Scenes That Were Stupid or Just Didn't Work! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Jack1000 · 03-18-2006, 12:12 PM

Guys,

We all know about Robert Reed's influence on the scripts, particularly begining with the second season when his friend Tam Spiva is assigned as scrpit editor on several episodes. But even after post-production, what scenes or lines do you think were left in that were stupid or just didn't tie in with the episode: Here are some I can think of of the top of my head:

The Honeymoon: Tiger/Fluffy chase sequence. Nothing more than slapstick and totally agree with Robert Reed on the problems of this episode.

Eenie Meenie Mommy Daddy: Robert Reed crawling on the floor and doing his frog imitations! (He must of loved this! hahaha)

Katchoo: Jan having an IMMEDIATE reaction to the flea powder and Alice/Carol determining that this is what is causing her allergy. Tiger's pet dander would have taken days to months to lesson its effect if Jan had been allergic to him. Their conclusive reasoning to the flee-powder being the culprit is much too fast.

Is There A Doctor in the House: Amazingly healthy looking sick kids. The kids able to eat anything, the kids playing games/having a good time. Carol and Mike getting a hold of their doctors right away without having to talk to a receptionist or set up an appointment! (As if Dr. Porter and Dr. Cameron have nothing to do but sit around and wait for them to call and come over the same day!) The arguining over the doctors to use. Alice/Carol's "family illness chart", which is an obvious time filler. Putting Tiger on the chart for the vet.

The Impractical Joker: Mike "blowing" on Myran to get him to run in the right direction when he/Greg are training him to run the maze. Jan and Carol's lines in the tag sequence:

Jan: "It's sure much easier to peel a banana than it is a potato."

Carol: "You're right, one of these nights, we might just try French fried banannas."

And Now A Word From Our Sponsor: The whole episode!!!! YUCK! But specifically Alice forgetting which pile of clothes was washed with witch soap and even allowing the kids to ruin their clothes by dirtying them to do the commercial. Carol's overly-happy reciting the soaps she used to Mike before switching to Best. (Agree with Robert Reed on this episode.)

The Private Ear: Peter getting a tape recorder for as one of the presents for his surprise party. This episode always bugged me! It's like they gave Peter a party because Greg and Marcia hurt his feelings about joking with him about the party. Hey, Peter started it, by evesdropping on their conversations in the first place! What did Greg and Marcia do that was so bad? They were just PO'd cuz he did it in the first place and only had to apoligize as a punishment. All say they are sorry at the end, so why does Peter get a party?

Mail Order Hero: Carol asking Mike if they know Joe Namith.

Jack

michaellinn · 03-18-2006, 10:10 PM

The beauty parlor scene in the show's final episode (Greg has orange hair just in time for graduation!) - Greg and his mom are at the beauty parlor, so that his hair could get turned back to its normal color. While Carol is busy talking to the workers, Greg is waiting while two of his female classmates enter. He's wearing a ski cap to hide his orange hair. He begins to act nervous as the girls approach him. They tell him that it's a little warm to be wearing a ski cap. "Not if you're going skiing," Greg tells them. The girls then notice how strange he's acting and demand to know what's going on. Greg suddenly comes up with an excuse that he whispers to the girls - his mother is completely bald. The girls seem to understand, but that doesn't explain why Greg was there and acting so weird.

Also, in the same episode, Robert Reed doesn't appear, because he thought the script was just too wacky. But Mike Brady would be out of town, missing his son's graduation?! Instead of Carol saying to Greg at the end of the episode while the family returns home from the graduation: "It's too bad your father is out of town and had to miss it," at least she could have said something like, "Well, Greg, get dressed, and we'll go out to eat to celebrate. Your father's waiting in the car." Or at least give some indication that Mr. Brady had indeed attended the graduation, even though he would be off-camera. It's just not very Brady-like for Mr. Brady to miss out on such an important event.

sixfingers · 03-09-2010, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaellinn

Also, in the same episode, Robert Reed doesn't appear, because he thought the script was just too wacky. But Mike Brady would be out of town, missing his son's graduation?! Instead of Carol saying to Greg at the end of the episode while the family returns home from the graduation: "It's too bad your father is out of town and had to miss it," at least she could have said something like, "Well, Greg, get dressed, and we'll go out to eat to celebrate. Your father's waiting in the car." Or at least give some indication that Mr. Brady had indeed attended the graduation, even though he would be off-camera. It's just not very Brady-like for Mr. Brady to miss out on such an important event.

I think of the episode What goes up ... in the second season. Marcia wasn't seen on camera yet she is referred to several times as if she was there.

