"THE BRADY BUNCH HOUR" EPISODE GUIDE Copyright (C) 1997, 1998 by Tony L. Hill All Rights Reserved (may be distributed freely for non-commercial purposes) Version 2.00, 28 Jun 1998 For further information about the Bradys, please refer to "The Canonical Brady Bunch Episode Guide," (CBBEG) available at http://www.nyx.net/~thill/brady.html **********REVISION HISTORY********** Version 1.00, 1 Dec 1997 Version 2.00, 28 Jun 1998 reflects the addition of the 28 Mar 1977 episode and consequently, the succeeding episodes are renumbered. The version also details cuts made for TV Land airings in number 4 and corrects a few typos in Version 1.00. ************************************ "The Brady Bunch Hour" began as a 60 minute special titled "The Brady Bunch Variety Hour" produced by Sid and Marty Krofft which aired on ABC on November 28, 1976. The success of this special led to a semi-regular series of which eight additional 60 minute episodes were produced and aired from January to May 1977. None of the eight installments, known herein as "The Brady Bunch Hour" were ever repeated on network television. Until June 1998, only the original special was ever repeated on cable. The premise of "The Brady Bunch Hour" is hard to understand. The Brady family was chosen to star in a variety show on ABC. They left their familiar two story home somewhere in southern California for a place on the beach. (The first installment had a completely different set from both the rest of the installments and the original series.) The series includes not only "the variety show on ABC," but also the behind-the-scenes doings of the Bradys as they go about making their variety series. There were also some sketches, described below, which were more or less a continuation of the original "Brady Bunch" episodes and which had nothing to do with the "ABC variety series." Unfortunately, the seams between the two modes are not clear, and this results in continuity errors such as Rip Taylor playing a character named Jack Merrill on the variety show, but the Bradys also know him as Mr. Merrill when they're not on TV, and the Bradys announce him as "our own Rip Taylor" in the opening and closing. It is not always clear what the Bradys are doing or what audience they are playing to. The writing of this series was not in sync with the character development of the original series. The most glaring example of this is that Bobby seems to have been transformed into an ultra-capitalist, super-precocious, insensitive jerk. Fans of the original show will instantly recognize this error. The other Brady children, noteworthy in television history for being three-dimensional, have largely become one-dimensional parodies of themselves as well. Marcia's lines relate solely to being an overbearing, bossy twit. Greg's thoughts usually revolve around music, Peter's around girls. Cindy says little except to fight with Bobby. Ironically, the character who is most one-dimensional in the original series, Jan, takes on a completely new life here, perhaps inspired by the new actor who plays her in this series. Specifically, Jan is featured as a singer here more than any of the other Brady children except Greg. Her interest in music here is a notable change. In the original series, as well as most of the sequel shows produced by the Schwartzes, and especially the theatrical features, Jan is stereotyped as the "emotional middle daughter," whose main activity is being jealous of Marcia. The adult characters are also off-balance. Mike, who is usually very sober, even somber, but always professional, in the original Bunch, has become a complete wimp and loser here. Carol has become the true head of the family here, as opposed to her "we'll have to wait to see what Mike thinks" demeanor in the original Bunch. (Strangely, both Robert Reed and Florence Henderson said that this series was their favorite Brady experience. The actors who played the Brady kids generally hated "The Brady Bunch Hour.") The main feature of the set of the variety show is a swimming pool, populated by the Krofftette Dancers and Water Follies (the same women fulfilled both roles), who did synchronized swimming routines while the Bradys sang and danced on stage. "The Brady Bunch Hour" was not produced by the producers of "The Brady Bunch" and was only authorized by them at the last minute. (Ostensibly, Brady creator and principal copyright holder Sherwood Schwartz did not want to deprive the Brady kids of their new jobs and so went along with the