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The Way We All Became The Brady Bunch: How the Canceled Sitcom Became the Beloved Pop Culture Icon We Are Still Talking About Today
In celebration of the Brady Bunch's 50th anniversary, TV writer Kimberly Potts writes a Seinfeldia -like definitive history of the show that changed the family sitcom and made an indelible impact on pop culture.
There isn't a person in this country who hasn't heard of The Brady Bunch. Whether it's the show they watched growing up, or the one their parents did--whether adored, or great to poke fun at-- The Brady Bunch is unarguably one of the most enduring and inspiring TV shows of our time. It's lived a dozen lives, from its original comedy debut and big-screen movies, to the Emmy-winning TV auteurs it has inspired--everyone from Vince Gilligan to Jill Soloway--and promises to live many more.
In The Way We All Became the Brady Bunch , TV and pop culture writer Kimberly Potts will draw upon her deep knowledge of and appreciation for The Brady Bunch and television and pop culture history, as well as her contacts, connections, and experience, to provide an industry insider narrative of The Brady Bunch . With fresh interviews, The Way We All Became the Brady Bunch will examine the show's lasting effects on its audience and take readers behind-the-scenes and into the lives of our most beloved characters, all to document why The Brady Bunch was one of the most groundbreaking shows of its time--and why it remains to this day, unforgettable.
There isn't a person in this country who hasn't heard of The Brady Bunch. Whether it's the show they watched growing up, or the one their parents did--whether adored, or great to poke fun at-- The Brady Bunch is unarguably one of the most enduring and inspiring TV shows of our time. It's lived a dozen lives, from its original comedy debut and big-screen movies, to the Emmy-winning TV auteurs it has inspired--everyone from Vince Gilligan to Jill Soloway--and promises to live many more.
In The Way We All Became the Brady Bunch , TV and pop culture writer Kimberly Potts will draw upon her deep knowledge of and appreciation for The Brady Bunch and television and pop culture history, as well as her contacts, connections, and experience, to provide an industry insider narrative of The Brady Bunch . With fresh interviews, The Way We All Became the Brady Bunch will examine the show's lasting effects on its audience and take readers behind-the-scenes and into the lives of our most beloved characters, all to document why The Brady Bunch was one of the most groundbreaking shows of its time--and why it remains to this day, unforgettable.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published December 3, 2019
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1861 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
September 12, 2021
3.5 stars
"As he perused the Los Angeles Times during a routine weekday breakfast in 1966, a surprising statistic caught [TV write/producer] Sherwood Schwartz's eye. More than 29% of all marriages now included at least one child from a previous marriage . . . wouldn't TV viewers be drawn to a weekly depiction of one of these new, modern families?" -- the genesis of the TV series, on page 1
Although only a modest success during its original five-season airing (1969-1974) on U.S. network television - where it never even cracked the Top-30 of the significant Nielsen ratings - the sitcom The Brady Bunch unusually became much more ingrained in the Gen-X popular culture atmosphere during the aftermath of its cancellation. For the latchkey kids of the 70's and 80's - and I was one of them - it was a show that was rerun daily in the mid-afternoons, first by local UHF stations and later by big cable networks, and garnered a large and sometimes devoted young audience who followed the low-key domestic comedy-drama of the titular blended family - a widower with three sons, and a divorcee (although this was intentionally never mentioned) with three daughters, setting up in a new home and experiencing the growing pains common in familial relationships. As author Potts points out, for some young viewers it was reassuring, while for others it may have inspired wistful yearning.
The Way We All Became the Brady Bunch isn't a bad book at all - I finished it in just three days, as author Potts (formerly a journalist with Entertainment Weekly and TV Guide) knows how to keep the structure flowing yet fairly informative - but I was not really a super-fan of the series, although I can recognize a good chunk of the scene and/or dialogue references when pulled from that giant cloud of our Gen-X consciousness. As a lighthearted examination of how this series became a type of cultural touchstone, and inspired a number of prolific tributes-of-sorts - including two big-screen movies, local theater companies staging episode adaptations, and even (gasp!) an X-rated video - this was breezily entertaining, but not necessarily the most important thing you would read this year.
"As he perused the Los Angeles Times during a routine weekday breakfast in 1966, a surprising statistic caught [TV write/producer] Sherwood Schwartz's eye. More than 29% of all marriages now included at least one child from a previous marriage . . . wouldn't TV viewers be drawn to a weekly depiction of one of these new, modern families?" -- the genesis of the TV series, on page 1
Although only a modest success during its original five-season airing (1969-1974) on U.S. network television - where it never even cracked the Top-30 of the significant Nielsen ratings - the sitcom The Brady Bunch unusually became much more ingrained in the Gen-X popular culture atmosphere during the aftermath of its cancellation. For the latchkey kids of the 70's and 80's - and I was one of them - it was a show that was rerun daily in the mid-afternoons, first by local UHF stations and later by big cable networks, and garnered a large and sometimes devoted young audience who followed the low-key domestic comedy-drama of the titular blended family - a widower with three sons, and a divorcee (although this was intentionally never mentioned) with three daughters, setting up in a new home and experiencing the growing pains common in familial relationships. As author Potts points out, for some young viewers it was reassuring, while for others it may have inspired wistful yearning.
The Way We All Became the Brady Bunch isn't a bad book at all - I finished it in just three days, as author Potts (formerly a journalist with Entertainment Weekly and TV Guide) knows how to keep the structure flowing yet fairly informative - but I was not really a super-fan of the series, although I can recognize a good chunk of the scene and/or dialogue references when pulled from that giant cloud of our Gen-X consciousness. As a lighthearted examination of how this series became a type of cultural touchstone, and inspired a number of prolific tributes-of-sorts - including two big-screen movies, local theater companies staging episode adaptations, and even (gasp!) an X-rated video - this was breezily entertaining, but not necessarily the most important thing you would read this year.
December 23, 2019
This was an easy, entertaining read offering insight into the show we all loved, including all its cast members. I had fun with it.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher.
January 18, 2021
4.5 stars.
If simply reading the title of this book, The Way We All Became The Brady Bunch: How the Canceled Sitcom Became the Beloved Pop Culture Icon We Are Still Talking about Today , made you sing (or at least hum) the show's theme song, Kimberly Potts' book is definitely for you!!
This was a fun, informative look at a television series that was a huge part of my childhood and one I still talk about today. Amazingly, while I never watched the show when it originally aired (I wasn’t even born when it started in 1969), thanks to the magic of syndication, I watched every episode so many times through the years that I used to be able to identify the episode within the first 15-20 seconds. (I don't know how good I'd be now, but I could probably do it within a minute or two.)
But before you think I’m crazy (at least about this), understand that this show has been a cultural phenomenon in the US for 50 years or so. And that’s one of the things Potts looks at in this book—the many ways this show has weaved its way into popular culture, and the way so many people can still quote random episodes. (If you’re one of those people, I’m a kindred spirit.) She looks at the various spinoffs of the show through the years, the movies, the spoofs, even the porn movie!
