35th Anniversary Reunion on TV Land in Sept. 2004

[Pavan]

The TCA Cable Summer Tour will be in a few weeks, and Nick@Nite and TV Land are up on Friday, July 23 between 10AM-1PM. It is now safe to post this, as it is confirmed:

TV Land and Nick@Nite President, Larry W. Jones will briefly discuss upcoming originals and specials for both TV Land and Nick at Nite, as well present a panel in conjunction with TV Salute to the 35th Anniversary of The Brady Bunch on September 26. TV Land will present a Brady Bunch Marathon (Sept. 25-26) and an original one-hour 35th Anniversary Reunion Special (Sept. 29).

Panel to include all the Brady kids:
Barry Williams (Greg Brady)
Maureen McCormick (Marcia Brady)
Christopher Knight (Peter Brady)
Eve Plumb (Jan Brady)
Mike Lookinland (Bobby Brady)
Susan Olsen (Cindy Brady)



More info will be available in a few weeks...

[TV Guy]

Wow -- nice to see that both Maureen and Eve will participate. Now if we can just get Eve to slap a smile on her face while doing the special, we'll be all set.

Hey, Paramount -- how about a DVD release to commemorate the anniversary?

[Pavan]

Originally posted by TV Guy
Hey, Paramount -- how about a DVD release to commemorate the anniversary?

EW recently had an article on that. I've heard it is coming in 2005, but this EW article says it is only "in consideration" for 2005:


We're Dyin' For... 'The Brady Bunch'
EW petitions for ''Brady Bunch'' DVD collection --

June 11, 2004

Paramount has no immediate plans to release the cheesy 70s sitcom and EW wants to know why

by Joshua Rich

We saved up all our Checker Trading Stamps, and, unable to decide between a sewing machine and a rowboat, we got ourselves a brand-new color TV set! (Groovy!) But what do we have to play on it? Not DVDs of ''The Brady Bunch,'' it turns out. A Paramount spokesman says a release ''is under consideration for next year,'' but we're not sure we can wait. Especially now that we're tantalized by the sly behind-the-scenes TV movie ''Growing Up Brady'' (PG-13, 88 mins., 2000, Paramount). Sure enough, we feel a certain unspeakable bliss watching Adam Brody and Kaley Cuoco (pre-''The O.C.'' and ''8 Simple Rules...'') reenact the blossoming of Barry Williams and Maureen McCormick's pseudo-incestuous love affair when Greg and Marcia fight over the attic bedroom. And we weep as Robert Reed (Daniel Hugh Kelly) struggles with the show's fabulously anti-Shakespearean scripts. But, really, like all those Kitty Karry-All dolls, this just isn't as good as the original. Come on, Paramount! As the song goes, ''when it's time to change, you've got to rearrange'' -- and put out on DVD the most beloved dopey sitcom ever. Only then will it truly be a sunshine day.

[TV Guy]

Interesting -- you'd think that a Brady DVD release would be a no-brainer. I wonder if Sherwood Schwartz owns a big enough piece of the pie that it's less lucrative for Paramount, so they're not making it high priority.

Thanks, Pav.

[Pavan]

Originally posted by TV Guy
Interesting -- you'd think that a Brady DVD release would be a no-brainer. I wonder if Sherwood Schwartz owns a big enough piece of the pie that it's less lucrative for Paramount, so they're not making it high priority.

Thanks, Pav.

Sherwood was quoted at some function saying that the DVD is in the works, but it seems Paramount is moving slowly on it.

[hawaii five-o]

Wish they would hurry up.

[Pavan]

TV LAND CELEBRATES 35TH ANNIVERSARY
OF “THE BRADY BUNCH” WITH ORIGINAL BRADY CAST REUNION AND 48-HOUR MARATHON

Network to Present Very First Episode of “The Brady Bunch”
Exactly 35 Years After September 26, 1969 Debut

LOS ANGELES, CA, JULY 23, 2004 – Here’s the story: TV Land, television’s only 24-hour home to the best of everything television, will celebrate the 35th Anniversary of America’s favorite TV family, “The Brady Bunch.” The 48-hour non-stop Brady marathon will feature classic episodes of the iconic 1970s sitcom, hand-picked episodes of “Pop Up Brady,” and “Still Brady After All These Years” – an original cast reunion special executive produced for TV Land by Lloyd Schwartz and Sherwood Schwartz, the creator and executive producer of the original enduring sitcom. The marathon begins at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 25 and continues non-stop through 6:00 a.m. on Monday, September 27 (all times ET/PT). The original one-hour special premieres at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 26, the show’s 35th anniversary date. The original special encores at 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 29.

“It’s hard to believe that it has been 35 years since America’s favorite family first premiered on television,” states Larry W. Jones, President, TV Land and Nick at Nite. “The Brady Bunch’ is an enduring classic and a fan favorite, and we could think of no better way to celebrate this anniversary than with a marathon of classic episodes of the show and a much-anticipated reunion special.”