Smartboy · 03-09-2010, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixfingers

I think of the episode What goes up ... in the second season. Marcia wasn't seen on camera yet she is referred to several times as if she was there.

Do you have any idea why Marcia was not seen in that episode? Maybe the actress who played her was sick or doing something else when the episode was being filmed.

sixfingers · 03-10-2010, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smartboy

Do you have any idea why Marcia was not seen in that episode? Maybe the actress who played her was sick or doing something else when the episode was being filmed.

In the second season they were trying to save money by having the bradys take turns not appearing in episodes. There were episodes where others were missing as well, for example, Bobby is missing from Coming out Party they scrapped the idea before they got to Greg.

There have been several threads on here about this.

Tweety · 03-10-2010, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixfingers

In the second season they were trying to save money by having the bradys take turns not appearing in episodes. There were episodes where others were missing as well, for example, Bobby is missing from Coming out Party they scrapped the idea before they got to Greg.

There have been several threads on here about this.

According to imdb:

There were seven shows total, with "a missing Brady". They are listed from first to seventh.

1) "Call Me Irresponsible (#2.6)" (1970), Missing Susan Olsen

2) "A Fistful of Reasons (#2.8)" (1970). Missing Eve Plumb

3) "The Tattle-Tale (#2.10)" (1970), Missing Christopher Knight

4) "What Goes Up... (#2.11)" (1970), Missing Maureen McCormick

5) "Coming Out Party (#2.17)" (1971), Missing Mike Lookinland

6) "Goodbye, Alice, Hello (#4.10)" (1972), is the first of two without Robert Reed

and of course:

7) "The Hair-Brained Scheme (#5.22)" (1974) Missing Robert Reed

steevo · 03-10-2010, 09:26 PM

Another scene that didn't work in that episode was the scene where Bobby, Cindy and Oliver came back jubilant that they sold the rabbits and the hair tonic to the pet store owner, saying the owner wanted to breed more of the "orange" rabbits. Even though it's established the tonic isn't harmful, the owner would be altering the rabbits into something they weren't, mainly orange. Animal groups would have the guy hanged for something like that.

McGillicuddy · 03-10-2010, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tweety

According to imdb:

There were seven shows total, with "a missing Brady". They are listed from first to seventh.

1) "Call Me Irresponsible (#2.6)" (1970), Missing Susan Olsen

2) "A Fistful of Reasons (#2.8)" (1970). Missing Eve Plumb

3) "The Tattle-Tale (#2.10)" (1970), Missing Christopher Knight

4) "What Goes Up... (#2.11)" (1970), Missing Maureen McCormick

5) "Coming Out Party (#2.17)" (1971), Missing Mike Lookinland

6) "Goodbye, Alice, Hello (#4.10)" (1972), is the first of two without Robert Reed

and of course:

7) "The Hair-Brained Scheme (#5.22)" (1974) Missing Robert Reed

I thought Robert Reed was missing from the episode where the Bradys (+Alice and Oliver) went to take the movie studio tour. He must have been on at the beginning, but its still curious he didn't go on the tour!

Smartboy · 03-10-2010, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markway895

I thought Robert Reed was missing from the episode where the Bradys (+Alice and Oliver) went to take the movie studio tour. He must have been on at the beginning, but its still curious he didn't go on the tour!

He was in the beginning. He was the one who went and got Oliver to bring him back to the Brady house.

1960'sTVfan · 03-12-2010, 03:35 PM

I agree that the Tiger/Fluffy chase scene in the pilot episode went a little too far over the top. Interesting that Fluffy was never seen again after the pilot episode. Maybe they decided the dog and cat wouldn't get along and the dog won out.

I think Robert Reed took things a little too serious about some Brady Bunch scripts. This wasn't Shakespeare, it was a lighthearted family sitcom of the 70's. Yes the writers created some silly situations and some things worked well while some others didn't. As with Sherwood Schwartz other show Gilligans Island, the Brady Bunch is a show to just sit back and enjoy for what it is and not over analyze and be too critical.

