Never Before Heard Facts About America’s Favorite Family- ‘The Brady Bunch’
“Here’s a story” about that “lovely lady” and that “man named Brady” who shocked and dazzled television audiences for decades. The couple created the most popular family show on television in 1969. We’re talking about none other than The Brady Bunch!
We all watched Mike, Carol, Greg, Marcia, Peter, Jan, Bob, Cindy, and Alice, the nation’s favorite housekeeper, get into some crazy and wild situations. But the show didn’t always show the positive side of family life. Producers made sure to include issues like sibling-rivalry, self image-issues, and more.
The Brady Bunch surprisingly didn’t have the best ratings on air as the nostalgia would have you think. When the show went on syndication, its popularity grew enormously! The reruns and spin-off series such as The Brady Bunch Hour, The Brady Girls Get Married, The Brady Brides, A Very Brady Christmas, and The Bradys were top hits. We can thank syndication for making The Brady Bunch a timeless classic in American television.
In 1966, Sherwood Schwartz, an American television producer, was on a mission. He had already achieved wildly high ratings with his hit show, Gilligan’s Island, when he got an idea for his next hit show. Who knew that reading an article in The Los Angeles Times would change the landscape of television series forever. The article said “30% of marriages [in the United States] have a child or children from a previous marriage.” That sparked his idea for the Brady Bunch, a show where two families from previous marriages came together as one. From there, Schwartz pondered the idea and produced one of America’s most loved and renowned television shows in history. How incredible is that?
With five seasons and 117 episodes, as we’ve mentioned before, the show wasn’t exactly a hit when it first aired. It gained its success with syndication, where its popularity grew with younger audiences. Teenagers and children loved the show when reruns hit, and Schwartz attributes that to the show’s writing style. He said that the show was written from the vantage point of children, and for that reason, it later became popular with children. The themes on the show, ranging from gushing over meeting someone famous to sibling rivalry, were themes that only children could really understand.
The show went off air in 1974 but the reruns were what led to the show’s amazing success. We’ll tell you about their movies and albums, and other facts you didn’t know about the The Brady Bunch. What happened to Marcia after the show ended, and what was her relationship with Brady? What was Mike Brady’s real sexuality and what were their top salaries? What tricks did the producers use to cast the children on the show? Let’s find out!
Simple Math
How did the The Brady Bunch begin? It was a simple mathematical formula stated in The Los Angeles Times that said “30% of marriages [in the United States] have a child or children from a previous marriage.” It’s amazing that such a simple statement inspired Sherwood Schwartz to produce one of America’s most loved programs.
Simple Math
Not A Natural
Bobby’s hair, which was naturally more blonde and wavy than Peter’s or Greg’s hair, had to be dyed dark brown and straightened each set to match his family’s. Bobby, whose name is actually Mike Lookinland, performed under harsh lighting on stage. Those lights were so bright and hot that sometimes the temporary dye would run down his face!
Not A Natural
That’s A No From Me
Mike Brady’s role was given to Robert Reed, a famous actor at the time of production. Producers mistakenly passed up Gene Hackman for the role, who, as we all know, became one of Hollywood’s biggest actors. Even though at the time Robert Reed was the more famous face in Hollywood, we wonder if the show would have been more popular before syndication if the role had been given to Hackman.
That’s A No From Me
The Lisp Is Real
It’s well known that Cindy, played by Susan Olsen, had a lisp in the show. What many didn’t know was that Cindy’s lisp was real. She worked with a speech therapist well into her 20’s to correct the speech impediment.
The Lisp Is Real
Not A Fan
There’s no argument when it came to how hideous the fashion was on the The Brady Bunch. In fact, the younger actors complained and asked to update their outfits frequently, but to no avail. The producers kept the fashion on the show the same and the actors continued their complaints.
Not A Fan
Over 260 Kids Auditioned For The Show!
