Gilligans Island wasn't a failure. It's well known that it was cancelled because the network President's wife was a big Gunsmoke fan, and they ditched Gilligan to save Gunsmoke. It actually still had respectable ratings when it got the axe.
Yeh, and I was so aggravated about that fact! I still hate gunsmoke to this day because of that, and besides you see one western you've seen them all weather it a TV show or a movie .
@@arribaficationwineho32 Batman was cancelled because the network accidentally destroyed the sets and it would have been prohibitively expensive to replace them.
I loved watching Gilligan's Island reruns as a child growing up in the 70s and The Brady Bunch. I get tired of hearing everyone talking about how terrible Gilligan's Island was. I liked it
Yeah, it's a trend that happened in a lot of sitcoms through the years... they always need the young, "cute" kids on the show, but when the young kids grow up they have to find new young, "cute" kids to replace them. They did that on Family Ties, did it on Growing Pains, and they did it a lot on The Cosby Show. The trouble with Cousin Oliver is that he really just didn't fit in.
Well, Hackman was still an up and coming actor, so, yes, he was more vulnerable. Reed had been around for a while, and this did not stop him from getting later dramatic roles such as in Roots.
I have to say this: I agree with Robert Reed. The final episode of 'The Brady Bunch,' with Bobby dying Greg's hair orange was completely ridiculous. It was one of 2 episodes of the show that I was really embarrassed by (the other one was when Marcia had a crush on her dentist). You know what would have been a great way to have wrapped up the series? If in the final episode, they had Alice & Sam get married.
I agree with Mr. Reed. It was a VERY stupid episode. It was a very lame way for them to go out. If the producers were smart they would’ve updated the storylines to show the kids maturing. They didn’t need to add Robbie Rist as “Oliver”.
@@ghanasoul Definitely a stupid episode. Ditto for the one where Marcia had a crush on her dentist. That episode was way too embarrassing, rather than funny. I agree there was no need to add Oliver. I do wish the producers went ahead with that intended spin-off about the family with 3 adopted sons from different races. That would have been interesting.
Reed forgot the strength of “The Brady Bunch” and “Gilligan’s Island” was its silliness and farce. People watched them to have a fun escape from reality.
Unrealistic situations where everyone got what they wanted and no bumps in the road,I wonder if carol brady could’ve done her food shopping with $10 like my mother had to …..
Barry Williams had a great remark about Reed. "Bob is the type of actor who if he got booed off the stage while reading Shakespeare, his response would be "hey, don't blame me, I didn't write this sh*t."
Those too young to remember, originally The Brady Bunch never had good ratings. When it was cancelled, ratings were pretty low. The show became a huge hit in reruns to young audiences / later generations.
I don't agree with Lloyd's assessment that Reed's relationship with the kids was just a power play, he maintained contact and friendship with them long after the show ended
I agree. I believe Reed understood they were kids and wanted them to have a positive experience. I don’t believe the kids ever had a bad thing to say about him.
I agree, there was an interview with the kids years ago, they spoke very highly of him as a father figure, i think it was Bobby, actually got emotional. His homosexuality was kind of a non-secret secret, but they didn’t care
Consider the source there. "Producers" have always been some bitter vampiric figures. You can see how they believe anyone being nice must be doing it as some sort of scheme. Why do they believe it? Because that is what THEY do.
My husband and I grew up watching the Brady Bunch, in fact we were both previously married with two kids each and likened our new family dynamic as a mini Brady Bunch. We even took family photo's of each of us plus 3 of our parents, all dressed in 70's attire with blue background and framed it just like the opening when they family is in the tic tac toe squares looking at each other lol. The show was a leader of its time depicting a blended family with its trials abd tribulations as they navigated new lives with each other. It was wholesome and light-hearted and always shared a life lesson with its young viewers. It gave us a view of a stable, supportive, loving family albeit chaotic at times, nevertheless expected under the circumstances and of that of a large blended family. After school kids of the 70's could immerse in family life with this show especially if they grew up with something less. Much like watching Friends in the 90's gave ppl friends they could be a part of for a little while. Robert Reed was an excellent father figure and extremely handsome and masculine ironically, he played his role beautifully...the dad everyone wanted. It was a shame that a classical, refined actor such as himself didnt recognize the huge impact he would have on young generations then and after, even likely still to this day in reruns. Alice was terrific too, loveable, funny and wise. Every character played their roles perfectly. An awesome,wholesome family show, something that is sadly missing in these times ever since. ❤
More than that, he never recognized the value in what they were doing. I think that is the saddest part. He "no, no, no"ed himself right out of a job. He probably should have tried to be a writer or producer and seen where that would get him. At least then maybe he could have had more respect for what Sherwood Schwartz brought to the table. Its quite the delicate balancing act. They don't pay you to make perfection. They pay you to gather an audience so someone can sell wheaties and ivory snow. That's it. That's all there is.
Yeah, I was shocked at Mrs. Brady as a kid. I couldn't believe there was a mother who didn't get drunk and scream at the kids. I thought that's what moms did.
I grew up in a blended family too (4+2 all boys). In fact one time the local paper did an interview with us and used "Brady Bunch" in the headline. Robert Reed didn't understand the show couldn't be a serious drama or even have any gravity at all. It was fluff and not good fluff, but it worked enough to get eyeballs on the screen and butts in the seats. I can think of a lot of interesting conflicts of a blended family that would never even be on the radar of Sherwood Schwartz. What happens when (as the actors did have this problem) Greg and Marcia discover they are attracted to each other? Was there a divorce or death (or both) that led to them being single? Never brought up. What about conflicts between the step parents and the step kids being treated unequally? You could even have two of the stepsibs in the same class and they lock horns. Nah just wack Marcia in the nose with a football and we all get a good laugh.
@@MRaadesign Maybe get yourself a new brain, buddy. In season 2 it was #22 and in season 3 it was #49. That is going from #22 to #49 in ONE season, dimwit, season 2 to season 3. That's a significant failure going from a top 3rd program to a bottom 3rd program. Gunsmoke was still at #34 that same 1966-67 season. which was right in the middle. Anyone with a brain would take a higher rated program over a lower rated one. You Gilligan fanboys are amazing, you believe the line of crap Sherwood Schwartz put out about Mrs Paley making a decision that was actually made by the CBS executive board. But I should know that goofs who like the goofball stories of Gilligan are always just goofs.
