What's Wrong With "Power of the Press?" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Jack1000 · 12-19-2003, 03:19 AM

Guys,

I need your input here. I always thought Power of the Press was a decent Brady Bunch episode. (Peter and the tough science teacher, Mr. Price.) It has a decent storyline, a good lesson about the evils of manipulation and bribery, and very good acting by Milton Parsons, who plays the "dull" teacher. Yet, many people put this episode on their Worst Episode List, and I have often wondered why? It's not one of my all-time favorites, but it is not crap either. There is no slapstick in it, and what student hasn't thought of trying to manipulate a teacher or professor at some time in their lives to try to get a better grade? People unfortunately do use flattery and "snowjobs" to manipulate others to get personal gain. Therefore, the concept in this episode certainly has believabilty and therefore would have passed the Robert Reed litmus test of approval. However, I am interested to know why many of you don't like this episode.

I have a guess that maybe because there isn't much of a comical storyline and that critics of this episode might suggest the script, like Mr. Price himself is dull and remote. However, I think that at least credability is there for a decent script and a belivable story.

Jack

Vegas Girl · 12-19-2003, 07:34 AM

Peter learned a valuable lesson about trying to win favors AND not to neglect his schoolwork. I think it was a very good episode.

Mijada · 12-19-2003, 05:21 PM

I think that was a good ep. It isn't on my least favorite list. There are only 2 or 3 eps that I really didn't like.

hawaii five-o · 12-19-2003, 05:25 PM

I think it is a pretty good episode. Maureen McCormick should have won an Emmy for her work with the puppets and especially her imitation of Mr. Price.

donald snl · 12-20-2003, 01:48 AM

its one of my favoriate eps i dont know why people dont like it no matter what other movie and tv roles ive seen him in milton parsons will always be mister price to me

Bugiddle · 12-20-2003, 03:59 AM

Yeah, I thought it was well-written, too. Maybe it wasn't quite as engaging as some other episodes, but I liked it. And yes, the puppet show was cute, too.

James · 12-22-2003, 12:26 AM

Y'all may think I'm weird, but (Brady trumpets, please!) here's my story!

I thought the "puppet show" where Marcia is imitating Mr. Price, which ultimately faded into Mr. Price himself after zooming in, was stupid. That's probably because seeing the "puppet show" clued me into thinking "Oh, no, here's the scene in which that teacher of Peter's who gives him a 'D'!"--this was the second (not to mention, last) time I watched the "Scoop Brady" episode.

jehobden · 01-10-2004, 11:41 PM

I like this episode pretty well. Maybe mostly because it seemed new to me since I saw it for the first time (in my memory anyway)much later than most other BB eps. This is one of the last episodes I remember seeing for the first time, probably sometime in the 80s, along with Jan's Aunt Jenny, Sgt. Emma, and The Private Ear. I guess I was too busy doing other stuff when I was in 1st grade, and later on too when I caught most of the earlier eps, to see these three 3rd season eps. The last ep that I remember seeing not remembering having seen it before was The Voice of Christmas, which I saw on a WTBS rerun on Friday, Dec. 22, 1989.

Jack1000 · 08-24-2007, 01:31 PM

I may be wrong about this,

But I recently watched Power of the Press on DVD and there was no laugh track afaik. I wonder if syndicated versions put one in?

Jack

Madame X · 08-24-2007, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawaii five-o

I think it is a pretty good episode. Maureen McCormick should have won an Emmy for her work with the puppets and especially her imitation of Mr. Price.

Marcia: I'm Mr. Price and even I don't believe it!

sixfingers · 03-20-2010, 08:44 PM

Some people think it was actually creepy how much the Mr. Price puppet resembles the real Mr. Price but I thought it was cool!

jehobden · 03-24-2010, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donald snl

its one of my favoriate eps i dont know why people dont like it no matter what other movie and tv roles ive seen him in milton parsons will always be mister price to me

I've seen him on The Dick Van Dyke Show as a creepy caretaker when Rob, Laura, Buddy & Sally were at a secluded cabin and, last weekend, in a Patty Duke Show rerun as a morose patient whom Patty (a candy striper in this ep) had brought in to her dad's room in the hospital (Her dad was there for a twisted ankle.). He was funny in both shows playing a creepy then somber guy.

