Behind-the-Scenes Facts About ‘The Brady Bunch’
Here’s a story about that “lovely lady” and that “man named Brady” – who took the plunge and wound up creating television’s most popular brood in 1969. Obviously we’re talking about The Brady Bunch! For five seasons, everyone watched Mike, Carol, Greg, Marcia, Peter, Jan, Bob, Cindy, and Alice, everyone’s favorite housekeeper, get up to all kinds of shenanigans. Plus it wasn’t all laughs and puppy love; the show also exposed teenage woes, responsibility, self-image, sibling rivalry, and more.
While The Brady Bunch was on air, it actually didn’t have the greatest ratings. No, really. It wasn’t until the show went into syndication that it saw a boost in ratings! Particularity due to its reruns and spin-off series such as The Brady Bunch Hour, The Brady Girls Get Married, The Brady Brides, A Very Brady Christmas, and The Bradys. Thanks to the series and the films, The Brady Bunch is known as an American cultural icon and always will be.
Sherwood Schwartz had experienced tons of success with his television series Gilligan’s Island in 1966, when suddenly the idea for the Brady Bunch struck him. However it’s not what you think, just listen to this. Schwartz was reading The Los Angeles Times and came across an article that said “30% of marriages [in the United States] have a child or children from a previous marriage.” That was it. The idea was in his head and that’s how one of America’s greatest ever shows came to being. Amazing.
Five seasons and 117 episodes, audiences everywhere tuned in as the Brady’s got up to some new antics. As we already mentioned, the show really wasn’t a huge success (especially in the rating department) when it was on air in its original run. The show’s popularity grew in syndication, especially in younger audiences such aschildren and teenage viewers. Schwartz thinks that the show’s boils down to the fact that the episodes were especially written from the standpoint of children. Plus, the show addressed situations that only really children could understand – such as boy trouble, sibling rivalry, and meeting a famous person.
1974 is when the show went off air but we’ve been blessed with reruns to keep us going! And of course their many movies and albums too. We’ve decided to take a look behind-the-scenes of The Brady Bunch and pull up facts you probably didn’t know about the show, the cast, and the crew. See what Marcia did with her life after the show and find out just what her personal relationship with Barry was off-screen. Learn about Mike Brady’s true sexuality and discover just what the cast went through when it came to their salary. Find out more about the tricks that producers used to cast the children of the show, and so much more. Let’s get to it, shall we?
Simple Math
So let’s just dive right in, shall we? The Brady Bunch was inspired by simple math. Quite the statement to make but here’s the explanation: in 1965, Sherwood Schwartz read in The Los Angeles Times that “30% of marriages [in the United States] have a child or children from a previous marriage.”
Simple Math
Not A Natural
Mike Lookinland, aka Bobby, naturally has sandy-colored wavy hair. As his hair color was not match to Peter’s or Greg’s natural dark brown color, he actually had to dye his hair dark brown and even straightened in order to match his brothers. Sometimes the lights on set were so warm that his dye job would sweat and run down his face!
Not A Natural
That’s A No From Me
One of Hollywood’s biggest actors, Gene Hackman, was considered for the lead role of Mike Brady. However producers believed Hackman wasn’t an established enough actor so they gave him a pass. As you know, the part went to Robert Reed, a more famous actor at that time.
That’s A No From Me
The Lisp Is Real
Susan Olsen played Cindy, the youngest Brady daughter who has a lisp. Well it wasn’t an act, Olsen’s lisp was real – despite regularly working with a speech therapist into her 20’s.
The Lisp Is Real
Not A Fan
No one can dispute that the fashion on The Brady Bunch was cringe-worthy. Seriously, so bad. Well viewers aren’t the ones who thought so, all the younger actors frequently complained about their hideous outfits – but their the requests to wear something more fashionable was consistently turned down.
Not A Fan
Over 260 Kids Auditioned For The Show!
While in the grand scheme of things, 260 seems like a small amount, but when you consider how many child actors appear in The Brady Bunch – it shifts perspective a bit. Producers clearly wanted to test as many people as they could before casting the Brady children. Which leads us to our next fact…
Over 260 Kids Auditioned For The Show
Tricks Galore
Working off of the last fact, producers pulled out all kinds of psychology tricks during casting. Their biggest trick was to place distracting toys on the table – so the kids who paid attention to the toys were immediately dropped from consideration for a role.