Kroffts.) As a result, nothing that happened in these episodes is considered canonical. That is, none of the events that transpired here affect the continuity of the original cast of "The Brady Bunch" in their further revivals, namely "The Brady Girls Get Married," "The Brady Brides," "A Very Brady Christmas," and "The Bradys." (Or for that matter, any dramatizations of the original cast that are to come.) At no point in any of those productions did anyone say, "Remember the time we starred in that variety TV show and moved to the beach?" The books written about "The Brady Bunch" provide only minuscule information about this series. The most complete guide, contained in "The Brady Bunch Book" by Edelstein & Lovece, omits three of the nine installments entirely. This guide written for the Internet is the most complete reference ever produced about this series. The cast of "The Brady Bunch" returned intact for "The Brady Bunch Hour" with the exception of Eve Plumb, who was replaced as Jan by Geri Reischl. The only new character in the series was that of Mr. Jack Merrill, a jack-of-all-trades played by Rip Taylor. Ann B. Davis reprised her role as Alice in each installment as a "special guest star." One final note before we begin: A recent volume named "The Brady Bunch Hour" the worst series in the history of television. NOTE: The numbering in this guide starts with the special and the first episode of the series is numbered two. 1. Originally aired November 28, 1976. [No information is provided at this time due to the fact that this episode has been shown on cable many times and is familiar to fans of the show. See the CBBEG for more information.] 2. Originally aired January 23, 1977. [No information is provided here. See the CBBEG for a brief description.] 3. Originally aired February 27, 1977. Guests: Milton Berle, Rip Taylor, Tina Turner. Also appearing: Van Snowden, Larry Larson, Pat Reimer. Synopsis: Opening number, "Hooray for Hollywood" (Mercer/Whiting) Greeting sketch in which Bobby complains that the show's comedy stinks. (Commercial break) Musical number, "Make 'Em Laugh" Alice & Merrill tell some very bad jokes. (Commercial break) Peter sings "Sing" (Raposo) with Colette the puppet. Dissolve to: Bobby laments Peter's singing and the family's lack of comedy while introducing the following sketch: Alice and Merrill play with the CB radio. Bobby complains that the show isn't funny. Alice has reservations about the show's humor. Mike and Carol and Alice step out to the beach. Bobby hears Milton Berle hamming it up on the CB radio. Merrill talks to him using the handle "Blond Bombshell." Bobby asks Berle to be on the show. Berle is excited and says he'll be right over. (Commercial break) Berle does the bumper. (Commercial break) Merrill introduces the next sketch: The kids wait for Berle to arrive. Berle shows up. The kids explain they have a show on ABC. Mike and Carol come in and are surprised to find Uncle Miltie in their living room. Berle agrees to write for the show. The family agrees to take Berle on. Berle gets to work on the script. He coaches the family on their vocal performances. Dissolve to: Berle introduces the opening to the "all-new Milton Berle Brady Bunch Hour." The family reprises "Hooray for Hollywood." They next perform a lame comedy sketch. The family protests. Anyone who says "makeup" gets hit in the face with a powder puff. Berle decides the act isn't working. (Commercial break) Greg decides not to push Peter into the pool. Peter sees Greg coming and jumps in anyway. Greg introduces Tina Turner. Tina Turner performs "Rubber Band Man." Dissolve to: Mike tells the audience how bad the show was under Berle. He introduces this sketch: Mike tells Bobby to fire Berle. Berle shows up. Everyone but Bobby and Berle leaves. Bobby tells Berle his humor doesn't fit the Bradys. Berle says they're giving him the pink slip. Bobby deadpans that they're giving him all the costumes back. Berle praises Bobby and the Bradys. Berle leaves. He laments his dismissal over the CB radio. Dissolve to: Carol sings "Evergreen" (Williams/Streisand) (Commercial break) Peter introduces the finale: Catch a Falling Star (Vance/Pockriss) (Carol & Mike) You Don't Have to Be a Star (Jan & Greg) You Are My Lucky Star (Freed/Brown) (Carol) Everybody Is a Star (all) Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes (Willet) (Mike & Carol & Jan) Good Morning Starshine (Rado/Ragni/MacDermott) (all) Shining Star (White/Bailey/Dunn) (Greg et al) (Commercial