When auditions opened up for the The Brady Bunch, 260 children auditioned for the show. While this might seem like a small number, considering the large number of children that appeared on the show, this is actually a substantial number of auditions. The producers wanted to see as many children as possible to get a feel for how they wanted to cast the Brady children. They even had a few tricks up their sleeves at auditions…
Over 260 Kids Auditioned For The Show
Tricks Galore
Did you know that the producers performed psychological testing on the children auditioning for the show? They liked to place toys on the table during the audition, and the children who were distracted by the toys were automatically dropped from the audition. How conniving are they?
Tricks Galore
Double The Fun
Mrs. Brady was played by two women on the show. At first, the comical actress Joyce Bulifant played the role. During screen tests, she was used as Mrs. Brady and even during casting. At the last second, the producers flipped the script and wanted a calmer and more subdued actress for Mrs. Brady, so they chose Florence Henderson, who eventually got the part.
Double The Fun
Serious Tension
It’s that one line that every fan who loves the show remembers: “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia”. If you think that was an original part of the script, you’re off the mark. Eve Plumb (Jan) and Maureen McCormick (Marcia) actually had a real life romantic quarrel over Desi Arnaz Jr. Those two Brady sisters did not get along at all, and their words became television gold.
Serious Tension
So They Called It Puppy Love
Susan Olsen and Mike Lookinland seemed to be a little more than friendly during the show. They hid their young romance from viewers, but eventually admitted to kissing in the doghouse so nobody would see. Well, since they were nine years old at that time, their young romance was more young puppy love more than a full blown romance.
So They Called It Puppy Love
Missing In Action
Where was Mrs. Brady in the first six episodes of the first season? Florence Henderson was out under contract producing an “off-Broadway play.” You might not have noticed her absence since she returned later to fill in her scenes.
Missing In Action
Best Friends For Life
Even though the Brady sisters never got along due to their romantic feud, the Brady brothers had a different story. To viewers, they seemed to get along well on screen, and you might not be surprised to know that they were best friends off-screen, too! Greg and Peter got along so well that they became best friends and even attended each other’s weddings. We’re happy to report that they’re still friends to this day.
Best Friends For Life
Marcia and Greg Hooked Up – Off Set
Imagine your first kiss being with your brother! Maureen McCormick kissed her on-screen brother Barry Williams off the set. Later, McCormick described the kiss as amazing, but couldn’t get over the one fact. She said, “I’m kissing my brother. What am I doing?”
Marcia And Greg Hooked Up – Off Set
Stoner, Sorry To Say
Barry Williams not only kissed his sister, but was also a bit of a stoner. In his memoir, he stated he “dabbled a little” with marijuana, and it’s apparent that happened when he filmed the The Brady Bunch. You might remember the scene where Mr. Brady purchased a boat and Barry seems to be on another planet. What you didn’t see was the cut scene were Barry was walking up the driveway so stoned that he tripped over his own feet in the driveway.
Stoner Sorry To Say
That’s Right, IRL
Of course you remember the scene where Marcia gets hit with a football – every fan does! What you might not know was that scene wasn’t scripted, and it was so hilarious that the writers incorporated it right into the show. From that scene came forth one of the most iconic scenes in The Brady Bunch.
Thats Right, IRL
What A Wig!
During most of the first season, Florence Henderson had her hair cut very short for an off-Broadway play. The producers wanted Mrs. Brady to have longer hair, so during filming for the The Brady Bunch, they had her wear a wig!
What A Wig
No PDA Allowed
Maureen and Barry’s romantic relationship got in the way of filming a bit too many times. When they were filming a three-episode plot in Hawaii, Maureen and Barry got too close for comfort during some of the scenes. In fact, the director was forced to cut mid-shooting multiple times to give the actors time to cool off.
No PDA Allowed
Dude, I Surf
Greg’s surfing scene in the three-episode plot in Hawaii was a scene to remember. You might be surprised to learn that Barry Williams is a surfer in real life, so the scene was shot with him in the flesh, not using a stunt double. Despite his skills, Greg injured himself in a wipe out and a stunt double ended up being used instead.
Dude, I Surf
Still A No
Can you believe that, after all these years, Maureen and Eve never put their feud to rest? Susan Olsen, a co-star on the show, stated that the two refuse to communicate under any circumstances. This has made the likelihood of a Brady reunion impossible.