The book also looks at the show’s history, the effort it took to get it on television in the first place, the casting process, and the critical drubbing it took from start to finish. (Amazingly, the show was never among the top 30 highest-rated shows any of the years it aired, but how many people remember all of those shows?)
While some of the information was familiar to me because I’ve read a lot about this show through the years, a lot was new, and really fascinating. I’ve got lots of new trivia to stump my fellow Brady fans with now!! All in all, this was a really good read.
I won a copy of The Way We All Became The Brady Bunch over a year ago in a giveaway on Bookstagram, so belated thanks to Grand Central Publishing for a free copy!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the last decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
If simply reading the title of this book, The Way We All Became The Brady Bunch: How the Canceled Sitcom Became the Beloved Pop Culture Icon We Are Still Talking about Today , made you sing (or at least hum) the show's theme song, Kimberly Potts' book is definitely for you!!
This was a fun, informative look at a television series that was a huge part of my childhood and one I still talk about today. Amazingly, while I never watched the show when it originally aired (I wasn’t even born when it started in 1969), thanks to the magic of syndication, I watched every episode so many times through the years that I used to be able to identify the episode within the first 15-20 seconds. (I don't know how good I'd be now, but I could probably do it within a minute or two.)
But before you think I’m crazy (at least about this), understand that this show has been a cultural phenomenon in the US for 50 years or so. And that’s one of the things Potts looks at in this book—the many ways this show has weaved its way into popular culture, and the way so many people can still quote random episodes. (If you’re one of those people, I’m a kindred spirit.) She looks at the various spinoffs of the show through the years, the movies, the spoofs, even the porn movie!
The book also looks at the show’s history, the effort it took to get it on television in the first place, the casting process, and the critical drubbing it took from start to finish. (Amazingly, the show was never among the top 30 highest-rated shows any of the years it aired, but how many people remember all of those shows?)
While some of the information was familiar to me because I’ve read a lot about this show through the years, a lot was new, and really fascinating. I’ve got lots of new trivia to stump my fellow Brady fans with now!! All in all, this was a really good read.
I won a copy of The Way We All Became The Brady Bunch over a year ago in a giveaway on Bookstagram, so belated thanks to Grand Central Publishing for a free copy!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the last decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
October 9, 2019
Serious disclaimer here: I am a serious Bradyphile. Honestly. I know it's not totally groovy to admit that - - or maybe it is now, 50 years after the iconic sitcom debuted to lukewarm (or flat out vicious) reviews -- but there it is. One of my warmest and strongest memories of childhood (and yes, even into and through adolescence) was coming home from school to watch the syndicated episodes of the perfect blended family. No matter how stressed or upset or tired I was from school, catching up with the Bradys always made me feel good and it didn't matter how many times I had already seen a particular episode (because I had and have seen them all many, many times.) The quintessential Bunch always put a smile on my face, a lift in my heart and could be watched over and over.
Joining the library of Brady-themed tomes is Kimberly Potts' telling of (as the cover tells us) "How the Cancelled Sitcom Became the Beloved Pop Culture Icon We Are Still Talking About Today." Truer words, right? I'm sure no one - - creator Sherwood Schwartz, the execs at ABC, nor the stars -- and particularly not star Robert Reed -- would have guessed back in 1968 when the pilot was filmed, or in September of 1969, when the first episode aired, that fifty years on, not only would the show still be airing but would have spawned a massive franchise that included a variety hour, cartoons, reunion-type shows, television movies, theatrical releases, plays and, of course, the ubiquitous merchandise.
Yet, here we are with The Brady Bunch not only still a part of America (perhaps more so than back during the 1969-1974 original run of the series) but with the fascination still there, as evidenced by HGTV's September 2019 four-part limited series in which various designers are helped by the six original Brady kids to renovate the home that was used for exterior shots as the Brady residence into the actual Brady residence as seen on our television screens. Far out!
I found The Way We All Became the Brady Bunch a quick and enjoyable read (as any true Brady fan would.) Ms. Potts starts from the beginning, long before the lovely lady ever met the man named Brady, with Sherwood Schwartz, who aimed to be a doctor before the entertainment field beckoned. (Can you imagine if Schwartz had not gone to Hollywood? No Bradys, no Gilligan's Island!) She tells the backstory of how Schwartz came up with the concept for the Bunch (a newspaper article) and how our beloved show could have been called The Bradley Brood (horrors!). Maybe not unknown facts for a ride-or-die Bradyphile but Ms. Potts does manage to throw in some facts/gossip/entertainment that was relatively new to me. I won't spoil it for those who haven't read the book yet, other than this one that was a particular fave of mine: At the time that Florence Henderson unexpectedly passed away in 2016, she was in talks with producer Lloyd Schwartz (Sherwood's son) to revive the Bunch, with Carol as a widow who dates and eventually marries a younger man (to the tune of 30 years) who is a friend of one of her children. Scandalous! And so juicy. Sigh. What could have been . . .
Ms. Potts interviewed many original Bradys as well as those on the Brady periphery and was able to fashion together a wonderful remembrance of the series, as well as the franchise itself. I'm always pleased when such offerings as The Brady Girls Get Married and its short-lived spinoff, The Brady Brides aren't given short shrift and are acknowledged. They certainly weren't Shakespeare but remain beloved by this writer.
I appreciated the pages that were given to Robert Reed, Florence Henderson, and Ann B. Davis, all of whom we have lost. Most of the Brady-realizing public has heard that Reed was difficult on set for a variety of factors (but never in front of the children) so it was nice to read a counterbalance in which his kindness and generosity was highlighted, as well as his post-Brady work. I personally loved hearing that Henderson was vastly different from the prim and proper Brady matron, with a crazy sense of humor, and that Davis was fond of fast sports cars that she would race around L.A.
The part of me that welcomes irony found it humorous to read the scathing reviews that were printed after the first episode aired, the authors of which forecast a short shelf life for the Bradys (and Alice!) and did not believe the series would resonate with anyone. Boy, did they have to eat their words! Not only did the series resonate and continues to do so but the Brady formula was the impetus behind many shows that followed.
In finishing the book, I was left feeling warm and fuzzy and with a renewed appreciation for the fictional family, as well as the real-life persons (writers, directors, actors, producers) who brought the show to life. It's gratifying to know that the Bradys lived on in people's hearts for decades and will continue to do so.
If you're a Brady fan, you simply must pick this book up. Even if you're not one that would choose to visit 4222 Clinton Way and hang out with the Bradys for a good old fashioned potato sack race or a roaring 20s party, you should find the book interesting and enjoyable. Pull up a chair in your orange and green kitchen, fix a plate of pork chops and applesauce and dig in!
