It maybe the simple story of a lovely lady who met a man named Brady and their half dozen of kids, but it’s also the “Neverending Story”. That enduring show originally aired from 1969 to 1974, but with reruns made available, the show has never been completely off the air. But their legacy goes on much longer. Several sequel series, reunion specials, parody movies and other projects have been made since. Here’s a Timeline…
The Brady Bunch: The Original Show (1969 – 1974)
What made The Brady Bunch unique is that it was about a blended family. When Carol Martin (Florence Henderson) met Mike Brady (Robert Reed), she had three daughters: Marcia (Maureen McCormick), Jan (Eve Plumb) and the youngest one in curls, Cindy (Susan Olsen). Mike had three boys of his own: Greg (Barry Williams), Peter (Christopher Knight) and Bobby (Mike Lookinland). The family was made complete with housemaid, Alice (Alice B. Davis).
Created by Sherwood Schwartz, the show has a strong nostalgic value, despite the fact that it was never a huge hit during its original run on ABC. The cheery show has often been mocked for its silliness, squeaky clean characters and cheesy dialogue while at the same time, praised for its positive messages and moral lessons. The Bradys were what many of us wanted our families to be like.
Christmas with the Brady Bunch (1970)
On November 2, 1970, Paramount Records released this infamous Christmas album which featured classic tunes sung by the six original Brady kids. Given that the children were actors and not necessarily singers, the results were mixed. (The kids got much better at singing years later.)
The Brady Kids (1972 –1974)
This Saturday morning TV series created by Filmation focused only on the Brady kids who hung out in a large treehouse. They also formed their own band looking suspiciously like The Archies. The show added four animals to the Brady universe: Ping and Pong (two pandas), Mop Top (a dog) and Marlon (a magical talking bird). Superman, Lois Lane and Wonder Woman also made occasional appearances for some reason. Filmation produced 22 episodes of the show.
The Brady Bunch Variety Hour (1976 – 1977)
On October 8, 1976, four of the Brady Bunch stars (Florence Henderson, Maureen McCormick, Mike Lookinland and Susan Olsen) appeared as guests on the Donny & Marie variety show on ABC. The ratings for that episode were huge, so ABC’s president, Fred Silverman, made plans to produce another variety show built around the fictional Brady family. The first episode appeared less than two months later.
Created by Sid & Marty Krofft, The Brady Bunch Variety Hour has gone down as one of America’s worst TV shows ever made (Susan Olsen even wrote a book about.) It starred all but one of the stars from the former show except for Eve Plumb. She wanted to do just five shows, but ABC demanded that she appear in all of them or none of them, so she left the project. Jan’s character was recast with Geri Reischl who many called “Fake Jan.” Barry Williams (Greg Brady) wanted to do the show so bad, he resigned from the Broadway musical, Pippin to do so.
The Brady Brides (1981)
What began as a reunion movie turned into a half hour sitcom for NBC. The Brady Brides featured, at least initially, the entire cast of the original show. The first three episodes focused on the double wedding of Marcia & Wally (Jerry Houser) and Jan & Philip (Ron Kuhlman) and the remainder of the 10 episodes focused on the quartet settling in their new home that they choose to share together.
Marcia and Wally were a fun-loving pair while Jan and Philip, were more serious couple. What could go wrong? Low ratings. Even with Florence Henderson and Ann B. Davis appearing regularly, the series was cut short and this time, they couldn’t blame the ratings on Cousin Oliver.
A Very Brady Christmas (1988)
This made-for-tv reunion movie for CBS and still can be found on some streaming services. This time, it was Susan Olsen who did not show up for Christmas dinner. Her replacement was played by Jennifer Ruyon. Jerry Houser and Ron Kuhlman appeared again as Marcia’s and Jan’s husbands.
Greg attended the holiday alone as his wife chose to spend time with her family. Peter was dating his boss. Bobby became a racecar driver. Marcia’s husband got fired from his toy company. Jan and Philip were dealing with a separation, and Cindy planned a sneaky trip to go skiing with her friends. But it was Alice who had the biggest news of all – her husband Sam left her for another woman! Who would leave Alice?
The Bradys (1990)
After the hit TV movie, CBS wanted to reboot the show, but not as a sitcom. This time, the Bradys got all soapy serious. While Susan Olsen was back with the flock, Maureen McCormick was out having just given birth to her daughter. She was replaced by Leah Ayres.