Still A No
Sinister Plot
Worried that Maureen and Barry’s off-set romance might disrupt the chemistry of the show, Lloyd Schwartz, one of the producers of The Brady Bunch, had an idea. He managed to convince Barry to end his relationship with Maureen by telling him he was dating down and could be with someone more attractive than her. He also said he was too young to be in a relationship. The tactic actually worked! Barry broke up with Maureen after that.
Sinister Plot
It’s Better If You Don’t
Not all members of the The Brady Bunch were talented singers. In fact, Christopher Knight was so bad at singing that all of his scenes involving singing had to lip synced. What a blow to his confidence that must have been.
Its Better If You Dont
Mike Loonkinland (Bobby) Gave Up Acting
Bobby Brady, or Mike Loonkinland, left his acting career in 2000. He currently runs a business that makes decorative concrete in Utah. Where in Utah, you ask? Salt Lake City.
Mike Lookinland Bobby Gave Up Acting
Oh No!
Remember the cute family dog, Tiger? Well, he was hit by a car while on set. Imagine the Brady family’s devastation! The accident happened between takes, so a Tiger look-alike was immediately found and used for the next scene.
Oh No!
Totally Taboo
Have you ever seen a toilet on the show? If you go back and watch meticulously, you might notice that no toilets appear on The Brady Bunch when it was on air. This was because, at the time, it was discouraged to have toilets appear on aired television.
Totally Taboo
Very Real
That football that went amiss and hit Marcia in the face? It turns out that producer Lloyd Schwartz was the one who threw the ball! Whether or not he intended for Marcia to catch the ball seems uncertain, but we’re thinking he aimed for her face on purpose.
Very Real
Swing and A Miss
Barry Williams had a lot of gumption as a 15 year old. He was the one Brady child who actually asked his television mom out on a date! Since he was still a teen at the time (and for many other reasons), Florence Henderson said no to his proposition.
Swing And A Miss
So About The Ratings
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: the ratings for The Brady Bunch were initially among the bottom of the airwaves. It’s really a surprise that the show stayed on for five seasons considering how few viewers the show had at the time of airing. Maybe it was because of its young audience?
So About The Ratings
Goofs and Mistakes
In 20th century television, it was very common to see acting mistakes and production goofs, many of which were never edited out. If you watch reruns of the Brady Bunch now, you’ll notice many mistakes that you don’t see on shows that are aired today!
Goofs And Mistakes
Dennis, the Menace
The father of the show, Robert Reed, had very few friends on set despite his adoration of thousands of fans in the years to come. Co-stars and the production team reported that Robert was unpredictable and a control-freak, and had numerous incidents involving his behavior while shooting the show.
Dennis The Menace
Quite The Mistake
Was it a mistake or something else? Florence Henderson walked into the makeup room for the hit show Star Trek while trying to navigate her way to the Brady Bunch screen test. The startled makeup artists were kind enough to help her get to the right place as she sat between Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner.
Quite The Mistake
Nope, No Glass
That’s right, the producers had a handy trick for reducing light reflected from shiny surfaces. They removed the glass from the sliding door that led to The Brady Bunch backyard. The trick worked, so they kept it out of future scenes.
Nope No Glass
Oh Really, Now?
Would you believe us if we said the original song for the show had none of the Brady children singing in it? It’s surprising that the hit tune actually became as popular as it did without any of their voices. The Peppermint Trolley Company was the group that recorded the song. Weird, huh?
Oh Really, Now?
Out Of Luck
In the final season of the show, the producers wanted to introduce a new family to the show so that a spin-off would be born. Meet the Kelly’s, a family that had appearances in that last season and even had an entire show dedicated to them. That idea tanked and the spin-off show was never picked up. I guess you win some and you lose some.
Out Of Luck
For The Win
Mike and Carol Brady were cast after their six children were cast! It seemed a bit in reverse to cast the parents last, but the backwards nature of the casting worked, and the show was a hit after syndication.