Joining the library of Brady-themed tomes is Kimberly Potts' telling of (as the cover tells us) "How the Cancelled Sitcom Became the Beloved Pop Culture Icon We Are Still Talking About Today." Truer words, right? I'm sure no one - - creator Sherwood Schwartz, the execs at ABC, nor the stars -- and particularly not star Robert Reed -- would have guessed back in 1968 when the pilot was filmed, or in September of 1969, when the first episode aired, that fifty years on, not only would the show still be airing but would have spawned a massive franchise that included a variety hour, cartoons, reunion-type shows, television movies, theatrical releases, plays and, of course, the ubiquitous merchandise.
Yet, here we are with The Brady Bunch not only still a part of America (perhaps more so than back during the 1969-1974 original run of the series) but with the fascination still there, as evidenced by HGTV's September 2019 four-part limited series in which various designers are helped by the six original Brady kids to renovate the home that was used for exterior shots as the Brady residence into the actual Brady residence as seen on our television screens. Far out!
I found The Way We All Became the Brady Bunch a quick and enjoyable read (as any true Brady fan would.) Ms. Potts starts from the beginning, long before the lovely lady ever met the man named Brady, with Sherwood Schwartz, who aimed to be a doctor before the entertainment field beckoned. (Can you imagine if Schwartz had not gone to Hollywood? No Bradys, no Gilligan's Island!) She tells the backstory of how Schwartz came up with the concept for the Bunch (a newspaper article) and how our beloved show could have been called The Bradley Brood (horrors!). Maybe not unknown facts for a ride-or-die Bradyphile but Ms. Potts does manage to throw in some facts/gossip/entertainment that was relatively new to me. I won't spoil it for those who haven't read the book yet, other than this one that was a particular fave of mine: At the time that Florence Henderson unexpectedly passed away in 2016, she was in talks with producer Lloyd Schwartz (Sherwood's son) to revive the Bunch, with Carol as a widow who dates and eventually marries a younger man (to the tune of 30 years) who is a friend of one of her children. Scandalous! And so juicy. Sigh. What could have been . . .
Ms. Potts interviewed many original Bradys as well as those on the Brady periphery and was able to fashion together a wonderful remembrance of the series, as well as the franchise itself. I'm always pleased when such offerings as The Brady Girls Get Married and its short-lived spinoff, The Brady Brides aren't given short shrift and are acknowledged. They certainly weren't Shakespeare but remain beloved by this writer.
I appreciated the pages that were given to Robert Reed, Florence Henderson, and Ann B. Davis, all of whom we have lost. Most of the Brady-realizing public has heard that Reed was difficult on set for a variety of factors (but never in front of the children) so it was nice to read a counterbalance in which his kindness and generosity was highlighted, as well as his post-Brady work. I personally loved hearing that Henderson was vastly different from the prim and proper Brady matron, with a crazy sense of humor, and that Davis was fond of fast sports cars that she would race around L.A.
The part of me that welcomes irony found it humorous to read the scathing reviews that were printed after the first episode aired, the authors of which forecast a short shelf life for the Bradys (and Alice!) and did not believe the series would resonate with anyone. Boy, did they have to eat their words! Not only did the series resonate and continues to do so but the Brady formula was the impetus behind many shows that followed.
In finishing the book, I was left feeling warm and fuzzy and with a renewed appreciation for the fictional family, as well as the real-life persons (writers, directors, actors, producers) who brought the show to life. It's gratifying to know that the Bradys lived on in people's hearts for decades and will continue to do so.
If you're a Brady fan, you simply must pick this book up. Even if you're not one that would choose to visit 4222 Clinton Way and hang out with the Bradys for a good old fashioned potato sack race or a roaring 20s party, you should find the book interesting and enjoyable. Pull up a chair in your orange and green kitchen, fix a plate of pork chops and applesauce and dig in!
March 5, 2020
By far the most comprehensive guide to the Brady Universe that I have ever read! Covers pretty much every behind the scene detail on the show, spin-offs, movies, reunions, etc. Also does a great job at explaining why this beloved sitcom still has such an impressive cult following five decades after its cancellation.
October 18, 2019
Author Kimberly Potts provides insight into one of television's most beloved programs of all time. The Brady Bunch never garnered top ratings during its five seasons, but it remains popular 50 years after the first show aired in syndication. Several other programs featuring the Brady Bunch cast appeared throughout the years, sometimes with a "fake Jan" or "fake Marcia." We learn about the show's casting, about Robert Reed's hatred for the program, and more in the pages. Comparisons to other shows of the time and influence upon shows that appeared later are covered. The show's fans will want to own or read a copy of this book. The book provided a trip down memory lane as the author mentioned things I read on the pages of popular teen magazines of the 70s such as Tiger Beat. The book covers the recent HGTV renovation of the home used for exterior house shots. I received an electronic advance review copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The publisher classified this book under "Art & Photography" at NetGalley so I expected a little text with a lot of photos. Instead I got a lot of text and no photos. In spite of the disappointment, I still enjoyed the book. (3.5 stars)
December 29, 2019
This is an interesting history of the iconic TV show which premiered 50 years ago, in 1969. Recommend this book to fans of the show. Kimberly Potts describes all the stories from the show’s birth through its final episodes and its reincarnations as variety show, cartoon, movies and live theatre shows. The conflicts behind the scenes and the portrayals of the famous cast members make this book a must read for anyone who watched the show during its five year run or later through syndication. An exciting trip down memory lane.
April 2, 2024
I cannot myself claim to be a huge fan of The Brady Bunch. I was more interested in this tome as "cultural/TV history" as opposed to intense fandom. As such, I know some of the insider details were lost on me--but I still found it interesting enough to be enjoyable.
In "The Way We All Became The Brady Bunch", author Kimberly Potts spins a soup-to-nuts tale of how and why the specter of The Brady Bunch remains to this day a symbol of American TV pop culture. From its original (relatively unpopular) run to its re-discovery in syndication to the various spinoffs and reboots, Potts has it all covered here.
In terms of covering every aspect of Brady-ness, it would be tough to imagine another book doing better. Instead of just focusing on the original run, Potts covers the spin-offs, one-offs, reunions, movie reboots, stage plays, and even pornographic satires with equal gusto.
Granted, while such a deep dive may very likely thrill more knowledgeable fans, amateur Brady historians like myself might find it a bit too filled with names, dates, and details. I kept looking for a little more narrative here--but in large part that isn't what "The Way" is. That isn't to say it is "just the facts, ma'am", but less space is given to the "why" of it all and far more given to the "how".
Overall, though, I'd give this book 3.5 stars if able. It held my interest all the way through even when it did, at times, get a little technical in terms of "production talk" or references to specific show tropes/episodes. I have few doubts that fans with higher I.Q.'s of the 117 episodes will take a lot more out of this one than I ever could.
In "The Way We All Became The Brady Bunch", author Kimberly Potts spins a soup-to-nuts tale of how and why the specter of The Brady Bunch remains to this day a symbol of American TV pop culture. From its original (relatively unpopular) run to its re-discovery in syndication to the various spinoffs and reboots, Potts has it all covered here.
