21 Years Ago Today: "The Bradys" Turned Dramatic...If Only Briefly - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 02-09-2011, 01:06 AM

February 9th, 1990 - "Bradys" return to TV for 6 episodes on CBS TV

Marvo301 · 02-09-2011, 02:19 AM

The Bradys would have worked better as a series of movies. Which I believe is the way the Schwartz's originally envisioned this Brady incarnation.

cleverfun3000 · 02-09-2011, 02:48 PM

Are These The Ones with the Fake Marsha or the Fake Jan?

Marvo301 · 02-09-2011, 03:17 PM

The Brady's featured fake Marcia played by Leah Ayers.

Dr. Thong · 02-09-2011, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

The Bradys would have worked better as a series of movies. Which I believe is the way the Schwartzes originally envisioned this Brady incarnation.

That's exactly right. The original plan was to do a couple of TV movies each season, usually scheduled for sweeps periods. And they were going to title one of them The Brady 500 and tie it with the Daytona 500 race.

Had they stuck to the original plan, it might have worked.

catlover79 · 02-09-2011, 10:21 PM

Exactly. Maureen McCormick herself has gone on the record saying she would've hopped on board had they stuck to the original 2 TV-movie plan. She'd just given birth and didn't want to commit to a series.

Marvo301 · 02-09-2011, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Exactly. Maureen McCormick herself has gone on the record saying she would've hopped on board had they stuck to the original 2 TV-movie plan. She'd just given birth and didn't want to commit to a series.

I suspect that it was the network (CBS) that pushed for this to be a series rather than movies that the Schwartz's envisioned.

catlover79 · 02-09-2011, 10:37 PM

So do I. Gotta love the networks for always butting in.

glickmam · 06-13-2011, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

I suspect that it was the network (CBS) that pushed for this to be a series rather than movies that the Schwartz's envisioned.

First Gilligan's Island, then The Bradys. I wonder how else CBS would have screwed Sherwood Schwartz over.

TMC · 08-20-2015, 12:54 AM

LOOKING BACK ON ‘THE BRADYS,’ A BIZARRE ‘FULLER HOUSE’-TYPE 1990 REBOOT THAT RAN AGAINST ‘FULL HOUSE’

Wildchats · 09-06-2015, 12:24 AM

The first 4 segments, the 2 parter of Bobby in the accident and getting married and then the 2 parter where they move the house and Mike wins the election, those actually were really good. They felt like reunion movies in their own way. The last 2 episodes are where they messed up completely. They added a laugh track, they gave fake Marcia an alcohol problem, they had Sam give his shop to the girls and then he buys it back in the end...it was dumb. Those last 2 shows could have been entirely re-written to something else, making it feel like another 2 parter like the first 4 hours felt like 2 separate 2 parters. The last 2 could have dealt with Cindy and her boss proposing to her and Valerie coming back and she and Peter working things out and them getting married. That would have been the perfect way to end the series. It would have felt like a 2 parter reunion as well, and not to have used the laugh track!

Dr. Thong · 09-08-2015, 05:12 PM

Had they stuck with the original plan of 2 or 3 Brady TV-movies per season, it might have worked and they could have continued making those until at least the point where Robert Reed passed away in 1992.

But the network got overexcited at the ratings for A Very Brady Christmas in 1988 -- I don't think they were expecting the high ratings -- and interfered in the creative process.

I don't think The Bradys was ever intended to be a series. And it probably shouldn't have been one, either.

TMC · 06-10-2023, 03:51 AM

Here's a collection of news articles about The Bradys from 1990:

02-09-2011, 01:06 AM	#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: 63,108	21 Years Ago Today: "The Bradys" Turned Dramatic...If Only Briefly February 9th, 1990 - "Bradys" return to TV for 6 episodes on CBS TV
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

02-09-2011, 02:19 AM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,452	The Bradys would have worked better as a series of movies. Which I believe is the way the Schwartz's originally envisioned this Brady incarnation.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

02-09-2011, 10:21 PM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Exactly. Maureen McCormick herself has gone on the record saying she would've hopped on board had they stuck to the original 2 TV-movie plan. She'd just given birth and didn't want to commit to a series.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

09-06-2015, 12:24 AM	#11
Wildchats Me Senior Member Join Date: Jul 15, 2001 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,076	The first 4 segments, the 2 parter of Bobby in the accident and getting married and then the 2 parter where they move the house and Mike wins the election, those actually were really good. They felt like reunion movies in their own way. The last 2 episodes are where they messed up completely. They added a laugh track, they gave fake Marcia an alcohol problem, they had Sam give his shop to the girls and then he buys it back in the end...it was dumb. Those last 2 shows could have been entirely re-written to something else, making it feel like another 2 parter like the first 4 hours felt like 2 separate 2 parters. The last 2 could have dealt with Cindy and her boss proposing to her and Valerie coming back and she and Peter working things out and them getting married. That would have been the perfect way to end the series. It would have felt like a 2 parter reunion as well, and not to have used the laugh track!
	__________________ Guys, check out all my websites! I lived in Los Angeles for 13 years and worked on many fun shows! www.MarkSinacori.com Check out my website! http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3254521/?nmdp=1& Check out my IMDB page! https://www.facebook.com/MarkTSinacori My public facebook! Please like it! https://www.tiktok.com/@marksinacori?lang=en My TikTok!

06-10-2023, 03:51 AM	#13
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 125,040	Here's a collection of news articles about The Bradys from 1990: TV PREVIEW BRADYS TAKE NEW TACK WITH DRAMATIC SERIES TV Families

02-09-2011, 02:48 PM	#3
cleverfun3000 Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 18, 2008 Location: Manhattan Posts: 1,685	Are These The Ones with the Fake Marsha or the Fake Jan?

02-09-2011, 03:17 PM	#4
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,452	The Brady's featured fake Marcia played by Leah Ayers.

02-09-2011, 10:37 PM	#8
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	So do I. Gotta love the networks for always butting in.

08-20-2015, 12:54 AM	#10
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 125,040	LOOKING BACK ON ‘THE BRADYS,’ A BIZARRE ‘FULLER HOUSE’-TYPE 1990 REBOOT THAT RAN AGAINST ‘FULL HOUSE’

09-08-2015, 05:12 PM	#12
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	Had they stuck with the original plan of 2 or 3 Brady TV-movies per season, it might have worked and they could have continued making those until at least the point where Robert Reed passed away in 1992. But the network got overexcited at the ratings for A Very Brady Christmas in 1988 -- I don't think they were expecting the high ratings -- and interfered in the creative process. I don't think The Bradys was ever intended to be a series. And it probably shouldn't have been one, either.