break) a promo for "The Brady Bunch Hour" #4 ran during this break The Bradys say goodnight. Carol thanks the audience for demanding the special episode coming up the following Friday. The Bradys sing "United We Stand" (Hiller/Simmons) 4. Originally aired March 5, 1977. Guests: Vincent Price, Rip Taylor, H.R. Pufnstuf Also appearing: Van Snowden, Sharon Baird Synopsis: Opening number, "Sunny Side Up" (DeSylva/Brown/Henderson) Greeting sketch in which Greg tries to take the lead but is rebuffed; Greg announces he shaves more than anyone in the whole family. NOTE: WE ALL KNEW THAT ALREADY! (Commercial break) Musical number, "It's Not Where You Start" (Fields/Coleman) Dissolve to: Carol and some of the kids introduce a sketch which contains a crisis which confronted the family: Marcia, Bobby, Cindy & Peter annoy Greg while the latter tries to compose a song. Carol & Alice return home with take-out food, "corn and cluck for twenty-two bucks." Greg announces he's moving out. Carol is less than happy. Merrill, acting as Greg's broker, shows up to tell Greg about an apartment. Mike is furious with Merrill. Greg agrees to rent the apartment sight unseen. (Commercial break) Marcia introduces the next sketch: Merrill shows Greg the broken-down apartment. It has a sofa with a leg missing. "For your posture," says Merrill. Someone knocks. "He who holds the key to this chamber, prepare to receive me within," comes the voice from the hall. The guest is surprised to find that Merrill and Greg are still warm. He claims to be investigating a ghost. They realize he's Vincent Price. Price insists Greg is a ghost named Binky Beaumont. Merrill leaves in a hurry. Price relates the story of Zelda Myzkowski, who was pecked silly by an oversized cuckoo in her clock. He warns Greg not to kill any flies. Dissolve to: Carol anxiously awaits a call from Greg. He calls with his new number: 321-1321. Peter lobbies to get Greg's room. Cindy says he's being gross. Mike agrees, "Yes, Peter. Very gross." (NOTE: THIS SKETCH WAS CUT FROM THE VERSION OF THIS EPISODE WHICH APPEARED ON TV LAND IN JUNE 1998.) Dissolve to: Carol sings "Traces" (Buie/Cobb/Gordy) to a photograph of the Bradys. In another part of the screen, Greg sings "All by Myself" (Carmen). (Commercial break) Alice narrates the bumper: "Stay tuned for the second half of 'The Brady Bunch Hour.' If you're watching backwards, stay tuned for the first half." (Commercial break) Mike introduces the next sketch: Carol laments that all the children will soon be gone. She calls to check on Greg. Mike suggests calling the discos. Greg shows up. Carol is nervous. Greg regrets moving out in such a hurry. He suggests he might move back home. Peter is unhappy about not getting Greg's room. (NOTE: THE DIALOGUE ABOUT PETER NOT GETTING GREG'S ROOM WAS EDITED OUT IN THE VERSION SHOWN ON TV LAND IN JUNE 1998, PERHAPS BECAUSE ITS BOOKEND EARLIER IN THE SHOW WAS ALSO EDITED OUT.) Dissolve to: Greg pushes Peter into the pool. Peter introduces H. R. Pufnstuf. Pufnstuf sings "Celebration." (Commercial break) Alice introduces Marcia as a singer having graduated from the shower: Marcia sings "Time in a Bottle." (Croce) (NOTE: THIS WAS CUT FROM THE VERSION SHOWN ON TV LAND IN JUNE 1998.) Dissolve to: Merrill introduces the next sketch: The Bradys are having a party to welcome Greg back. Merrill shows up. Carol returns with a lock for Greg's room. Bobby skateboards through. Merrill drops Greg's key into the cake. Greg returns and is surprised by the party. Bobby crashes into Alice and is covered with cake. He finds the key. (Commercial break) The Bradys discuss their musical finale about happiness. Greg suggests music as the cause of happiness, while Bobby opts for money, Peter for girls, and Marcia for love. I Want to Be Happy (Caesar/Youmans) (Mike & Carol) You've Made Me So Very Happy (Gordy/Holloway/Holloway/Wilson) (Greg) Make Someone Happy (Comden/Green/Styne) (Carol) Happy Together (Bonner/Gordon) (Jan et al) Put on a Happy Face (Adams/Strouse) (Mike & Carol, Alice & Merrill) Happy Days (Gimbel/Fox) (all) (Commercial break) The Bradys discuss their separation and reconciliation and say goodnight. The Bradys sing "United We Stand" (Hiller/Simmons) 5. Originally aired March 21, 1977. Guests: Charo, the Hudson Brothers, Rip Taylor. Synopsis: Opening number, "Toot Toot Tootsie" (Kahn/Erdman/Russo/Fiorito) The Bradys discuss whether they're any better than average and whether Mike can even sing. (Commercial break) Merrill introduces a mystery