I finally figured out why Robert Reed did what he did

[mykel]

It hit me last night, as I watched my brand new 4th season DVD.

Dear, departed Robert Reed---an icon and a hero to many of us in the gay community---did what he did, hastening the end of our beloved show, not because he was a frustrated, classically-trained actor; not because he was a gay man surrounded by a bunch of uncaring straight writers and directors; not because he liked to drink during lunch time; Reed fought back because he loved the actors and actresses who played his children so much that he wanted to set an example for them that they would never forget:

FOLLOW YOUR HEART'S DESIRE AND DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU THAT YOU CAN'T.

Remember how Sherwood Schwartz would tell poor, teenaged Susan Olsen, aka "Cindy," year after year that she couldn't wear her hair down, like the other girls?

Remember how Schwartz shafted them out of tens of millions of dollars, knowing full well he'd make a fortune from decades of syndication?

Remember how Barry Williams, aka "Greg," wanted more dramatic storylines, ie, a fight between he and Reed, as Greg and Mike?

Remember the grueling, multi-city singing and dancing tour the Brady Kids were made to go on after the show was cancelled?


Time and time again, it seemed as if the kids who played our beloved Brady's, were made to be virtual slaves, never allowed to think for themselves or suggest storylines.

The more I think about it and the more I come to realize how much Robert Reed loved the kids---almost in place of the only daughter he had, but did not have custody of because of his homosexuality---the more I understand that he fought with the show's writers and producers and, ultimately, Sherwood Schwartz, himself, to set an example for the young Hollywood actors who would go on to become legends.

He saw how they were being used and controlled and, being such young kids, he didn't want them to think they had no say in the matter.

He inadvertantly hastened the end of the show because he thought the REAL children were more important than the TV CHARACTERS they played.

And you know what?

I think he was RIGHT!

As much as we love the Brady Bunch, the children who played them got treated terribly!

Or is there anyone here who will go on record as saying that these living legends live the comfortable lives they deserve?

Mykel

[TV Guy]

>>Remember how Schwartz shafted them out of tens of millions of dollars, knowing full well he'd make a fortune from decades of syndication.<<

I'm not defending this, but back then, virtually no TV actors, outside the big names like Lucille Ball, got much in terms of residuals.

>>Remember the grueling, multi-city singing and dancing tour the Brady Kids were made to go on after the show was cancelled?<<

The kids never toured after the show was cancelled; the show's cancellation killed demand for the tour. In addition, no one forced the kids to tour - it wasn't even Schwartz's idea.

>>Time and time again, it seemed as if the kids who played our beloved Brady's, were made to be virtual slaves, never allowed to think for themselves or suggest storylines.<<

That's what the shows have writers for. Child actors generally don't have creative input, and for good reason.

>>The more I think about it and the more I come to realize how much Robert Reed loved the kids.<<

Agreed - he apparently had a lot of affection for the, demonstrated by his willingness to return for the reunions, no matter how much the scripts stunk.

>>He inadvertantly hastened the end of the show because he thought the REAL children were more important than the TV CHARACTERS they played.<<

The only thing that hastened the end of the show was "Sanford & Son", which started beating up on the Bradys in the ratings. Had the ratings been stronger, the show would have continued.

>>As much as we love the Brady Bunch, the children who played them got treated terribly!<<

I don't know about that - most of the kids seem to fondly recall their time on the show. Only Eve seems bitter, and that seems more due to typecasting than due to mistreatment on the show. Susan and Barry expressed great affection toward Schwartz in The Brady Bunch Book.

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by TV Guy

>>Remember how Schwartz shafted them out of tens of millions of dollars, knowing full well he'd make a fortune from decades of syndication.<<

I'm not defending this, but back then, virtually no TV actors, outside the big names like Lucille Ball, got much in terms of residuals.

>>Remember the grueling, multi-city singing and dancing tour the Brady Kids were made to go on after the show was cancelled?<<

The kids never toured after the show was cancelled; the show's cancellation killed demand for the tour. In addition, no one forced the kids to tour - it wasn't even Schwartz's idea.

>>Time and time again, it seemed as if the kids who played our beloved Brady's, were made to be virtual slaves, never allowed to think for themselves or suggest storylines.<<

That's what the shows have writers for. Child actors generally don't have creative input, and for good reason.

>>The more I think about it and the more I come to realize how much Robert Reed loved the kids.<<

Agreed - he apparently had a lot of affection for the, demonstrated by his willingness to return for the reunions, no matter how much the scripts stunk.

>>He inadvertantly hastened the end of the show because he thought the REAL children were more important than the TV CHARACTERS they played.<<

The only thing that hastened the end of the show was "Sanford & Son", which started beating up on the Bradys in the ratings. Had the ratings been stronger, the show would have continued.