In terms of covering every aspect of Brady-ness, it would be tough to imagine another book doing better. Instead of just focusing on the original run, Potts covers the spin-offs, one-offs, reunions, movie reboots, stage plays, and even pornographic satires with equal gusto.
Granted, while such a deep dive may very likely thrill more knowledgeable fans, amateur Brady historians like myself might find it a bit too filled with names, dates, and details. I kept looking for a little more narrative here--but in large part that isn't what "The Way" is. That isn't to say it is "just the facts, ma'am", but less space is given to the "why" of it all and far more given to the "how".
Overall, though, I'd give this book 3.5 stars if able. It held my interest all the way through even when it did, at times, get a little technical in terms of "production talk" or references to specific show tropes/episodes. I have few doubts that fans with higher I.Q.'s of the 117 episodes will take a lot more out of this one than I ever could.
January 25, 2020
Having grown up as a fan of the Brady Bunch, this was a must-read for me and I was not disappointed. Full of interesting stories behind the scenes of this TV show, I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about not only the original show and its actors, but the many movies, specials and live theatre shows which followed. If you are a fan of this show, I’d definitely recommend this book which is a fun, entertaining read.
October 9, 2019
I'm not the biggest Brady fan in the world, but I was totally won over by the author's enthusiasm for the topic. You feel like you have a really excited friend telling you all these details, some of which you might have heard before but not remembered: "Marcia Brady almost played Jan Brady! Mama Partridge almost played Mama Brady!" The author tells more of Sherwood Schwartz's viewpoint, which makes many of the show's stylistic choices make more sense: he believed that any group of people, whether stranded on Gilligan's Island or forming a blended family like the Bradys, could learn to get along and be happy. This leads him on a long, winding journey to produce five seasons (and endless spinoffs) of the iconic sitcom. I found myself making mental notes to re-watch certain episodes, which I hadn't expected!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the digital ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the digital ARC.
August 21, 2023
I have no idea what is going on with Goodreads lately, but it keeps crashing while I’m writing my longer reviews! So frustrating.
My original review is lost, and I don’t want to take the time to rewrite it.
Anyway - this book is a very dry read with mostly regurgitated facts and trivia from other sources often repeated within the book itself! It reads more like a thesis then an entertaining book I mean look at the title.
The book written by Barry William’s was definitely more entertaining. So if you are only going to read one book about the Bradys, I’d pick up that one.
My original review is lost, and I don’t want to take the time to rewrite it.
Anyway - this book is a very dry read with mostly regurgitated facts and trivia from other sources often repeated within the book itself! It reads more like a thesis then an entertaining book I mean look at the title.
The book written by Barry William’s was definitely more entertaining. So if you are only going to read one book about the Bradys, I’d pick up that one.
February 22, 2021
This book was already worth five stars, but wow I could not believe Teenage Gang Debs the Brady Bunch zine was mentioned. I was pretty sure my sister and I were the only people who talk about it. Teenage Gang Debs was the best zine I've ever read and I wish I still had my copies.
February 1, 2020
Here's the story
Of a lovely lady
Who was bringing up three very lovely girls
All of them had hair of gold
Like their mother
The youngest one in curls
It's the story
Of a man named Brady
Who was busy with three boys of his own
They were four men
Living all together
Yet they were all alone
'Til the one day when the lady met this fellow
And they knew that it was much more than a hunch
That this group must somehow form a family
That's the way we all became the Brady bunch
The Brady bunch, the Brady bunch
That's the way we became the Brady bunch.
If you were singing along with these lyrics, you know how iconic the Brady Bunch television show was and how it shaped millions of childhoods. But why? There are dozens and dozens of shows about families that have run on television, some for much longer than the 5 seasons of the Brady Bunch, and few of them have come close to approaching the Brady's dominance in the fifty years since the show premiered.
In 2018, generations after the Bradys left the air, the house at 11222 Dilling Street that was used for exterior shots of the Brady house sold for a cool $3 Million to HGTV so that they could run a reality show with the grown-up children rehabbing the iconic house. That house is the second most photographed house in America, after the White House. It was never used for the show except as an exterior shot, but it's mere appearance brings thoughts of happy times to those who see it.
This book, written by Bradyphile Kimberly Potts, is a reverential recap of the past fifty years in Brady history, from the original show's premiere to the many sequels, adaptations, and tributes by other shows. There are many books in print written by and about the Brady's, and this is the latest attempt to tell the story of why the show resonated with so many.
While not seen as a ratings success during its original five year run, The Brady Bunch caught on in syndication, running after school during the 70's, 80's and 90's. Ms. Potts, as a member of generation X, credits her generation with turning the show into the pop culture icon that it became. Children of generation X were hungry for depictions of happy families according to this book, and the loving wisdom of mom and pop Brady (plus Alice!) was just what they needed.
While not seen as a ratings success during its original five year run, The Brady Bunch caught on in syndication, running after school during the 70's, 80's and 90's. Ms. Potts, as a member of generation X, credits her generation with turning the show into the pop culture icon that it became. Children of generation X were hungry for depictions of happy families according to this book, and the loving advice of mom and pop Brady (plus Alice!) was just what they needed to hear.
In a metaphysical sense, Mike and Carol Brady were the ideal parents that generation X, plus the millennials and generation Y, wanted to look up to. The children- Greg, Marcia, Jan, Peter, Cindy and Bobby would delve into relatable problems every episode and figure them out in the magic 22 minutes with the help of their families. In an age of increasing divorce and more and more blended families and single mothers, the Bradys were the stability that so many sought.
Now for the juicy revelations that I learned from this book, some of which I had heard of before.
- The family cat, Fluffy, mysteriously disappeared after the pilot and the family dog, Tiger, was hit by a car and died on the Paramount lot, and also mysteriously was cut from the show.
- Sherwood Schwartz, the show's creator (along with Gilligan's Island), wanted to become a doctor and almost got into medical school until a quota system locked him out because he was Jewish. So he then turned to show business.
- The Brady Bunch owes its syndication new life to Lucille Ball and Desilu Studios, who pioneered new filming techniques that made syndication possible. Only Star Trek has ridden the waves of syndication further than The Brady Bunch.
- Mrs. Brady was nearly portrayed by Joyce Bulifant, who was thought too funny and young looking after Ann B. Davis was hired as Alice. Gene Hackman was considered to play Mike Brady.
- Thousands of children were auditioned for the Brady kids, and it finally came down to hair color. The 6 finalists whose hair matched their on-screen parents got to be in the show. (With the exception of Mike Lookinland who played Bobby- he was a blonde who colored his hair).
- Robert Reed, who played Mike Brady, was a constant thorn in the side of the writers and producers, complaining about scripts and inconsistencies. A closeted gay man, Reed fancied himself a serious actor and didn't want to do the show until his contractual obligations basically forced him into it. He caused so much strife that he was written out of the final episode and his character would have been killed off had there been a sixth season.