Tricks Galore
Double The Fun
Wrap your head around this tidbit, Florence Henderson was not the only actress to have played the part of Mrs. Brady. Originally, the comedic actress Joyce Bulifant was brought on for the part. During screen tests, Bulifant was extensively used and also during casting. However the producers changed their minds and chose to cast a more subdued Mrs. Brady, therefore Florence Henderson got the part.
Double The Fun
Serious Tension
If there’s one line that Brady fans remember best, its gotta be ‘Marcia, Marcia, Marcia.’ Now the reason for these words was actually inspired by the real life feud between Eve Plumb (Jan) and Maureen McCormick (Marcia). Yup, the two Brady sisters didn’t get along whatsoever. Apparently it has to do with some romantic subplot with Desi Arnaz Jr.
Serious Tension
So They Called It Puppy Love
Susan Olsen and Mike Lookinland had a bit of a fling during filming! Well, fling might be a bit of stretch. Susan and Mike admitted to kissing numerous times but only in the doghouse so they wouldn’t get in trouble. Thing is, they were just nine years old at the time so it’s more puppy love than anything else.
So They Called It Puppy Love
Missing In Action
Florence Henderson missed quite a large chunk of filming during the first season. In fact, production began without Mrs. Brady due to the fact that Florence Henderson was under contract to “perform in an off-Broadway play”. As a result she missed filming of the first six episodes and went back at a later time to fill her scenes.
Missing In Action
Best Friends For Life
Perhaps the Brady sisters did not get along off screen, but the brothers Greg and Peter surely did. Heck Barry Williams and Christopher Knight even attended each other’s weddings! And yes, they are still friends to this day.
Best Friends For Life
Marcia and Greg Hooked Up – Off Set
Maureen McCormick experienced her first kiss with her on-screen brother, Barry Williams aka Greg. Interesting. Later on, Maureen said that while the kiss was wonderful, she couldn’t stop thinking, “I’m kissing my brother. What am I doing?”
Marcia And Greg Hooked Up – Off Set
Stoner, Sorry To Say
Speaking of Barry Williams, turns out he was quite the stoner. In his memoir, he admitted to having “dabbled a little” with marijuana when he was a teenage. Actually, there is a scene where Mr. Brady purchases a boat and Barry shows up looking totally out of it. What you didn’t see, because it was cut out of the scene, was Barry tripping over nothing in the driveway as he enters.
Stoner Sorry To Say
That’s Right, IRL
Remember when Marcia is hit with a football? (That was a rhetorical question). Well, that wasn’t scripted, it actually happened! So the writers did what they do best, they incorporated it into the show – ergo, creating one of the most iconic scenes of The Brady Bunch.
Thats Right IRL
What A Wig!
During the first season, Florence Henderson was working in an off-Broadway play and she had to sport some super short hair. However for The Brady Bunch, the producers wanted her hair longer so she had to wear a wig!
What A Wig
No PDA Allowed
Unfortunately, Maureen and Barry’s intimate relationship interfered with filming – big time. While filming a three-episode plot in Hawaii, Marcia and Greg got just a bit too cozy during scenes. So much so that the director was forced to cut many times in order to separate the actors.
No PDA Allowed
Dude, I Surf
While we’re talking about Hawaii, we might as well discuss Greg’s surfing scene. In real life, Barry Williams really can surf so he was able to shoot the scene himself, not with a stunt double. However Greg wiped out and ended up injuring himself so at the end of the day, a stunt double had to be used regardless.
Dude I Surf
Still A No
No joke, folks, Maureen and Eve still don’t get along! Recently their co-star Susan Olsen said that Eve and Maureen don’t communicate under any circumstances, which is probably why talks of a reunion show is out of the picture.
Still A No
Sinister Plot
Lloyd Schwartz, a producer on The Brady Bunch, was worried about Maureen and Barry’s personal relationship ruining the chemistry on set. So he actually convinced Barry to break off the relationship – telling him he was too good looking and young to be in a relationship.
