Cindy so special? AWFUL script. The problem is forced, the solution is contived, and the whole thing just falls apart.

Read more: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=4859705#ixzz2oGvaM0r6
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You might think this is unrealistic, but according to Sherwood Schwartz, this was based on an actual experience where he heard a kid talking about how he could only invite one of his parents to a school play and he was agonizing over which one to invite.

The solution is a bit contrived, I'll grant you that and I always did wonder why families of other kids weren't at the special performance.

#3. Kelly's Kids (Season 5)

I hate backdoor pilots, in fact one of my very first articles was on that very subject, and that's what we have here. The whole episode is a pilot for another Sherwood Schwartz show that never went anywhere. Which means, of course, THE BRADY'S ARE NOT IN THE EPISODE! Well, they do appear but barely and are sure not the focus. Now I may not mind if the pilot is interesting. For instance "Assignment:Earth" on Star Trek was a backdoor pilot but it's not an unwatchable episode. This is, because the kids are so bland we just can't get invested. If you don't know the story is about the Brady's neighbors adopting three kids who happen to be three different races. Ok, not the worst idea I have ever heard but I WANT TO WATCH THE BRADY'S! This episode is just a dull bore.

Read more: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?p=4863202#post4863202#ixzz2oGxdu3ka



I really liked this show when it first came on and hoped they would actually make that show.

This wouldn't have been a true spinoff, it would have been a launching, since the characters appeared on Brady Bunch only for that purpose. But some very sucessful shows started that way, The Andy Griffith show, for example, as well as Mork and Mindy.

Of course, if the launching is unsuccessful then you have an episode that seems kind of pointless and out of place.

I really don't have a problem with backdoor pilots, but the resulting shows aren't really spinoffs. A real spinoff is when one or more characters created for show A get a show B of their own, not when they appear on show A for that specific purpose.

A primary spinoff is when one or more main characters get a show of their own. Rhoda and Phyllis, for example. A secondary spinoff is when a recurring character created for show A gets a new show after several appearances on show A. Gomer Pyle was a good example of that.

Launchings, shows involving characters not created for show A but which appear just for the purpose of being on show B aren't really spinoffs at all.

I do think backdoor pilots are a legitimate device, but they need to be put in proper perspective.

I did not like Kelly's Kids but I also did not like The Impractical Joker, it was so out of Jan's character to play jokes like that, seemed more like Peter than her to get that storyline but why they gave it to her, I don't know.


Going Steady one was also weird because it was out of Marcia's character to like bugs, seems something more of Cindy than Marcia to like bugs.

I'll have to look at these again.

Going Steady one was also weird because it was out of Marcia's character to like bugs, seems something more of Cindy than Marcia to like bugs.

Cindy did collect lizards with her boyfriend, much to Alice's horror when one escaped!

I did not like Kelly's Kids but I also did not like The Impractical Joker, it was so out of Jan's character to play jokes like that, seemed more like Peter than her to get that storyline but why they gave it to her, I don't know.


Going Steady one was also weird because it was out of Marcia's character to like bugs, seems something more of Cindy than Marcia to like bugs.

I do not think that Marcia really liked the bugs. She only pretended to like them, since a boy that she liked collected bugs as a hobby. Marcia was trying to get him to notice her and pay more attention to her.

1.) Never too Old (Grandparents Visit)

Bad enough that the kids grandparents are introduced when the only other time you see Carol's Parents is at the wedding. Not sure if you can spot Mike's parents there or not. The worst is having Florence Henderson and Robert Reed "dress up" to play them! At least the studio could have found actual actors to play the grandparents.

2.) And Now a Word From Our Sponsor (Laundry Soap Commercial)

The character of Skip Farnam is nauseating and humiliating. The appearance of some drugged out hippie. The problem is, why even select someone like that? A NORMAL director could have worked, and it would have been better to have seen the Brady's actually doing a commercial with realistic dialogue. Carol's too happy with her description of the soaps the Brady's used to Mike. The kids dirtying their clothes like that rehearsing in a family of nine with tight budgets doesn't make much sense. The acting coach Myrna Carter is a complete waste. Robert Reed's memo in Barry's book, Growing up Brady, says it all. You can see Robert's disgust in many scenes just by looking at his face in this episode!