- After the show had concluded, some of the Brady actors went on the Donny and Marie variety show and had such a good time they inspired the bizarre Brady Bunch Variety Hour, a short-lived song and dance show that ran for eight episodes. (available on You Tube)
- There were several made-for-tv movies, (The Brady Brides, A Very Brady Christmas) and series, (The Bradys) that followed in the 1990's, most of which were low rated and deemed too serious now that the kids all had grown-up problems.
- Since the sequels ended, there have been many tributes by other shows like the X-Files, Simpsons, and Family Guy that reference the Bradys in one way or another. There also was a stage show that recreated entire episodes. It's only a matter of time that a reboot may be coming, especially with the continued diversity of family life in the USA.
On a visit to Branson a few years ago, I stumbled upon a 70's tribute music show that featured Barry Williams, one of the original Brady children. Barry was one of the more musically inclined of the actors and has formed his own band that tours from time to time. The show was full of 70's hits and great dancing, and Williams devoted a long segment to his memories of the show while plugging his book "Growing Up Brady." The show is no more, but it brought back great memories of a time long gone.
The 1960's brought a huge swing to the left for the nation, while the 1980's brought a huge swing to the right. The 1970's sat right in the middle as a groovy disco balance, and the Brady's showed us how kids and parents, brothers and sisters, could all get along.
December 30, 2019
Three and a half stars.
I appreciate it when a book makes me think about things in a broader sense than the book likely intended. For that, I'm giving this book an extra star.
Did I watch The Brady Bunch in its original run when I was growing up? Yes. Did I like the show? Yes, lots. Did I continue to watch it in later years in syndication? Sure. Have I seen more than one episode in the past year? Yes. Am I a fan of the show? Yes. Does the show have a fandom? Uh... I'm not so sure about that one.
The author keeps drawing parallels between the continuing success of Star Trek and The Brady Bunch. On the surface, it's a perfectly valid comparison. She pushes the analogy, though, insisting that The Brady Bunch has a fandom, like Star Trek has. Since I've indulged in fannish activities for Star Trek (and other science fiction and fantasy tv shows) to one degree or another since 1977 or so, I have a definite opinion about what constitutes a tv show with a fandom, as opposed to a tv show with fans.
The first Star Trek fanzine was published while the original series was still on the air. The author only mentions one fanzine with Brady Bunch content (and as I understand it, it was not entirely devoted to the Brady Bunch), and it was published well after the series ended. The first Star Trek convention was in 1972, three years after the last first-run episode aired. The first Brady Bunch convention was in 2014. Star Trek is notorious for inspiring countless fan-written stories, while the author doesn't mention any Brady Bunch fanfiction at all. (A quick search of one large multi-fandom website shows that fanfiction.net currently hosts 229 Brady Bunch stories. There are over 7,000 at that site for the original series of Star Trek alone.)
Don't get me wrong. The Brady Bunch has thoroughly woven itself into the fabric of modern America. It is an iconic series, with an impressive number of reincarnations over the years. I loved watching HGTV's efforts to remodel the house used as the exterior of the Brady house so that the inside matched the soundstage sets as closely as possible. I just don't think its influence has resulted in a fandom, in the way that I define fandom.
The author also brings generational issues into it, insisting that Gen X fans are the real fans, who created the fandom phenomenon when the show was in syndication. She also implies that there are only two reasons to love the show. Either you had a terrible childhood, and the Bradys were the family you wanted, or you had a great two-parent childhood, and the Bradys reminded you of it. I'm not Gen X, and I had a great childhood in a one-parent household which did not reflect Brady life at all. Hmmm. Maybe the fandom is hiding from me because I don't fit the profile.
This is the fourth Brady book I have read in my life (Growing Up Brady, Bradymania, and Here's the Story) and I'm pleased to report there was plenty of new information here, including what seems to be a pretty comprehensive list of Brady sequels. The last few chapters are a bit of a muddle, telling stories that can be boiled down to “It's tough being a Brady actor. But it's great being a Brady actor.” The Tom Brady anecdote was cute, and relevant, since it involved Williams, Knight, and Lookinland, but since I'm from Indiana, I am obligated by law to despise the Patriots.
The audio reader was mostly competent, but mispronounced a few names, the most egregious error being Scott Bakula. You know him-- he's been in more than one show that actually had a fandom.
December 29, 2019
I remember watching The Brady Bunch with my sisters and loving the show. I wasn't a huge fan of the show but I do know that I watched most of the important episodes. When I read the blurb for this book, I thought it would be a cool look into the history behind the show and it sure was.
Kimberly Potts did a good job and being informative about the history of the show. I did learn a lot about the creation of the show, the actors, and more about their personal lives.
It is a good and entertaining read that I know many people will enjoy. If you are a fan of the show, this book is for you!
I give The Way We All Became The Brady Bunch is a cool book that acts as it's own wikipedia page for everything The Brady Bunch. There are awesome insights and interviews that make you understand The Brady Bunch's greatness. Every TV junkie can appreciate this book!
Kimberly Potts did a good job and being informative about the history of the show. I did learn a lot about the creation of the show, the actors, and more about their personal lives.
It is a good and entertaining read that I know many people will enjoy. If you are a fan of the show, this book is for you!
I give The Way We All Became The Brady Bunch is a cool book that acts as it's own wikipedia page for everything The Brady Bunch. There are awesome insights and interviews that make you understand The Brady Bunch's greatness. Every TV junkie can appreciate this book!
March 4, 2022
There is something about the Bradys: the cool house, the blended family, Alice. I loved watching this show as a kid. I stumbled upon the show streaming, and it has been a fun, nostalgic trip revisting it once again. From that came my interest in this book. I liked the beginnings learning how the show came about, sadly learning that Mike Brady was a real life thespian who didn't like much being America's doting dad. As the book goes on with more recent homages in Brady pop culture, my interest waned. I don't really care about Brady inspired porn or play by play descriptions of Family Guy episodes. Still, fans of the show and such should find some light enjoyment.
April 27, 2020
This was a really fun nostalgic read for me. Kimberly Potts covers the show's history, from start to finish & even dives beyond the show to the movies, theater shows, Etc. that have since followed. She even answers some questions fans of the show may have had. Definitely a must read for fans of the show & pop culture.
July 24, 2022
The author tells you how they picked the actors, what they did to get the show on the air and the reasons behind the idea for the show. It talks about how the actors interacted with each other and why all the addition movies were made. It also gives the shows that used the Brady bunch ideas in their shows.
May 6, 2024
WOW! This book was fantastic!
June 23, 2021
Had no idea it was that much of cult thing. I always loved the house.
August 14, 2020
Enjoyed this book & learned lots of trivia. If you grew up with Brady Bunch, saw every episode in syndication about 10 times as a kid, you’ll like these behind-the-scenes stories— which do not stoop to rumors, expose/tell-all, or gossip & scandal. Just interesting bits of background. Well-written, too. I miss the Brady Bunch. Great escapism, needed now!