Sinister Plot
It’s Better If You Don’t
If you thought that all members of The Brady Bunch were talented singers, you’d be so wrong. Cause Christopher Knight is the exception there. Knight was actually SO bad that all of his singing scenes had to lip synced. Yikes.
Its Better If You Dont
Mike Loonkinland (Bobby) Gave Up Acting
In 2000, Mike Loonkinland or Bobby Brady, retired from acting. Currently he operates a business which makes decorative concrete in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Mike Lookinland Bobby Gave Up Acting
Oh No!
The adorable family dog, Tiger, was hit by a car while on set. GASP. In fact, as the accident took place between takes, Tiger was replaced by a dog who looked similar!
Oh No
Totally Taboo
When The Brady Bunch was on air, it was taboo for toilets to appear on television – which is why you’ll never see any in the show. You may see the bathroom, but not a toilet.
Totally Taboo
Very Real
Think back to when we spoke of Marcia getting hit by a football in the face. Okay, so it turns out that the producer Lloyd Schwartz was the culprit! He was the one who threw the football and whacked Marcia in the face.
Very Real
Swing and A Miss
We are not joking whatsoever, Barry Williams really did ask his television mom out on a date! Just remember that he was only 15 at the time. Florence Henderson politely declined the proposition.
Swing And A Miss
So About The Ratings
You wouldn’t think this but ratings for the show were seriously poor. Despite that was on air for so long and had wide cultural appeal, The Brady Bunch couldn’t gain any viewers. Maybe it’s because they had a primarily young audience?
So About The Ratings
Goofs and Mistakes
While the Brady Bunch and other shows of this time were on air, it was quite common to see production mistakes and acting goofs – which were never edited out. If you’re watching re-runs in the 21st century, you’ll clearly see plenty mistakes!
Goofs And Mistakes Were Commonplace
Dennis, the Menace
Everyone’s favorite TV dad, Robert Reed, was apparently a bit of headache for his co-stars and the production team. Allegedly he was erratic and controlling which started plenty of freak outs.
Dennis The Menace
Quite The Mistake
When Florence Henderson showed up for a screen test, she accidentally walked into the makeup room for Star Trek. HMM. Despite the innocent mistake, the makeup artists helped her anyways while she sat in-between the late Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner.
Quite The Mistake
Nope, No Glass
In order to gain control over lights and reflected surfaces, producers decided to remove the glass out of the sliding door which is often seen in scenes in The Brady Bunch back yard. When it works, it works.
Nope No Glass
Oh Really, Now?
Originally the theme song for the show was recorded without ~any~ of the Brady children. Seems weird but that’s what happened. It was the Peppermint Trolley Company who recorded the song first.
Oh Really Now
Out Of Luck
Producers introduced a new family, the Kelly’s, during the final season of the show – heck an entire episode was devoted to the Kelly’s. The hope was that it would become a spin-off but that idea crashed and burned as the show was never picked up.
Out Of Luck
For The Win
Instead of casting the role of Mike and Carol Brady first, producers went ahead and cast the six children instead! Bit backward but who are we to judge?
For The Win
The D Word
When Sherwood Schwartz told the network that Carol Brady was going to play a divorced woman, the network flat out refused this as “divorce” was a taboo topic back then. So they compromised, Mike was known as a widower but Carol’s background was kept quiet. In fact when Florence Henderson was asked what happened to her husband, she joked that she killed him.
The D Word
In The Closet
From one taboo topic to another, gay actors stayed in the closet as fiercely as possible as they were afraid of public disappointment. Robert Reed, aka Mike Brady, was no exception. Florence Henderson had noticed early on that Reed was uncomfortable during romantic scenes, eventually in private he admitted the truth. As a result the pair worked around it, rehearsing kissing and hugging off-camera, in order to appear like a more natural couple when filming. Bonus fact: the entire cast kept Reed’s homosexuality a secret, even after his death.
In The Closet
Blondie
Throughout the first few seasons, Susan Olsen had her hair bleached in order to keep it as blonde as per what the producers wanted. However when Cindy’s fine baby hair began to came out in giant clumps, they stopped.