Viewers tuning in to the celebration will be treated to the very first episode of The Brady Bunch at 8 p.m. that Sunday, 35 years to the minute that the series initially premiered on television. Following that, from 8:30 to 10 p.m., the unforgettable three-part episode of The Bradys in Hawaii will be showcased.

“Still Brady After All These Years” will feature rarely seen behind-the-scenes footage, current interviews with the show’s surviving cast members -- who also discuss their favorite episodes -- and will showcase several of the series’ most memorable moments, celebrity guest stars and popular storylines. The special will also take a lighthearted look at the show’s continued popularity and its role in pop culture and in television. The hosted special feature interviews with several Hollywood notables who discuss their views about various Brady family members, favorite “Brady Bunch” moments and their personal feelings about why the show continues to resonate with audiences. The special will be taped in Los Angeles in August.

The following is the schedule for The Brady Bunch 35th Anniversary Weekend (all times ET/PT):


Saturday Sunday
6:00 #2 Dear Libby #54 My Sister Benedict Arnold 6:00
6:30 #3 Eenie, Meenie, Mommy, Daddy #56 Juliet is the Sun 6:30
7:00 #4 Alice Doesn’t Live Hear Anymore #57 And Now a Word From Our Sponsor 7:00
7:30 #5 Katchoo #60 Click 7:30
8:00 #7 Kitty Karry-All is Missing #62 The Not-So-Rose-Colored Glasses 8:00
8:30 #9 Sorry, Right Number #63 The Teeter-Totter Caper 8:30
9:00 #10 Every Boy Does It Once #64 Big Little Man 9:00
9:30 #11 Vote For Brady #65 Law and Disorder 9:30
10:00 #12 The Voice of Christmas #67 Jan's Aunt Jenny 10:00
10:30 #13 Is There a Doctor in the House #68 The Big Bet 10:30
11:00 #14 Father of the Year Brady Original 11:00
11:30 #15 54-40 and Fight " 11:30
12:00 #17 The Undergraduate #73 The Fender Benders 12:00
12:30 #19 The Big Sprain #77 Today I Am a Freshman 12:30
1:00 #20 Brace Yourself #78 Cyrano de Brady 1:00
1:30 #21 The Hero #79 Fright Night 1:30
2:00 #22 The Possible Dream #80 The Show Must Go On 2:00
2:30 #24 The Grass Is Always Greener #81 Jan, The Only Child 2:30
3:00 #26 The Dropout #82 Career Fever 3:00
3:30 #27 The Babysitters #83 Goodbye, Alice, Hello 3:30
4:00 #30 Going Going Steady #85 Everybody Can't Be George Washington 4:00
4:30 #33 Fistful of Reasons #86 Love and the Older Man 4:30
5:00 #39 Where There's Smoke #87 Greg Gets Grounded 5:00
5:30 Pop Up #43 Our Son The Man Pop Up # 64 Big Little Man 5:30
6:00 Pop up #55 The Personality Kid Pop Up #66 Dough-RE-Mi 6:00
6:30 Pop Up #59 Her Sister's Shadow Pop Up #96 Adios Johnny Bravo 6:30
7:00 Pop Up #61 Getting Davey Jones Pop Up #106 The Cincinnati Kids 7:00
7:30 Pop Up #1 The Honeymoon Pop Up #117 The Hair Brained Scheme 7:30
8:00 #50 Ghost Town USA #1 The Honeymoon 8:00
8:30 #51 Grand Canyon or bust #74 Hawaii Bound 8:30
9:00 #52 The Brady Braves #75 Pass The Tabu 9:00
9:30 #37 Confessions, Confessions #76 The Tiki Caves 9:30
10:00 #61 Getting Davey Jones Brady Original 10:00
10:30 #66 Dough-Re-Mi " 10:30
11:00 #55 The Personality Kid #88 Amateur Night 11:00
11:30 #34 The Not So Ugly Duckling #90 The Subject Was Noses 11:30
12:00 Pop Up #1 The Honeymoon Pop Up # 64 Big Little Man 12:00
12:30 Pop Up #43 Our Son The Man Pop Up #66 Dough-RE-Mi 12:30
1:00 Pop up #55 The Personality Kid Brady Original 1:00
1:30 Pop Up #59 Her Sister's Shadow " 1:30
2:00 Pop Up #61 Getting Davey Jones Pop Up #96 Adios Johnny Bravo 2:00
2:30 #40 Will The Real Jan Brady Pop Up #106 The Cincinnati Kids 2:30
3:00 #42 Coming Out Party Pop Up #117 The Hair Brained Scheme 3:00
3:30 #43 Our Son The Man #97 Mail Order Hero 3:30
4:00 #44 The Liberation of Marcia Brady #99 Never Too Young 4:00
4:30 #46 The Winner #100 Peter and The Wolf 4:30
5:00 #47 Double Parked #102 Marcia Gets Creamed 5:00
5:30 #49 Tell it Like it Is #104 Quarterback Sneak 5:30

[Ronny G]

I just got back from taping of "Still Brady" special. ( taped Sunday 4-7pm) Had a fun time. Jenny McCarthy was the host of the special. She has an energetic, funny, and upbeat personality, and kept this reunion fresh and moving right along! She had her hair styled long and straight like Marcias.