03-18-2006, 12:12 PM	#1
Jack1000 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 05, 2001 Posts: 2,055	Scenes That Were Stupid or Just Didn't Work! Guys, We all know about Robert Reed's influence on the scripts, particularly begining with the second season when his friend Tam Spiva is assigned as scrpit editor on several episodes. But even after post-production, what scenes or lines do you think were left in that were stupid or just didn't tie in with the episode: Here are some I can think of of the top of my head: The Honeymoon: Tiger/Fluffy chase sequence. Nothing more than slapstick and totally agree with Robert Reed on the problems of this episode. Eenie Meenie Mommy Daddy: Robert Reed crawling on the floor and doing his frog imitations! (He must of loved this! hahaha) Katchoo: Jan having an IMMEDIATE reaction to the flea powder and Alice/Carol determining that this is what is causing her allergy. Tiger's pet dander would have taken days to months to lesson its effect if Jan had been allergic to him. Their conclusive reasoning to the flee-powder being the culprit is much too fast. Is There A Doctor in the House: Amazingly healthy looking sick kids. The kids able to eat anything, the kids playing games/having a good time. Carol and Mike getting a hold of their doctors right away without having to talk to a receptionist or set up an appointment! (As if Dr. Porter and Dr. Cameron have nothing to do but sit around and wait for them to call and come over the same day!) The arguining over the doctors to use. Alice/Carol's "family illness chart", which is an obvious time filler. Putting Tiger on the chart for the vet. The Impractical Joker: Mike "blowing" on Myran to get him to run in the right direction when he/Greg are training him to run the maze. Jan and Carol's lines in the tag sequence: Jan: "It's sure much easier to peel a banana than it is a potato." Carol: "You're right, one of these nights, we might just try French fried banannas." And Now A Word From Our Sponsor: The whole episode!!!! YUCK! But specifically Alice forgetting which pile of clothes was washed with witch soap and even allowing the kids to ruin their clothes by dirtying them to do the commercial. Carol's overly-happy reciting the soaps she used to Mike before switching to Best. (Agree with Robert Reed on this episode.) The Private Ear: Peter getting a tape recorder for as one of the presents for his surprise party. This episode always bugged me! It's like they gave Peter a party because Greg and Marcia hurt his feelings about joking with him about the party. Hey, Peter started it, by evesdropping on their conversations in the first place! What did Greg and Marcia do that was so bad? They were just PO'd cuz he did it in the first place and only had to apoligize as a punishment. All say they are sorry at the end, so why does Peter get a party? Mail Order Hero: Carol asking Mike if they know Joe Namith. Jack
	Last edited by Jack1000; 03-18-2006 at 07:15 PM.

03-10-2010, 09:26 PM	#7
steevo It is Green Senior Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,474	Another scene that didn't work in that episode was the scene where Bobby, Cindy and Oliver came back jubilant that they sold the rabbits and the hair tonic to the pet store owner, saying the owner wanted to breed more of the "orange" rabbits. Even though it's established the tonic isn't harmful, the owner would be altering the rabbits into something they weren't, mainly orange. Animal groups would have the guy hanged for something like that.
	__________________ "God be gracious to us and bless us..." Psalm 67:1

03-18-2006, 10:10 PM	#2
michaellinn Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 02, 2004 Location: Missouri Posts: 59	The beauty parlor scene in the show's final episode (Greg has orange hair just in time for graduation!) - Greg and his mom are at the beauty parlor, so that his hair could get turned back to its normal color. While Carol is busy talking to the workers, Greg is waiting while two of his female classmates enter. He's wearing a ski cap to hide his orange hair. He begins to act nervous as the girls approach him. They tell him that it's a little warm to be wearing a ski cap. "Not if you're going skiing," Greg tells them. The girls then notice how strange he's acting and demand to know what's going on. Greg suddenly comes up with an excuse that he whispers to the girls - his mother is completely bald. The girls seem to understand, but that doesn't explain why Greg was there and acting so weird. Also, in the same episode, Robert Reed doesn't appear, because he thought the script was just too wacky. But Mike Brady would be out of town, missing his son's graduation?! Instead of Carol saying to Greg at the end of the episode while the family returns home from the graduation: "It's too bad your father is out of town and had to miss it," at least she could have said something like, "Well, Greg, get dressed, and we'll go out to eat to celebrate. Your father's waiting in the car." Or at least give some indication that Mr. Brady had indeed attended the graduation, even though he would be off-camera. It's just not very Brady-like for Mr. Brady to miss out on such an important event.
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03-12-2010, 03:35 PM	#10
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,060	I agree that the Tiger/Fluffy chase scene in the pilot episode went a little too far over the top. Interesting that Fluffy was never seen again after the pilot episode. Maybe they decided the dog and cat wouldn't get along and the dog won out. I think Robert Reed took things a little too serious about some Brady Bunch scripts. This wasn't Shakespeare, it was a lighthearted family sitcom of the 70's. Yes the writers created some silly situations and some things worked well while some others didn't. As with Sherwood Schwartz other show Gilligans Island, the Brady Bunch is a show to just sit back and enjoy for what it is and not over analyze and be too critical.