I wish I had a father like him. My father could give zero flips about me, or what happens to me. Same with my mom. For those who have or had great parents. I hope you know how lucky you are.
@@DavidPeacockChannel agreed. I thought a father and mother asking thoughtful questions was beyond realistic. Perfect example now. Im close to losing our dream house for my wife who is in a wheelchair. They just received my grandnas estate. Millions. My grandma said make sure the grandchildren are taken care of. Again, she had millions. Those two laughed at us. Who laughs at someone about to lose their house? They never even probated the estate.
So he basically ended the series because he didn't like a script where Greg gets a bad hair dye job, but two years later he signs up for that ludicrous variety show that has him wearing a giant bunny suit? Yeah, that makes perfect sense.
I was reading that Reed had creative control privileges for the variety show, which I personally feel is the true root cause behind Reed being very difficult with Schwartz. I think Reed wanted creative control during the original show. I would imagine that if Schwartz had let Reed write some episodes, Reed wouldn't had been as controversial behind the scenes. Then again, Reed would probably want 100% control, something that would be a problem. Anyway, I've seen all nine of the variety show episodes. I'm one of the FEW who liked them, but I can understand why most people hated the variety show since it did get EXTREMELY ridiculous most times, to the point of absurdity. At least the original Brady Bunch was grounded in realism for the most part, the variety show is just insanity incarnate at times. I enjoyed both shows (I even liked the Jan actress from the variety show much, much more than the original, but I like the original actress as well), but even I have to acknowledge how much more absurd that variety show was.
According to the video, Lloyd Schwartz took advantage of a phrase in one of Robert Reed's memos to ruthlessly sabotage Reed, and write him out of the season finally. I believe it. And if it's true, you can't blame Reed!
And according to the video, Reed was extremely disgruntled at being forced out of the show. And you know that's true. And when Reed showed up on set Schwartz apparently wanted to take Reed's humiliation to the next level, but restrained his sadistic impulses for the sake of the rest of the cast.
The series would have to end at some point as child actors and parents, aged. Just like every show that has child actors. It's awkward to continue shows when children age. "Leave it To Beaver" was another show that ran out of time as Tony Dow, Barbara Billingsley, and Beaver aged. They went from grade school to high school. It would have been difficult to write scripts of kids going to college, parents getting older. Stop on a high note ! ! !
@@dhenderson1810 the Director was an idiot. Most of the stuff that came out was so damn stupid. I can understand why Reed was so upset. It didn’t make no damn sense and I think they all had a problem with him being gay even though he didn’t come out they knew about it because back then everybody seem to have a problem with that, when are you people going to stop gossiping about shit instead of putting out something that’s decent and relevant
I lost my uncle two years before to AIDS. He wasn't just my uncle, though. He was only 31, was my mentor, helped me get down to Orange County and choose UC Irvine. Makeover city, and I was his beard, because he was a financial analyst for older, wealthy people. The 1980s weren't just unsupportive of people with AIDS, there was a large population of people who wanted desperately to eradicate them.
I grew up loving the BB! It’s strange to learn about this because RR did such a great job playing the father. I would have never thunk he was gay either!
I thought about that and have to reference what happened to John Amos and Esther Rolle in Good Times. Their acting experience was mostly in serious and dramatic roles before appearing on that show. They disagreed with the path of the show while forgetting the show was written and tailored for Jimmy Walker, a comedian. Like the Brady Bunch, Good Times had an excellent cast all around but those two wanted it to be more than it was meant to be for them. The show tackled all kinds of serious topics as well as a few fun ones, but the balance was not still acceptable to them.
So interesting, I had no idea what a diva Robert Reed was. As a now 60 year old man, I grew up with the Brady Bunch, and I loved it. As a gay man looking back, I’m embarrassed how things went with Reed, the producer, and the show. And of course, for all of the actors of that show and others of the time, the lack of consideration of residual payments as far as reruns etc. It was a crime for the actors considering that the owners and producers of those shows made out like bandits whereas the talent got screwed. But that was what happened to many many people in films as well going back many decades.
Reed's intellectual analysis of Brady Bunch scripts in terms of their comedic elements and their inability to succeed in them are themselves a form of unintentional comedy.
That whole hair accidentally turning red thing actually happened to me about 30 years ago. I was in college and decided to bleach my medium brown hair blonde, but... I guess I rinsed the bleach out too quickly? It was very, very red!
@@acebrandon3522 the operative word is that they’re being paid which means they have a boss and when there’s a boss, you have to do what the boss says or get fired isn’t that how that works?
I was just a kid back then and enjoyed watching the show. As kids we didn't know any of this stuff, it was grown up stuff we didn't care about. In some ways it sucks to be an adult with this information. It kinda tarnishes your childhood memories of the show that was just meant to provide entertainment back in a simpler time of life
On the SMDM, Oscar, Steve and Dr. Wells were all single men. Wasn't that strange? Three tall, handsome, middle-aged men with lot's of money and prestigious careers and they were all single. Most men in that position would have been married with a couple of kids.
I always loved Bob as Mike Brady and can’t imagine anyone else in the role. I worked with him in the mid 1980s and always found him to be a sweet guy, good sport and total pro. I’m sure it couldn’t have been easy to see the BB’s original sweet, social message about blended families so quickly morph into slapstick. RIP RR
I can identify, I worked for a company that drove me nuts not following or enforcing important policies. I was constantly writing memos to see things improved. And was either ignored, or told they would look into it, then ignored. I finally quit after a number of years of banging my head against the brick wall. I only saw Gilligan and Brady Bunch in after school syndication. No idea who any of them were. No idea Robert had a career before or after. But good for him. To bad his life was cut so short. The kids all loved him, and I believe (from what I read after his passing) he genuinely loved them as he would biological kids. He took them on trips, bought them all 35mm cameras to record it all.
Robert Reed was not the first choice for Mike Brady and he definitely loathed the role. But it should be pointed out that Reed was often right in his criticisms.
He may have loathed it but he was such a great actor in that role. I never would have thought he didn’t like it if I hand not learned later on that he did.
Sure he was right, in a way that was 99% irrelevant. He was a fool because he never learned to see the value in what they did. If he had taken a step back he could have realized that even if it is a farce, there was still a lesson that was of value. He could have been proud of the show instead of miserable.