February 13, 2022
I'm trying really hard to get through everything related to The Brady Bunch. I finished the original series about two weeks ago, and as I continue to wade through the murks of the Bradyverse, I figured this book would be a nice addition to my trek. I went in with a similar mindset that I did with Chain Saw Confidential, in that it would be a thorough exploration of the show's production, behind the scenes tidbits, and an examination of the show's enduring legacy. And that IS what The Way We All Became The Brady Bunch provides, albeit in a less organized and slightly less interesting way than Chain Saw Confidential.
I think a bit of what held TWWABTBB back for me was that I had already done a decent amount of research on The Brady Bunch. And I feel like this book is marketed towards ride or die The Brady Bunch fans, fans who would already know a lot of the "revelations" Kimberly Potts talks about here. So certain bits of the book definitely left me feeling like I could skip forward a bit (though I didn't).
My biggest beef with this book is the organization of it. There are twelve chapters in total. And while the first six or seven chapters all feel somewhat distinct (the history of Sherwood Schwartz, the pre-production of the show, how the show came to a messy conclusion, and an entire chapter devoted to the enigmatic Robert Reed), the final few chapters really dropped the ball for me. Potts goes on irreverent tangents to get points across that could've been displayed much more simply, and the contents of each chapter really start to blend in with each other. The book goes on an intensive tangent about Brady Bunch parodies, some of which were more interesting to hear about than others. Did I need to know the history of Brady Bunch parodies in Family Guy? No. Ignoring the fact that I love Family Guy enough already to KNOW said history, I can't imagine that tangent would be very interesting to people who don't know anything about Family Guy. In-depth comparisons to Full House? Again, how is that engaging or particularly relevant to readers that aren't familiar with that show? (By the way, Kimberly Potts forgot a direct reference that Full House made to The Brady Bunch in season 5, episode 5, "The King and I," where Uncle Jesse subconsciously begins to play the theme to The Brady Bunch in an attempt to write a hit song. That was the one reference I was expecting to hear about the most during the little section about Full House.) And the worst moment of the book was when the writing circled back around to the introductory chapter, wherein the plot of an episode of The X-Files that featured many elements of The Brady Bunch was strenuously explained. I know nothing about The X-Files, let alone this episode, and yet the book felt the need to tell me everything that happened in this one particular episode in detail. I couldn't stand it, if I'm being honest. I also couldn't stand the story about Tom Brady's Brady Bunch parody special from 2001. I didn't know it existed, and I didn't need to know. I had more fun hearing about the Brady Bunch porn trilogy. But while I'm on the topic, the reason I was okay with learning about the Brady Bunch porn parody was because it was a direct byproduct of The Brady Bunch, and is another incredibly odd addition to the multi-faceted legacy of the show. Those are the types of quirks I wish this book examined more, not so much its impact on unrelated media like Family Guy or The X-Files.
When it comes to books that examine movies and shows in such a fashion, I prefer the approach that Gunnar Hansen took with Chain Saw Confidential, wherein after a chronological study of the media in question, each chapter will approach a specific, important aspect of the media's production or legacy that helped shape our perception of it today. I feel like TWWABTBB failed to explore the show in that way towards the end, despite how decently it was doing until that point.
I also think that Potts does tend to indulge a bit too much in the fandom, and spends too much time throughout the book praising the impact of the show when perhaps the book should've stepped back and observed it through a more objective lens. And I understand that there's a lot of love for the show in this book, and that that comes through in the voice of Potts, but I felt like the lots of fluffy diatribes the book shared, nostalgic indulgences about watching it after school or the domestic quirks of getting to watch, getting to relate to the family on the show were unnecessary. And I feel like it's odd to be reading this book in 2022, where the impact of The Brady Bunch seems to be getting smaller all the time. Or perhaps I'm just not looking in the right places.
Now, with those criticisms out of the way, I still like TWWABTBB. It was a fun, comprehensive look at the franchise the show spawned. My biggest regret in reading it is that I think I read it too soon, which is my fault. I didn't expect the book to be so thorough in exploring the spinoffs like the Variety Hour or A Very Brady Christmas. And I haven't even gotten to those yet. What I mean by all of this is that you can tell, as I've said above, that Potts has a lot of love and reverence for The Brady Bunch. And that's good, because I'd rather have no one else write this book. I don't want to hear a WORD from any of the Brady castmates. I don't trust any of the actors from the show after reading this book, besides maybe Christopher Knight and Mike Lookinland. But otherwise, everyone on the cast seems overdramatic and perhaps a bit selfish. So I'm glad that an observer chose to take on this examination of The Brady Bunch instead. While it seemed like Gunnar Hansen had a bit of an inflated ego, I still trusted his words in Chain Saw Confidential. I felt he was a more reliable character than someone like Barry Williams or Maureen McCormick, both of whom seem to have a weird, problematic history with their Brady legacies. And I appreciate that this book didn't glorify them, either. It seemed pretty objective with how it portrayed them as people.
My favorite section of TWWABTBB was definitely the chapter on Robert Reed. Not only was he an excellent actor, but a VERY interesting and enigmatic person behind the scenes. A little bit of research will tell you a few things:
1. He HATED making and being in The Brady Bunch.
2. He feuded with Sherwood Schwartz over a lot of plot ideas over the series' run, resulting in him being fired just before the series' cancellation.
3. He was a closeted homosexual.
These pieces leave nothing but more questions though. Why did he even participate in the show if he hated it so much? Did he hate his castmates, too? How did his repressed sexuality translate with his behavior, if at all? Why did he return for the spinoff? And what I love so much about this chapter is how Potts aimed to answer these questions. I feel like I know so much about Robert Reed and his time on the set that my viewing of Mike Brady is changed forever. By all accounts, he was a good man. The internet will tell you that he was a "drunken diva," or that he constantly warring with his Brady legacy until his death. But really, he loves his castmates. They were all very close, and he especially loved his on-screen children. I absolutely loved hearing about the trips the cast took together, and how Robert gifted them with cameras, how that inspired Mike Lookinland to get into camerawork. That was all very heartwarming and wholesome information. But to learn about just how much he hated the SHOW was just as interesting. And I think that, even though he would constantly nitpick and war over the stupidest things in the writing, it was a testament that he stuck around all five seasons until the show's creator had simply had enough of him. And how he came back for two TV movies and a spinoff. A part of him really did like The Brady Bunch, it seems. But like other things in his life, he set it aside and wore a mask instead. I enjoy learning about all the cast, but I think Robert Reed above all is a source of just how odd the construction of the Brady Bunch franchise really was.
Overall, The Way We All Became The Brady Bunch is a fun dive into this odd sitcom franchise that holds so much depth underneath the surface of the mothership show. Though I dislike how often the book goes off-topic, then tries to justify the ways it went off-topic, and is perhaps a bit too "close to the case," so to speak, this book is a comprehensive must-read for fans of The Brady Bunch, new or old.
I think a bit of what held TWWABTBB back for me was that I had already done a decent amount of research on The Brady Bunch. And I feel like this book is marketed towards ride or die The Brady Bunch fans, fans who would already know a lot of the "revelations" Kimberly Potts talks about here. So certain bits of the book definitely left me feeling like I could skip forward a bit (though I didn't).
