Former 'Brady' Star Calls Variety Show 'Spectacularly Bad' - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 08-31-2009, 02:51 PM

Susan Olsen -- who starred as Cindy Brady in 'The Brady Bunch' -- readily admits that the 'The Brady Bunch Variety Hour' was really bad.

Olsen, who co-wrote 'Love to Love You Bradys' which focuses on the variety show, talked with Meredith Viera on 'Today,'

"There had been other 'Brady' ventures that haven't been all that great, but this one is just so spectacularly bad," she said

"It all came from [the 'Bunch' cast] appearing on 'The Donny and Marie Show' and the ratings went through the roof and so they said, 'Well let's give them their own variety show,'" Olsen explained of its origins.

"The actual Brady family moved from their home to the beach and now they have a variety show, which made no sense at all and that's part of the beauty of this show is the whole thing makes no sense," the actress added of the storyline.

Why would the cast want to return? "Half of the reason why all of us agreed to do it was because we had been out of production for a couple of years and we missed each other."

http://www.popeater.com/2009/08/31/s...n-brady-bunch/

TVFactFan · 08-31-2009, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Susan Olsen -- who starred as Cindy Brady in 'The Brady Bunch' -- readily admits that the 'The Brady Bunch Variety Hour' was really bad.

Olsen, who co-wrote 'Love to Love You Bradys' which focuses on the variety show, talked with Meredith Viera on 'Today,'

"There had been other 'Brady' ventures that haven't been all that great, but this one is just so spectacularly bad," she said

"It all came from [the 'Bunch' cast] appearing on 'The Donny and Marie Show' and the ratings went through the roof and so they said, 'Well let's give them their own variety show,'" Olsen explained of its origins.

"The actual Brady family moved from their home to the beach and now they have a variety show, which made no sense at all and that's part of the beauty of this show is the whole thing makes no sense," the actress added of the storyline.

Why would the cast want to return? "Half of the reason why all of us agreed to do it was because we had been out of production for a couple of years and we missed each other."

http://www.popeater.com/2009/08/31/s...n-brady-bunch/

Yeah that was stupid by ABC, just because the appearance of the Bradys generated high ratings didn't mean they would be a Hit on their own show. Part of the reason why the appearance on Donny and Marie generated high ratings was because they had not been seen for 2 years so viewers were looking forward to seeing them again.

catlover79 · 08-31-2009, 04:05 PM

Susan Olsen has such a wicked sense of humor. I can't wait to see some more of these interviews!!

TJL · 08-31-2009, 04:45 PM

I'm so glad she broke her silence after all these years to tell us this!

comedyfreak · 09-01-2009, 05:58 AM

She needs to write a book next.

Jude The Obscure · 09-03-2009, 12:13 PM

I just ordered the book today from Amazon

I already saw the pic of Susan, flipping the bird during an episode!

catlover79 · 09-03-2009, 12:49 PM

I look forward to checking this book out myself.

Impressions · 09-03-2009, 11:16 PM

Variety show, was 'spectacularily bad'? No way! That's news to me

Mr. Television · 09-03-2009, 11:23 PM

and to think I watched it every week. I wonder what that says about my viewing habits at the time?

catlover79 · 09-03-2009, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood Fan

and to think I watched it every week. I wonder what that says about my viewing habits at the time?

Jude The Obscure · 09-05-2009, 10:41 PM

Hey it was the Brady Bunch--we would have taken them in any form we could

I still want ALL the episodes on DVD!

i'd rather own it than own The Brady Kids cartoon (IMO, that show is WORSE than the variety hour)

Marvo301 · 09-05-2009, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jude The Obscure

Hey it was the Brady Bunch--we would have taken them in any form we could

I still want ALL the episodes on DVD!

i'd rather own it than own The Brady Kids cartoon (IMO, that show is WORSE than the variety hour)

Yeah I think whoever created that Brady Kids cartoon must have been on drugs!!

I'd like to have all the Variety Hour episodes on DVD too!

Jude The Obscure · 09-05-2009, 10:55 PM

The badness of the Variety Hour is actually more urban legend than truth. I've watched clips and was genuinely entertained by the singing and dancing routines--Geri Reischl can REALLY belt out a tune, while Barry and Flo are also accomplished in the vocal department. Some of the comedy sketches really do fall flat and some are downright PAINFUL (the episode with Vincent Price comes to mind).

James · 09-06-2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I look forward to checking this book out myself.

Me, too, Monika!

catlover79 · 09-06-2009, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jude The Obscure

The badness of the Variety Hour is actually more urban legend than truth. I've watched clips and was genuinely entertained by the singing and dancing routines--Geri Reischl can REALLY belt out a tune, while Barry and Flo are also accomplished in the vocal department. Some of the comedy sketches really do fall flat and some are downright PAINFUL (the episode with Vincent Price comes to mind).

Maureen also did a beautiful version of "Time in a Bottle". Plus, Barry and Flo both had tons of musicals under their belts by then, which helped.

08-31-2009, 02:51 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Former 'Brady' Star Calls Variety Show 'Spectacularly Bad' Susan Olsen -- who starred as Cindy Brady in 'The Brady Bunch' -- readily admits that the 'The Brady Bunch Variety Hour' was really bad. Olsen, who co-wrote 'Love to Love You Bradys' which focuses on the variety show, talked with Meredith Viera on 'Today,' "There had been other 'Brady' ventures that haven't been all that great, but this one is just so spectacularly bad," she said "It all came from [the 'Bunch' cast] appearing on 'The Donny and Marie Show' and the ratings went through the roof and so they said, 'Well let's give them their own variety show,'" Olsen explained of its origins. "The actual Brady family moved from their home to the beach and now they have a variety show, which made no sense at all and that's part of the beauty of this show is the whole thing makes no sense," the actress added of the storyline. Why would the cast want to return? "Half of the reason why all of us agreed to do it was because we had been out of production for a couple of years and we missed each other." http://www.popeater.com/2009/08/31/s...n-brady-bunch/ Attached Images
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08-31-2009, 04:05 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Susan Olsen has such a wicked sense of humor. I can't wait to see some more of these interviews!!
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08-31-2009, 04:45 PM	#4
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	I'm so glad she broke her silence after all these years to tell us this!
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09-01-2009, 05:58 AM	#5
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	She needs to write a book next.
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09-03-2009, 11:23 PM	#9
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	and to think I watched it every week. I wonder what that says about my viewing habits at the time?
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09-03-2009, 12:13 PM	#6
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	I just ordered the book today from Amazon I already saw the pic of Susan, flipping the bird during an episode!

09-03-2009, 12:49 PM	#7
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	I look forward to checking this book out myself.

09-03-2009, 11:16 PM	#8
Impressions She died the way she lived Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 08, 2002 Posts: 4,640	Variety show, was 'spectacularily bad'? No way! That's news to me

09-05-2009, 10:41 PM	#11
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	Hey it was the Brady Bunch--we would have taken them in any form we could I still want ALL the episodes on DVD! i'd rather own it than own The Brady Kids cartoon (IMO, that show is WORSE than the variety hour)

09-05-2009, 10:55 PM	#13
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	The badness of the Variety Hour is actually more urban legend than truth. I've watched clips and was genuinely entertained by the singing and dancing routines--Geri Reischl can REALLY belt out a tune, while Barry and Flo are also accomplished in the vocal department. Some of the comedy sketches really do fall flat and some are downright PAINFUL (the episode with Vincent Price comes to mind).