Season number six - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

James · 04-23-2002, 01:32 PM

Would there have been a sixth season of "The Brady Bunch" had it not been for the discord between Robert Reed and producer Sherwood Schwartz?

TV Guy · 04-23-2002, 08:35 PM

The problems between Robert and Sherwood really didn't contribute to the cancellation. The real reason was because the ratings were tapering off, and everyone's contract was up. ABC and Paramount didn't feel like renegotiating with everyone (i.e. giving them raises) when the ratings were in decline. Sherwood was just as happy to call it quits, because he could put the show into syndication and rake in the money (in those days, it was a rarity for a show to enter syndication while new episodes were still being produced).

However, Sherwood has said that had they proceeded with a sixth season, Robert Reed would have been dropped from the program.

boechsner · 04-23-2002, 09:29 PM

It's best the series ended when it did. No Robert Reed for the Brady Buch would have been no good. A replacement is unacceptable.

TV Guy · 04-28-2002, 10:44 AM

Agreed. Those episodes where Mike is absent (Alice quits, Greg's hair is orange) don't quite hang together. And let's face it, the show was getting tired during the fifth season -- I've been watching these episodes on TV Land recently, and they're noticable worse than the fourth season shows.

James · 05-01-2002, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TV Guy
And let's face it, the show was getting tired during the fifth season -- I've been watching these episodes on TV Land recently, and they're noticable worse than the fourth season shows.

I'm curious as to how, TV Guy. I'm not disagreeing with you, I just, for whatever reason, find the episodes just as good as the others. I mean, my favorites from the fifth season include #100 "Peter and the Wolf" (Phil Packer), #102 "The Cincinnati Kids" (Kings Island amusement park), #106 "Try, Try Again" (Jan fails at everything), and #113 "The Snooperstar"--Sorry, Susan Olsen!

The only way I think the cast was getting tired was in Episode #107, "Kelly's Kids", in which most, if not all, of the regulars from the Bunch let the Kellys do most of the acting.

TV Guy · 05-01-2002, 09:59 AM

I like the ones that you mention, with the exception of "The Snooperstar", which exemplifies the problem of season 5. It would have been believable for Cindy to want to be the next Shirley Temple when she was eight years old, not when she was 12 or 13. There are some truly awful episodes during this period, like "The Elopement" (Sam+Alice=boring), "Out of this World" (Kaplutus, ugh), "Two Pete's in a Pod (ridiculous, straight out of "Gilligan's Island"), "The Hustler" (pool table), and "Top Secret" (more Sam).

When I look at the episode guide, it's really the last half of season five that's bad -- most of the episodes during the first half are pretty good.

04-23-2002, 01:32 PM	#1
James Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Dayton, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,370	Season number six Would there have been a sixth season of "The Brady Bunch" had it not been for the discord between Robert Reed and producer Sherwood Schwartz?

04-23-2002, 08:35 PM	#2
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	The problems between Robert and Sherwood really didn't contribute to the cancellation. The real reason was because the ratings were tapering off, and everyone's contract was up. ABC and Paramount didn't feel like renegotiating with everyone (i.e. giving them raises) when the ratings were in decline. Sherwood was just as happy to call it quits, because he could put the show into syndication and rake in the money (in those days, it was a rarity for a show to enter syndication while new episodes were still being produced). However, Sherwood has said that had they proceeded with a sixth season, Robert Reed would have been dropped from the program.

04-23-2002, 09:29 PM	#3
boechsner Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2000 Location: Green Bay, WI Posts: 2,212	It's best the series ended when it did. No Robert Reed for the Brady Buch would have been no good. A replacement is unacceptable.

04-28-2002, 10:44 AM	#4
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	Agreed. Those episodes where Mike is absent (Alice quits, Greg's hair is orange) don't quite hang together. And let's face it, the show was getting tired during the fifth season -- I've been watching these episodes on TV Land recently, and they're noticable worse than the fourth season shows.

05-01-2002, 09:59 AM	#6
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	I like the ones that you mention, with the exception of "The Snooperstar", which exemplifies the problem of season 5. It would have been believable for Cindy to want to be the next Shirley Temple when she was eight years old, not when she was 12 or 13. There are some truly awful episodes during this period, like "The Elopement" (Sam+Alice=boring), "Out of this World" (Kaplutus, ugh), "Two Pete's in a Pod (ridiculous, straight out of "Gilligan's Island"), "The Hustler" (pool table), and "Top Secret" (more Sam). When I look at the episode guide, it's really the last half of season five that's bad -- most of the episodes during the first half are pretty good.