12-19-2003, 03:19 AM	#1
Jack1000 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 05, 2001 Posts: 2,055	What's Wrong With "Power of the Press?" Guys, I need your input here. I always thought Power of the Press was a decent Brady Bunch episode. (Peter and the tough science teacher, Mr. Price.) It has a decent storyline, a good lesson about the evils of manipulation and bribery, and very good acting by Milton Parsons, who plays the "dull" teacher. Yet, many people put this episode on their Worst Episode List, and I have often wondered why? It's not one of my all-time favorites, but it is not crap either. There is no slapstick in it, and what student hasn't thought of trying to manipulate a teacher or professor at some time in their lives to try to get a better grade? People unfortunately do use flattery and "snowjobs" to manipulate others to get personal gain. Therefore, the concept in this episode certainly has believabilty and therefore would have passed the Robert Reed litmus test of approval. However, I am interested to know why many of you don't like this episode. I have a guess that maybe because there isn't much of a comical storyline and that critics of this episode might suggest the script, like Mr. Price himself is dull and remote. However, I think that at least credability is there for a decent script and a belivable story. Jack

03-20-2010, 08:44 PM	#11
sixfingers John Alan Elson Senior Member Join Date: Feb 22, 2008 Location: Sacramento Posts: 1,491	Some people think it was actually creepy how much the Mr. Price puppet resembles the real Mr. Price but I thought it was cool!
	Last edited by sixfingers; 03-24-2010 at 11:56 AM.

12-19-2003, 07:34 AM	#2
Vegas Girl Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 10, 2003 Posts: 1,339	Peter learned a valuable lesson about trying to win favors AND not to neglect his schoolwork. I think it was a very good episode.

12-19-2003, 05:21 PM	#3
Mijada Spencers mom Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 02, 2001 Location: eastern US Posts: 4,093	I think that was a good ep. It isn't on my least favorite list. There are only 2 or 3 eps that I really didn't like.

12-19-2003, 05:25 PM	#4
hawaii five-o Book 'Em, Dano Senior Member Join Date: Jun 27, 2003 Location: At home, eating cereal straight out of the box Posts: 1,406	I think it is a pretty good episode. Maureen McCormick should have won an Emmy for her work with the puppets and especially her imitation of Mr. Price.

12-20-2003, 01:48 AM	#5
donald snl Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 06, 2003 Posts: 456	its one of my favoriate eps i dont know why people dont like it no matter what other movie and tv roles ive seen him in milton parsons will always be mister price to me

12-20-2003, 03:59 AM	#6
Bugiddle Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 19, 2003 Posts: 229	Yeah, I thought it was well-written, too. Maybe it wasn't quite as engaging as some other episodes, but I liked it. And yes, the puppet show was cute, too.

12-22-2003, 12:26 AM	#7
James Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Dayton, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,370	Y'all may think I'm weird, but (Brady trumpets, please!) here's my story! I thought the "puppet show" where Marcia is imitating Mr. Price, which ultimately faded into Mr. Price himself after zooming in, was stupid. That's probably because seeing the "puppet show" clued me into thinking "Oh, no, here's the scene in which that teacher of Peter's who gives him a 'D'!"--this was the second (not to mention, last) time I watched the "Scoop Brady" episode.

01-10-2004, 11:41 PM	#8
jehobden Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 06, 2002 Location: DFW Area, TX Posts: 2,004	I like this episode pretty well. Maybe mostly because it seemed new to me since I saw it for the first time (in my memory anyway)much later than most other BB eps. This is one of the last episodes I remember seeing for the first time, probably sometime in the 80s, along with Jan's Aunt Jenny, Sgt. Emma, and The Private Ear. I guess I was too busy doing other stuff when I was in 1st grade, and later on too when I caught most of the earlier eps, to see these three 3rd season eps. The last ep that I remember seeing not remembering having seen it before was The Voice of Christmas, which I saw on a WTBS rerun on Friday, Dec. 22, 1989.

08-24-2007, 01:31 PM	#9
Jack1000 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 05, 2001 Posts: 2,055	I may be wrong about this, But I recently watched Power of the Press on DVD and there was no laugh track afaik. I wonder if syndicated versions put one in? Jack