For The Win
The D Word
At the time of airing, it was more culturally acceptable for Florence Henderson to joke that she killed her husband than what the producers originally wanted her to say: that she got a divorce! The network rejected all hints of a divorce from the writers, so Mike was a widowed man and Carol’s background was swept under the rug during the show.
The D Word
In The Closet
It’s no surprise that homosexuality was just as taboo topic as divorce at the time, arguably the most taboo topic on public television shows. For this reason, Robert Reed, or the father of the show, stayed in the closet during his acting career. It was Florence Henderson that noticed that Reed was a bit uneasy during romance scenes with her, and he eventually disclosed his secret to her. The on-screen couple rehearsed their romance scenes off-camera so that Reed could appear as comfortable as possible for viewers. And you know what? The entire cast kept Reed’s secret, even after he passed away.
In The Closet
Blondie
Susan Olsen went so far as to have her hair bleached to match the blonde shade that the producers wanted her to have on the show in the first few seasons. It wasn’t until Cindy’s thin hair began to fall out in clumps that they stopped the bleaching.
Blondie
Buh-Bye
Remember the final episode of The Brady Bunch? Now, think back: did you see Robert Reed? That’s right, he was written out of the final episode after he blasted producer Sherwood Schwartz and saying the show’s writing was terrible. Schwartz was gracious enough to have Reed remain on set while filming to not upset the children acting in the final episode.
Buh Bye
Paid Parking
The child actors on the show didn’t earn very much for their incredibly important roles Susan Olsen revealed in a tell-all. Would you believe that they were even expected to pay for their own parking? After the first season, this all changed.
Paid Parking
With These Hands
Did the show’s tree-house look authentic enough for you? That’s because producers mandated that the Brady boys build it themselves during those scenes. Next time you watch, if you notice any sweat and tears, just know that they were real.
With These Hands
Not A Happy Camper
Robert Reed was one of the top actors at the time, any everybody knew it, including the producers on the set. He had no qualms about using his status to complain to executives and producers about the script, which led to many issues.
Not A Happy Camper
Broody
While alliteration is good, there’s some alliteration that we just have to shake our heads at. Schwartz actually thought about initially naming the show The Bradley Brood. We sure are glad that didn’t happen.
Broody
Introduction
Ever heard of a “Cousin Oliver” in the television world? It’s a term coined after The Brady Bunch ratings tanked in the fifth season. Trying to avoid a cancellation, they chose to do something extreme, and introduced Cousin Oliver to the show. Ratings after his entrance were still abysmal, so the fifth season became the final season of the show. Now, the term is used whenever a show introduces a character to avoid cancellation.
Introduction
A Year
Ever notice how the Brady children look much older in the second season? That’s because a full year had passed between the pilot episode and the start of the second season.
A Year
Will They?
Because of the show’s low ratings, the cast members never knew at the end of the season if the show would be renewed. For the first four seasons, the actors revealed that they waited with bated breath to see if they would have another season to film while ABC made their decision about renewal.
Will They?
My Idea
Would you believe that the producers of Yours, Mine and Ours really threatened to sue Sherwood Schwartz for stealing their idea for the show? Thankfully, Schwartz was able to produce detailed notes and outlines a year before they claimed he stole their idea for the show, and they dropped the lawsuit.
My Idea
Say What Now?
This next fact is absolutely wild! Think back to 1975. Every single day since then, an episode of The Brady Bunch has been shown somewhere around the world. That’s a lot of international fans!
Say What Now?
Twin!
This is a little strange, but did you know that Ann B. Davis, the housekeeper on the show, has a real life twin? Even though she already had her own twin, in the episode “Sergeant Emma,” producers decided not to cast her sister to play her twin cousin. Instead, they had Ann do the acting for her twin by herself.
Twin
Workforce
Ever wonder why Carol Brady never entered the workforce? That’s because producers didn’t allow it. She was set to volunteer and fundraise for charity, much to Florence Henderson’s dismay. In fact, Florence, who played Carol, argued numerous times to have Carol enter the workforce. What a progressive stance! Too bad the producers didn’t agree.
