Another "Pilot vs. Series" Question - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Mark J. Cuccia · 02-04-2001, 11:32 PM

Someone mentioned "Fluffy" the cat and the pilot, which now has jogged my memory about another "Pilot" vs. "Series run" situation (which I mention further down)...

Also, it was mentioned that the pilot originally aired in March 1969. Was that an actual (US) Network air date? If so, which network, and which "exact" date in March 1969? All of the Viacom-Paramount syndication references I see to "Brady Bunch" (I'll have to check some of those sitcom or TV history books as well) is that the "Pilot/Wedding/Honeymoon" episode originally aired in September 1969, of course on ABC.

Or could March 1969 have been the production/film date?

I saw some of Sherwood Schwartz comments on the TVLand marathon this weekend, and he says that the "concept" for Brady Bunch was around a few years and "entertained" by all three networks, but none actually wanted to "commit" to an actual series, until the movie "Yours, Mine and Ours" with Lucy, and Henry Fonda was released and a hit.

Now, my "pilot" vs. "series" question:

In the pilot itself, the boys mention something about how Carol and the girls are going to "move-in" with them. The (male) Brady (and Alice) HOUSE used in the pilot, both the interior sets (at Paramount?), as well as the exterior "photo shot", is *NOT* the house used in the actual series itself.

Is there any first season episode "mention" about both the Brady men and Carol and her girls all moving into a "new, bigger house"?

I know that there is an episode later on during the first or second season regarding them possibly moving from the "regular" house, but I haven't seen this episode or haven't seen it in years. Could this episode have been some kind of "flashback" to how they all moved into the "regular" house?

Also, the early episode with baseball player Don Drysdale, where Greg begins to obsess about growing up to play for the major leagues... the episode opens up with Drysdale in Mike's study, and Mike shows Drysdale a design sketch of a new house for Drysdale. That sketch *SEEMS* to be the same house that was used earlier for the outside photo shot of the outside of the (male) Brady/Alice house in the Pilot!

TVLanFan · 06-05-2001, 07:00 PM

Mark - you raise some interesting points and quesitons. Can't speak for all of them, but there definitely was an episode where Mike & Carol were thinking of moving. I believe the kids booby trapped the house in order to scare away potential buyers...well, heck I'll do a little research...hold on, don't go away...here it is, episode 18 original air date 3/6/70 "To Move or Not to Move". Apparently Mike & Carol were going to sell the house and find a larger one, because the kids were complaining about a lack of space. So, yes, that episode did exist.

TV Guy · 06-06-2001, 05:07 PM

As far as the difference between the pilot house and the series house, I think we're expected to use our imaginations and pretend that they are the same. The pilot was filmed at a real house, and then when the show was picked up as a series, they built sets and chose a new house for the exterior shots. In the episode "A Clubhouse is Not a Home", they deal with the effects of moving all of the girls' belongings into the house. It's very clear that Carol and the girls are moving in, as opposed to all of them moving to a new house.

The pilot aired in late September 1969, but I don't know when it was actually filmed. I thought I read somewhere that it was actually filmed in late 1968, but I could be wrong.

Sharp eyes on the Don Drysdale house sketches -- it does seem to be the pilot house!

ficlopri · 06-29-2001, 12:21 AM

TVLanFan, I hope you used Elizabeth Moran's brilliant Bradymania book and not Barry Williams' mistake filled Growing Up Brady book as Brady Bunch reference material. Williams' trash has around 32 mistakes in it in its original edition and 15 in the revised version. Lousy either way is Barry's book.

