Could the show have lasted without Mr. Brady? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Bronson · 07-26-2011, 08:23 PM

If there had been a 6th season of BB, without Mr. Brady, whether they killed him off or his being an extended business trip, could the show have gone further?

Now assuming they would not have recasted the role, wouldn't fans have felt that something was missing without him?

lucyandethel · 08-10-2011, 01:35 AM

I read somewhere once that Lyle Waggoner was considered, until they learned he had been fired from "The Carol Burnett Show" for appearing in Playgirl in 1973. Of course, the Brady dad appearing in Playgirl was not appropriate.

I don't think there would ever have been a sixth season. By the fifth season, the writing was on the wall the show was almost over.

Hughsgirl · 08-12-2011, 02:46 PM

IMO, the show went past it's mark anyway, but to answer your question....No, the show wouldn't have survived without Mike (Mr. Brady)....at least I don't think it would have.

Rich3 · 08-16-2011, 09:14 PM

I think that cousin Oliver was an omen-child signaling that the end was near. So I don't think the show could have lasted much longer anyway. But without Mr Brady, that would have been even more difficult to go on.

Marvo301 · 08-16-2011, 09:22 PM

I disagree with the rest of you. Mike Brady did not appear in the final episode of The Brady Bunch and I didn't miss him at all. So I think they could have continued on without him. The should wouldn't have been the same without him but it could have carried on without him.

Fastbak · 08-17-2011, 11:50 PM

If they went on for a few more seasons then they probably would have done well to get new writers. The old ones could write for kids but couldn't write teenagers for s@#t.

gilligan fanatic · 08-18-2011, 07:35 AM

Carol would have married someone else who had 3 kids and then there would be nine on the show and then Mike would never be mentioned again just like the first spouses

magellan333 · 08-22-2011, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

I disagree with the rest of you. Mike Brady did not appear in the final episode of The Brady Bunch and I didn't miss him at all. So I think they could have continued on without him. The should wouldn't have been the same without him but it could have carried on without him.

That is a good point and I noticed the same when I watched it years ago. I daresay that just to fill the void though, some never before mentioned uncle would have came to stay with the Bradys and taken on a pseudo father role.

Rich3 · 08-24-2011, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

I disagree with the rest of you. Mike Brady did not appear in the final episode of The Brady Bunch and I didn't miss him at all. So I think they could have continued on without him. The should wouldn't have been the same without him but it could have carried on without him.

The absence of Mike Brady was primarily the reason that the show could not have gone on. He wanted out, and I'm sure that the Schwartzes knew that the show would not have been the same without him. As much as they didn't enjoy the working relationship, they knew he was an important part of the show.

I think it might have lasted one more season. Maybe half a season. But what would have been the point? It would have lost a major element and it wouldn't have been the same.

Marvo301 · 08-24-2011, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich3

The absence of Mike Brady was primarily the reason that the show could not have gone on. He wanted out, and I'm sure that the Schwartzes knew that the show would not have been the same without him. As much as they didn't enjoy the working relationship, they knew he was an important part of the show.

I think it might have lasted one more season. Maybe half a season. But what would have been the point? It would have lost a major element and it wouldn't have been the same.

Other shows have carried on after the departure of a main character. Some example's include Good Times carrying on without James Evans(John Amos) and That 70's Show carrying on without Eric Forman (Topher Grace). The Brady Bunch could have done the same thing.

Rich3 · 08-24-2011, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

Other shows have carried on after the departure of a main character. Some example's include Good Times carrying on without James Evans(John Amos) and That 70's Show carrying on without Eric Forman (Topher Grace). The Brady Bunch could have done the same thing.

The star of Good Times was Jimmie Walker, not the father by any stretch. And That 70's only lasted one more season without Topher Grace, as I said Brady Bunch might have done. So, yes, it could have lasted one more season, like I suggested.

It might have suffered the Happy Days Syndrome if it had tried to go on much longer. Just getting worse and worse, turning into an entirely different show without Ron Howard.

Besides, the producers were ready to quit when they did. Their relationship with the children on Brady Bunch had suffered as well due to their lame musical venturing which went to their heads.

Wildchats · 09-06-2011, 07:53 AM

I think it needed one last season to wrap things up. Show Peter in high school. Show Greg in college, wherever he decided to go, and what he wanted to major in. Probably Greg would have lived at home. I think if they made one more season, maybe they would have had Mike on phone conversations with the family, that way he'd still appear in the opening credits. because he'd call the family each episode from his extended business trip that would have lasted several months. Possibly have him in a few shows, say the family visits him in China or wherever he went, and they did a several parter.

They needed to close up one thing. Alice and Sam getting married. It would have been nice to see that happen in the original series. It was hinted at so much and then made a joke. But I think had the series gone on one more year, the two would have definitely married since the kids were now growing up. In 1981, during the Brady Girls get married, Alice hinted that she got married several years before, which meant she married in 1977/1978. By that time, only Bobby, Cindy and Jan would have been living at the house, everyone else would have finally graduated high school and gone off to college or wherever they went, as Peter graduated high school supposedly in 1978. I think Alice would have left the Brady family once she married, no matter what point that would have been, but she probably would have left once there were less kids for Mike and Carol to watch over that were living at home still.

Possibly in the final episodes Greg would have moved to College. Marcia was a year below him and I think would have graduated as well and also moved off to college. So now Carol would have only had to deal with 4 kids at home instead of 6.