Workforce
Nope
It’s not often that looks get in the way of an actor’s career. That was the unfortunate case for Jeffrey Hunter, who implored Sherwood Schwartz to give him the role of Mike Brady. The network, however, had a different stance. They said he was “too handsome” for the role, and they rejected him.
Nope
Not Clean Enough
Toilets, homosexuality, and definitely skinny dipping were forbidden from appearing on the show. In a scene in the episode “Goodbye, Alice, Hello,” the producers cut a scene that they felt didn’t fit with the G-rated nature of the show. In that scene, Cindy and Bobby stand in the kitchen, begging Alice if they can go to a skinny-dipping party. When she hears this, she goes absolutely bonkers and says none of the children will go to “some x-rated party in their birthday suit.” Oh, how times have changed.
Not Clean Enough
Cats or Dogs?
This is the case of the disappearing cat, and the reappearing dog. In the pilot episode, the girls had a cat that they aptly named Fluffy, but the Garfield-looking cat was never seen again. After that, a dog named Tiger appeared on the show. What in the world happened to that cat after the pilot?
Cats Or Dogs?
Hope Guest Stars
Producer Sherwood Schwartz’s daughter, Hope Juber appeared in four episodes on the show. How lucky is that! You can see her in “The Slumber Caper,” “The Big Bet,” “Greg Gets Grounded,” and “The Hair-Brained Scheme.” It must pay off to be a producer’s daughter.
Hope Guest Stars
My Fair Brady
Christopher Knight had an idea when the show ended and he finished playing Peter Brady. In a move that resembled something similar to The Bachelor, he signed on for a reality TV show called My Fair Brady. Why was it similar to the hit contemporary dating show? Well, we can’t say he used roses, but he signed on with his girlfriend at the time, Adrianne Curry, who was a former winner of America’s Next Top Model. True to reality TV, he proposed in the final episode. They married in 2006, but not all stories have happy endings because just 7 years later, they divorced.
My Fair Brady
The Real House
Do you know the actual location of the Brady home? It’s located at 11222 Dilling Street in Studio City, California. A visit to the house is unfortunately out of the question. The owners now have a fence and some privacy hedges to keep onlookers away. To add further insult to fans, when the producers asked the homeowners about filming movies in the original house, the owners refused.
The Real House
Missing Details
Where, exactly, in California did the Brady family live? That fact seems to have been left out of the show. We know they lived at 4222 Clinton Way and their phone number was 762-0799, but without an area code or zip code, we have no clues as to the town or city they lived in.
Missing Details
They Grow Up So Fast
If you watch the first and second episodes in succession, there’s something strange you might see in the Brady children… they’re significantly older. That’s not because they had finished all their vegetables at dinner, but because the pilot episode and second episode was shot about a year apart.
They Grow Up So Fast
Studio Changes
The Brady Bunch was a television show that seemed to change the industry. Before the show, Paramount Studios was only used for filming movies. Following The Brady Bunch, the entire industry changed. Fun fact: Did you know Sherwood Schwartz also produced the show, Gilligan’s Island on CBS?
Studio Changes
Five Seconds Of Fame
Do you ever wonder about why there were no neighbors in The Brady Bunch? Well, there were, but you probably missed them. There was exactly one episode where The Ditmeyers visited the Bradys, and Mr. Ditmeyer had a five-second stint in the show. You probably weren’t the only person who missed him in his hyper-short appearance.
Five Seconds Of Fame
None For You Carol
It was pretty common for each of the characters on the show to struggle through their shortcomings and then finally grow and succeed. There was, however, one person who never got an episode like this. It was Carol Brady, the mother of the show! Would you believe that Carol was the only main character who never got a episode focused on her or even named after her? How times have changed for mothers today.
None For You Carol
Double Purpose Doghouse
When Tiger the dog died, it was traumatic for the cast on and off the set. In fact, the producers never replaced him. For posterity, they kept his doghouse on the set, or so they say. It actually hid a studio light that fell and burned a hole in the set’s AstroTurf. Viewers might have seen it as a commemorative move, but it had a dual purpose.
