Miss Davis's passing got me to thinking about how she definitely was the heart and soul of the family whom all relied upon and who loved each Brady as though they were HER family. However; theirs was anything but a 'typical' employee-employer relationship since on the one hand, they wanted her around SO much, they actually invited her with them on their VACATIONS but on the other hand, she always addressed the parents as 'Mr. and Mrs. Brady' and almost always wore a uniform outside of sleeping and vacations AND never ate her meals with the rest of the family.
Yet, although referred to Alice as a 'wisecracking maid', unlike Hazel, Florence [of "The Jeffersons"] or Nell[of "Gimme a Break!"], Alice never dissed Mike for being cheap or Carol for being a trophy wife or the kids for anything even though all the above said or did things that she could have EASILY snarked about. Nor did she encourage the kids to sabotage their folks or each other. It seemed virtually ALL her 'wisecracks' were towards herself.
I know there was a LOT more to Miss Davis's life than this character she fleshed out but since that character brought a lot of joy and laughs to so many, it's good that THAT is how she's being remembered.

I too always wondered how they took her on their vacations and yet, as you mentioned never ate with them or called Mike and Carol by their first names after a while. Even in the reunion shows when she was no longer employed by them did she call them by their first names as most friends or family would have.

Here's another thread on that subject I thought you might like to check out.

Take a look (http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=212277&highlight=Alice+family)

Enjoy.

Here's another thread on that subject I thought you might like to check out.

Take a look (http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=212277&highlight=Alice+family)

Enjoy.

Thanks for pointing this thread out to me caladon. Very insightful opinions and truthful observations.

I guess it was a fine line between family member and employee. But they loved Alice, clearly, and she loved them. My best memories of The Brady Bunch are of Alice. And now that I am grown, if I catch a rerun of TBB, it will be to watch the comedic talents of Ann B. Davis. A great, great actress and so funny.

Thanks for pointing this thread out to me caladon. Very insightful opinions and truthful observations.

You're welcome; I'm glad you liked it.