The new show continued where the Christmas movie left off. Mike began a political career. Greg was now a doctor. Peter broke things off with his boss but started dating the daughter of Mike’s political rival. Racecar driver Bobby got in a terrible wreck that left him a paraplegic. Marcia was a stay-at-home mom … and alcoholic. Jan and Philip adopted a Korean girl. Cindy, who was a radio show host, dated her boss who was ten years older.
The Bradys couldn’t compete with rival shows Full House and Family Matters and so the show was cancelled after just one month.
Family Feud (1983)
Robert Reed, Florence Henderson, Christopher Knight, Susan Olsen and Maureen McCormick appeared on the game show competing against stars from the 1950’s TV show, Your Hit Parade.
Day by Day: A Very Brady Episode (1989)
The short-lived NBC sitcom, Day by Day, had one episode where a teenager (played by Christopher Daniel Barnes) was obsessed with The Brady Bunch TV show. He dreamt that he was part of the Brady family playing the part of Chuck, the fourth Brady boy. (Ironically, the actor ended up playing Greg in The Brady Bunch Movie and A Very Brady Sequel.)
Ann B. Davis, Florence Henderson, Christopher Knight, Mike Lookinland, Maureen McCormick, and Robert Reed appeared in this mini reunion which was set back in the 1970’s
The Real Live Brady Bunch (1991)
Sherwood Schwartz was none too pleased when he learned that siblings Joey Soloway and Faith Soloway were staging original Brady Bunch scripts at the Annoyance Theatre in Chicago. The cast included Andy Richter (Mike), Jane Lynch (Carol) and Melanie Hutsell (Jan). The show was a hit with fans and Robert Reed and Susan Olsen who came to multiple performances. Eve Plumb even showed up as a special guest once.
Meanwhile, Schwartz threatened legal action against the unauthorized show but found himself charmed by the tribute to the classic show and gave it his blessing. Later, the show had a run in New York and Los Angeles.
Bradymania: A Very Brady Special (1993)
Florence Henderson hosted the ABC special that featured clips from the series, interviews with the show’s creator, Sherwood Schwartz and cast members. Robert Reed who had passed away a year earlier, was given a tribute by the cast.
Growing Up Brady: I was a Teenage Greg (1992)
Barry Williams penned an autobiography about his days on the set for The Brady Bunch. Stories included his crush with his “sister” Maureen McCormick, arguments between “dad” Robert Reed and show creator-producer Sherwood Schwartz. An updated version with new stories and insights was published with the same title in 1999.
The Brady Bunch Movie (1995)
Directed by Betty Thomas, this comedy was both a parody and a tribute to the original show. Set during the 1990’s, the Bradys were stuck in the 1970’s. The movie starred Shelley Long as Carol Brady, Gary Cole (Mike), Christine Taylor (Marcia), Christopher Daniel Barnes (Greg), Jennifer Elise Cox (Jan), Paul Sutera (Peter), Jesse Lee Soffer (Bobby), Olivia Hack (Cindy) and Henriette Mantel (Alice). When faced with losing their house, the Brady Kids decide to enter and sing at the “Search for the Stars” contest.
The movie had a number of cameo appearances including Florence Henderson as Grandma, Ann B. Davis as a trucker, Barry Williams as a record producer, Christopher Knight as a coach and three Monkees as themselves (Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork).
A Very Brady Sequel (1996)
Directed by Arlene Sanford, the cast from the first parody reunited for a sequel where a mysterious man (Tim Matheson) showed up claiming to be Carol’s long-lost husband. However, he turned out to be an imposter set on stealing the family’s horse statue which as it turns out, was an ancient Asian artifact worth $20 million. It too featured a number of cameos including RuPaul, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Rosie O’Donnell, Barbara Eden and David Spade.
Growing Up Brady (2000)
Based on Barry William’s book, Growing Up Brady, this made-for-television biographical film was about the production of the original ABC sitcom. Barry played himself and served as the film’s narrator. Adam Brody played Barry. Kaley Cuoco played Maureen. Sherwood Schwartz played himself. Mike Looinland played a camera operator and his son, Scott played Mike.
The Brady Bunch in the White House (2002)
Only Shelley Long and Gary Cole from the first Brady Bunch movies returned for this made-for-TV second sequel for FOX. After returning a winning lottery ticket, Mike Brady became super popular and got elected as president of the United States. The Brady family had to adapt to their new surroundings within the White House. Shockingly, the movie largely received negative reviews.