Blondie
Buh-Bye
Robert Reed was actually written out of the final episode following an argument with Sherwood Schwartz. Reed approached Schwartz to say that he felt the writing was absolutely ridiculous and it all went from there. Now Reed remained on set during filming as Schwartz didn’t want to remove him in front of the kids.
Buh Bye
Paid Parking
Susan Olsen revealed that as child actors, they didn’t earn all that much for their on-screen roles and furthermore, they were also required to pay for parking. Luckily, this was no longer the case after the first season.
Paid Parking
With These Hands
For authenticity purposes, producers decided that the Brady boys needed to build the tree-house themselves for those scenes. And that’s exactly what happened.
With These Hands
Not A Happy Camper
As a highly trained actor, Robert Reed had no issues bringing up concerns to producers about the script. Which of course lead to many bickers with executives.
Not A Happy Camper
Broody
Uhh, here’s a weird fact, before the pilot episode was sold, Schwartz considered naming the show…wait for it…The Bradley Brood. Boy, are we glad *that* didn’t happen.
Broody
Introduction
The show’s fifth and final season saw a huge drop in ratings so they “jumped the shark”, as in they did something drastic to boost ratings. Ergo, Cousin Oliver was introduced but that didn’t save the show. As a result, the term “Cousin Oliver” is currently used to describe a young character addition in an attempt to save a series from getting cancelled.
Introduction
A Year
After the first season wrapped up and season two aired, it is clear that the Brady children look significantly older. The reason? An entire year had passed from the pilot episode to the start of season two.
A Year
Will They?
Due to the show’s marginal ratings, it was never renewed for an entire season until its last season aired. During the first four seasons, the show was only renewed for 13 episodes at a time. Later on, a lot of cast members revealed that when they finished filming the 13 episodes, everyone would become apprehensive waiting to learn if ABC would renew the series.
Will They?
My Idea
Ahem, the producers of Yours, Mine and Ours threatened to sue Sherwood Schwartz because they claimed he stole their idea and plot summary for the Brady show and film. After Sherwood showed them his detailed notes and outlines of the show, which he wrote a year before, they then backed off.
My Idea
Say What Now?
Oh man, this fact is seriously crazy. Every single day since 1975, an episode of The Brady has aired somewhere in the world. Yup, talk about jaw dropping.
Say What Now?
Twin!
The episode “Sergeant Emma” shows Ann B. Davis, the live-in housekeeper, play her own twin cousin. Ironically, Davis really does have a twin sister in real life, but the producers didn’t use her for the episode so Ann did it all herself.
Twin
Workforce
Throughout the series, Florence Henderson pestered producers to allow for Carol Brady to enter the workforce. Henderson thought this align with how she is in real life. However producers didn’t agree and kept Carol unemployed, although she participated in volunteer work and fundraising for charity numerous times.
Workforce
Nope
Jeffrey Hunter actually urged Sherwood Schwartz to award him the role of Mike Brady, in spite of his persistence, the network thought that Hunter was just “too handsome” for the part so they rejected him.
Nope
Not Clean Enough
As we know, the Bradys maintained a squeaky clean image. This is why you missed out on a certain scene in “Goodbye, Alice, Hello.” Actually, they cut a scene from the episode that they felt was not appropriate for the show. In the said scene, Cindy and Bobby are standing in their robes in the kitchen, begging Alice if they can go to a skinny-dipping party. To this, she responds none of the kids will go to “some x-rated party in their birthday suit” if she has anything to do with it!
Not Clean Enough
Cats or Dogs?
Are you a cat person or dog person? Your answer will determine how you feel about this fact. So in the pilot, the girls had a cat named Fluffy. Then, the orange cat was never seen again, but the family soon had a dog named Tiger. Win or lose? You decide.
Cats Or Dogs?
Hope Guest Stars
Luckily for Hope Juber, her father Sherwood Schwartz was able to get her on the show. Credited as Hope Sherwood, she appears in four episodes. You can find Juber in, “The Slumber Caper,” “The Big Bet,” “Greg Gets Grounded,” and also “The Hair-Brained Scheme.”
