This show "borrowed" a lot from The Brady Bunch - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Smokin' Sods · 05-26-2008, 10:15 PM

Anyone notice how many Diff'rent Strokes episodes have similar story-lines to those of The Brady Bunch?

Cyrando de Jackson .... Cyrano de Brady

Kimberly's hair turns green .... Greg's hair turns orange

Arnold depressed about his height (and hangs from a bar to try to "stretch" himself taller) .... Bobby depressed about his height (and hangs from a bar to try to "stretch" himself taller)

The new kid Sam is introduced and the episode ends with a pie fight ... The new kid Oliver is introduced and the episode ends with a pie fight.

Kathy becomes a hall monitor and it goes to her head ... Bobby becomes a hall monitor and it goes to his head.

Arnold & Dudley experiment with smoking ... Greg experiments with smoking

Willis saves Arnold life; Arnold is overly grateful ... One of the Brady boys saves another one's life and the rescue-ee is overly grateful (I forget, I think Greg pulled Bobby in a window?).

I'm sure there a few other ones, too. Don't get me wrong, both are great, classic sitcoms. I just find it interesting how many plots are identical for both shows.

Ireneparalegal · 05-26-2008, 10:30 PM

It's called CLICHES. I have seen those same storylines in many other shows. Too many to post here. DS did not borrow from BB. They just rehashed overused story plots.

guestguest · 05-27-2008, 07:24 AM

Arnold pretended to be sick to meet Muhammad Ali .... Bobby pretended to be sick to meet Joe Namath

Jude The Obscure · 05-27-2008, 03:16 PM

it's easier to see it because both shows are kid oriented sitcoms.

Pavan · 05-27-2008, 03:21 PM

Both shows had stealing the school goat mascot.

Jude The Obscure · 05-27-2008, 03:31 PM

I mean how long has it been since schools had goats for mascots? I just think of those old movies that portrayed college life with guys in those long raccoon coats.

Ireneparalegal · 05-27-2008, 03:38 PM

Jude...

I know, really now.

Cliches cliches cliches...you can't get rid of them. For as long as tv will be on the air, you will see them. Check out this one link that compares tv shows and their cliches:
http://rover_wow.tripod.com/cliches.htm

TVFactFan · 05-27-2008, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pavanbadal

Both shows had stealing the school goat mascot.

I guess I wouldn't know because i haven't watched TBB in so long. But I do remember the green hair ep of DS and it made me think of Greg-lol

Smokin' Sods · 05-27-2008, 10:10 PM

Ah yes, 2 other great examples, guestguest and pavanbadal: Stealing of the school goat mascot & pretending to be sick to meet a famous athlete. Forgot about those 2. And I bet there are still others.

Ireneparalegal · 05-27-2008, 10:38 PM

Cyrano was also done on Three's Company when Jack had Larry help him woo that woman. Oh my.

The Cyrano plot has been overused by other shows such as THE SIMPSONS, FRIENDS, PICKET FENCES, LIZZIE MACGUIRE, WILL & GRACE, etc.

Brady Bunch:Bobby saved Greg in that freezer at Sam's butcher shop.

Brady Bunch: Peter saved that little girl in the toy shop. Seems BB reused their own ideas.

Small Wonder: After Vicki sacrifices herself to save Harriet from drowning in the Lawsons' pool, Harriet wants to do favors for Vicki.

Lookalikes: Peter had a look-a-like in school.

A Different World: Whitley had a look-a-like.

Brady Bunch did a tv commercial. So did the show Good Times.

Bradys went to Hawaii. So did just abt every other tv sitcom like MY WIFE AND KIDS, THE JEFFERSONS, etc.

Cliches. You can find many shows that have the same storylines, plots, etc. It is not just Brady Bunch and DS.

