When the TV series THE BRADY BUNCH was airing on television
I wasn’t a huge fan. I watched on occasion but it wasn’t something I sought
out. When the series appeared in reruns I caught more of the episodes but still
wasn’t a huge fan. I watched more of the movies that followed after the show
was canceled than I did the series and the later series when the kids had grown
up. I never even realized the show became a cartoon. If you fall into that
category or if you are a die-hard fan you may have to sit down when you
discover this new offering of the show.
This package contains any and all things Brady related on
television. Yes, everything. First off there is the original series, all five seasons.
Then there is THE BRADY KIDS, that cartoon series I mentioned. Next up is the
short lived series THE BRADY BRIDES which follows the family as the kids begin
having families of their own. Another more short lived series followed as THE
BRADYS and that’s here as well. Not enough? Well there is also the three TV
movies that were made from the series: A VERY BRADY CHRISTMAS, GROWING UP BRADY
(from Biography) and THE BRADY BUNCH IN THE WHITE HOUSE. Hang on, as they say
on those late night commercial programs, that’s not all. Also included here are
the feature films made based on the series, THE BRADY BUNCH MOVIE and A VERY
BRADY SEQUEL.
That’s a total of nearly 75 hours’ worth of Brady family
high jinx. Viewed non-stop with no sleep it would take over 3 days to watch all
of this. If you decide to binge watch it you couldn’t accomplish it in a single
weekend. Schedule those bathroom breaks wisely.
Let’s face it though, those who are interested in purchasing
this collection will not be doing so to binge watch. They will be the fans who
loved every minute of every episode when they originally aired or those who
discovered the show when they watched in in reruns. All those moments when the
kids fought over who got to use the bathroom (which you may not have noticed
but their bathroom had no toilet. Standards and practices prevented one from
being shown on TV at that time). When
Marsha got hit in the face by a football on accident. When Davy Jones from the
Monkees showed up. When Jan repeatedly said “Marcia! Marcia! Marcia!” All of
those moments can be enjoyed once more with this collection.
But perhaps you’ve lived under a rock for 50 years and never
saw the show. Hang on, 50 years? Has it really been that long? I feel old now!
Anyway back to the show. It told the story of Carol (Florence Henderson), a
widowed woman raising three girls on her own who meets and falls in love with a
Mike Brady (Robert Reed), a widower raising three boys on his own. Carols kids
were, in order by age, Marcia (Maureen McCormick), Jan (Eve Plumb) and Cindy
(Susan Olsen). Mike’s kids were Greg (Barry Williams), Peter (Christopher
Knight) and Bobby (Mike Lookinland). The pair marry and combine these two
families. Helping them raise the kids is housekeeper Alice Nelson (Ann B. Davis).
If this sounds slightly familiar keep in mind there was a movie called YOURS,
MINE AND OURS that starred Henry Fonda and Lucille Ball that had a similar
story that came out a year before the series began.
The series had Carol staying at home while Mike was an
architect who sometimes worked in his office at home as well. But the focus was
not so much on the parents as it was the entire family. The normal problems
faced by brothers and sisters were taken up in the series, things like sibling
rivalry, learning how to be responsible, dating, early romance and more. Like
all good TV sitcoms the problems came up and the parents knew just how to
handle things.
As I said at the start I was never a huge fan of the show.
But watching these episodes on disc made me realize how much of a part of TV
history the show was. It was one of those shows that may have lasted just 5
seasons but still retains a place in the hearts of fans to this day as becoming
a part of our culture as well. If you don’t believe me I dare you to mention
the show to someone and see if they can either sing or tell you the words to
the theme song of the show.
Fans will adore this compilation and will want to place it
on a place of reverence in their home. Paramount has packaged the collection nicely
so it won’t take up a ton of room. If you’re older you may need help lifting it
though because it contains 31 discs. While the show wasn’t a part of my growing
up in the 60s it became one later in life. I know that I’ll be able to enjoy
watching the show with a better appreciation now than I would have then. It
might offer a bit of nostalgia for a time gone by. My guess is you’ll find
plenty to enjoy here as well.
Click here to order.
No comments:
Post a Comment