Joyce Bulifant talks about being cast as Carol Brady - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

BestTVever · 06-18-2026, 09:04 PM

This is interesting. She was first cast and they picked the girls based on her look. At the last minute the head of ABC overruled Sherwood Swartz and told him Florence Henderson was now available. Sherwood fought for Joyce because the show was built around her. He wanted a Lucy type show but the ABC head wanted it to be more Donna Reed show. Joyce signed a 7 year contract. Sherwood had to revamp the show because his idea was having the mother be funny and housekeeper straight. When Florence was picked Sherwood had to recast the maid. Starts around 21:50

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RinN0N2AVdU&t=1681s

BestTVever · 06-19-2026, 03:01 PM

This is really great. All Brady Bunch fans should watch this. Its amazing how altered this show was supposed to be.

stevea · 06-19-2026, 05:19 PM

Joyce Bulifant is great--she looks absolutely wonderful after all these years!

I did a double take -- did that chyron say Moosie Drier? I'd never have recognized him from The Bob Newhart Show (Howard Border's son).

stevea · 06-19-2026, 05:31 PM

Funny scene from Airplane. As the kid is in the background, having had her IV knocked off.

Sounds like they were mean to her on Match Game just because of her dyslexia. Especially Rayburn, which she highlighted, but not by his name.

06-18-2026, 09:04 PM	#1
BestTVever Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 29, 2021 Location: Miami Posts: 1,900	Joyce Bulifant talks about being cast as Carol Brady This is interesting. She was first cast and they picked the girls based on her look. At the last minute the head of ABC overruled Sherwood Swartz and told him Florence Henderson was now available. Sherwood fought for Joyce because the show was built around her. He wanted a Lucy type show but the ABC head wanted it to be more Donna Reed show. Joyce signed a 7 year contract. Sherwood had to revamp the show because his idea was having the mother be funny and housekeeper straight. When Florence was picked Sherwood had to recast the maid. Starts around 21:50 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RinN0N2AVdU&t=1681s

06-19-2026, 03:01 PM	#2
BestTVever Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 29, 2021 Location: Miami Posts: 1,900	This is really great. All Brady Bunch fans should watch this. Its amazing how altered this show was supposed to be.

06-19-2026, 05:19 PM	#3
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,491	Joyce Bulifant is great--she looks absolutely wonderful after all these years! I did a double take -- did that chyron say Moosie Drier? I'd never have recognized him from The Bob Newhart Show (Howard Border's son).

06-19-2026, 05:31 PM	#4
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,491	Funny scene from Airplane. As the kid is in the background, having had her IV knocked off. Sounds like they were mean to her on Match Game just because of her dyslexia. Especially Rayburn, which she highlighted, but not by his name.