3.) Top Secret

Bobby and Oliver become convinced that Mike is involved with espionage after Sam visits the Brady home with "Secret Plans" for Mike. WHAT? The plans are little more than ideas ("blueprints") that Sam wants Mike to examine in deciding if he should enlarge his butcher shop.

4.) Is There a Doctor in the House?

All the kids get the measles nearly at the same time and a big family debate ensures over the quality of men vs. woman doctors. The problem is the kids look and act so healthy in this episode that all credibility is lost. Alice and Carol are making all kinds of different lunches for the kids, going overboard with catering to their every whim. Carol and Mike are able to call Dr. Porter or Dr. Cameron on a whim and get them to come to the house. The list of the different illnesses on the blackboard that the kids (and Tiger?! WHAT?) have had is stupid.

5.) The Super Snooper

Marcia and Jan try to teach Cindy a lesson about eavesdropping when Cindy keeps reading Marcia's diary. In retaliation, Marcia writes that Cindy is going to become a famous movie star, the next Shirley Temple, and at the same time, a client of Mike's happens to show up at the house, who Cindy believes is a talent scout. UGHHHH! Within hours, Cindy and the client are dancing around the living room to "On the Good Ship Lollipop." Just awful.

6.) Love and the Older Man

Marcia falls in love with Dr, Vogal the new family dentist. She than reads some teen gossip magazine about how older men are developing attractiveness to younger woman. Dr. Vogal than contacts Mike to ask Marcia if she's free Friday night. Marcia thinks it's for a date and gets super excited! In reality, Dr, Vogal just wanted Marcia to baby-sit his kids. Jan finds out that Dr. Vogal is married and tells Marcia, "Yes, your "date" has a wife, kids, maybe even a dog!" (One of the few sort of funny lines in this episode.)

The only thing that's funny are the kids working on the go cart and the can't get it to run until the tag scene where it chases Alice around the driveway.

Jack

PS. Dishonorable mention

Tank Gates in Quarterback Sneak. Can't stand him!

"Kelly's Kids" was, without question, the WORST of all, because it wasn't a Brady Bunch episode. It was some other (lame) show.

I don't even consider "Kelly's Kids" a Brady episode. IMO, the Jesse James episode was, by far, the worst.

The Brady Bunch is not the type of show that intends to bowl you over with it's intelligent scripts. It is a light, simple family sitcom that's supposed to make you laugh and forget your troubles for a half hour, maybe teach a lesson in life at the end. Nothing more, nothing less. I don't over analyze the episodes and tear the scripts apart, I don't have a problem with the writing for the most part, I just enjoy the show for what it is. It's fun family fare, certainly not intended to be Shakespeare. :lol:

No one forced Robert Reed into his role on The Brady Bunch. If he didn't like the scripts, he didn't have to agree to be on the show. He accepted the role, he should have stayed quiet and do his job. He always complained about the scripts, but had no problem cashing his paychecks.

IMO, the Jesse James episode was, by far, the worst.

Bobby's stupid dream sequence killed it for me but at least Burt Mustin was in it.

The Brady Bunch is not the type of show that intends to bowl you over with it's intelligent scripts. It is a light, simple family sitcom that's supposed to make you laugh and forget your troubles for a half hour, maybe teach a lesson in life at the end. Nothing more, nothing less. I don't over analyze the episodes and tear the scripts apart, I don't have a problem with the writing for the most part, I just enjoy the show for what it is. It's fun family fare, certainly not intended to be Shakespeare. :lol:

No one forced Robert Reed into his role on The Brady Bunch. If he didn't like the scripts, he didn't have to agree to be on the show. He accepted the role, he should have stayed quiet and do his job. He always complained about the scripts, but had no problem cashing his paychecks.

Actually RR's "pay or play" contract with Paramount did force him into TBB. Paramount wanted him in a series since it had to pay him anyway. He had signed the contract a few years earlier following his time on The Defenders and apparently only was in one movie as a result, Star! with Julie Andrews, which was a flop. RR probably much would have preferred being in a different Paramount sitcom, like Houseboat, which never went to series, or Barefoot in the Park, which became a sitcom a few years later with Scoey Mitchlll and Tracey Reed in the lead parts.

