Mike's Horrorscope - 16/01/70 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Bachu · 01-16-2010, 01:09 PM

http://www.youtube.com/user/Retrotee...45/95QumfytWT0

This is the first episode that, IMO, strays away from the Brady family and is also what I would called the first 'Mike' episode. FYI, this is not one of my favourite episodes.

The 'drama' in this episode all stems from the reading of the newspaper. The same thing happened in Dear Libby. Those Bradys should not read the newspapers IMO.

During the opening tag Mike opens a window in the master bedroom. The window seems to be quite low. I often wondered whether it was a patio door and therefore a balcony.

In the wideshot during the bedroom scene you can see on the left of the windowless windowsill behind the headboard a bust of an older lady. During the close ups of Mike in this scene and the tag it is missing but is present in the wideshot. It is present during other bedroom scenes in the episodes. I thing the tag and the teaser were filmed back to back and perhaps it was moved or not put back from some reason.

When Carol goes to answer the telephone in the opening act the camera moves from the kitchen to settle on a shot in the family room looking through the serving hatch doors. To do this part of the wall that would have connected with the patio doors is moved. This is a standard tv trick of which the likes was parodied in Police Squad or Naked Gun.

I think this is the first time we see Mikes office proper. Up until now I am sure it has always been in closeup with Mike sitting behind a sketching desk.

Madame X · 01-16-2010, 11:02 PM

Good observations, Bachu. I think that is the only time we see a "fourth wall" in the Brady bedroom. It must have lead to a balcony since they were on the second floor.

There is a matching statue in Carol's corner that looks like the one on Mike's side that disappears and reappears. It's behind the lamp.

When Carol pours herself a cup of coffee it must have been cold. The stove's off!

Also in the kitchen, notice how many coffee pots they have: there's a white one in the right corner, one on the stove and one you can see behind Carol when she sits down. Later when Mike and Carol are talking in the kitchen about fishing, there is another one in the other corner under the paper towels. Then when Carol comes in seasick, there is a teapot on the stove!

With all those beverage containers around you would think the Bradys would have a toilet!

Bachu · 01-17-2010, 10:55 AM

Thanks Madame X!

I think we may have seen the fourth wall in year 2 when Marcia was trying on make-up at Carols dressing table (first episode of season 2 - the one with Harvey Clinger???).

Something I have always wondered about tv families is how they can have a pot of tea/coffee going all the time. I think it would be great though, to just be able to pour a hot cuppa everytime you wanted one. I bet Alice was in charge of making sure there was always a fresh pot brewing.

I didn't notice Carols one coming and going. I'll have to check.

01-16-2010, 01:09 PM	#1
Bachu Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 10, 2005 Posts: 809	Mike's Horrorscope - 16/01/70 http://www.youtube.com/user/Retrotee...45/95QumfytWT0 This is the first episode that, IMO, strays away from the Brady family and is also what I would called the first 'Mike' episode. FYI, this is not one of my favourite episodes. The 'drama' in this episode all stems from the reading of the newspaper. The same thing happened in Dear Libby. Those Bradys should not read the newspapers IMO. During the opening tag Mike opens a window in the master bedroom. The window seems to be quite low. I often wondered whether it was a patio door and therefore a balcony. In the wideshot during the bedroom scene you can see on the left of the windowless windowsill behind the headboard a bust of an older lady. During the close ups of Mike in this scene and the tag it is missing but is present in the wideshot. It is present during other bedroom scenes in the episodes. I thing the tag and the teaser were filmed back to back and perhaps it was moved or not put back from some reason. When Carol goes to answer the telephone in the opening act the camera moves from the kitchen to settle on a shot in the family room looking through the serving hatch doors. To do this part of the wall that would have connected with the patio doors is moved. This is a standard tv trick of which the likes was parodied in Police Squad or Naked Gun. I think this is the first time we see Mikes office proper. Up until now I am sure it has always been in closeup with Mike sitting behind a sketching desk.

01-16-2010, 11:02 PM	#2
Madame X Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,831	Good observations, Bachu. I think that is the only time we see a "fourth wall" in the Brady bedroom. It must have lead to a balcony since they were on the second floor. There is a matching statue in Carol's corner that looks like the one on Mike's side that disappears and reappears. It's behind the lamp. When Carol pours herself a cup of coffee it must have been cold. The stove's off! Also in the kitchen, notice how many coffee pots they have: there's a white one in the right corner, one on the stove and one you can see behind Carol when she sits down. Later when Mike and Carol are talking in the kitchen about fishing, there is another one in the other corner under the paper towels. Then when Carol comes in seasick, there is a teapot on the stove! With all those beverage containers around you would think the Bradys would have a toilet!

01-17-2010, 10:55 AM	#3
Bachu Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 10, 2005 Posts: 809	Thanks Madame X! I think we may have seen the fourth wall in year 2 when Marcia was trying on make-up at Carols dressing table (first episode of season 2 - the one with Harvey Clinger???). Something I have always wondered about tv families is how they can have a pot of tea/coffee going all the time. I think it would be great though, to just be able to pour a hot cuppa everytime you wanted one. I bet Alice was in charge of making sure there was always a fresh pot brewing. I didn't notice Carols one coming and going. I'll have to check.