Hope Guest Stars
My Fair Brady
So, playing Peter Brady was not where things ended for actor Christopher Knight. He wanted to continue to live in the spotlight. Therefore, he signed on for his own reality show called My Fair Brady with girlfriend, Adrianne Curry. Curry is a former winner of America’s Next Top Model. In the finale of My Fair Brady, Knight proposed. Though the couple married in 2006, they split in 2013.
My Fair Brady
The Real House
Avid fans may know that the Brady home can be found at 11222 Dilling Street in Studio City, California. However, we do not recommend visiting the house. After the show, the owners placed a fence out front and added shrubbery for privacy. When the crew approached the home owners about filming future movies there, they refused.
The Real House
Missing Details
Speaking of their home…did you realize some details were conveniently missing in the show? Of course, we knew that the Bradys lived at 4222 Clinton Way. Actually, they even revealed the phone number to be 762-0799. However, where in California did they live? We got no town or even zip code for the phone.
Missing Details
They Grow Up So Fast
Perhaps, you noticed how in the second episode, the kids seemed to have grown a remarkable amount since the pilot. Well, they had seriously grown overnight…a night that was at least 365 days long. Yes, they waited a year between shooting the first and second episodes.
They Grow Up So Fast
Studio Changes
The show really changed everything, studio included. Before, Paramount Studios was only for movies. Then, with The Brady Bunch, the studio and industry began to change. Also, speaking of TV studios and shows, Sherwood Schwartz also created the CBS show, Gilligan’s Island.
Studio Changes
Five Seconds Of Fame
Anyone from the suburbs, knows the importance of friendly neighbors. Strangely enough, the Brady’s neighbors hardly appeared in the show. Hardly, is probably an understatement. The Ditmeyers lived next door and Mr. Ditmeyer showed up in one episode for only five seconds. So basically if you blinked, you never saw him.
Five Seconds Of Fame
None For You Carol
You probably caught on that most episodes stemmed from one character’s struggles and triumphs. However, they left out the matriarch! Poor Carol Brady was the only one of the main characters who did not get an episode based on her or even named for her.
None For You Carol
Double Purpose Doghouse
As we spoke about, the death of Tiger was tragic. Once he passed, they never replaced him. However, they kept his doghouse for the rest of the series. In fact, it actually helped to hide a burn spot on the AstroTurf that came from a fallen studio light. Thus, it was both to commemorate and conceal.
Double Purpose Doghouse
Same Bed
During the time, showing one bed for a couple was somewhat controversial. Many mistakenly credit The Brady Bunch with showing the first couple sharing one bed. In truth, the first couple to be filmed in bed together was on Mary Kay and Johnny, a 1940s sitcom.
Same Bed
Overcoming Struggles
Things are not always as they appear! Many assumed that Florence Henderson enjoyed a happy life like her character Carol Brady. In reality, she struggled with depression and a difficult marriage. Alas, she was able to make changes for the better. In 1984, she got divorced and has since become a celebrated relationship therapist. Good for you Florence!
Overcoming Struggles
Rough Childhood
To give you some more background, things were not always peachy for Florence growing up either. She grew up in poverty as the youngest in a family of 10 kids. Unfortunately, her father was an alcoholic. Luckily, her mother was dedicated to Florence and she credits her mother to helping her achieve her success.
Rough Childhood
Classically Trained
As we briefly mentioned, some saw Robert Reed as a difficult cast member. Well, in defense of Reed, he had a very prestigious background. In fact, he was classically trained at the Royal Academy of the Dramatic Arts in London. Way before becoming Mike Brady, he starred in the legal drama called The Defenders.
Classically Trained
Best Dad
Also, there’s no denying Reed’s on-screen talents despite his off-screen tensions with Sherwood Schwartz. He truly embraced the role of Mike Brady. Actually, he was so successful in the role, he got named by TV Guide as one of TV’s greatest dads of all time back in 2004.
Best Dad
Speaking His Mind
That being said, there was one particular moment that Reed really let Schwartz hear his honest thoughts on a scene. Reed absolutely refused to work on a scene where the characters were supposed to throw pies at each other without any dialogue. Besides calling the concept, ‘dumb,’ he also told Schwartz that the cast wasn’t filming a silent movie.