Actually RR's "pay or play" contract with Paramount did force him into TBB. Paramount wanted him in a series since it had to pay him anyway. He had signed the contract a few years earlier following his time on The Defenders and apparently only was in one movie as a result, Star! with Julie Andrews, which was a flop. RR probably much would have preferred being in a different Paramount sitcom, like Houseboat, which never went to series, or Barefoot in the Park, which became a sitcom a few years later with Scoey Mitchlll and Tracey Reed in the lead parts.

That is interesting. The story I've been told is: Sherwood Schwartz wanted Robert Reed for the role of Mike Brady, Reed accepted, and after production started on the episodes, he began complaining about the scripts.

I think Kelly's Kids is the worst followed by the episode in which Mike has a new client and its some weird woman. I think you have to be in the mood for The Brady Bunch because you can watch them and get bored real fast.

That is interesting. The story I've been told is: Sherwood Schwartz wanted Robert Reed for the role of Mike Brady, Reed accepted, and after production started on the episodes, he began complaining about the scripts.

I read what I added here in "Brady, Brady, Brady", which Sherwood & Lloyd Schwartz had published in 2010. It is likely still available in used bookstores and at Amazon. It seems that Paramount wanted RR as Mike Brady and pushed for him due to the contract. Sherwood actually wanted Gene Hackman for Mike Brady, but he was still too "unknown" at the time. I smile thinking of Gene Hackman on the receiving end of that wedding cake. :lol:

With regard the above early comment about 'Bobby's Hero" (The Jessie James Episode) being the worst. I could not disagree more. LOVE that episode and it's powerful theme! It stands the test of time as not only an important message, but the horror today with kids and guns.

Burt and Mike were incredible in this episode! They did the "Dream Sequence" with no rehearsal for Bobby. Lloyd wanted REAL HORROR to show on Mike's face, so he took Mike aside and filled his head with all kids of horror stories like his family being shot and killed, deliberately getting him all upset and nervous! (It was shot on the first take, If I recall correctly.) When you see Bobby screaming, "No Jessie Stop!!!" Mike was REALLY believing what Lloyd told him.

Than after the scene, Lloyd told Mike why he did that for effect. Fantastic episode!

Jack

The WORST 6 Episodes of The Brady Bunch:

6. "The Show Must Go On"- never enjoyed this one; Carol and Marcia's "wherever we go, whatever we do" song is pathetic, as is Mike's "humorous" poetry reading. Just an awful episode that does nothing to help the show's unfair reputation of being some corny Partridge Family contemporary

5. "You're Never Too Old"- Robert Reed and Florence Henderson over exaggerate their grandparent roles to the extreme- and man, it is annoying. Very annoying.

4. "The Hero"- This has always been a weird episode, in my opinion. Something about it feels off, and frankly, kind of creepy. Some of the shots and some of the dialogue just feel scarily out of place here. Also, Peter never seemed like the kind of kid to get a swelled head. I'd expect that from Bobby, Marcia, or Jan, but never Peter.

3. "The Possible Dream"- BORING. And really, would they go all over town searching high and low for Marcia's diary? No- as many times as they mention the struggles of having six kids, you'd think by that very reasoning they'd say "nope, sorry, don't have time to look for it". And does it really matter if someone finds it? So she has a crush on Desi Arnez Jr.? How is that embarrassing, since he's a celebrity, and probably all the other girls in her class do as well? It's not like she wrote down the name of a boy in her class and left her diary in the teacher's room! Just a dumb, improbable, faulty plot.

2. "Bobby's Hero"- Similar to "The Hero", this one feels very oddly out of place, as if it's not a Brady episode. What's with all the depressing undertones in this episode? It's unbearable to watch due to its ability to put you in such a gloomy mood. Bobby's line at the end about "never seeing another gun again" is just way out of left field and unnecessary. The episode isn't about pro guns vs. no guns- it's about who kids take stock in for a role model. That final line really ruined the entire point of the episode. The only real treat here is seeing The Bradys pray at the supper table for the ONLY time in the entire series- that's worth watching it for!

