Was Cindy Suppossed to be "Stupid?" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Jack1000 · 03-11-2005, 05:13 PM

Guys,

Susan Olsen has gone on record many times, stating how much she despised her "Cindy Brady" character because she claims that Cindy was made to look and act stupid. According to Barry Williams' Growing Up Brady, Susan "remembers going to her Mom as early as the first season and asking... "Why is Cindy stupid? Why is it funny and cute to be stupid?"

I think that sometimes show producers often like to equate cute kids with doing stupid things. In the measles episode "Is There A Doctor in the House?" Carol comes into the girls room and Cindy asks?

"How come I alwaths get peanut butter and jelly sanwithes?" Carol answers, "Because you love them." Cindy says, "Oh yea! I keep forgetting!"

Sherwood Schwartz always said that Susan was the first kid cast when she came into his office for her interview and told him a story about what she did on Gunsmoke. She made him laugh so hard (She said that she rode a horthe, and it came near a thnake, but it wath only a prop thanke!) that Sherwood had to hire her!

I don't think Cindy was meant to be stupid. It could be that Sherwood thought that her slightly less than intelligent answers, curls, and cuteness, added a certain chemestry to her character. A lot of people thought that Susan wasn't too bright. This was a misnomer and she was often stereotyped for it. Francis Whitfield, the set's on site schoolteacher and welfare worker commented that she was a good student and worked very hard. I think her size was a negative factor that added to stereotyping.

In the TV Land Special, "Still Brady After All These Years," Susan tells a story about how they once had visitors on the Brady Bunch set. Susan at the time was writing something and the guest turned and said to someone, "Oh look at this! Cindy can write!" Susan said, "Yea, and I was only about seven years old at the time!" LOL! There were some episodes where you wonder if she had dyslexia. I am thinking of "Vote For Brady." There's a scene where the girls and Alice are making campaign posters for Marica. Cindy says, "I'm finished! and Vote For Marcia looks like:

TOER FRO ACIRMA!!!

Alice says, "Kid of catchy. It will really make people reember her name."

Cindy Says: "Alice said to copy the letters, she didn't say how."

How about the other time when Alice's former boyfriend Mark Miilard calls. (Alice's September Song) Cindy takes the message and the message paid says:

Alice,

Makr Maldrill called!

Jack

Vegas Girl · 03-11-2005, 08:58 PM

I never thought Cindy's character was supposed to be stupid. She got picked from her class to be on a TV show answering questions. Granted, she DID freeze up, but just the fact she was selected indicated to me she was one of the smartest in her class.

gidgetgrape · 03-14-2005, 11:23 AM

I never thought of her as being stupid either. She was the baby and the scripts emphasized her babyness. Maybe too much at times, but still not in a disrespectful way.

03-11-2005, 05:13 PM	#1
Jack1000 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 05, 2001 Posts: 2,055	Was Cindy Suppossed to be "Stupid?" Guys, Susan Olsen has gone on record many times, stating how much she despised her "Cindy Brady" character because she claims that Cindy was made to look and act stupid. According to Barry Williams' Growing Up Brady, Susan "remembers going to her Mom as early as the first season and asking... "Why is Cindy stupid? Why is it funny and cute to be stupid?" I think that sometimes show producers often like to equate cute kids with doing stupid things. In the measles episode "Is There A Doctor in the House?" Carol comes into the girls room and Cindy asks? "How come I alwaths get peanut butter and jelly sanwithes?" Carol answers, "Because you love them." Cindy says, "Oh yea! I keep forgetting!" Sherwood Schwartz always said that Susan was the first kid cast when she came into his office for her interview and told him a story about what she did on Gunsmoke. She made him laugh so hard (She said that she rode a horthe, and it came near a thnake, but it wath only a prop thanke!) that Sherwood had to hire her! I don't think Cindy was meant to be stupid. It could be that Sherwood thought that her slightly less than intelligent answers, curls, and cuteness, added a certain chemestry to her character. A lot of people thought that Susan wasn't too bright. This was a misnomer and she was often stereotyped for it. Francis Whitfield, the set's on site schoolteacher and welfare worker commented that she was a good student and worked very hard. I think her size was a negative factor that added to stereotyping. In the TV Land Special, "Still Brady After All These Years," Susan tells a story about how they once had visitors on the Brady Bunch set. Susan at the time was writing something and the guest turned and said to someone, "Oh look at this! Cindy can write!" Susan said, "Yea, and I was only about seven years old at the time!" LOL! There were some episodes where you wonder if she had dyslexia. I am thinking of "Vote For Brady." There's a scene where the girls and Alice are making campaign posters for Marica. Cindy says, "I'm finished! and Vote For Marcia looks like: TOER FRO ACIRMA!!! Alice says, "Kid of catchy. It will really make people reember her name." Cindy Says: "Alice said to copy the letters, she didn't say how." How about the other time when Alice's former boyfriend Mark Miilard calls. (Alice's September Song) Cindy takes the message and the message paid says: Alice, Makr Maldrill called! Jack

03-11-2005, 08:58 PM	#2
Vegas Girl Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 10, 2003 Posts: 1,339	I never thought Cindy's character was supposed to be stupid. She got picked from her class to be on a TV show answering questions. Granted, she DID freeze up, but just the fact she was selected indicated to me she was one of the smartest in her class.

03-14-2005, 11:23 AM	#3
gidgetgrape Forever Gidget Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 20, 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 3,503	I never thought of her as being stupid either. She was the baby and the scripts emphasized her babyness. Maybe too much at times, but still not in a disrespectful way.