Speaking His Mind
All In The Name
So, we know divorce was a bit controversial for the time. However, if you paid close attention, the signs were there. In the show, we find out Carol’s maiden name is Tyler. Yet, when she married Mike Brady, her named was changed from Carol Martin to Carol Brady. Thus, the writers were able to sneak in that hint to show her was divorced and not a widow.
All In The Name
Shady Past
Some may think shady, others innocent youth mischief. However, Olsen retold this tale about McCormick when asked to say a funny story about her costar. She told about McCormick’s shoplifting adventures as a youth. Olsen revealed that a young McCormick and her friend Susan Cowsill, part of a band during the time, got caught shoplifting once. McCormick apparently hid in the car while her friend took all the blame. So Marcia!
Shady Past
Her Green Thumb
From adorable Cindy to pot farmer? That’s right! Olsen confessed that she grew marijuana with her ex-husband. However, she did not enjoy smoking it because she felt paranoid. This was back when it was illegal everywhere by the way. She did appreciate the plant, but claims her lack of interest in smoking was one leading factor in the divorce.
Her Green Thumb
Theme Song
As we said before, it was first recorded by The Peppermint Trolley Company for the first The Brady Bunch season. So, how exactly did they decide to let the kids sing the song? Well, they overheard Christopher Knight singing the song on the set, and the producers got the idea for the children to perform the intro. From then on, the kids sang the song and they re-arranged and re-recorded it every year.
Theme Song
On-Screen Smooch
Though, Greg Brady dated quite a bit over the course of the show, we never saw him kiss his dates. Actually, only Bobby had a kissing scene. Maybe you remember his kiss with Melissa Sue Anderson in “Never Too Young” during season five. Many know Anderson for playing Little House on the Prairie‘s Mary.
On-Screen Smooch
Too Extreme?
Again, even talking about divorce would have been too much for a show at that time. However, showing widowed parents raising kids was becoming more popular in the 1960’s. Yet, when The Brady Bunch came out, many complained that they were taking that trend way too far.
Too Extreme?
Fan Mail
Like other popular shows, The Brady Bunch received a good amount of fan mail. A lot of the letters came from kids asking to live with the Brady family because their families were imperfect. So, Sherwood Schwartz replied to those children, telling them The Brady Bunch was only a show but they should make the most of their family life.
Fan Mail
Who Nose?
As you know, the throw with the football hitting Marcia was very real. Also, behind the scenes Maureen McCormick experienced something similar. Apparently, before “The Subject Was Noses,” Maureen had hurt her nose during a car accident. That inspired the creation of that episode.
Who Nose?
Sorry, Shirley
Back during casting, Shirley Jones was offered the part of Carol. Yet, she turned down the role because she did not want a part where she would only “take a pot roast out of the oven.” What’s ironic is that she went on to play the mother on The Partridge Family, which came out right after The Brady Bunch. Sorry, Shirley but we love Florence!
Sorry, Shirley
Sponsors
Hey, sponsors were a big deal back in The Brady Bunch days. If you forgot, the major sponsors for the show during the beginning episodes were Mattel Toys and Cheerios.
Sponsors
Inspired By Real Life
So, it wasn’t only the football hitting Marcia that was partially inspired by real life events. In fact, Schwartz often used real life events to write the plot for the episodes. He used things that happened to the actors and personality traits and habits of them to write. Like when Barry, aka Greg, plays music in different episodes, that’s because he would always do this in real life.
Inspired By Real Life
Head Spinner
Now, this one is a real head spinner…get it? Anyway, Eve Plumb was seriously considered for playing Regan in The Exorcist after her audition. She auditioned while still acting on the show. Honestly, we’re glad she wasn’t cast because it would have been hard to look at her the same on the show after seeing her in that horror film!
Head Spinner
Brown-Eyed Boy
No, no brown-eyed girls but the cast did have a brown-eyed boy! Yes, Christopher Knight who played Peter was actually the only actor on set with brown eyes. Wow, that’s wild!
Brown-Eyed Boy