1. "Love and the Older Man"- I'm sure it's perfectly normal for a teenage girl to fall in love with her slightly older male dentist, but do they really believe they have a chance being with them? This feels more like a Marcia parody episode than a legitimate Brady episode.

An honorable mention for a #7 would be the Season 2 episode "The Drummer Boy". Ughh....what an atrocious episode. I can sum up the pitifulness of this shameful episode in one quote from none other than Carol Brady: "Hooray for the Brady singers!"

The WORST 6 Episodes of The Brady Bunch:

6. "The Show Must Go On"- never enjoyed this one; Carol and Marcia's "wherever we go, whatever we do" song is pathetic, as is Mike's "humorous" poetry reading. Just an awful episode that does nothing to help the show's unfair reputation of being some corny Partridge Family contemporary

5. "You're Never Too Old"- Robert Reed and Florence Henderson over exaggerate their grandparent roles to the extreme- and man, it is annoying. Very annoying.

4. "The Hero"- This has always been a weird episode, in my opinion. Something about it feels off, and frankly, kind of creepy. Some of the shots and some of the dialogue just feel scarily out of place here. Also, Peter never seemed like the kind of kid to get a swelled head. I'd expect that from Bobby, Marcia, or Jan, but never Peter.

3. "The Possible Dream"- BORING. And really, would they go all over town searching high and low for Marcia's diary? No- as many times as they mention the struggles of having six kids, you'd think by that very reasoning they'd say "nope, sorry, don't have time to look for it". And does it really matter if someone finds it? So she has a crush on Desi Arnez Jr.? How is that embarrassing, since he's a celebrity, and probably all the other girls in her class do as well? It's not like she wrote down the name of a boy in her class and left her diary in the teacher's room! Just a dumb, improbable, faulty plot.

2. "Bobby's Hero"- Similar to "The Hero", this one feels very oddly out of place, as if it's not a Brady episode. What's with all the depressing undertones in this episode? It's unbearable to watch due to its ability to put you in such a gloomy mood. Bobby's line at the end about "never seeing another gun again" is just way out of left field and unnecessary. The episode isn't about pro guns vs. no guns- it's about who kids take stock in for a role model. That final line really ruined the entire point of the episode. The only real treat here is seeing The Bradys pray at the supper table for the ONLY time in the entire series- that's worth watching it for!

1. "Love and the Older Man"- I'm sure it's perfectly normal for a teenage girl to fall in love with her slightly older male dentist, but do they really believe they have a chance being with them? This feels more like a Marcia parody episode than a legitimate Brady episode.

Disagree on 6 and 2. Big time. But TOTALLY agree on 1, 3, and 5. Sort of disagree on "The Hero" which I think is above average. I think it's funny that the girl's mother offers Peter to buy whatever he wants at the toy store, than he buys almost everything! Than, when Mike and Carol try to give him a lesson in what generosity means by saying he can keep one toy, ("You didn't have to accept everything, Peter") Peter says, "There were some things I didn't take!" LOL!

Jack

An honorable mention for a #7 would be the Season 2 episode "The Drummer Boy". Ughh....what an atrocious episode. I can sum up the pitifulness of this shameful episode in one quote from none other than Carol Brady: "Hooray for the Brady singers!"

Oh no!!!! Love the Drummer Boy!!!!!

OK the Brady singing sucks in this episode! But I LMFAO with Bobby and his drum set and than his bugle! The lines the kids and Alice have in relation to Bobby's playing are GEMS!!!!

Jack

Disagree on 6 and 2. Big time. But TOTALLY agree on 1, 3, and 5. Sort of disagree on "The Hero" which I think is above average. I think it's funny that the girl's mother offers Peter to buy whatever he wants at the toy store, than he buys almost everything! Than, when Mike and Carol try to give him a lesson in what generosity means by saying he can keep one toy, ("You didn't have to accept everything, Peter") Peter says, "There were some things I didn't take!" LOL!

Jack

For me, "The Hero" is just an odd episode in both style and direction- it doesn't have that Brady feel; of course, it is only the first season, but Peter seems out of character here. It's just never been a favorite of mine. As for my #2 and #6 picks, I can respect your liking for them, but in my opinion, they're not very entertaining or enjoyable episodes.