My biggest beef with this book is the organization of it. There are twelve chapters in total. And while the first six or seven chapters all feel somewhat distinct (the history of Sherwood Schwartz, the pre-production of the show, how the show came to a messy conclusion, and an entire chapter devoted to the enigmatic Robert Reed), the final few chapters really dropped the ball for me. Potts goes on irreverent tangents to get points across that could've been displayed much more simply, and the contents of each chapter really start to blend in with each other. The book goes on an intensive tangent about Brady Bunch parodies, some of which were more interesting to hear about than others. Did I need to know the history of Brady Bunch parodies in Family Guy? No. Ignoring the fact that I love Family Guy enough already to KNOW said history, I can't imagine that tangent would be very interesting to people who don't know anything about Family Guy. In-depth comparisons to Full House? Again, how is that engaging or particularly relevant to readers that aren't familiar with that show? (By the way, Kimberly Potts forgot a direct reference that Full House made to The Brady Bunch in season 5, episode 5, "The King and I," where Uncle Jesse subconsciously begins to play the theme to The Brady Bunch in an attempt to write a hit song. That was the one reference I was expecting to hear about the most during the little section about Full House.) And the worst moment of the book was when the writing circled back around to the introductory chapter, wherein the plot of an episode of The X-Files that featured many elements of The Brady Bunch was strenuously explained. I know nothing about The X-Files, let alone this episode, and yet the book felt the need to tell me everything that happened in this one particular episode in detail. I couldn't stand it, if I'm being honest. I also couldn't stand the story about Tom Brady's Brady Bunch parody special from 2001. I didn't know it existed, and I didn't need to know. I had more fun hearing about the Brady Bunch porn trilogy. But while I'm on the topic, the reason I was okay with learning about the Brady Bunch porn parody was because it was a direct byproduct of The Brady Bunch, and is another incredibly odd addition to the multi-faceted legacy of the show. Those are the types of quirks I wish this book examined more, not so much its impact on unrelated media like Family Guy or The X-Files.
When it comes to books that examine movies and shows in such a fashion, I prefer the approach that Gunnar Hansen took with Chain Saw Confidential, wherein after a chronological study of the media in question, each chapter will approach a specific, important aspect of the media's production or legacy that helped shape our perception of it today. I feel like TWWABTBB failed to explore the show in that way towards the end, despite how decently it was doing until that point.
I also think that Potts does tend to indulge a bit too much in the fandom, and spends too much time throughout the book praising the impact of the show when perhaps the book should've stepped back and observed it through a more objective lens. And I understand that there's a lot of love for the show in this book, and that that comes through in the voice of Potts, but I felt like the lots of fluffy diatribes the book shared, nostalgic indulgences about watching it after school or the domestic quirks of getting to watch, getting to relate to the family on the show were unnecessary. And I feel like it's odd to be reading this book in 2022, where the impact of The Brady Bunch seems to be getting smaller all the time. Or perhaps I'm just not looking in the right places.
Now, with those criticisms out of the way, I still like TWWABTBB. It was a fun, comprehensive look at the franchise the show spawned. My biggest regret in reading it is that I think I read it too soon, which is my fault. I didn't expect the book to be so thorough in exploring the spinoffs like the Variety Hour or A Very Brady Christmas. And I haven't even gotten to those yet. What I mean by all of this is that you can tell, as I've said above, that Potts has a lot of love and reverence for The Brady Bunch. And that's good, because I'd rather have no one else write this book. I don't want to hear a WORD from any of the Brady castmates. I don't trust any of the actors from the show after reading this book, besides maybe Christopher Knight and Mike Lookinland. But otherwise, everyone on the cast seems overdramatic and perhaps a bit selfish. So I'm glad that an observer chose to take on this examination of The Brady Bunch instead. While it seemed like Gunnar Hansen had a bit of an inflated ego, I still trusted his words in Chain Saw Confidential. I felt he was a more reliable character than someone like Barry Williams or Maureen McCormick, both of whom seem to have a weird, problematic history with their Brady legacies. And I appreciate that this book didn't glorify them, either. It seemed pretty objective with how it portrayed them as people.
My favorite section of TWWABTBB was definitely the chapter on Robert Reed. Not only was he an excellent actor, but a VERY interesting and enigmatic person behind the scenes. A little bit of research will tell you a few things:
1. He HATED making and being in The Brady Bunch.
2. He feuded with Sherwood Schwartz over a lot of plot ideas over the series' run, resulting in him being fired just before the series' cancellation.
3. He was a closeted homosexual.
These pieces leave nothing but more questions though. Why did he even participate in the show if he hated it so much? Did he hate his castmates, too? How did his repressed sexuality translate with his behavior, if at all? Why did he return for the spinoff? And what I love so much about this chapter is how Potts aimed to answer these questions. I feel like I know so much about Robert Reed and his time on the set that my viewing of Mike Brady is changed forever. By all accounts, he was a good man. The internet will tell you that he was a "drunken diva," or that he constantly warring with his Brady legacy until his death. But really, he loves his castmates. They were all very close, and he especially loved his on-screen children. I absolutely loved hearing about the trips the cast took together, and how Robert gifted them with cameras, how that inspired Mike Lookinland to get into camerawork. That was all very heartwarming and wholesome information. But to learn about just how much he hated the SHOW was just as interesting. And I think that, even though he would constantly nitpick and war over the stupidest things in the writing, it was a testament that he stuck around all five seasons until the show's creator had simply had enough of him. And how he came back for two TV movies and a spinoff. A part of him really did like The Brady Bunch, it seems. But like other things in his life, he set it aside and wore a mask instead. I enjoy learning about all the cast, but I think Robert Reed above all is a source of just how odd the construction of the Brady Bunch franchise really was.
Overall, The Way We All Became The Brady Bunch is a fun dive into this odd sitcom franchise that holds so much depth underneath the surface of the mothership show. Though I dislike how often the book goes off-topic, then tries to justify the ways it went off-topic, and is perhaps a bit too "close to the case," so to speak, this book is a comprehensive must-read for fans of The Brady Bunch, new or old.
January 1, 2020
This was a fun, fast read - just right for any fan of the show. Although I loved the show, I didn't know how it came into being, and I'd never heard some of the behind-the-scenes information the author shares. At times, the writing was a little convoluted (and the author apparently loves the word "titular," since she uses it at least a dozen times throughout the book), but it was easy to follow, and the book was fun to read.
December 29, 2021
Rounded up to a 2.5. It’s certainly not the best Brady info source out there, least of all best organized... but the author’s genuine love and total fan-girling over The Brady Bunch is endearing, as well as a bit infectious to the reader.
I’ve never been a total Brady Maniac (that was my sister!) but I definitely loved the Bradys, and could relate to Jan’s feelings toward Marcia as well (even though it’s just me and my sister; I’m the youngest and she’s the oldest).
