Buttmunker

When I was growing up in the seventies, I heard that a Sixth Season was filmed of The Brady Bunch, but that it never aired because of controversal material.

One episode showed Marcia smoking marijuana
Another episode showed Father Mike slugging Greg (sort of the precurser to Family Ties when Uncle Ned slugs Alex)

I know now that these were myths made up, but wouldn't it have been groovy to have more than five seasons of The Brady Bunch?

I found it totally unnecessary to have written in Cousin Oliver when the six kids lives could have been made to be real interesting. Greg started college, the girls were still in high school, and according to all the "After School Specials" that came out in the 70's, I think the show's writers could have had a good 10 years of material to give the Bradys.

I think that, because of weak writing, that's why the show went down the tubes by 1974. Shame.

Charlie Goose

I don't think the show was ever really a ratings blockbuster. Most sitcoms get stale after a few years, especially those centered on kids.

Everybody pisses on poor Cousin Oliver. He was only in the last five episodes.
I do find it interesting that Robbie Rist was not involved in the many BB projects after the original series; Brady Variety Hour, Brady Brides, Brady Christmas, cartoon, reunions, etc. He was on the BB episode of The Weakest Link a few years back. Guess who was the first one voted off? Unanimously, may I add.

BigDan

He was only in five episodes? Sure seems like he was around more than that, but I'm sure I just saw those same five episodes several times over the many years the show has been in syndication.

My least favorite episode was the one with Ken Berry, though.

rfduncan

Clearly Robert Reed disagreed with you. He was complaining that the shows plots/stories had become so ridiculous that he refused to be in them. His walk-outs and the show's subsequently stumbling ratings ultimately are what killed the show.

Personally, I don't blame Reed. Those episodes towards the end like the series' unintentional finale "The Hair-Brained Scheme" which Reed wasn't in. Apparently studio security wanted to remove Reed from the set during the taping of this episode, but the producers wouldn't allow it because they didn't want to upset the kids.

BTW Robbie Rist was in SIX episodes:
Top Secret
The Hair-Brained Scheme
The Hustler
The Snooperstar
Two Petes in a Pod
Welcome Aboard

Buttmunker

Season Five may have been the weakest season, but it did have some gems - Adios Johnny Bravo (Greg's chance to go solo and leave the Brady-6 behind), Peter and the WolfPeter wears a fake mustache when he goes out on a double-date with Greg and his date), Marcia Gets Creamed (Marcia fires Peter from the ice cream job), Quarterback Sneak (Marcia is dating a guy who is after Greg's football playbook), The Driver's Seat (Greg and Marcia try and prove that he or she is the better driver - until Greg hits the cone that has the egg on it...opps)...

and that's it. The rest either stink, or involve Cousin Oliver. But still, some really good ones there.

What's funny is that, initially, I was only going to buy Season One and Season Two, reasoning that the remaining three seasons just weren't that good. But then I wound up buying Season Three for some reason or other, then Season Four, and now Season Five. Guess I'm just a Bradyholic.

Buttmunker

That's what I'm saying - Robert Reed is 100% correct, and if better writers had been hired to write for The Brady Bunch, the show could have had great longevity (not that it doesn't, even with the sub-par episodes).

riley_dude

In The Bradys, the dramatic show they did with the cast (but different Marcia) she became an alcoholic so in a way this was like the 6th season. Bobby was paralyzed, Greg was a Doctor...
What a mess that was.

The Antipodean

Yeah, "The Bradys" and all the other lackluster spin-offs (wasn't there "The Brady Brides" sitcom that lasted like half a season at some point?) really killed my desired for wanting to know what happened next to the gang... It had a good five seasons (well, around the time Bobby started dying rabbits orange, the shark was jumped...)

GoldenJCJ

Sounds like a great title for a Brady porno parody.

Charlie Goose

"Oh, my nose clit!"

RocShemp

Well at least Robbie Rist had some success (albeit brief) with the three Ninja Turtles films. He was the voice of Michaelangelo and I think the only voice actor to stay on board for all three films.

Buttmunker

I believe that Robbie Rist got the part of "Cousin Oliver" because Mike Lookinland's brother, Todd, already appeared on the show for the "spin-off" episode (the one where the Bradys neighbors-friends adopt a white, a black, and a chinese child, one of which was Todd Lookinland, who looks like Bobby Brady with blonde hair).

If Todd hadn't taken that ill-fated role, he might have landed the role of Cousin Oliver. Instead of Oliver being from Carol's side of the family, it could've instead have been from Mike's side of the family - hence the "family resemblance."

Oh well.

Shannon Nutt

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...ndID=139028883

No nudity above, but borderline NSFW.

SBrooks1

Mike Brady in a bath robe eating chicken broth.....

Tommy Ceez

...holding a poodle, waiting for friends who will never come

riley_dude

...Mike spending too much time with the two men that moved in across the street.

Wildo1966

Don't forget also that Robbie Rist was in the Revenge Of The Nerds TV Pilot episode...That gem (it was really bad) can be found on the Revenge Of The Nerds Special Lamda Lamda Lamda Edition dvd...