>>As much as we love the Brady Bunch, the children who played them got treated terribly!<<

I don't know about that - most of the kids seem to fondly recall their time on the show. Only Eve seems bitter, and that seems more due to typecasting than due to mistreatment on the show. Susan and Barry expressed great affection toward Schwartz in The Brady Bunch Book.

I agree with you.
There are many many actors from 60's and 70's shows that don't get residuals. The Brady actors (kids) are no different. No one could have thought back then (not even Mr. Schwartz) the amt of $$$ the reruns could bring in. No one had no idea abt VCR's, reruns in syndication with other television stations that would be born. Remember, back then there were only around 13 channels, and that's if you were lucky. There are countless stations now. And now of course with DVD's, that was no where in sight nor possible for Mr. Schwartz to even have known abt. So, the fact that these kids were swindled, is a far-fetched accusation. I am sure if there were many bad things to say, the actors would have said something by now. They are not bound by Mr. Schwartz.

[mykel]

bump for the homophobes who p*ssed of Robert Reed and hastened the end of the show.

They know who they are...

[Dr. Thong]

TV Guy,

You are right on. Couldn't have said it better myself, so I won't try.

[Rich3]

If you like the Brady Bunch then you have to like Sherwood Schwartz. He created them. It's like saying you like Pizza Hut but hate pizza.

Schwartz and Reed may have had a personal conflict but that doesn't mean I am going to take a side. I also don't think their conflict had any effect on the cancellation.

The reason the Brady Bunch was cancelled was because the actors outgrew the roles. It wasn't anyone's fault. The show's focus was on a group of kids and naturally had a limited lifespan.

[Dr. Thong]

If Reed thought the show was crap, then he should have never signed a contract to appear on it in the first place. If Reed felt he was a better actor and that the material was inferior, he should have done something else.

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

I agree with you.
There are many many actors from 60's and 70's shows that don't get residuals. The Brady actors (kids) are no different. No one could have thought back then (not even Mr. Schwartz) the amt of $$$ the reruns could bring in. No one had no idea abt VCR's, reruns in syndication with other television stations that would be born. Remember, back then there were only around 13 channels, and that's if you were lucky. There are countless stations now. And now of course with DVD's, that was no where in sight nor possible for Mr. Schwartz to even have known abt. So, the fact that these kids were swindled, is a far-fetched accusation. I am sure if there were many bad things to say, the actors would have said something by now. They are not bound by Mr. Schwartz.

Yes, I agree...as someone who grew up watching these shows (born in late 1959), we never, EVER even conceived of the possibility that one day the shows would be mass-produced on videotape (not to mention DVDs) and sold to the general public.

And while the value of reruns was beginning to become apparent at that time (I Love Lucy and a few other shows from the 50s and 60s were having sucessful syndicated runs) I don't see how Sherwood could have possibly forseen that the Bradys would be, for the most part, second only to I Love Lucy in terms of syndication success (I don't know for a fact that this is true, about the Brady Bunch being the 2nd most succeccful sydicated rerun after I Love Lucy, but I have heard stories to that effect).

The Brady kids (or their parents) signed what they thought were good contracts to play their roles in this show. And they probably were good for the time...but in those days, not many actors made enough to retire for life after one series, even if it did run for five years.

An interesting question is, how have TV contracts changed from then until now, in regards to residual income paid to the actors appearing in the shows? Can actors negotiate better residual deals today, or is it pretty much the same, unless the actor also has a producer's title?

[TV Guy]

Originally Posted by Tweety

An interesting question is, how have TV contracts changed from then until now, in regards to residual income paid to the actors appearing in the shows? Can actors negotiate better residual deals today, or is it pretty much the same, unless the actor also has a producer's title?

Residuals have become much better, but the best thing to do is to negotiate a percentage of the syndication/DVD sales. Granted, only established names can do this when first signing on to a series. But savvy actors can negotiate this with contract extensions (such as the cast members of "Friends" did).

[comedyfreak]

I also agree with TV Guy. I like the first season the best, cause it dealt with real issues concerning a blended family. Second season was also good, Liked her sisters shadow the best.

[sixfingers]

Originally Posted by mykel

It hit me last night, as I watched my brand new 4th season DVD.


Remember how Sherwood Schwartz would tell poor, teenaged Susan Olsen, aka "Cindy," year after year that she couldn't wear her hair down, like the other girls?

Susan Olsen was only 12 when the show ended, she wasn't a teenager even at the end of season five, let alone for years!

Originally Posted by mykel

Remember how Schwartz shafted them out of tens of millions of dollars, knowing full well he'd make a fortune from decades of syndication?

Nonsense! Nobody knew how well TBB would do in syndication and Schwartz struggled to keep the show going for five seasons. Actors didn't get paid that much back then and they didn't get continuing royalties for syndication.

Originally Posted by mykel

As much as we love the Brady Bunch, the children who played them got treated terribly!
Mykel

That's not what Susan Olsen said, she considered herself and the other kids lucky to have had the opportunity.