No background plots in the early episodes

[TheLittleFaerie]

The formula for the Brady Bunch was there were usually 2 plots going on in each episode, a MAIN plot, and then a smaller plot running in the background. The main plot and background plot were usually unrelated. I think the cast even talked about this. But I'm watching the early episodes and in many there is no background plot, like in Vote Brady and Sorry Right Number

[BestTVever]

Interesting. I never noticed this before. It did not follow the typical sitcom formula with a subplot. Season 1 is odd for several reasons. This is just another example.

[Natalie1969]

At some point the two plots intersect like in Today I am a Freshman from Season 4 Marcia's difficult adjustment to high school is the main plot and Peter building the volcano for science club is the subplot and then the two plots literally intersect when Peter's volcano spews muddy lava all over Marcia and her Booster Club peeps.

[TheLittleFaerie]

Originally Posted by Natalie1969

At some point the two plots intersect like in Today I am a Freshman from Season 4 Marcia's difficult adjustment to high school is the main plot and Peter building the volcano for science club is the subplot and then the two plots literally intersect when Peter's volcano spews muddy lava all over Marcia and her Booster Club peeps.

Yeah you're right, I like how the 2 plots were loosely connected some times.

[BestTVever]

They talk about this on the Real Brady Bros podcast. Season 1 did not have subplots (or at least most of them didn't). Much of the first season was also not filmed in sequence which is why you see Florence's wig come and go. She has no wig in episode 23 "To Move or not to move" but then wears the wig in episode 24 "The Grass is always Greener" Then she has no wig for the final episode of season 1 Lost Locket.
According to Barry and Chris, Florence was still under contract and could not show up for shooting for the first 6 episodes. With Florence away, they filmed various scenes of various episodes all on the same day. The kids would change clothes constantly and most of the scenes were bedroom scenes. The first season's episodes were not shot in the order they appear which is the reason Carol's wig comes and goes throughout season 1. Also in the first few seasons not all kids appear in all the episodes as their contracts required them to miss 2 episodes.
Season 1 is so different for so many reasons. Carol Brady does not have much of a personality and in the later seasons she is allowed to grow that character.

[Dude111]

Its nice when shows have more than 1 thing going on.... Its more like real life........

[TheLittleFaerie]

Originally Posted by BestTVever

They talk about this on the Real Brady Bros podcast. Season 1 did not have subplots (or at least most of them didn't). Much of the first season was also not filmed in sequence which is why you see Florence's wig come and go. She has no wig in episode 23 "To Move or not to move" but then wears the wig in episode 24 "The Grass is always Greener" Then she has no wig for the final episode of season 1 Lost Locket.
According to Barry and Chris, Florence was still under contract and could not show up for shooting for the first 6 episodes. With Florence away, they filmed various scenes of various episodes all on the same day. The kids would change clothes constantly and most of the scenes were bedroom scenes. The first season's episodes were not shot in the order they appear which is the reason Carol's wig comes and goes throughout season 1. Also in the first few seasons not all kids appear in all the episodes as their contracts required them to miss 2 episodes.
Season 1 is so different for so many reasons. Carol Brady does not have much of a personality and in the later seasons she is allowed to grow that character.

I remember there was an early season episode in which both Marcia AND Bobby were absent, for the life of me I can't remember what was going on, but it was something important to do with the whole family, but I remember thinking it makes no sense for Marcia and Bobby not to be there... If I remember right, early in the episode they gave a BREIF explanation as to why Marcia was out of the house, but she never shows up and nothing is mentioned about Bobby IF I recall correctly

[Dianne3]

Originally Posted by TheLittleFaerie

I remember there was an early season episode in which both Marcia AND Bobby were absent, for the life of me I can't remember what was going on, but it was something important to do with the whole family, but I remember thinking it makes no sense for Marcia and Bobby not to be there... If I remember right, early in the episode they gave a BREIF explanation as to why Marcia was out of the house, but she never shows up and nothing is mentioned about Bobby IF I recall correctly

There were a handful of Season 2 episodes missing one Brady kid (minus Greg). One episode had half the women missing. It was the episode where Greg gets a job in his father's office and loses what he was to deliver.

The episode you are referring to had Marcia in it it, just not that scene. This was the episode Bobby missed. It was the Season 2 episode where the Brady's were invited on Mike's bosses boat, then both Cindy and Carol had to have their tonsils removed.