Simple Math
The Brady Bunch was actually based on real-life statistics. The producers stumbled upon an interesting article in a newspaper which noted some revealing information; in the year 1965 31% of marriages included children from a previous marriage. And so, the inspiration for the show was born.
ADVERTISEMENT
Not A Natural
Mike Lookinland, who played young Bobby, was actually a natural blonde. In order to make his appearance match that of the rest of his family, his hair had to repeatedly be dyed during the show’s five-season run.
ADVERTISEMENT
That’s A No From Me
Gene Hackman might have gone on to make it big in Hollywood but few fans know that the stellar actor was actually considered for the role of Mike and then subsequently passed over. Producers were concerned the actor wasn’t established enough to lead the show. The part ultimately went to Robert Reed who was more popular at the time.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The Lisp Is Real
Sweet, blonde and blue-eyed Cindy was a fast fan favorite. Susan Olsen was the young actor behind the beloved character. Many might think that Olsen’s lisp was created for the character but the little actress actually did have a slight speech impediment.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Not A Fan
The costuming on the show definitely left much to be desired. The bold prints, flared jeans and garish colors were not very popular with the viewers – or the cast. The younger cast members often pleaded with producers to upgrade the wardrobe to include more stylish choices, but alas, the costume designer stood her ground.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Over 260 kids auditioned for the show!
Casting can often be an arduous endeavor. The Brady producers were particularly thorough in their search for the right actors to play the Brady family members. Over 260 kids auditioned for the famous roles.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Tricks Galore
The producers used some interesting tactics in order to weed out the kid’s that wouldn’t withstand the onset pressures. A few psychological tricks even came into play. During the audition process, the producers placed a host of distracting toys on a nearby table. The kids who were able to concentrate were considered for roles while the little actors who were easily distracted were passed over.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Double The Fun
The lovely Florence Henderson was not the only actress to play Mrs. Brady. Initially, Joyce Bulifant, another comedic actress, was chosen for the role. In the first screen test, Bulifant was cast and also used as an aid during casting. After her brief stint portraying the Brady matriarch, producers decided a more subdued actress would be better suited for the role.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Serious Tension
‘Marcia, Marcia, Marcia.’ The iconic phrase was actually written into the script inspired by the real-life tension between the two oldest Brady sisters. Reportedly, Susan and Maureen feuded over the romantic subplot with Desi Arnaz Jr.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
So They Called It Puppy Love
Little Susan Olsen and Mike Lookinland actually did have a sweet and innocent romance. Susan and Mike admitted to sneaking off for an offscreen smooch when they were just 9 years old. The puppy love supposedly went down in the set’s doghouse so the young actors would avoid being reprimanded.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Missing In Action
Florence Henderson was actually committed to another project when the show first went into production. The actress was starring in a popular off-Broadway play. She missed the filming of the first six episodes. Her scenes were later taped and edited in.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Best Friends For Life
The sisters of the family might not have got on quite as well as their onscreen characters but brothers Barry Williams and Christopher Knight actually became the best of friends. Following the conclusion of the show, the two remained close buddies, they even attended each other’s weddings.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Marcia and Greg Hooked Up – Off Set
A little-known and rather strange piece of trivia: Maureen McCormick’s first kiss was with her on-screen brother, Barry Williams (Greg). Maureen admitted that it was a wonderful experience, but there was some hesitation about the propriety of the plot. The actress later shared her thoughts during the scene; “I’m kissing my brother. What am I doing?”
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Stoner, Sorry To Say
Barry Williams had a notorious reputation for enjoying a little greenery before showing up to taping. The actor would often show up on set absolutely stoned. He admitted in his autobiographical memoir, that he had ‘dabbled’ with marijuana as a young teenager. There are even a few scenes where the actor looks noticeably dazed.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
That’s Right, IRL
Maureen McCormick really did injure her nose in an offscreen car accident. The writers had to incorporate it into script while the actress’s nose healed. It did offer us the iconic scene where Marcia gets smacked in the face with a football.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
What A Wig!