guest. It's Charo. Merrill tells her he had Spanish ancestors also. Charo is soon infuriated. Dissolve to: Charo plays "Malaguena" (Banks/Lecuona) on the guitar. Cut to: Marcia protests the family's treatment of Mike in the opening. She introduces this sketch: Carol rehearses singing while the kids rehearse a dance number. Mike comes home. They discuss their various talents. Merrill shows up singing. Carol tells him to butt out. Mike says he hired Merrill to help him with his singing. No one in the family will help Mike. (Commercial break) Charo complains about being misunderstood by English speakers. Mike shows her his guitar work. She thinks it's a joke. She offers to help. They try "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face." Dissolve to: Carol sings "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word." (Taupin/John) (Commercial break) Marcia does the bumper. (Commercial break) Bobby and Cindy introduce the following sketch: Carol and Alice are resentful of Charo's involvement. The kids are surprised to learn Mike's fraternizing with Charo. Charo and Mike show up. Dinner is particularly uncomfortable. Carol tells Charo she's not a jealous wife, but threatens mayhem anyhow. Mike says they'd better cancel their duet. They discuss the situation. Dissolve to: Mike sings "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" (Lerner/Loewe) without Charo. (Commercial break) Musical number, "Strike Up the Band" (Gershwin/Gershwin), "Seventy-Six Trombones" (Willson) Dissolve to: Carol narrates "Cindy Ella," a sketch starring Charo with Merrill as one of her ugly stepsisters. Other Bradys also play in this parody of "Cinderella." NOTE: But what happened to, "the only steps in this house are the ones that go up to your bedroom"? Dissolve to: Fearing Greg's moves, Peter jumps in the pool. Greg introduces the Hudson Brothers. The Hudson Brothers perform "Disco Queen." (Commercial break) The Bradys discuss their finale about places: Chicago (Fisher) (Mike & Carol) California Dreamin' (Phillips/Gillian/Phillips) (Jan et al) Indiana (Hanley/MacDonald) (Carol) NOTE: Florence Henderson is a native of Indiana Do You Know the Way to San Jose (David/Bacharach) (kids) San Francisco (Kahn/Jurmann/Kaper) (Mike & Carol) Philadelphia Freedom (Taupin/John) (Greg et al) America (Sondheim/Bernstein) (Charo) Big D (Carol) America (Sondheim/Bernstein) (all) (Commercial break) The Bradys say goodnight. The Bradys sing "United We Stand" (Hiller/Simmons) 6. Originally aired March 28, 1977. Guests: Rich Little, Edgar Bergen, Melanie. Also appearing: Van Snowden, another name which was unintelligible. NOTE: The author was unaware of this episode until it was rerun on TV Land on June 28, 1998. The author vaguely recalls seeing promos for it on ABC the weekend before, but had the misfortune to be living in the Fargo-Grand Forks TV market in those days, where the local ABC affiliate chose to pre-empt this episode in favor of the Pat Boone-hosted special "New Sacrilegious Movies." The author eventually forgot seeing the promos and the fact that none of the books about the series mentioned this episode served only to validate this lapse in memory. So... this synopsis here is really a synopsis of the TV Land airing since the author has no tape of the original airing for comparison. However, the listing in "TV Guide" for the original states that the Bunch sang "Ease on Down the Road," which may said to be conspicuous by its absence in the TV Land version. Synopsis: The Bradys sing "I've Got the Music in Me." Greg suggests the family make a movie. (commercial break) The Bradys, dressed as scarecrows (but without Marcia) sing "Consider Yourself" (Bart), assisted by a bird of the Krofft family. Jan, Bobby, and Cindy move in front as the curtain closes to do a sketch introducing Edgar Bergen. Bergen uses Bobby as a dummy. Bergen does a sketch with Mortimer Snerd. (commercial break) Merrill introduces this sketch: The Bunch rehearses Rich Little's introduction. The kids are in the pool. Merrill introduces Rich Little. He dives into the pool and collides with Cindy. He has amnesia. dissolve to: Back home, Cindy is guilty about Little's amnesia. Little's wife calls from Canada where she's visiting Rich's parents. Alice and Little return. Little runs through various impersonations. (commercial break) Bergen and Charlie McCarthy introduce this sketch: Mike works on architecture. Alice reports that Little is keeping Greg awake. Cindy is still agonizing about her