I think the series finale would have been just that. Mike returning home from the business trip, Alice and Sam marrying, Mike being best man and Carol maid of honor, Marcia and Greg moving off to college and out of the Brady house for good, Peter getting the attic for himself and Bobby getting the room all to himself. I think that would have been a much better end to the show had it gone on one more year.

Fastbak · 09-06-2011, 11:31 AM

Quote:

I disagree with the rest of you. Mike Brady did not appear in the final episode of The Brady Bunch and I didn't miss him at all. So I think they could have continued on without him. The should wouldn't have been the same without him but it could have carried on without him.

That was for one episode. I probably wouldn't miss any of the other characters if they were gone for only one episode!

Rich3 · 09-11-2011, 02:50 PM

Robert Reed really didn't like the episode about the soap commercial. I agree because I think it was one of the worst episodes on the show. So he was an important part of the show.

Fastbak · 09-11-2011, 04:19 PM

Are you talking about the one with the Hippyish TV director? I liked that one! Even as a kid I knew did the voice for Gargamel on The Smurfs just from hearing it! Cousin Myrna was annoying though.

07-26-2011, 08:23 PM	#1
Bronson Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 27, 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 274	Could the show have lasted without Mr. Brady? If there had been a 6th season of BB, without Mr. Brady, whether they killed him off or his being an extended business trip, could the show have gone further? Now assuming they would not have recasted the role, wouldn't fans have felt that something was missing without him?

08-16-2011, 09:22 PM	#5
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,452	I disagree with the rest of you. Mike Brady did not appear in the final episode of The Brady Bunch and I didn't miss him at all. So I think they could have continued on without him. The should wouldn't have been the same without him but it could have carried on without him.
	__________________ 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

08-18-2011, 07:35 AM	#7
gilligan fanatic Born to Be Bad Forum Fanatic Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: down by the Lagoon Posts: 9,954	Carol would have married someone else who had 3 kids and then there would be nine on the show and then Mike would never be mentioned again just like the first spouses
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08-10-2011, 01:35 AM	#2
lucyandethel Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 18, 2009 Location: Los Angeles CA Posts: 435	I read somewhere once that Lyle Waggoner was considered, until they learned he had been fired from "The Carol Burnett Show" for appearing in Playgirl in 1973. Of course, the Brady dad appearing in Playgirl was not appropriate. I don't think there would ever have been a sixth season. By the fifth season, the writing was on the wall the show was almost over.

08-12-2011, 02:46 PM	#3
Hughsgirl Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 22, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 804	IMO, the show went past it's mark anyway, but to answer your question....No, the show wouldn't have survived without Mike (Mr. Brady)....at least I don't think it would have.

08-16-2011, 09:14 PM	#4
Rich3 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 10, 2005 Posts: 690	I think that cousin Oliver was an omen-child signaling that the end was near. So I don't think the show could have lasted much longer anyway. But without Mr Brady, that would have been even more difficult to go on.

08-17-2011, 11:50 PM	#6
Fastbak Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 21, 2011 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 59	If they went on for a few more seasons then they probably would have done well to get new writers. The old ones could write for kids but couldn't write teenagers for s@#t.

09-06-2011, 07:53 AM	#12
Wildchats Me Senior Member Join Date: Jul 15, 2001 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,076	I think it needed one last season to wrap things up. Show Peter in high school. Show Greg in college, wherever he decided to go, and what he wanted to major in. Probably Greg would have lived at home. I think if they made one more season, maybe they would have had Mike on phone conversations with the family, that way he'd still appear in the opening credits. because he'd call the family each episode from his extended business trip that would have lasted several months. Possibly have him in a few shows, say the family visits him in China or wherever he went, and they did a several parter. They needed to close up one thing. Alice and Sam getting married. It would have been nice to see that happen in the original series. It was hinted at so much and then made a joke. But I think had the series gone on one more year, the two would have definitely married since the kids were now growing up. In 1981, during the Brady Girls get married, Alice hinted that she got married several years before, which meant she married in 1977/1978. By that time, only Bobby, Cindy and Jan would have been living at the house, everyone else would have finally graduated high school and gone off to college or wherever they went, as Peter graduated high school supposedly in 1978. I think Alice would have left the Brady family once she married, no matter what point that would have been, but she probably would have left once there were less kids for Mike and Carol to watch over that were living at home still. Possibly in the final episodes Greg would have moved to College. Marcia was a year below him and I think would have graduated as well and also moved off to college. So now Carol would have only had to deal with 4 kids at home instead of 6. I think the series finale would have been just that. Mike returning home from the business trip, Alice and Sam marrying, Mike being best man and Carol maid of honor, Marcia and Greg moving off to college and out of the Brady house for good, Peter getting the attic for himself and Bobby getting the room all to himself. I think that would have been a much better end to the show had it gone on one more year.

09-11-2011, 02:50 PM	#14
Rich3 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 10, 2005 Posts: 690	Robert Reed really didn't like the episode about the soap commercial. I agree because I think it was one of the worst episodes on the show. So he was an important part of the show.

09-11-2011, 04:19 PM	#15
Fastbak Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 21, 2011 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 59	Are you talking about the one with the Hippyish TV director? I liked that one! Even as a kid I knew did the voice for Gargamel on The Smurfs just from hearing it! Cousin Myrna was annoying though.