My Fair Brady (2005-2008)
VH1 aired a reality TV series focusing on Christopher Knight and his budding relationship with Adrianne Curry (winner of the first America’s Next Top Model). Of course, the show found a way to include a visit from Florence Henderson. At the end of the first season, Knight proposed to Curry. The couple got married in season 2 and had marital problems in season 3. (In real life, the couple divorced in 2012.)
Here’s the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice (2008)
Maureen McCormick released this best-selling autobiography sharing about a dark secret that overshadowed her relationship with her mother and siblings as well as her struggles with depression, addiction and eating disorders. Fortunately, she finds God in the end.
Love to Love You Bradys: The Bizarre Story of The Brady Bunch Variety Hour (2009)
Susan Olsen wrote this coffee table book with Ted Nichelson and Lisa Sutton. It was all about The Brady Bunch Variety Hour disaster. It also happed to coincided with the 40th anniversary of the original show. The book contains unpublished photos, interviews and she also spilled the tea on some of the actors’ private lives during that time.
Dancing with the Stars (2010)
Florence Henderson competed on DWTS with professional dance partner, Corky Ballas. She was the fifth celebrity to be eliminated during the competition.
Dancing with the Stars (2016)
Here’s the Story (2014)
David Gilbert wrote this short story for The New Yorker. Here he imagines a backstory for the meeting of Mike and Carol after their original spouses were on the verge of beginning an affair but die in the same plane crash. Weird.
A Very Brady Renovation (2019)
In a bizarre stunt for HGTV the network purchased the actual house that was used for the exterior shots of the Brady Bunch show with plans to renovate it so that it would become a replica of the TV home that we all know and love. The concept was unique in that the cast of The Brady Bunch were paired with the stars from various HGTV series. It was sort of like “Remodeling with the Stars.”
During the series, all six Brady siblings showed up for the task at hand, which is pretty difficult in itself. They teamed up with Property Brothers Jonathan and Drew Scott, Mina Starsiak Hawk, Karen E Laine, siblings Leanne and Steve Ford, Jasmine Roth, and Lara Spencer.
It took over 90 hours of filming the demolition and rebuilding of the Brady home which included adding 2,000 square feet making the original one-story home into a two-story one without altering the front of the house as seen from the street.
Chopped (2019)
As a tie-in with A Very Brady Renovation, Food Network aired two episodes of Chopped with Brady Bunch stars. Barry Williams, Eve Plumb and Mike Lookinland judged Hawaiian-themed dishes and Maureen McCormick, Christopher Knight and Susan Olsen judging dishes that were supposedly made with “groovy” ingredients.
A Very Brady Musical (2020)
During Covid-19, Lloyd J. Schwartz (son of Sherwood Schwartz), created a stream broadcast of a musical about the Brady kids worried that Mike and Carol were headed for divorce. They teamed up with Alice to raise money to pay for marriage counseling. Barry Williams and Christopher Knight did a post-show Brady Q and A.
Dragging the Classics: The Brady Bunch (2021)
Here’s odd one: Barry Williams, Christopher Knight and Mike Lookinland teamed up with members of RuPaul’s Drag Race to recreate a Brady Bunch episode for streaming service Paramount+. Eve Plumb and Susan Olsen also appeared in small roles.
Blending Christmas (2021)
Another odd project: This Christmas movie for Lifetime starred Haylie Duff and Aaron O’Connell celebrating Christmas with both of their families. Christopher Knight, Susan Olsen, Barry Williams, Mike Lookinland and Robbie Rist (who played Cousin Oliver in the TV series) played extended family members.
The Real Brady Bros Podcast (2022-2025+)
Christopher Knight and Barry Williams continue to publish this podcast which analyzes various Brady Bunch episodes sharing trivia and storytelling along the way. Eve Plumb, Susan Olsen and Mike Lookinland have all been guests on the podcast. Like the original TV show, it’s (mostly) squeaky clean fun.
The Masked Singer (2022)
Mike Lookinland, Barry Williams, and Christopher Knight appeared as “Mummies” during Season 8 of The Masked Singer on FOX. The sang the theme song from The Monkees during “TV Theme Night”. They sounded really good, but sadly were “unmasked” right away.
Dancing with the Stars (2023)
Barry Williams competed on the 32nd season of DWTS with professional dance partner, Peta Murgatroyd. He came in 8th place.
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