Florence Henderson’s locks might have looked like the real thing but the actress actually wore a wig during the show’s five-season run.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
No PDA Allowed
Maureen and Barry’s personal relationship actually began to affect their on-set behavior. While the cast was filming a three-episode plot in Hawaii, Maureen and Barry took their love scenes just a little too seriously. The director was forced to yell ‘CUT’ numerous times so that the lovestruck actors could be separated when their romantic scenes got a little too heated.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Jan Was Married First
Eve Plumb was the first out of all the Brady kids to tie the knot!
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Dude, I Surf
During the Hawaii episode, Greg had a memorable surfboarding scene. The actor Barry Williams was actually a real-life avid surfer and shot the stunt himself.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Still A No
Apparently, the tension between Maureen and Eve didn’t disapate. According to their co-star Susan Olsen, Eve and Maureen have absolutely no contact with one another, despite sharing years together playing close sisters.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
To Sing Or Not To Sing[/post_page_title
Barry Williams, Mike Lookinland, and Maureen McCormick were all wonderful singers, and Eve Plumb and Susan Olsen could both carry a tune. Christopher Knight, on the other hand, admitted to struggling through the show’s musical sequences. He actually considers it the most embarrassing thing he ever had to do on the show, saying “It was traumatic.” He was even encouraged to lip-synch his parts in the musical scenes.
[sc name="default_lower_ad"]
[sc name="default_top_ad" ]
[post_page_title]Where’s The Toilet?
There was one particularly peculiar detail about the Jack and Jill bathroom the Brady kids shared. It was actually missing a toilet. In more conservative times, television networks had strict rules about showing a porcelain toilet bowl onscreen.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Tragic Ending For Tiger
Sadly, the dog behind the Brady family’s beloved pet was actually run over in one of the earlier seasons of the show. The pup was replaced by a credible lookalike and production went on as scheduled.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
A Huge Hit
It might be difficult to believe, but The Brady Bunch was never really a hit during its original run. It never managed to make it into the list of the country’s top 30 shows. But the show has since become a pop culture staple, as younger generations discover the lovable series.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Many Mistakes Never Corrected
Many of the show’s little blunders were left unfixed. The show aired in the days before every American home had a television set. producers believed few people would notice the show’s errors, like when the family left the house in a convertible but returned in a station wagon. One of the more memorable bloopers? Susan Olsen sticks her tongue out as she exits a scene, mistakenly thinking it was still a rehearsal.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Backdoor Pilot
During the final season of the show, the Brady family finally introduced us to their neighbors, Ken and Kathy Kelly (portrayed by Ken Berry and Brooke Bundy). The Kellys had adopted three young boys Matt, Dwayne, and Steve who had all formed a loving, brotherly bond at the local orphanage. The twist was that one of the boys was white, one was African-American, and one was Asian-American. Sherwood Schwartz had hoped that a spin-off could be in the works, entitled Kelly’s Kids. Unfortunately, the networks weren’t interested and the show never came to be.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
A Glassic
In order to avoid light from reflecting off the glass doors of the Brady’s porch, the producers actually removed the glass from the back door.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Sing The Theme Tune
When you think of the show’s famous theme song, a singing group of boisterous kids springs to mind. But initially, a well-known group named the Peppermint Trolley Company recorded the opening theme.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
StarTrek Run In
When Henderson arrived for her first screen test, she was late and couldn’t quite manage to find the correct makeup room. She haphazardly stumbled into the makeup room for Star Trek. The popular sci-fi show briefly shared a studio space with The Brady Bunch. Henderson said she sat in a chair between the show’s heavyweights William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Divorcee
While Mike Brady was written as a widower, Carol’s pre-Brady marital status was a bit of a mystery. Carol was supposed to have been a divorcee. But divorce was still considered a taboo topic for prime time television, so the tale of Mr. Martin has always been left as a mystery, until now. After years of speculation, Florence Henderson now likes to tell interviewers that she killed him. We’re hoping this is a light-hearted joke.
ADVERTISEMENT