Not enough seasons, not enough episodes - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Lee G · 12-19-2007, 12:05 PM

I've always thought The Brady Bunch ended too soon, I think it easily could have been an eight season show with nearly 200 episodes, with the last season being 1976-77. As it is, we got five seasons and 117 episodes, not nearly enough because the show was still going strong. They should have gone on with the sitcom for three more years, instead they scrapped it and gave us the awful Brady Bunch Variety Hour. I know they were having problems with Robert Reed during that final Brady Bunch season, but somehow I think things could have been ironed out and continue with the show. They just gave up on it too quick, probably figured five years was enough.

The series ended with Greg's high school graduation, I thought Marcia was supposed to graduate also? Was she a year or two behind Greg in school? I thought they were the same age.

Scoobiedoo30 · 12-19-2007, 01:02 PM

I think they could have gone maybe 8 season's

kooky12 · 12-19-2007, 02:09 PM

I don't see how the series was still going strong. The kids looked way too old for some of their antics. "Snooperstar" is one of the best examples of this. And the introduction of a new kid like Oliver signals the death knell for a show.

Lee G · 12-19-2007, 02:53 PM

The series could have continued a few more seasons, but it would have needed some changes to the scripts because the kids were getting older and agreed the situations from earlier seasons would no longer apply. They would have had a decision to make regarding Greg's character, they could have had him moving away to college and returning home to visit and appear in selected episodes, or they could have kept him as a regular character choosing a college near home and continuing to live at home. The series and scripts would have needed to be updated as the kids were getting older, but I think they could have made it OK and kept it a funny show. Those involved in the series probably had enough after five seasons and were ready to move on.

gotsmart · 12-21-2007, 07:16 PM

I disagree. The show was pretty bad by the end of season 5. They would've had to change the scripts, get new writers, get rid of Oliver, etc. in order to make it last 3 more seasons.

Tweety · 12-23-2007, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee G

...The series ended with Greg's high school graduation, I thought Marcia was supposed to graduate also? Was she a year or two behind Greg in school? I thought they were the same age.

No, Greg was always portrayed as being the oldest... in fact, Greg was already in High School when Marcia started High School in "Today I Am A Freshman". He also got his drivers license before she did.

Greg was shown starting High School before anyone else (Season 2, "Our Son, the Man). Marcia's entrance into high school didn't take place until Season 4's "Today I am a Freshman"

Jude The Obscure · 01-10-2008, 09:18 PM

Sherwood was indeed planning a sixth season when ABC dropped the bomb while the cast and crew were on hiatus. Sanford and Son's monster ratings rang the death knell for the Bradys, but of course ABC realized it's mistake too late when the show went into syndication and did GANGBUSTER ratings!

Lee G · 01-11-2008, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jude86

Sherwood was indeed planning a sixth season when ABC dropped the bomb while the cast and crew were on hiatus. Sanford and Son's monster ratings rang the death knell for the Bradys, but of course ABC realized it's mistake too late when the show went into syndication and did GANGBUSTER ratings!

So ABC pulled the plug on em, that figures. The fifth season had some weaker episodes, bringing in cousin Oliver was not the greatest idea, but I think they could have come back for a good sixth season with some proper changes to the show. Marcia would have graduated from high school then at the end of season seven, thanx Tweety for the info. I think they could have done an eighth season but that definitely would have been the last one. But we have to settle for what we got, I just wish there were 120 episodes instead of 117. That odd number irritates me, I feel we got cheated out of three episodes.

I never thought Sanford and Son was that funny, the first couple seasons maybe were OK. Perhaps Robbie Rist AKA cousin Oliver takes some satisfaction in being at least partially responsible for killing off The Brady Bunch.

Jude The Obscure · 01-12-2008, 03:34 PM

The odd number comes from going from 25 episodes a season (when it started) to 22 (by the time it finished).

I too always wondered what a sixth season would have entailed--perhaps a Carol pregnancy with fraternal twins (as Sherwood suggested at one point?), seeing Alice and Sam getting married? Cindy on her first serious romance? Greg moving out?

Thank goodness, the Variety Hour is not considered canon in the Brady universe!

mikeny99 · 01-14-2008, 12:13 AM

You can't really go on once the kids get near the end of high school age. The shows can't be funny anymore. All the sitcoms with kids are only funny because of the kids. Look at the Cosby Show season 1 and compare it with the last season. The show was nowhere near as funny anymore once they all got older.

Bachu · 01-14-2008, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeny99

You can't really go on once the kids get near the end of high school age. The shows can't be funny anymore. All the sitcoms with kids are only funny because of the kids. Look at the Cosby Show season 1 and compare it with the last season. The show was nowhere near as funny anymore once they all got older.

That's probably why The Simpsons is still on. Bart is still 10.