Oh no!!!! Love the Drummer Boy!!!!!

OK the Brady singing sucks in this episode! But I LMFAO with Bobby and his drum set and than his bugle! The lines the kids and Alice have in relation to Bobby's playing are GEMS!!!!

Jack

Bobby wailing on the drums like Keith Moon or John Bonham is definitely hilarious, I will admit to that! It's that part of the episode that I actually enjoy. What gets me about this episode is the inability to distinguish the main plot of the episode- is it Bobby's drumming or Peter getting made fun of for being a "canary"? Both seem to get equal screen time.

I don't know if this is fair to say or not, but generally to me the worst were the Cousin Oliver episodes. I don't know if it was him or just the show getting old but I try to avoid those. Two especially bad are Two Peas in a Pod where Peter meets a look a like and the Snooperstar where Cindy drives up like Shirley Temple, though she is too old (and according to something I read this was written years earlier when it may have worked).

I don't know if this is fair to say or not, but generally to me the worst were the Cousin Oliver episodes. I don't know if it was him or just the show getting old but I try to avoid those. Two especially bad are Two Peas in a Pod where Peter meets a look a like and the Snooperstar where Cindy drives up like Shirley Temple, though she is too old (and according to something I read this was written years earlier when it may have worked).

Agreed,

Oliver NEVER fit into the show very well. Cindy as Shirley Temple MIGHT have worked better maybe Season 2 or so, but Susan was getting too old for that storyline to be believable. Got to do a Robert Reed here-that whole plot is not realistic at all.

"Two Petes in a Pod," where Chris plays both roles and "Sergent Emma," where Ann plays herself and her cousin, I don't care for those episodes either. Does anyone know how they filmed any scenes where the "doubles" had to be together?

Jack

You might think this is unrealistic, but according to Sherwood Schwartz, this was based on an actual experience where he heard a kid talking about how he could only invite one of his parents to a school play and he was agonizing over which one to invite.

The solution is a bit contrived, I'll grant you that and I always did wonder why families of other kids weren't at the special performance.


Re: Eenie, Meenie, Mommy, Daddy... that's interesting, I didn't know that it was based on something Sherwood had read about in real life.

To me, what was really bad about that show was that neither Mike nor Carol nor Alice acted the way a parent/adult would act in those circumstances.

Cindy tells Carol that the play probably won't be any good, and that she doesn't even have to go if she doesn't want to...and then tells the same thing to Mike.

Yet, neither Mike nor Carol even thought to ask Cindy why she would even say such a thing. And it was ridiculous that Alice wouldn't let Mike or Carol at least know what was going on, even if she promised Cindy she wouldn't tell. That was way too much to leave up to Cindy. And even Greg was old enough to know that Cindy was very worried about what to do, and he should have looked out for her and let Mike or Carol know what was going on.

I don't know if this is fair to say or not, but generally to me the worst were the Cousin Oliver episodes. I don't know if it was him or just the show getting old but I try to avoid those. Two especially bad are Two Peas in a Pod where Peter meets a look a like and the Snooperstar where Cindy drives up like Shirley Temple, though she is too old (and according to something I read this was written years earlier when it may have worked).

Despite its unrealistic nature, I really enjoy "Two Petes in a Pod"- it's one of my favorite episodes, actually! You're definitely right about "The Snooperstar" though; what a lame excuse for an episode.

In Eenie Meeny Mommy Daddy they should have had 2 showings say on Friday and Saturday night and then had a certain number of tickets available for each night. Each child's parents could be allowed to request 2 tickets for Friday, 2 for Saturday, or 1 for each night. This way each child could have both parents or if in a single parent household a parent and a sibling or grandparent. Maybe someone could have made a tape so one of Cindy's parents could have watched it later. A boy at Sherwood Schwartz's daughter's school had this issue which is the inspiration for this episode.

Either Career Fever or the insanely boring saving Woodland Park one...Mr. Phillips freaking out at Mike was the only highlight...

Agree wholeheartedly with these choices. I would also add the one where Bobby is a pool hustler. That one just bores me.