05-26-2008, 10:15 PM	#1
Smokin' Sods Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 27, 2001 Posts: 133	This show "borrowed" a lot from The Brady Bunch Anyone notice how many Diff'rent Strokes episodes have similar story-lines to those of The Brady Bunch? Cyrando de Jackson .... Cyrano de Brady Kimberly's hair turns green .... Greg's hair turns orange Arnold depressed about his height (and hangs from a bar to try to "stretch" himself taller) .... Bobby depressed about his height (and hangs from a bar to try to "stretch" himself taller) The new kid Sam is introduced and the episode ends with a pie fight ... The new kid Oliver is introduced and the episode ends with a pie fight. Kathy becomes a hall monitor and it goes to her head ... Bobby becomes a hall monitor and it goes to his head. Arnold & Dudley experiment with smoking ... Greg experiments with smoking Willis saves Arnold life; Arnold is overly grateful ... One of the Brady boys saves another one's life and the rescue-ee is overly grateful (I forget, I think Greg pulled Bobby in a window?). I'm sure there a few other ones, too. Don't get me wrong, both are great, classic sitcoms. I just find it interesting how many plots are identical for both shows.

05-26-2008, 10:30 PM	#2
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	It's called CLICHES. I have seen those same storylines in many other shows. Too many to post here. DS did not borrow from BB. They just rehashed overused story plots.
	__________________ DALLAS COWBOYS ARE HERE AT TRAINING CAMP!!!

05-27-2008, 03:21 PM	#5
Pavan SO News/Reviews Director Administrator Forum Superstar Join Date: Feb 17, 2000 Location: Linden, NJ (Where Hal Linden got his last name from!) Posts: 26,821	Both shows had stealing the school goat mascot.
	__________________ SitcomsOnline.com News Blog -- The best news out there! SitcomsOnline.com DVD Reviews -- We are #1 in reviews!

05-27-2008, 10:38 PM	#10
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Cyrano was also done on Three's Company when Jack had Larry help him woo that woman. Oh my. The Cyrano plot has been overused by other shows such as THE SIMPSONS, FRIENDS, PICKET FENCES, LIZZIE MACGUIRE, WILL & GRACE, etc. Brady Bunch:Bobby saved Greg in that freezer at Sam's butcher shop. Brady Bunch: Peter saved that little girl in the toy shop. Seems BB reused their own ideas. Small Wonder: After Vicki sacrifices herself to save Harriet from drowning in the Lawsons' pool, Harriet wants to do favors for Vicki. Lookalikes: Peter had a look-a-like in school. A Different World: Whitley had a look-a-like. Brady Bunch did a tv commercial. So did the show Good Times. Bradys went to Hawaii. So did just abt every other tv sitcom like MY WIFE AND KIDS, THE JEFFERSONS, etc. Cliches. You can find many shows that have the same storylines, plots, etc. It is not just Brady Bunch and DS.
	Last edited by Ireneparalegal; 05-27-2008 at 10:55 PM.

05-27-2008, 07:24 AM	#3
guestguest Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 22, 2008 Posts: 39	Arnold pretended to be sick to meet Muhammad Ali .... Bobby pretended to be sick to meet Joe Namath

05-27-2008, 03:16 PM	#4
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	it's easier to see it because both shows are kid oriented sitcoms.

05-27-2008, 03:31 PM	#6
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	I mean how long has it been since schools had goats for mascots? I just think of those old movies that portrayed college life with guys in those long raccoon coats.

05-27-2008, 03:38 PM	#7
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Jude... I know, really now. Cliches cliches cliches...you can't get rid of them. For as long as tv will be on the air, you will see them. Check out this one link that compares tv shows and their cliches: http://rover_wow.tripod.com/cliches.htm

05-27-2008, 10:10 PM	#9
Smokin' Sods Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 27, 2001 Posts: 133	Ah yes, 2 other great examples, guestguest and pavanbadal: Stealing of the school goat mascot & pretending to be sick to meet a famous athlete. Forgot about those 2. And I bet there are still others.