Mini-Reunion, Peter, Bobby, Cindy and Cousin Oliver

[Zoneboy]

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TV’s first family, the Brady’s, still hangs on in the hearts and minds of both 1970s-era kids and their children (in rerun and DVD land). Four of them had a mini-reunion: Christopher Knight (Peter), Mike Lookinland (Bobby), Susan Olsen (Cindy) and the jump-the-shark Brady, Robbie Rist (Cousin Oliver).

HollywoodChicago.com: What is it like to see yourselves as a children over and over again in reruns? Does it help you remember your childhood better or do you seem separated from that image you see on the screen?

Christopher Knight (Peter): Definitely seem separated. I can’t watch myself on screen in general, but now watching it, it’s sort of like watching someone else.

Susan Olsen (Cindy): It’s a separation thing for me, simply because I’m not being me, I’m being Cindy. I have home movies at the time where I am being me, so I’m kind of used to seeing myself as a child.

Robbie Rist (Cousin Oliver): It helps me realize how much I don’t remember as a child. There are certain things you remember vividly and the other 90% that you don’t remember at all.

For me it was just being blown away that I had a job. I was the kid on every sitcom, including Ted Baxter’s adopted son [on the 1970s Mary Tyler Moore Show].

HC to Mike Lookinland (Bobby): With Paul Newman’s recent death, I remembered that you had a significant role with him in The Towering Inferno. What do you remember about that epic disaster movie?

ML: Paul Newman was one of the friendliest, gregarious, most outgoing cast mates I’ve ever had. Fabulous guy. He mentored me through the process of this monstrous super epic disaster film. It went on and on and on, we were blowing things up and burning things every day.

Also everyday after lunch, Paul Newman would bring a six pack of Coors tall boys, set them down next to his chair and drink every one of them.

HC: What is the weirdest part of maintaining the representation of the Brady Bunch to people like me, who grew up watching the show?

SO (Cindy): That is what would be weird, if we actually did maintain it. We don’t maintain it, we shatter the image whenever we can (laughing).

CK (Peter): You can’t be beholden to it, you have to be who you are. The frank fact is though that all these characters are an aspect of us, so we aren’t that far from what they were.

HC: You respect them as American icons, don’t you?

ML (Bobby): The show is self perpetuating, we as individuals don’t really need to maintain it. I do feel a responsibility to not damage it terribly.

RR (Cousin Oliver): (Sarcastically) Yes, not a single Brady kid has ever been arrested (laughing), or have they?

ML: Just go to Google and look up Mike Lookinland.

RR: Oh snap!