@@Nash1a I think he saw some value in it, Florence, Ann and the kids he enjoyed being around...it was just that he was really starting to agree with the kids about how absolutely unnecessary that the season 5 episodes that would have been better off in season 1 were...I mean Susan Olsen was 12 playing 11 year old Cindy in the Shirley Temple episode...that would have been better in season 1 when she was still 7 playing 5...and she routinely brings up how season 5 pretty much went out of it's way to keep babyifying her and Mike and adding Oliver in to reinforce that Cindy and Bobby could never grow ever. Bobby doing this conman routine was the last straw though...Mike Lookinland was 13 (and the character of Bobby was stated to be 12 that season)...why is a 12 year old conning his 18 year old brother on one of the most important days of his life? Actors playing younger is one thing if the characters don't grow in a progression of family life, but when you have one where they do...why are you writing a 12 year old like a 7 year old? Shouldn't the last episode have been more geared around home movie making if Mike had to miss?
I must've been watching it in syndication...not sure, but it was the early 70s. I remember most of them being very unlike my own home, which is why we liked them. It also turned my older cousin, younger sister, and me into total fan girls of Marcia's celeb dates lol. THIS EPISODE IS VERY MEMORABLE!
Robert Reed's instincts were visionary. If Schwartz & Schwartz had given Reed more collaborative respect, Brady Bunch would have been at least a bit more successful and far more respected. It might not have gotten any easier, but it would have gotten better.
This guy sounded like he'd have been horrible to work with. Its a wonder they made it 5y. Loved his on screen portrayal. Proving once again people can make believe they are someone they're not.
"The Brady Bunch" helped so many children, me included. I loved Mike Brady like a father. I loved all of them but I was fierce when it came to Mr. Brady. I was saddened when I found out he was gay- and before everyone gets upset, this is why. I was saddened that he had to hide who he was. That he didn't get to live a life of honest transparency. But I can say this. His role may not have been Oscar ready, he may not have been in one of the big movies, but he endures, now, yesterday and years from now. Bye, thank you for everything Mr Brady. You were loved.
For me it was robert reed when i learned he played in a movie where he was not so nice as a character that stuck with me for years even thou he was a brady dad the movie he played in it just again stuck with me
@@tvsbesteps If you haven't seen it, both John Ritter and Johnathan Frakes appeared on The Waltons long before the roles that would later make them famous.
I know it was a silly show. But I think Robert should have embraced it. One of the greatest American television shows that has transcended decades. I still watch the reruns on Tubi. ❤❤❤
The final episode of The Brady Bunch should have had the Brady's moving permanently to Hawaii and their new housekeeper turns out to be.....Vincent Price!
May I offer, when I really wanted separation from the baffoons at work I started to "enforce the rules" & "make thing better". Sherwood/Schwartz should have saw this. We have ALL been there.
If I had to choose between The Brady Bunch & Gilligan's Island I choose Gilligan's Island. Yes,The Brady Bunch was okay enough until something better came on but then when my brother got married and made his own bunch I suddenly didn't care for The Brady Bunch at all.
Wow. This is a fantastic video. I had no idea Robert Reed had so many problems with the Brady Bunch. I am not really much of a fan of the show, but my sisters and some female friends of mine loved it, and I never thought there was any kind of problem with the show, or that it should have been changed. It's always odd to me, when actors feel they should have control of a show, as they are hired to act, and only act. I have heard that Good Times had similar problems, though I can understand the actors gripes with that show much more than I can understand Robert Reed's concerns. His comparison to Gillian's Island is really odd to me, as that show was really silly, but great fun and I really enjoyed watching it. Wow again! I had no idea there was a Brady variety show, and Maureen McCormick summation that he was lousy, is really odd, as I get the impression Robert Reed's performance was entertaining, which means it was good, even if he wasn't a "talented" singer or dancer. I am amazed that he played Mr. Brady on the Love Boat and I have to track down that episode!!!
Man, this was some fascinating stuff. I watched all the reruns and all the reboots and all the movies. How could I forgot that epic mustache he sported?! 😂
The biggest takeaway was that Reed said he wanted to see what would happen on "his show", like he was the star, rather than it was an ensemble piece which he was one part of the greater whole. Reed was obviously arrogant.
@@xoxxobob61 I don't have problems with actors pitying forward ideas of how to make the scene better. But if their idea is shot down amd you are told to stick to the script as written, then you concede and go along with it, rather than throw a tantrum.
@@dhenderson1810 He was a diva on set. John Travolta was big at the time and Reed was pissed that he was playing second fiddle to someone else...His hair also needed to be straight for the role and was pissed that he had to change his perm for the role...these are just 2 of the many problems he caused.
Ah, Gilligan's Island was never intended as more than a place holder - maybe 1 season. They needed something to fill a timeslor. However, it was popular enough on first season to continue for 3 years. The Munsters was also a trow-away.
I heard the last big fight was over Alice making strawberry jam,and Robert Reed raised a fit because someone was suppose complement the smell of cooking strawberry, Robert Reed claimed you cant smell strawberry when you cook them ? Which he was wrong...
I wish I could go visit the 70s. My mom and aunt said it was the most fun time. Before people lost their minds and were rude by default instead of having manners.
I remember when they first showed cousin Oliver on Nick at Nite in commercials. I assumed it was just a bit, like some of their other commercials. It seemed they were never shown. I similarly thought that the shot of Greg with the red hair you showed was not an edit to make a point.
Exactly - this wasn't a documentary. If Reed thought the Bradys should be more cerebral and ground breaking in story lines, he should have ponied up the money and investors and produced a pilot making a show in his own vision - or kept his pie hole shut and cashed the checks for this typical TV garbage comedy.
But "I Love Lucy" was a farce as well as slapstick, which, to Reed's point, "The Brady Bunch" was not, and he felt the scripts introduced elements of those into a show where it didn't belong.
To be fair, The Brady Bunch never was Shakespeare, but it was a good, clean, and funny show. I can see how Reed took exception to several episodes, like the one where Cindy dances like Shirley Temple, but "The Hair-Brained Scheme" was fairly realistic. I remember females accidentally dyeing their hair an unintended color and how poorly that reflected on Clairol. And hair salons indeed did have ways to dye their hair back to their natural color.
I did it too....boredom and curiosity don't always lead us to make the soundest of decisions. I've gone too dark, too light, too red, and it can't always be easily or cheaply corrected either !
Mister Brady was the only normal, sane character on the show. The rest of them were all nuts, especially that hot head Sam the Butcher, as portrayed by Allan Melvin.