[SKay]

Ronny G, can you tell us the format/order of events for the evening? Did they open up for questions from the audience?

[Ronny G]

Hi,

It was like a talk show format, but they didn't field questions from the audience. They did ask questions while we were waiting in line outside that they said would be edited into the program before and after commercial breaks kind of thing. The questions were like, "What did you learn from the Brady Bunch" or "What bothered you about the Brady Bunch". The whole audience was asked to sing the theme song in unison, and we were told that is how they will open the show.

Jenny introduced the cast and they all came out and sat down. She then asked them the same questions you all have heard a million times before--what happened to Tiger, did Barry have a crush on Florence, what's your favorite episode. However, Jenny was very witty and made it all seem fresh. I guess they took a poll on tv land to name each character's outrageous moment, and Jenny went one by one and asked each actor what they thought was their most outrageous moment, like when Bobby dreamed he was Jesse James sidekick, or when he saw a UFO. Later on, Ann B. Davis came out for a "Surprise" visit, (But we all saw her arrive while we were standing out in line).

The best thing was the set! It was a replica of the Brady Bunch Living Room with the familar staircase, and a modified version of the kitchen with burnt orange formica counter tops and avacado green fridge. Our audience warm-up girl told us the set pieces were not the original ones, but were used in the Brady Bunch Goes to Wash. tv movie. The only original piece she said was a painting of horses that originally hung in the den. They were on loan from the Paramount props dept. (The special was taped at Sunset-Gower Studios (formerly the old Screen Gems lot). It was fun listening in on the cast's comments between takes. Maureen siad the horse statue looks bigger to her now.

Of all the kids, the nicest one was Mike Lookinland, and of course, Florence. He came up to the audience to sign autographs between takes, and would often talk and acknowlege the audience--unlike Eve who would look the other way.

There's so many more details. If you have anymore questions, let me know.

[SKay]

Thanks Ronny G! I'll really look forward to seeing this on TV. I'm really glad to see that Mike Lookinland did that. I wish he were a more public person. I'm especially a fan of Christopher Knight's. If you can remember anything he said, especially during breaks, I'd be glad to hear it. But anyway, thanks for the summary!

[Ronny G]

I can't recall anything specifically that Chris said to the audience between takes, other than the fact that Jenny said he was HOT and kept flirting with him. He did tell Jenny that he's been exercising more now after letting himself go for a few years.

Oh, and the most SURREAL moment came at the end of the show. You know all those old publicity shots of the casts on the steps through the years lined up according to age. They had the cast recreate their position on the stairs, and they held their pose for what seemed like 5 minutes to allow time for the end credits roll. It was so bizarre to see them that way, like a photograph come to life. We, the audience, gave them a standing ovation, and we were encouraged by the warm-up gal to keep clapping for what seemed like an eternity while the cast just stared ahead at us. I'm sure they must've felt like animals in a zoo exhibit.

[isiahthomas]

I saw the cast members talk to Jenny McCarthy last night. It doesn't look like any of the cast has aged that much except Ann B Davis. It would've been nice to see Robert Reid there if he was still alive.

[Tweety]

It's always nice to see the Brady kids get together, and I'm glad all 6 of them agreed to do the reunion show...

However, Jenny McCarthy was totally obnoxious...she seemed to think the show was all about her...

This is the first thing I've ever seen J McCarthy do...I had no idea she was that annoying...

I think it could have been a lot better if the host didn't think the show was about THEM, instead of about the "kids" that we all grew up watching.

Why Jenny McCarthy, of all people? That's what I can't figure out.

It would have been nice to see the Bradys take questions from the audience, instead of the scripted questions McCarthy asked.

Overall, I enjoyed the show, other than when McCarthy was talking, which was most of the time.

[MSU 1978]

Jenny was way over the top. And please, Jen, cover those gross bare legs of yours.

Susan Olsen didn't look quite right to me. I don't know if she has any health concerns but I hope she's alright.

Maureen McCormick is still a doll. Little chunkier but still very pretty.

Eve Plumb looked like she was channelling Alice Ghostly.

I thought that they did a decent job outside of Jenny. Did anyone else notice when she asked each one about whether choice A or choice B was their favorite or most embarrassing whatever, that many of them chose something else altogether? Maybe they should have asked the star before they put the choices together.