Re: Eenie, Meenie, Mommy, Daddy...

To me, what was really bad about that show was that neither Mike nor Carol nor Alice acted the way a parent/adult would act in those circumstances

Yes! And once they know what is going on, neither take action right away. It isn't until Cindy fakes her injury that Mike bows out. That should've been done right away.

http://www.manic-expression.com/apps/blog/show/27301828-brady-week-top-6-worst-brady-bunch-episodes

"Mike's Horror Scope" is a strange episode for this series because, as was mentioned, the focus was on Mike, not the kids. The kids didn't show up for the first 10 minutes of the show, and when they finally did, they were only used as a device for Mike's situation. This one reminded me a bit of The Dick Van Dyke Show in how much the kids were used, like Ritchie Petrie, only for the sake of the parents.

"Kelly's Kids" actually did make it to series 12 years later as Together We Stand, where Elliott Gould & Dee Wallace played parents who adopted an Asian boy & black girl. This series was cancelled before long and later brought back as Nothing Is Easy, with Gould's character killed off and Wallace playing a now-single mom trying to raise 4 kids, work, and go to school all at the same time.

6. Alice's September Song
5. Top Secret
4. The Hustler
3. You're Never Too Old
2. Mike's Horror-Scope
1. Kelly's Kids

The worst episode in my opinion is when Cindy was imitating Shirley Temple. She was 11 years of age at the time acting like a 6-7 year old. It was absolutely and utterly ridiculous and absurd. I like the last season best except for this farce. Natalie Schafer was the only good thing about this starring as Penelope Fletcher.

The worst episode in my opinion is when Cindy was imitating Shirley Temple. She was 11 years of age at the time acting like a 6-7 year old. It was absolutely and utterly ridiculous and absurd. I like the last season best except for this farce. Natalie Schafer was the only good thing about this starring as Penelope Fletcher.


The thing about this particular episode that has stuck out in my mind is the degree to which Cindy got her bubble burst at the end. I have a very vivid memory of the look on her face when she learned that the whole Shirley Temple business was made up. I have compared this to a lot of episodes of other shows in which characters got there bubbles burst in very much the same way that Cindy did in this episode. One show in which there were oodles of episodes with this premise is the "Flintstones". I also remember episodes of shows such as the "Honeymooners" and "Silver Spoons" with similar themes. However, one show that had an episode like this that also had a very strong impact on me is "Gimme a Break!". I have recently written about this episode on that show's page and called my thread "Shirley Temple". I am now responding to this thread for the purpose of telling you guys about that new one. Hope to see you there!

One of the worst and creepiest and worst written shows was the one where Peter Brady finds out he has a doppelganger at school, except the other Peter Brady wears black Buddy Holly glasses. One of the scenes has the doppelganger trying to sweet talk Jan Brady while they're doing homework He took off his glasses so he looks just like Peter and Jan doesn't have any idea that it's not really Peter. He's saying things like "Wow,you're good looking." I've never seen a more beautiful girl." etc and he's looking all hot for her. And she just kinds of acts nonchalant and smiling like she's used to having Peter trying to put the make on her.

One of the worst and creepiest and worst written shows was the one where Peter Brady finds out he has a doppelganger at school, except the other Peter Brady wears black Buddy Holly glasses. One of the scenes has the doppelganger trying to sweet talk Jan Brady while they're doing homework He took off his glasses so he looks just like Peter and Jan doesn't have any idea that it's not really Peter. He's saying things like "Wow,you're good looking." I've never seen a more beautiful girl." etc and he's looking all hot for her. And she just kinds of acts nonchalant and smiling like she's used to having Peter trying to put the make on her.


Yeah, that was terrible!

Some of the early shows as mentioned were not very good. .... one is where Alice wasn't needed anymore and was going to leave to help out some fake sick Aunt. I'm surprised they picked up for season two after some of those. The Cindy and the play with only one fam member allowed was another ... Most of the Oliver episodes stunk, for example, where Oliver was bad luck and then they went to the movie studio and were the 1 millionth family and filmed that completely stupid movie. I think Robert refused to play along with that one.