Gilligans Island wasn't a failure. It's well known that it was cancelled because the network President's wife was a big Gunsmoke fan, and they ditched Gilligan to save Gunsmoke. It actually still had respectable ratings when it got the axe.
Yeh, and I was so aggravated about that fact! I still hate gunsmoke to this day because of that, and besides you see one western you've seen them all weather it a TV show or a movie .
Awful reason to cancel a successful series
Gilligan's Island was cherished by its fans despite receiving unfavorable reviews from the press at that time.
@@arribaficationwineho32 Batman was cancelled because the network accidentally destroyed the sets and it would have been prohibitively expensive to replace them.
I loved watching Gilligan's Island reruns as a child growing up in the 70s and The Brady Bunch. I get tired of hearing everyone talking about how terrible Gilligan's Island was. I liked it
Omg! From the first time I saw Cousin Oliver, I thought he looked just like John Denver too. 😂😂😂
Yeah I thought that's why they put him on the show bc John Denver was really big at that time.
He always reminded me of an even smaller Paul Williams.
@@orangemanok5800 Oh wow! Someone else remembers Paul Williams. 😊
He looked just like him.
He also reminds me of Scrappy Doo @@orangemanok5800
"Cousin Oliver" is on a par with "Jumping the shark"...
Not fair to pin the demise of TBB to Cousin Oliver - they had 9 regulars with which to write stories about. The show was dying anyway.
Yeah, it's a trend that happened in a lot of sitcoms through the years... they always need the young, "cute" kids on the show, but when the young kids grow up they have to find new young, "cute" kids to replace them. They did that on Family Ties, did it on Growing Pains, and they did it a lot on The Cosby Show. The trouble with Cousin Oliver is that he really just didn't fit in.
@@dx1450LMAO even Married With Children did it.
😂 hahahLOL yes I remember cousin Oliver, wasn't that something, the kid that thought he was a jinx😮
@@jeremy4375Roseanne too
Gene Hackman dodged a bullet there.
Yeah, can't imagine his career taking off, after that.
Actors who are part of shows like this, seldom get out of the pigeon hole.
Well, Hackman was still an up and coming actor, so, yes, he was more vulnerable. Reed had been around for a while, and this did not stop him from getting later dramatic roles such as in Roots.
I'll say.
The feel of the show would've been intirely different.
@@miggans21012 Especially if he kept asking the kids if they picked their feet in Poughkeepsie.
I have to say this: I agree with Robert Reed. The final episode of 'The Brady Bunch,' with Bobby dying Greg's hair orange was completely ridiculous. It was one of 2 episodes of the show that I was really embarrassed by (the other one was when Marcia had a crush on her dentist). You know what would have been a great way to have wrapped up the series? If in the final episode, they had Alice & Sam get married.
The thing is, no one knew that the last episode of Season 5 would be the series finale.
I agree with Mr. Reed. It was a VERY stupid episode. It was a very lame way for them to go out. If the producers were smart they would’ve updated the storylines to show the kids maturing. They didn’t need to add Robbie Rist as “Oliver”.
@@ghanasoul Definitely a stupid episode. Ditto for the one where Marcia had a crush on her dentist. That episode was way too embarrassing, rather than funny. I agree there was no need to add Oliver. I do wish the producers went ahead with that intended spin-off about the family with 3 adopted sons from different races. That would have been interesting.
@@splashenful Omg, me too!👏 That spinoff was going to be called "Kellie's Kids".
@@alaricabercrombie2692 Yes, I remember that was what it was going to be called.
Reed forgot the strength of “The Brady Bunch” and “Gilligan’s Island” was its silliness and farce. People watched them to have a fun escape from reality.
Can you imagine me at the age of 9 watching Cindy Brady reciting the part of Hermia from Midsummer Night's Dream in a Brady Bunch sitcom?
Plus, their cultural relevance - the crush on Bobby Sherman or Davy Jones, the excuse to get out of any date, "Something suddenly came up."
Unrealistic situations where everyone got what they wanted and no bumps in the road,I wonder if carol brady could’ve done her food shopping with $10 like my mother had to …..
@@GuyIncognito-mw8mr Yeah, the episode "Carole has an affair with OJ Simpson" never aired. At least I never saw it.
@@DexterHaven good thing, otherwise carole would have received a columbian necktie from oj
Barry Williams had a great remark about Reed. "Bob is the type of actor who if he got booed off the stage while reading Shakespeare, his response would be "hey, don't blame me, I didn't write this sh*t."
Those too young to remember, originally The Brady Bunch never had good ratings. When it was cancelled, ratings were pretty low. The show became a huge hit in reruns to young audiences / later generations.
It had great time slot Friday nights at 8:00 pm ,that is shocking that it never placed in the top 30 ratings ..
My mom was so upset when the Brady Bunch was canceled, she wrote a letter to TV guide lol
Many shows that became cult hits during reruns were not the top shows during their original run.
I only saw it in the original run.
I remember that. I was born in 1967 so I watched the fresh reruns and it was a huge show for kids in my generation.
I don't agree with Lloyd's assessment that Reed's relationship with the kids was just a power play, he maintained contact and friendship with them long after the show ended
I agree. I believe Reed understood they were kids and wanted them to have a positive experience. I don’t believe the kids ever had a bad thing to say about him.
I agree, there was an interview with the kids years ago, they spoke very highly of him as a father figure, i think it was Bobby, actually got emotional. His homosexuality was kind of a non-secret secret, but they didn’t care
@@sdcoinshooter but it was just a coincidence that none of them were gay- right?
@@tommurphy4307Huh? I have no idea what you’re saying but you probably don’t either
Consider the source there. "Producers" have always been some bitter vampiric figures. You can see how they believe anyone being nice must be doing it as some sort of scheme. Why do they believe it? Because that is what THEY do.
We will always be grateful for Mike, Robert Reed, Brady. Warts and all!