James · 01-14-2008, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotsmart

They would've had to change the scripts, get new writers, get rid of Oliver, etc. in order to make it last 3 more seasons.

I may be playing devil's advocate here, but Cousin Oliver

could have provided them with more storylines.

Lee G · 01-14-2008, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jude86

The odd number comes from going from 25 episodes a season (when it started) to 22 (by the time it finished).

Yep, they were averaging 24 episodes per season thru season three. (25, 24, and 23 for a total of 72.) But then season four had only 23 episodes, and season five had only 22. That's where the problem is. Had those last two seasons contained 24 eps each, there would have been 120 total.

Jude The Obscure · 01-15-2008, 01:40 PM

Maybe The Cincinatti Kids should have been a three parter

sixfingers · 02-23-2008, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee G

I know they were having problems with Robert Reed during that final Brady Bunch season, but somehow I think things could have been ironed out and continue with the show. They just gave up on it too quick, probably figured five years was enough

Sherwood Schwartz has stated that he was going to kill off Mike Brady and that the sixth season would have started with his funeral. He wanted to do another two seasons with plots involving the kids trying to set up their mother with various men.

One possibility involved Carol getting back together with the girls' biological father, thus clarifying that she was divorced.

For those not "in the know" the original premise envisioned by Schwartz would have had Mike widowed and Carol divorced but the network wouldn't allow it and wanted him to clarify that Carol too was widowed. Shcwartz refused to do that and they compromised by leaving the issue unresolved.

12-19-2007, 12:05 PM	#1
Lee G Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 24, 2004 Posts: 850	Not enough seasons, not enough episodes I've always thought The Brady Bunch ended too soon, I think it easily could have been an eight season show with nearly 200 episodes, with the last season being 1976-77. As it is, we got five seasons and 117 episodes, not nearly enough because the show was still going strong. They should have gone on with the sitcom for three more years, instead they scrapped it and gave us the awful Brady Bunch Variety Hour. I know they were having problems with Robert Reed during that final Brady Bunch season, but somehow I think things could have been ironed out and continue with the show. They just gave up on it too quick, probably figured five years was enough. The series ended with Greg's high school graduation, I thought Marcia was supposed to graduate also? Was she a year or two behind Greg in school? I thought they were the same age.

12-19-2007, 01:02 PM	#2
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	I think they could have gone maybe 8 season's
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01-14-2008, 12:13 AM	#10
mikeny99 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 09, 2008 Location: New York Posts: 28	You can't really go on once the kids get near the end of high school age. The shows can't be funny anymore. All the sitcoms with kids are only funny because of the kids. Look at the Cosby Show season 1 and compare it with the last season. The show was nowhere near as funny anymore once they all got older.
	__________________ My trivia blog with tv show and cartoon trivia http://fun-useless-info.blogspot.com

12-19-2007, 02:09 PM	#3
kooky12 Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 06, 2005 Posts: 2,022	I don't see how the series was still going strong. The kids looked way too old for some of their antics. "Snooperstar" is one of the best examples of this. And the introduction of a new kid like Oliver signals the death knell for a show.

12-19-2007, 02:53 PM	#4
Lee G Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 24, 2004 Posts: 850	The series could have continued a few more seasons, but it would have needed some changes to the scripts because the kids were getting older and agreed the situations from earlier seasons would no longer apply. They would have had a decision to make regarding Greg's character, they could have had him moving away to college and returning home to visit and appear in selected episodes, or they could have kept him as a regular character choosing a college near home and continuing to live at home. The series and scripts would have needed to be updated as the kids were getting older, but I think they could have made it OK and kept it a funny show. Those involved in the series probably had enough after five seasons and were ready to move on.

12-21-2007, 07:16 PM	#5
gotsmart The Office, Thursdays on NBC Frequent Poster Join Date: May 05, 2007 Location: Schrute Farms Posts: 341	I disagree. The show was pretty bad by the end of season 5. They would've had to change the scripts, get new writers, get rid of Oliver, etc. in order to make it last 3 more seasons.

01-10-2008, 09:18 PM	#7
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,519	Sherwood was indeed planning a sixth season when ABC dropped the bomb while the cast and crew were on hiatus. Sanford and Son's monster ratings rang the death knell for the Bradys, but of course ABC realized it's mistake too late when the show went into syndication and did GANGBUSTER ratings!

01-12-2008, 03:34 PM	#9
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,519	The odd number comes from going from 25 episodes a season (when it started) to 22 (by the time it finished). I too always wondered what a sixth season would have entailed--perhaps a Carol pregnancy with fraternal twins (as Sherwood suggested at one point?), seeing Alice and Sam getting married? Cindy on her first serious romance? Greg moving out? Thank goodness, the Variety Hour is not considered canon in the Brady universe!

01-15-2008, 01:40 PM	#14
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,519	Maybe The Cincinatti Kids should have been a three parter