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Florence Henderson on returning for ''A Very Brady Christmas''
Carol Brady had a lot of feelings pulling into that driveway again.
Have you ever visited your old high school? Or maybe, just out of curiosity, you went and hung out at an old job for a day. If you've done either, you can attest to that weird feeling. It's almost like an alternate dimension. Things are the same, yes, but they're different, too. There's a certain uncanniness to revisiting old stomping grounds. Because even if the environment hasn't changed, dear reader, rest assured that we have.
These are just some of the emotions that Florence Henderson contended with in returning to her role as Carol Brady for A Very Brady Christmas. She and her Bunch (minus Cindy) were back for the holidays, but was it a cheerful reunion? Or was it like getting together with that one side of the family you wish you could avoid each year?
In an article published in the San Bernadino County Sun the same day that the Brady's Christmas special debuted, Henderson spoke candidly about how she felt donning her old Brady apparel once more.
"It felt strange to go back to the roles," said Henderson. "Robert [Reed, Mike Brady] and I were very nervous trying to get back into those characters. The kids are all grown That's going to be quite a shock to all those kids who watch the reruns.
"The house has been redecorated. I'm into real estate now. Mike's still an architect. One son's a doctor, one's a race car driver, one works in an office. One girl's married, one's married with a career and the youngest is in college. Plus, there are three grandchildren. Can you believe that?"
Time waits for no one, not even Carol Brady. But certainly, it must've been jarring seeing the Bradys we watched every day in reruns suddenly jump forward a decade in age. Why, they were ten years younger just yesterday!
Freaky time-jump or not, A Very Brady Christmas has proven to be a holiday gift that keeps on giving each year.
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But Corey C is right. Reed apparently enjoyed playing the part, and apparently enjoyed his castmates so much that he always came back when offered a chance to work again with them. It didn't help that he was "somewhat" typecast after the BB and was RARELY afforded the opportunities that his classical training and talent might otherwise have brought to him. Although he WAS nominated for Emmys for both Roots and Rich Man, Poor Man. When they keep coming back and offering you Mike Brady money...you take it!
When asked about The Brady Brides, Reed reportedly said "Nobody is going to give away my daughters but me..."
FYI - the variety show was produced by Sid and (the late, as of last week) Marty Krofft, they of the oversized puppet shows H. R. Pufnstuf, Lidsville, The Bugaloos, and many, many more Saturday morning offerings that mesmerized me in my early ears. And again, according to sources, Reed seemed to enjoy the singing and dancing more than most members of the cast!!
The variety show is an absolute train wreck...but it's still the Bradys...and to quote the title of Susan Olsen's book - Love to Love You Bradys..! 😍😍😍😍😍
Many of us looking back now are guilty of abusing hindsight. In reality, most of the Classic TV performers were "working actors.' Meaning going from one "job" to the next. Of course, they chose the profession based on artistic aspirations. But always needed to pay the bills. Many were typecast to a "position" attached to their roles. What does that mean? Mike Brady (Robert Reed) was an archetypical (ideal) parental figure. No doubt being offered endless kid oriented sitcoms. The stories (articles) which reach us in this day (unfortunately) are from making too quick judgements. Like pointing out that RR was a complainer. Like who wasn't within the Industry?? Except the ones who let their managers do all the negotiating and representation. And exactly for the reasons we that we do NOT hear about them. One reason comments exist here in this forum (or at least, the way it started out). Is that so many Classic TV fans have been following their favorites for so long. They almost know more than the young writers of today. True fans have read much printed material, from magazines and TV Guide. And fandoms (probably like yours). So it's important to print both sides of a story.
I'm glad you provided the balance regarding the above MeTV article!!