My husband and I grew up watching the Brady Bunch, in fact we were both previously married with two kids each and likened our new family dynamic as a mini Brady Bunch. We even took family photo's of each of us plus 3 of our parents, all dressed in 70's attire with blue background and framed it just like the opening when they family is in the tic tac toe squares looking at each other lol. The show was a leader of its time depicting a blended family with its trials abd tribulations as they navigated new lives with each other. It was wholesome and light-hearted and always shared a life lesson with its young viewers. It gave us a view of a stable, supportive, loving family albeit chaotic at times, nevertheless expected under the circumstances and of that of a large blended family. After school kids of the 70's could immerse in family life with this show especially if they grew up with something less. Much like watching Friends in the 90's gave ppl friends they could be a part of for a little while. Robert Reed was an excellent father figure and extremely handsome and masculine ironically, he played his role beautifully...the dad everyone wanted. It was a shame that a classical, refined actor such as himself didnt recognize the huge impact he would have on young generations then and after, even likely still to this day in reruns. Alice was terrific too, loveable, funny and wise. Every character played their roles perfectly. An awesome,wholesome family show, something that is sadly missing in these times ever since. ❤
More than that, he never recognized the value in what they were doing. I think that is the saddest part. He "no, no, no"ed himself right out of a job. He probably should have tried to be a writer or producer and seen where that would get him. At least then maybe he could have had more respect for what Sherwood Schwartz brought to the table. Its quite the delicate balancing act. They don't pay you to make perfection. They pay you to gather an audience so someone can sell wheaties and ivory snow. That's it. That's all there is.
I would love to see the episode when Marsha was grounded for sneaking out of the house to mail off a letter to enter a father of the year contest.
Yeah, I was shocked at Mrs. Brady as a kid. I couldn't believe there was a mother who didn't get drunk and scream at the kids. I thought that's what moms did.
From the 'net: "The Brady Bunch became both the archetype and parody of the tight-knit American nuclear family."
I grew up in a blended family too (4+2 all boys). In fact one time the local paper did an interview with us and used "Brady Bunch" in the headline. Robert Reed didn't understand the show couldn't be a serious drama or even have any gravity at all. It was fluff and not good fluff, but it worked enough to get eyeballs on the screen and butts in the seats. I can think of a lot of interesting conflicts of a blended family that would never even be on the radar of Sherwood Schwartz. What happens when (as the actors did have this problem) Greg and Marcia discover they are attracted to each other? Was there a divorce or death (or both) that led to them being single? Never brought up. What about conflicts between the step parents and the step kids being treated unequally? You could even have two of the stepsibs in the same class and they lock horns. Nah just wack Marcia in the nose with a football and we all get a good laugh.
Gilligan's Island wasn't a failure. Do some research.
Yeah, it only went from #22 to #49 in one season. That's considered a failure in the days of the big 3 networks.
@@themoviemaniac8416 That was in the 3rd season. That wasn't a failure in the least.
@@MRaadesign Maybe get yourself a new brain, buddy. In season 2 it was #22 and in season 3 it was #49. That is going from #22 to #49 in ONE season, dimwit, season 2 to season 3. That's a significant failure going from a top 3rd program to a bottom 3rd program. Gunsmoke was still at #34 that same 1966-67 season. which was right in the middle. Anyone with a brain would take a higher rated program over a lower rated one. You Gilligan fanboys are amazing, you believe the line of crap Sherwood Schwartz put out about Mrs Paley making a decision that was actually made by the CBS executive board. But I should know that goofs who like the goofball stories of Gilligan are always just goofs.
Greg graduates from high school--not college--in the final episode.
Yup. My bad.
I came here to say this.
Wasn't Greg in high school when the show started? He took a long time to graduate.
@@roachtoasties no. He was in 8th grade. Show ran for 5 seasons
@@tassymccormick LOL! 8th grade and looked like he was only 11 or 12?
I wish I had a father like him. My father could give zero flips about me, or what happens to me. Same with my mom. For those who have or had great parents. I hope you know how lucky you are.
"hold fast"! (1Thess.5 :21, the Bible)
I remember watching family shows and the parents asked the children, "how is school today?" and I thought it was a joke it was so unrealistic!
@@DavidPeacockChannel agreed. I thought a father and mother asking thoughtful questions was beyond realistic. Perfect example now.
Im close to losing our dream house for my wife who is in a wheelchair. They just received my grandnas estate. Millions.
My grandma said make sure the grandchildren are taken care of. Again, she had millions. Those two laughed at us. Who laughs at someone about to lose their house? They never even probated the estate.
@@alabamadeep4471 You can call a probate lawyer and demand the will be probated.
Was your dad like the one in the movie Stand By Me?
So he basically ended the series because he didn't like a script where Greg gets a bad hair dye job, but two years later he signs up for that ludicrous variety show that has him wearing a giant bunny suit? Yeah, that makes perfect sense.
The heart wants what the heart wants. lol
I was reading that Reed had creative control privileges for the variety show, which I personally feel is the true root cause behind Reed being very difficult with Schwartz. I think Reed wanted creative control during the original show. I would imagine that if Schwartz had let Reed write some episodes, Reed wouldn't had been as controversial behind the scenes. Then again, Reed would probably want 100% control, something that would be a problem. Anyway, I've seen all nine of the variety show episodes. I'm one of the FEW who liked them, but I can understand why most people hated the variety show since it did get EXTREMELY ridiculous most times, to the point of absurdity. At least the original Brady Bunch was grounded in realism for the most part, the variety show is just insanity incarnate at times. I enjoyed both shows (I even liked the Jan actress from the variety show much, much more than the original, but I like the original actress as well), but even I have to acknowledge how much more absurd that variety show was.
According to the video, Lloyd Schwartz took advantage of a phrase in one of Robert Reed's memos to ruthlessly sabotage Reed, and write him out of the season finally. I believe it. And if it's true, you can't blame Reed!
And according to the video, Reed was extremely disgruntled at being forced out of the show. And you know that's true. And when Reed showed up on set Schwartz apparently wanted to take Reed's humiliation to the next level, but restrained his sadistic impulses for the sake of the rest of the cast.
The series would have to end at some point as child actors and parents, aged. Just like every show that has child actors. It's awkward to continue shows when children age. "Leave it To Beaver" was another show that ran out of time as Tony Dow, Barbara Billingsley, and Beaver aged. They went from grade school to high school. It would have been difficult to write scripts of kids going to college, parents getting older. Stop on a high note ! ! !
RIP ROBERT REED 🙏🕯️ Certainly a fine actor and human being we still love you BOB 🌹⭐👋👋
Fine actors don't cause trouble on set and be difficult.