TVLanFan · 06-29-2001, 05:33 PM

ficlopri -

Yes, it was Moran's book I used for my research...I couldn't remember the author's name. I like that book a lot...I was tempted to buy Barry's GUB book, but never did...and I guess I'm glad I didn't. But Moran's "Bradymania" book is excellent! c ya

02-04-2001, 11:32 PM	#1
Mark J. Cuccia Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 16, 2000 Location: New Orleans LA Posts: 25	Another "Pilot vs. Series" Question Someone mentioned "Fluffy" the cat and the pilot, which now has jogged my memory about another "Pilot" vs. "Series run" situation (which I mention further down)... Also, it was mentioned that the pilot originally aired in March 1969. Was that an actual (US) Network air date? If so, which network, and which "exact" date in March 1969? All of the Viacom-Paramount syndication references I see to "Brady Bunch" (I'll have to check some of those sitcom or TV history books as well) is that the "Pilot/Wedding/Honeymoon" episode originally aired in September 1969, of course on ABC. Or could March 1969 have been the production/film date? I saw some of Sherwood Schwartz comments on the TVLand marathon this weekend, and he says that the "concept" for Brady Bunch was around a few years and "entertained" by all three networks, but none actually wanted to "commit" to an actual series, until the movie "Yours, Mine and Ours" with Lucy, and Henry Fonda was released and a hit. Now, my "pilot" vs. "series" question: In the pilot itself, the boys mention something about how Carol and the girls are going to "move-in" with them. The (male) Brady (and Alice) HOUSE used in the pilot, both the interior sets (at Paramount?), as well as the exterior "photo shot", is NOT the house used in the actual series itself. Is there any first season episode "mention" about both the Brady men and Carol and her girls all moving into a "new, bigger house"? I know that there is an episode later on during the first or second season regarding them possibly moving from the "regular" house, but I haven't seen this episode or haven't seen it in years. Could this episode have been some kind of "flashback" to how they all moved into the "regular" house? Also, the early episode with baseball player Don Drysdale, where Greg begins to obsess about growing up to play for the major leagues... the episode opens up with Drysdale in Mike's study, and Mike shows Drysdale a design sketch of a new house for Drysdale. That sketch SEEMS to be the same house that was used earlier for the outside photo shot of the outside of the (male) Brady/Alice house in the Pilot!

06-05-2001, 07:00 PM	#2
TVLanFan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 31, 2001 Location: Florida Posts: 199	Mark - you raise some interesting points and quesitons. Can't speak for all of them, but there definitely was an episode where Mike & Carol were thinking of moving. I believe the kids booby trapped the house in order to scare away potential buyers...well, heck I'll do a little research...hold on, don't go away...here it is, episode 18 original air date 3/6/70 "To Move or Not to Move". Apparently Mike & Carol were going to sell the house and find a larger one, because the kids were complaining about a lack of space. So, yes, that episode did exist.

06-06-2001, 05:07 PM	#3
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	As far as the difference between the pilot house and the series house, I think we're expected to use our imaginations and pretend that they are the same. The pilot was filmed at a real house, and then when the show was picked up as a series, they built sets and chose a new house for the exterior shots. In the episode "A Clubhouse is Not a Home", they deal with the effects of moving all of the girls' belongings into the house. It's very clear that Carol and the girls are moving in, as opposed to all of them moving to a new house. The pilot aired in late September 1969, but I don't know when it was actually filmed. I thought I read somewhere that it was actually filmed in late 1968, but I could be wrong. Sharp eyes on the Don Drysdale house sketches -- it does seem to be the pilot house!

06-29-2001, 12:21 AM	#4
ficlopri Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 27, 2001 Location: Methuen, Ma.USA Posts: 659	TVLanFan, I hope you used Elizabeth Moran's brilliant Bradymania book and not Barry Williams' mistake filled Growing Up Brady book as Brady Bunch reference material. Williams' trash has around 32 mistakes in it in its original edition and 15 in the revised version. Lousy either way is Barry's book.

06-29-2001, 05:33 PM	#5
TVLanFan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 31, 2001 Location: Florida Posts: 199	ficlopri - Yes, it was Moran's book I used for my research...I couldn't remember the author's name. I like that book a lot...I was tempted to buy Barry's GUB book, but never did...and I guess I'm glad I didn't. But Moran's "Bradymania" book is excellent! c ya