OMG!!! Guess who was first cast as "Carol Brady?" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

mykel · 02-27-2006, 02:25 PM

SHIRLEY JONES!!!

She took the role of Shirley Partridge, instead, because it didn't force her to be a stay at home mom, in an apron all day, baking cookies!

Mykel

Tweety · 02-27-2006, 11:50 PM

According to "Bradymania" (Elizabeth Moran), Joyce Bullifant (later Muarry's wife on the "Mary Tyler Moore Show") was set to play Carol, but then Florence came in and read for the part, and was offered the job instead. No mention of Shirley Jones...

Gene Hackman was Sherwood's first choice to play Mike Brady (same source). Paramount said 'no' because Hackman had never done television (this was one year before the French Connection...

Jeffrey Hunter also wanted to play Mike, but lost out to Robert Reed (Hunter played "Capt Christopher Pike" in the pilot for Star Trek...the pilot was never aired, but parts of it were later incorporated into "The Menagerie").

Mr. Television · 02-28-2006, 12:00 AM

The Partridge Family didn't even begin until a full year after The Brady Bunch too.

Tweety · 02-28-2006, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykel

SHIRLEY JONES!!!

She took the role of Shirley Partridge, instead, because it didn't force her to be a stay at home mom, in an apron all day, baking cookies!

Mykel

I'll bet one could count on one hand the number of times Carol wore an apron, or even did any baking... Alice did it all!

Shirley should have taken the part...would never have had to lift a finger!! Of course, she would have to have chaired a few committees, such as the "Quit Smoking Committee"...

mykel · 02-28-2006, 04:13 PM

Aw, shucks, guys, I was only going by what the Partridge Family DVD interview with Jones had said, plus what Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Rhino's websites all say.

Maybe Jones was briefly considered and later told, or was asked outright, but it seems clear that, in some faraway, alternate universe, she may well have been the one we think of when we think of Carol Brady.

Here's yet another peek:

Tweety · 02-28-2006, 08:37 PM

And all of this is not to say that Shirley wasn't either considered or interviewed/auditioned for the part of Carol... it's interesting that the Partridge Family DVD mentions that... but this is the first I'd heard of Shirley being involved with the Bradys...

Joyce Bullifant is really the only person I've read about that was "almost" cast as Carol. But there were probably a whole bunch of ladies that tried for the part, and there's no reason not to believe that Shirley Jones wasn't one of them. I've never heard Sherwood mention anything about that, but seems like he only talks about the actual cast in interviews I've seen of him, and not what might have been...

Rich3 · 02-28-2006, 09:43 PM

Shirley Jones was destined to be a Partridge. She was David Cassidy's stepmother for Pete's sake.

Tweety · 02-28-2006, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich3

Shirley Jones was destined to be a Partridge. She was David Cassidy's stepmother for Pete's sake.

Looks like Mykel will have to make one small change to the Cover Art shown above...David Cassidy needs to be in Greg's spot!

Bachu · 03-01-2006, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich3

Shirley Jones was destined to be a Partridge. She was David Cassidy's stepmother for Pete's sake.

But wasn't she cast first? I am sure that the producers didn't even know Cassidy was her son. They had different surnames. I think he was surprised to find his step mother as his screen mother.

Mr. Television · 03-01-2006, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bachu

But wasn't she cast first? I am sure that the producers didn't even know Cassidy was her son. They had different surnames. I think he was surprised to find his step mother as his screen mother.

Yea I think I saw them on an interview where they said it was a surprise.

TV Guy · 03-02-2006, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I Walk The Line

Yea I think I saw them on an interview where they said it was a surprise.

I also read the same thing. Shirley said it was a pleasant surprise; David lived with his mother, and Shirley felt it would be a good chance to get to know each other better. I understand that they remain pretty close (he is half-brother to Shirley's three sons).

mykel · 03-03-2006, 04:35 PM

OOOOH!

Don't get me started on Shaun Cassidy.

Lord, what IS it with pug noses?

Gotta luv 'em!

Mykel

02-27-2006, 02:25 PM	#1
mykel Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 28, 2005 Posts: 177	OMG!!! Guess who was first cast as "Carol Brady?" SHIRLEY JONES!!! She took the role of Shirley Partridge, instead, because it didn't force her to be a stay at home mom, in an apron all day, baking cookies! Mykel

02-28-2006, 12:00 AM	#3
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,128	The Partridge Family didn't even begin until a full year after The Brady Bunch too.
	__________________ Sonny

02-28-2006, 04:13 PM	#5
mykel Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 28, 2005 Posts: 177	Aw, shucks, guys, I was only going by what the Partridge Family DVD interview with Jones had said, plus what Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Rhino's websites all say. Maybe Jones was briefly considered and later told, or was asked outright, but it seems clear that, in some faraway, alternate universe, she may well have been the one we think of when we think of Carol Brady. Here's yet another peek: Attached Images

02-27-2006, 11:50 PM	#2
Tweety Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 18, 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 6,804	According to "Bradymania" (Elizabeth Moran), Joyce Bullifant (later Muarry's wife on the "Mary Tyler Moore Show") was set to play Carol, but then Florence came in and read for the part, and was offered the job instead. No mention of Shirley Jones... Gene Hackman was Sherwood's first choice to play Mike Brady (same source). Paramount said 'no' because Hackman had never done television (this was one year before the French Connection... Jeffrey Hunter also wanted to play Mike, but lost out to Robert Reed (Hunter played "Capt Christopher Pike" in the pilot for Star Trek...the pilot was never aired, but parts of it were later incorporated into "The Menagerie").

02-28-2006, 08:37 PM	#6
Tweety Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 18, 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 6,804	And all of this is not to say that Shirley wasn't either considered or interviewed/auditioned for the part of Carol... it's interesting that the Partridge Family DVD mentions that... but this is the first I'd heard of Shirley being involved with the Bradys... Joyce Bullifant is really the only person I've read about that was "almost" cast as Carol. But there were probably a whole bunch of ladies that tried for the part, and there's no reason not to believe that Shirley Jones wasn't one of them. I've never heard Sherwood mention anything about that, but seems like he only talks about the actual cast in interviews I've seen of him, and not what might have been...

02-28-2006, 09:43 PM	#7
Rich3 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 10, 2005 Posts: 690	Shirley Jones was destined to be a Partridge. She was David Cassidy's stepmother for Pete's sake.

03-03-2006, 04:35 PM	#12
mykel Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 28, 2005 Posts: 177	OOOOH! Don't get me started on Shaun Cassidy. Lord, what IS it with pug noses? Gotta luv 'em! Mykel