@@dhenderson1810 the Director was an idiot. Most of the stuff that came out was so damn stupid. I can understand why Reed was so upset. It didn’t make no damn sense and I think they all had a problem with him being gay even though he didn’t come out they knew about it because back then everybody seem to have a problem with that, when are you people going to stop gossiping about shit instead of putting out something that’s decent and relevant
I lost my uncle two years before to AIDS. He wasn't just my uncle, though. He was only 31, was my mentor, helped me get down to Orange County and choose UC Irvine. Makeover city, and I was his beard, because he was a financial analyst for older, wealthy people. The 1980s weren't just unsupportive of people with AIDS, there was a large population of people who wanted desperately to eradicate them.
@@dhenderson1810 And they don't go around town picnicking up young men for sex.
I grew up loving the BB! It’s strange to learn about this because RR did such a great job playing the father. I would have never thunk he was gay either!
Raymond Burr, who played Perry Mason, was also gay, too.
mannix knew they were gay.
Florence said she could tell early on that when they would kiss, he seemed really uncomfortable.
This what happens when you cast a classically trained Shakespearian actor in a light hearted TV sitcom. They’re never satisfied with anything.
William Shatner and Patrick Stewart were both classically trained Shakespeare actors. Look how there comic TV sitcom worked out.
I thought about that and have to reference what happened to John Amos and Esther Rolle in Good Times.
Their acting experience was mostly in serious and dramatic roles before appearing on that show. They disagreed with the path of the show while forgetting the show was written and tailored for Jimmy Walker, a comedian. Like the Brady Bunch, Good Times had an excellent cast all around but those two wanted it to be more than it was meant to be for them.
The show tackled all kinds of serious topics as well as a few fun ones, but the balance was not still acceptable to them.
Reed: To beith ah Brady nor not to beith ah Brady, doeth it maketh the inquiry, hard???
Fred Gwynn felt the same about the Munsters, that it was kind of beneath him. But who doesn't love Herman Munster lol
Shakespearean actors are the most demanding of all.
No one else could replace Mr Brady
I think we need a family meeting.
We do! Right next to the hi-fi on those uncomfortable plaid sofas 😂
We also need a new dog and another bathroom.
@@anastasiae.5338 and also - who was responsible for that broken lamp in the living room? 😛
@@wylierichardson-tu6zs she always said don’t play ball in the house. 😂
@@anastasiae.5338 And perhaps a toilet in the bathroom as well.
So interesting, I had no idea what a diva Robert Reed was. As a now 60 year old man, I grew up with the Brady Bunch, and I loved it. As a gay man looking back, I’m embarrassed how things went with Reed, the producer, and the show. And of course, for all of the actors of that show and others of the time, the lack of consideration of residual payments as far as reruns etc. It was a crime for the actors considering that the owners and producers of those shows made out like bandits whereas the talent got screwed. But that was what happened to many many people in films as well going back many decades.
Reed's intellectual analysis of Brady Bunch scripts in terms of their comedic elements and their inability to succeed in them are themselves a form of unintentional comedy.
I loved both Gilligan's Island and the Brady Bunch. Good memories as a kid in the 70's.
Lol Gene Hackman would have kicked the bleep out of those spoiled kids.
I could see him being like why are you snoring coke you are 13 kid.
I am now picturing The Brady Bunch and The Royale Tanenbaums as one blended family!!!
That whole hair accidentally turning red thing actually happened to me about 30 years ago. I was in college and decided to bleach my medium brown hair blonde, but... I guess I rinsed the bleach out too quickly? It was very, very red!
I'm a filmmaker. Since when are actors stable people? I've never seen it!
That is the main reason most of them get paid well to live in fantasy worlds of their own creation.
@@acebrandon3522 the operative word is that they’re being paid which means they have a boss and when there’s a boss, you have to do what the boss says or get fired isn’t that how that works?
@@Christian_Ada1 But not in Hollyweird.... Now both the Execs n Stars are in a constant struggle for fame, control n power.
@@Christian_Ada1100%
And if it wasn't for those unstable actors, you will be directing animals.
I was just a kid back then and enjoyed watching the show. As kids we didn't know any of this stuff, it was grown up stuff we didn't care about. In some ways it sucks to be an adult with this information. It kinda tarnishes your childhood memories of the show that was just meant to provide entertainment back in a simpler time of life
Brady Bunch and Six Million Dollar Man were the shows that I watched before migrating from Korea to the US in 1976 when I was 4 years old...lol
On the SMDM, Oscar, Steve and Dr. Wells were all single men. Wasn't that strange? Three tall, handsome, middle-aged men with lot's of money and prestigious careers and they were all single. Most men in that position would have been married with a couple of kids.
This popped up on my feed and is GREAT! I’m glad I learned more about Robert.
Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching.
This is the TV programming we need to get back to.
What the heck kind of vehicle did Robert Reed think he was acting in?
I always loved Bob as Mike Brady and can’t imagine anyone else in the role. I worked with him in the mid 1980s and always found him to be a sweet guy, good sport and total pro. I’m sure it couldn’t have been easy to see the BB’s original sweet, social message about blended families so quickly morph into slapstick. RIP RR
I can identify, I worked for a company that drove me nuts not following or enforcing important policies. I was constantly writing memos to see things improved. And was either ignored, or told they would look into it, then ignored. I finally quit after a number of years of banging my head against the brick wall. I only saw Gilligan and Brady Bunch in after school syndication. No idea who any of them were. No idea Robert had a career before or after. But good for him. To bad his life was cut so short. The kids all loved him, and I believe (from what I read after his passing) he genuinely loved them as he would biological kids. He took them on trips, bought them all 35mm cameras to record it all.
Reed acted like a jerk making all his technical fuss over the script of a mindless, yet popular and enjoyable little show. lighten up bro. RIP
He was right on some issues though, the director wasn’t a saint either
Robert Reed was not the first choice for Mike Brady and he definitely loathed the role. But it should be pointed out that Reed was often right in his criticisms.
He may have loathed it but he was such a great actor in that role. I never would have thought he didn’t like it if I hand not learned later on that he did.
Sure he was right, in a way that was 99% irrelevant. He was a fool because he never learned to see the value in what they did. If he had taken a step back he could have realized that even if it is a farce, there was still a lesson that was of value. He could have been proud of the show instead of miserable.