The first few chapters started off good enough, with some interesting facts about the plot, the pitch to three networks, the casting, etc. But as other reviewers have mentioned, it quickly became rather disjointed and rambling, even repetitive.
I mean, I really don’t know if even the most diehard fans care to hear about EVERY reference to the Brady Bunch in the world of entertainment. For instance, I’m positive that leaving it at the fact that Family Guy has mentioned TBB on numerous occasions would be sufficient...
yet, the author has to specifically list that it’s TWELVE times, and not only that, each reference/uttered phrase(s) by whichever character is written to completion. I guess I just didn’t really care about the many spin offs and other actors who played “fake Bradys”, or the fact that Funko Pop! (is that what they’re called?! lol) were made in each of the Brady kids’ likeness.
It really is all over the place and I was thankful to be done reading (and thus, finished my 100th book of the year!). I feel like the author must be really well-connected to SOMEONE in the publishing industry to have gotten this published when all of this info is already out there. I haven’t read anything Brady yet, and I’d wish I’d read Williams’s 2008 (?) memoir instead, that originally spilled a lot of the secrets used in material total.
Oh my god - and while I realize that the whole ...and Alice! was part of the show, was it really necessary for the author to mention the character names then “(and Alice!)” every other page?! A fun read, but far too long and as I said before, all over the place.
I’ve never been a total Brady Maniac (that was my sister!) but I definitely loved the Bradys, and could relate to Jan’s feelings toward Marcia as well (even though it’s just me and my sister; I’m the youngest and she’s the oldest).
The first few chapters started off good enough, with some interesting facts about the plot, the pitch to three networks, the casting, etc. But as other reviewers have mentioned, it quickly became rather disjointed and rambling, even repetitive.
I mean, I really don’t know if even the most diehard fans care to hear about EVERY reference to the Brady Bunch in the world of entertainment. For instance, I’m positive that leaving it at the fact that Family Guy has mentioned TBB on numerous occasions would be sufficient...
yet, the author has to specifically list that it’s TWELVE times, and not only that, each reference/uttered phrase(s) by whichever character is written to completion. I guess I just didn’t really care about the many spin offs and other actors who played “fake Bradys”, or the fact that Funko Pop! (is that what they’re called?! lol) were made in each of the Brady kids’ likeness.
It really is all over the place and I was thankful to be done reading (and thus, finished my 100th book of the year!). I feel like the author must be really well-connected to SOMEONE in the publishing industry to have gotten this published when all of this info is already out there. I haven’t read anything Brady yet, and I’d wish I’d read Williams’s 2008 (?) memoir instead, that originally spilled a lot of the secrets used in material total.
Oh my god - and while I realize that the whole ...and Alice! was part of the show, was it really necessary for the author to mention the character names then “(and Alice!)” every other page?! A fun read, but far too long and as I said before, all over the place.
June 13, 2025
Even if mom always said, "Don't read books in the house," you should still check out this exhaustive examination of the show that's burrowed its way into the American subconscious. Hugely entertaining, if you ever enjoyed The Brady Bunch (and it devotes a chapter to the Brady Bunch vs. Partridge Family rivalry even if you preferred that other family)!
February 27, 2020
2 and 1/2 stars.
Like most people I grew up watching The Brady Bunch after school and wishing I could be Marcia Brady. This was an interesting peek behind the scenes that brought back those good ol' days. It was also eye opening - I knew Robert Reed had been cantankerous on the set, I just didn't realize how much and exactly how mean he could be. Poor Sherwood Schwartz!
This was a nostalgic and fun stroll down Memory Lane; however, I started losing interest when the author dove into spin-offs and follow-ups. But if you loved The Brady Bunch series, you'll most likely enjoy this book.
Like most people I grew up watching The Brady Bunch after school and wishing I could be Marcia Brady. This was an interesting peek behind the scenes that brought back those good ol' days. It was also eye opening - I knew Robert Reed had been cantankerous on the set, I just didn't realize how much and exactly how mean he could be. Poor Sherwood Schwartz!
This was a nostalgic and fun stroll down Memory Lane; however, I started losing interest when the author dove into spin-offs and follow-ups. But if you loved The Brady Bunch series, you'll most likely enjoy this book.
December 28, 2019
If you love The Brady Bunch, you will love this book. If you love trivia, you will love this book. If you think you know just about everything there is to know about the Bradys. you will love how much more this book will show to prove you wrong. Everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING possible to discover about the Bradys can be found here. What was Robert Reed's problems that kept his tirades going? Which US nationally known politician was such an obsessed fan that he asked his parents to refer to him Bobby so he would have the same name as his favorite Brady character? (He is still known by Bobby!) What happened to the Brady's cat? Why did cousin Oliver show up? Which cast member was not allowed a spot in the last episode of season 5? Which character was to be replaced had there been a season 6? These are merely a quick sample of the type of info you will discover. This is a perfect way to revisit the show we all loved.
December 25, 2019
Guilty. Viewing. Pleasure. The Brady's were uncool back then and still are, yet I manage to get sucked into an episode whenever I'm channeling on a lay-z Sunday afternoon. Book was terrible as it rehashed episodes, tried to be clever and when it ran out of material attempted to compare it to other family shows (Partridge Family, Modern Family, Full House...).
Altho I might have wanted to be a Brady in the early 70's, I would resent being one today. Due to law changes in 1973, earning residuals ended after 10 cycles of repeats/syndication. Considering the 117 episodes have run over 100K times '...that's a lot of bread, man' as Greg might say. Fortunately HGTV created some income potential for these checkerboard goody two shoes.
Altho I might have wanted to be a Brady in the early 70's, I would resent being one today. Due to law changes in 1973, earning residuals ended after 10 cycles of repeats/syndication. Considering the 117 episodes have run over 100K times '...that's a lot of bread, man' as Greg might say. Fortunately HGTV created some income potential for these checkerboard goody two shoes.
January 18, 2020
Definitely written by a fangirl, but still an enjoyable read. I recently started rewatching Brady Bunch with my kids after we saw the HGTV Very Brady Renovation, and my kids (10 and 7) love it. And I still enjoy it. Then I saw this book and thought it would provide great perspective on why it is that different generations relate to this show. That’s what I thought the book would examine, but it focused much more on historical narrative than sociological explanation. To be fair, she did impart some broad analysis about why it’s the phenomenon it is, but I think there is room for much more analysis and might be better suited to an academic than a pop culture writer. Still, I’m glad I read it and it brought up a lot of fond memories!
June 15, 2021
Fun and entertaining, Kimberly Potts reveals some Brady history in a conversational and anecdotal manner that is pleasing to the reader. From casting decisions to behind the scenes squabbles, there may be stories that you've heard before, but Potts manages her own light spin to make the narrative entertaining. The appendix covers 50 years of the Brady family in pop culture (from film, music, to TV and beyond) and shows just why the first show about blended families is still relevant today. Reviled by the critics, and never a top hit during its initial run, the 'Brady Bunch' developed a cult following in syndication, which began shortly after the show ended.
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