One of the worst and creepiest and worst written shows was the one where Peter Brady finds out he has a doppelganger at school, except the other Peter Brady wears black Buddy Holly glasses. One of the scenes has the doppelganger trying to sweet talk Jan Brady while they're doing homework He took off his glasses so he looks just like Peter and Jan doesn't have any idea that it's not really Peter. He's saying things like "Wow,you're good looking." I've never seen a more beautiful girl." etc and he's looking all hot for her. And she just kinds of acts nonchalant and smiling like she's used to having Peter trying to put the make on her.
This gives me the creeps!

Isn't the title kind of redundant? Couldn't it have been "Six Worst Brady Episodes"? Just sayin'...

Agree wholeheartedly with these choices. I would also add the one where Bobby is a pool hustler. That one just bores me.

I saw "The Hustler" again on Me-TV recently, and while it isn't a great episode to me, it did have 1 line that made my laugh out loud, delivered by 1 of the men at the party watching Bobby play pool:

"If he was my kid, I'd break his arm!" :lol:

It was probably all the funnier for being so un-Brady a line.

I think something important is being missed in this thread. People are arguing that episode X or Y is the worst, but know every detail of the episode. Have seen it many, many times and know the episode cold. Those episodes are provoking some kind of response in the posters, but they are not "the worst."

Consider the sunny side of some of these episodes touted as the worst:

"The Snooperstar" contains singing and dancing, fabulous costuming and hairstyling, includes a guest spot by Natalie Schafer.

"Two Petes in a Pod" has guest spots by two girls who are mildly iconic. One played an infamous golden ticket winner. The other was in the first episode of "Happy Days" and made the cover of TV Guide. We see Peter get a date with a hot girl for the second time in the season.

The true worst are the ones that no one remembers; that no one can recall the plot of; that can appear on TV and make you think you've never seen it before; and then not be able to say anything about it the next day.

Kelly's Kids is not only the worst BB episode, it has to be up there as one of the worst episodes of any show. It's the only episode that's absolutely unwatchable. No, I can't describe it since it's been so long since I've actually been able to bring myself to sit through it.

Up there, and not on any list, is the grandparents episode where FH and RR play dual roles. They do OK at it, but it starts with a big blunder when Mike asks why Grandma never married. Huh? These are the Bradys, FCOL! The whole episode goes downhill from there and is just a big crashing bore.

I also agree with the general panning of the first season. At least FH eventually ditched the wig.

yeah, that was a bad one. Any Oliver episode was a loser too.
The early episodes weren't all that great either. Too many stupid things that really weren't important were all blown out of proportion.

The episodes with Cousin Oliver.

Here is a loser of an episode.

Aunt Emma. :mad: Alice playing her aunt Emma army drill sargent who drills the family like they are in boot camp for a week. And like the family puts up with it. :rolleyes: Alice doesn't even hug Emma coming or going. I wonder why not? :confused:

Here is a loser of an episode.

Aunt Emma. :mad: Alice playing her aunt Emma army drill sargent who drills the family like they are in boot camp for a week. And like the family puts up with it. :rolleyes: Alice doesn't even hug Emma coming or going. I wonder why not? :confused:


I follow your logic about the episode, but there is one small detail that I think deserves pointing out. Emma is not Alice's Aunt but her cousin.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Cincinnati Kids episode at the amusement park. I liked the final 5 minutes with the "pony express" run but the rest of it was completely pointless.

And of course "Kelly's Kids", but as many have mentioned that's not even a real Brady Bunch episode but rather a failed pilot for a new show.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Cincinnati Kids episode at the amusement park. I liked the final 5 minutes with the "pony express" run but the rest of it was completely pointless.

And of course "Kelly's Kids", but as many have mentioned that's not even a real Brady Bunch episode but rather a failed pilot for a new show.

But you get to see the chests of Maureen and Eve bouncing through the park.

I nominate that gloomy season one episode where Bobby wants to run away from home. The tone of the episode is so down that it plays out like an episode of Little House On The Prairie.

Yeah, good pics. The other thing about the amusement park is all the voices were dubbed in... it must have been too hard to set up booms and get the actual audio... or too much park noise or something.