@@Nash1a I think he saw some value in it, Florence, Ann and the kids he enjoyed being around...it was just that he was really starting to agree with the kids about how absolutely unnecessary that the season 5 episodes that would have been better off in season 1 were...I mean Susan Olsen was 12 playing 11 year old Cindy in the Shirley Temple episode...that would have been better in season 1 when she was still 7 playing 5...and she routinely brings up how season 5 pretty much went out of it's way to keep babyifying her and Mike and adding Oliver in to reinforce that Cindy and Bobby could never grow ever. Bobby doing this conman routine was the last straw though...Mike Lookinland was 13 (and the character of Bobby was stated to be 12 that season)...why is a 12 year old conning his 18 year old brother on one of the most important days of his life?
Actors playing younger is one thing if the characters don't grow in a progression of family life, but when you have one where they do...why are you writing a 12 year old like a 7 year old? Shouldn't the last episode have been more geared around home movie making if Mike had to miss?
Like the final episode, Greg graduates from HS n his dad wasn’t there to see it, kind of messed up to leave him out of that episode
I must've been watching it in syndication...not sure, but it was the early 70s. I remember most of them being very unlike my own home, which is why we liked them. It also turned my older cousin, younger sister, and me into total fan girls of Marcia's celeb dates lol. THIS EPISODE IS VERY MEMORABLE!
Robert Reed's instincts were visionary. If Schwartz & Schwartz had given Reed more collaborative respect, Brady Bunch would have been at least a bit more successful and far more respected. It might not have gotten any easier, but it would have gotten better.
Robert Reed could play Hamlet, get booed off the stage and then say "Don't blame me, I didn't write this crap!"
This guy sounded like he'd have been horrible to work with. Its a wonder they made it 5y. Loved his on screen portrayal. Proving once again people can make believe they are someone they're not.
"The Brady Bunch" helped so many children, me included. I loved Mike Brady like a father. I loved all of them but I was fierce when it came to Mr. Brady. I was saddened when I found out he was gay- and before everyone gets upset, this is why. I was saddened that he had to hide who he was. That he didn't get to live a life of honest transparency. But I can say this. His role may not have been Oscar ready, he may not have been in one of the big movies, but he endures, now, yesterday and years from now. Bye, thank you for everything Mr Brady. You were loved.
Sam was always delivering meat to Alice.
Might have given his meat to Reed a time or too as well
I can't tell you how many times Brady Bunch was postponed because of Watergate... very frustrating...
Is the footage of Reed walking onto the set from a behind-the-scenes movie on the Brady Bunch?
It's from Unauthorized Brady Bunch: The Final Days. It's on RUclips
@@LTurbide Thanks!
Many times when people say they CAN'T do something, they really mean they WON'T do it.:-)
I loved this show as a child.
Alice always scared the shit out of me as a kid, and this was perfectly depicted in the satirical Brady Bunch movie in 1995.
For me it was robert reed when i learned he played in a movie where he was not so nice as a character that stuck with me for years even thou he was a brady dad the movie he played in it just again stuck with me
Robert Reed was also still doing Mannix simultaneously, and some of those episodes used the Brady house as a setting
Very true! The Mannix episode "Hardball" (S08E24, Apr. 23, 1975) was filmed on the Brady set and features a (very) young John Ritter.
@@tvsbesteps If you haven't seen it, both John Ritter and Johnathan Frakes appeared on The Waltons long before the roles that would later make them famous.
He seemed to get really cranky as the show went on
I know it was a silly show. But I think Robert should have embraced it. One of the greatest American television shows that has transcended decades. I still watch the reruns on Tubi. ❤❤❤
What about Married With Children? That show is way more sillier than The Brady Bunch and look how successful it was.
He also guested on a two part, 5th season Mod Squad episode as a gangster! I knocked out the whole series last year lol
Very interesting. Thanks for posting this. Have a nice day now.
Thanks, you too!
Hair Brain Scheme was one of my favorites!
My favorite was the one when Peter and Bobby thought they were seeing a UFO.
The final episode of The Brady Bunch should have had the Brady's moving permanently to Hawaii and their new housekeeper turns out to be.....Vincent Price!
He also refused to be in the episode where Carol and Alice smoke pot.
As if😂
Cousin Oliver gave them the weed. That kid always scored the best grass.
Darn I missed that episode.
@@CaptainGanja 😂
@@patoconnor9600 🤣🤣🤣🤣
May I offer, when I really wanted separation from the baffoons at work I started to "enforce the rules" & "make thing better". Sherwood/Schwartz should have saw this. We have ALL been there.
Talk about the hand that feeds you!
I agree.
If I had to choose between The Brady Bunch & Gilligan's Island I choose Gilligan's Island.
Yes,The Brady Bunch was okay enough until something better came on but then when my brother got married and made his own bunch I suddenly didn't care for The Brady Bunch at all.
Robert Reed was living a very stressful and dishonest life in public. But that still is no excuse for being such a dick.
8:05 Now I would take a sitcom based on Nog in a hearbeat.
Giligan’s island was a failure? I think many people would welcome that kind of failure.
Wow. This is a fantastic video. I had no idea Robert Reed had so many problems with the Brady Bunch. I am not really much of a fan of the show, but my sisters and some female friends of mine loved it, and I never thought there was any kind of problem with the show, or that it should have been changed. It's always odd to me, when actors feel they should have control of a show, as they are hired to act, and only act. I have heard that Good Times had similar problems, though I can understand the actors gripes with that show much more than I can understand Robert Reed's concerns. His comparison to Gillian's Island is really odd to me, as that show was really silly, but great fun and I really enjoyed watching it.
Wow again! I had no idea there was a Brady variety show, and Maureen McCormick summation that he was lousy, is really odd, as I get the impression Robert Reed's performance was entertaining, which means it was good, even if he wasn't a "talented" singer or dancer. I am amazed that he played Mr. Brady on the Love Boat and I have to track down that episode!!!
I don't think she said that to be insulting, just to say that he was only doing it for the fun of it.
Evidently there's nothing on earth as inflated as a performer's ego.
Man, this was some fascinating stuff. I watched all the reruns and all the reboots and all the movies. How could I forgot that epic mustache he sported?! 😂
Can’t imagine Gene Hackman even taking this role. Gene is one of the greatest actors of all time.
Cousin Oliver aka The Jinx!
Remember when Oliver threw the basketball and then Mike ruined that house model. Most people would have gone crazy in that situation.
I have to say, all of this makes me think more highly of Robert Reed (Mr. Brady) than I did before.
The biggest takeaway was that Reed said he wanted to see what would happen on "his show", like he was the star, rather than it was an ensemble piece which he was one part of the greater whole.
Reed was obviously arrogant.