accident. Little comes in. He thinks Mike and Carol are his parents. dissolve to: Little and the other Brady children play a game. Merrill shows up pretending to be a shrink. He examines Little. Little gets the idea to swim in the ocean. Mike drags him back in. Little's memory has returned. Having been bumped by Little's dive, Merrill thinks he's a Brady child. dissolve to: Greg and Peter throw Mike in the pool. They introduce Melanie. Melanie sings "Cyclone." (commercial break) Carol sings "Beautiful Noise." (Diamond) dissolve to: The Bunch introduces the finale of movie songs: That's Entertainment (Dietz/Schwartz) (Mike & Carol) Pinball Wizard (Taupin/John) (Greg and kids) For All We Know (Wilson/Karlin/James) (Carol) Live and Let Die (McCartney/McCartney) (kids) Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (Sherman/Sherman) (Merrill, Alice & Rich Little) Over the Rainbow (Harburg/Arlen) (Melanie) That's Entertainment (Bradys) NOTE: Melanie chose to use a different melody for "Over the Rainbow" than the one which won Harold Arlen an Oscar and which most people are familiar with. The Bradys say goodnight and sing "United We Stand." (Hiller/Simmons) 7. Originally aired April 4, 1977. Guests: Robert Hegyes, Ohio Players, Rip Taylor, Redd Foxx. [No synopsis available at this time. Information to follow.] 8. Originally aired April 25, 1977. [No information available at this time. Information to follow.] 9. Originally aired May 25, 1977. Guests: Paul Williams, Lynn Anderson, Rip Taylor. Also appearing: Steve Truesby. Synopsis: Opening number, "I Got Love" (Geld/Udell) The Bradys discuss the impact of love. (Commercial break) Musical number, "We Got Us" Dissolve to: Merrill engages in banter with some of the kids, covering some seriously corny jokes. Dissolve to: Merrill and Peter perform "Me and My Shadow" (Jolson/Rose/Dreyer). (Commercial break) Jan gives a glowing, raving, personally ambitious introduction of Lynn Anderson. Greg warns her she's probably making Lynn nervous. Jan says "here's a singer who's not too bad." Lynn Anderson, who, like my mother, is a native of flood-ravaged Grand Forks, N.D., sings "Right Time of the Night." (McCann) Dissolve to: Merrill begs Lynn for a date. She acquiesces. Alice is upset because she dusted the top of the mantle because she thought Esther Williams, not Paul, was coming over. Greg wants to pitch songs to Paul to Marcia's consternation. Paul shows up. He's struck by Carol and says she's even prettier in person than on TV. He declares his love for her. The kids are agitated. (Commercial break) Peter does the bumper. (Commercial break) Mike introduces the following sketch: Mike confronts Paul about his profession of love for Carol. Cindy asks Paul why he loves Carol. Paul says Carol's a foxy lady. Mike, becoming restless, says he knew himself that when he married Carol. Paul suggests he (Paul) and Carol could get married in the swimming pool on the show. He offers Carol a piece of jewelry which belonged to his grandmother, another foxy lady. Carol takes it. Paul leaves. Mike says Paul is a lunatic. Lynn Anderson shows up. Jan is agog and hounds her for autographs. Lynn tells Mike and Carol that she just met Paul Williams outside and that he told her he loves her. Lynn shows them a piece of his grandmother's jewelry that Paul gave her. Dissolve to: Peter introduces Paul Williams while joking with Greg about Paul's diminutive stature. Paul pushes the two of them into the pool. Paul Williams sings "Goodbye." (Commercial break) Carol sings "Born to Say Goodbye." (Gordon) NOTE: Florence Henderson's contemporaneous recording of this song is available on "The Brady Bunch" CD on MCA. Dissolve to: Sketch: "The Columbus Bunch" - history's answer to "The Brady Bunch." The Bunch lives in 15th century Genoa. Mike sets out to prove the world is round. (Commercial break) Finale: Music Music Music (Weiss/Baum) (Mike & Carol) What Have They Done to My Song, Ma (Safka) (Marcia) The Sweetest Sounds (Rodgers) (Carol) Music Is My Life (Gordon) (Greg) Hey Mr. Melody (Jan) The Music Goes Round and Round (Hodgson/Riley/Farley) (Merrill & Carol) An Old Fashioned Love Song (Williams) (Paul Williams) Piano Man (Joel) (girls) I Believe in Music (Davis) (all) (Commercial break) The Bradys say goodnight. (And, as it would turn out, goodbye.) The Bradys sing "United We Stand" (Hiller/Simmons) ----- Your comments and corrections are welcome and may be acknowledged in a revision of this document. Please e-mail the author: thill@nyx.net