Prima Donna is more like it. Since when do Actors get to micro manage scripts?
he was a problem for everyone. Look at the drama he had on the John Travolta movie "The boy in the plastic bubble"
@@xoxxobob61 I don't have problems with actors pitying forward ideas of how to make the scene better.
But if their idea is shot down amd you are told to stick to the script as written, then you concede and go along with it, rather than throw a tantrum.
@@jonnyfendi2003 What happened there?
@@dhenderson1810 He was a diva on set. John Travolta was big at the time and Reed was pissed that he was playing second fiddle to someone else...His hair also needed to be straight for the role and was pissed that he had to change his perm for the role...these are just 2 of the many problems he caused.
I could see Gene Hackman as Mike Brady.
Ah, Gilligan's Island was never intended as more than a place holder - maybe 1 season. They needed something to fill a timeslor. However, it was popular enough on first season to continue for 3 years. The Munsters was also a trow-away.
Oaky, Zack from SBTB and Nog from DS9 are the only two characters I recognize.
it's just a silly show. all sitcoms have episodes that are far-fetched. Reed needed to grow up.
When you watch tv shows and movies, you are entering into a fantasy world. If you want realistic programming, watch the daily news.
I remember watching the show and wondering why their "father was out of town on a trip." Glad Reed was back in the reunion shows.
Well, at least Gary Cole is a patient and wise actor in The Brady Bunch Movie.
Gary Cole is playing an exaggerated Robert Reed version of Mike Brady.
@@henrywallacesghost5883 Exaggerated means regarded or represented as larger, better, or worse than in reality.
He’s been having problems with his tps reports though
@@blacjackdaniels200 Looks like you got that from Office Space.
@@sharptoothtrex4486 You are sharp
Playing a transgender character in that Medical Center two parter was a gutsy move back in those days especially since it wasn't a comedic drag role.
OMG, can you imagine Gene Hackman as Mike Brady?!
Absolutely not!
I heard the last big fight was over Alice making strawberry jam,and Robert Reed raised a fit because someone was suppose complement the smell of cooking strawberry, Robert Reed claimed you cant smell strawberry when you cook them ? Which he was wrong...
I remember that. You certainly can smell cooking strawberries, what was he even thinking.
@@mattfarahsmillionmilelexus Right !
he was very talented and complicated, I love The Defenders so much, the cast was amazing
Thank God Gene Hackman did not get the role on Brady Bunch
Wouldn't have made it past the first season.
That _get-rich-quick_ storyline seems more of a plot for _The Honeymooners_ then _The Brady Bunch..._
I wish I could go visit the 70s. My mom and aunt said it was the most fun time. Before people lost their minds and were rude by default instead of having manners.
I remember when they first showed cousin Oliver on Nick at Nite in commercials. I assumed it was just a bit, like some of their other commercials. It seemed they were never shown.
I similarly thought that the shot of Greg with the red hair you showed was not an edit to make a point.
I Love Lucy storylines were frequently implausible and it's one of the GREATEST SITCOMS of all time
Exactly - this wasn't a documentary. If Reed thought the Bradys should be more cerebral and ground breaking in story lines, he should have ponied up the money and investors and produced a pilot making a show in his own vision - or kept his pie hole shut and cashed the checks for this typical TV garbage comedy.
But "I Love Lucy" was a farce as well as slapstick, which, to Reed's point, "The Brady Bunch" was not, and he felt the scripts introduced elements of those into a show where it didn't belong.
It's sad that Robert Reed was only 59 years old when he passed away. RIP
Somehow as a kid in the 80's I never gravitated to the show in syndication but I did like the feature films in the 90's.
Wasn’t it Greg’s high school graduation? Not college?
Actually Greg graduates from High School in this episode
Every time I used hair coloring of any type it would turn my medium brown hair to red.
Never forget who is signing your paycheck.
In other words, don't bite the hand that is feeding you.
Robert Reed was clearly in the wrong. I'm glad they canned him
Greg’s hair turned Orange not Red.
I mean they are usually called redheads… not orangeheads. Just saying’.
@@tvsbestepsi can't lol😂😂😂😂
He wasn't thrown off the show. The series was on life support when they brought Oliver in to salvage it for another season.
Mmm. “Leave the set or we will call the security guards!”
I always liked the Partridge Family the best!!!
good for you... no one was asking nor does anyone care in the least
@@slowery43 Be nice you aggravating ass!!!!!! Sounds like you need to find a hobby!!!!!!
that memo at 2:43 means only one thing to me. RR needed to get laid...a lot. That would put an end to his nit-picking.
robert reed musta took things to seriously. robert reed & maureeen Mccormick played on vega$ as father daughter.
It's still amazes me that grown adults don't know the meaning of the word
"t o o"!
…must have…things too seriously. Punctuation missing as well.
That doesnt seem 'odd' to me - more like a 'nod and a wink' to the audience.
Robert reed was very good in TV dramas after Brady Bunch. I remember him as the villain in Barnaby Jones and in Murder, she wrote.
Back in the late 80s RR chased me around WeHo one night. I was terrified. lol
Are you male or female? Just asking...
To be fair, The Brady Bunch never was Shakespeare, but it was a good, clean, and funny show. I can see how Reed took exception to several episodes, like the one where Cindy dances like Shirley Temple, but "The Hair-Brained Scheme" was fairly realistic. I remember females accidentally dyeing their hair an unintended color and how poorly that reflected on Clairol. And hair salons indeed did have ways to dye their hair back to their natural color.
I did it too....boredom and curiosity don't always lead us to make the soundest of decisions. I've gone too dark, too light, too red, and it can't always be easily or cheaply corrected either !
He was a hypocrite. Too afraid to come out of the closet.
such a brave statement
All of his hissy fits, should have tipped people off.
Hypocrite? How? This was the late 60s / early 70s and being out of the closet on a famous TV show back then would have killed his career.
Even Liberace and Paul Lynde didn't come out of the closet back then, silly.
@@aliceborealis Oh yeah. Like people had no idea. They hid it sooo well.
Perfect example when it comes to you’re work shut up and do as youre told or you get axed
Good stuff. Best of luck with your channel. 👍👍🙏🙏
Thank you!
Mister Brady was the only normal, sane character on the show. The rest of them were all nuts, especially that hot head Sam the Butcher, as portrayed by Allan Melvin.
Mr. Brady was not funny. He was a serious character on the show.