Double Purpose Doghouse
Same Bed
The Brady Bunch had low ratings when it initial aired, but that didn’t shield it from controversy. At the time, a couple sharing a bed was a taboo decision, and many credit The Brady Bunch with pioneering this move. In fact, Mary Kay and Johnny, a 1940’s sitcom, was the first television show that aired a couple filmed in bed together.
Same Bed
Overcoming Struggles
Florence Henderson, who played Carol Brady and the family matriarch on the show, seemed to have a happy life on and off the set. Alas, things are not what they seem. The truth is that Henderson struggled in a terrible marriage and suffered with depression for many years. In 1984, she took some positive steps and ended her marriage. She is now a well known relationship therapist. We’re glad her story has a happy ending.
Overcoming Struggles
Rough Childhood
How does the youngest child of a family of 12 with an alcoholic father turn out to be one of the most famous stars on the The Brady Bunch? With such a difficult start to Florence Henderson’s life, it took a herculean effort for her to achieve stardom. Florence credits her mother to helping her rise up against the odds and becoming such a well-known actor.
Rough Childhood
Classically Trained
Even though Robert Reed seemed to act like a monster on the set at times, he actually had a very respectable background. It’s not common knowledge that he was classically trained at the Royal Academy of the Dramatic Arts in London. In fact, before taking on the role of Mike Brady, he had a lead role in the legal drama titled The Defenders.
Classically Trained
Best Dad
While Robert Reed had many issues with producer Sherwood Schwartz, his acting was on par some of the best TV dads in television. Robert made the role of Mike Brady his own, and he was so successful that in 2004 he was named one of TV’s Greatest Dads of all Time by TV Guide. Way to go, Robert!
Best Dad
Speaking His Mind
Robert Reed’s stellar acting talents aside, he was also well known for being quite opinionated. One scene where Reed just couldn’t bite his tongue was when the family were supposed to throw pies at each other and not speak. Infuriated with the concept, he told Schwartz it was “dumb,” and he refused to work on the scene. He also commented that the cast was filming The Brady Bunch, not a silent movie.
Speaking His Mind
All In The Name
We’ve already established that divorce was just one of those concepts nobody talked about during the time of The Brady Bunch, and that no network wanted to air. A true Brady sleuth, however, would see the subtle signs that the network didn’t. We know from the show that Carol’s maiden name is Tyler, yet when she married Mike Brady, her name changed from Carol Martin to Carol Brady. That was the one hint viewers needed to know that Carol was divorced and not a widow like Mike.
All In The Name
Shady Past
While most people don’t dabble in shoplifting, McCormick had shoplifted more than once in her youth! Olsen retold the story of McCormick and her friend Susan Cowsill who got caught shoplifting once. McCormick allegedly hid in the car while her friend Cowsill took all the heat. Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!
Shady Past
Her Green Thumb
It’s really hard to predict how children turn out these days. The ever adorable Cindy grew up to marry and then began farming marijuana plants! Mind you, this was back in the day where the herb was still very illegal, and medicinal marijuana licenses were a laughable concept. She confessed the high made her paranoid, and while she appreciated the plant, her low desire in sharing a toke with her husband was one of the main reasons for their divorce.
Her Green Thumb
Theme Song
How did the theme song go from the first recording by The Peppermint Trolley Company, to the kids singing the song? One day, the producers overheard Christopher Knight singing the theme song on the set and they got an idea. They decided, from then on, the kids would perform the intro to the show. After that, the kids sang the song and it was rearranged and re-recorded each new season.
Theme Song
On-Screen Smooch
Greg Brady was quite the heartthrob on The Brady Bunch, and while he went on many dates on the show, there were no scenes where we saw him kiss his dates. The only Brady who had a kissing scene was Bobby. He stole a kiss from Melissa Sue Anderson in “Never Too Young” from season five. You might know Anderson for playing Mary on Little House on the Prairie.
On-Screen Smooch
Too Extreme?
Divorce was still too extreme a topic in the 1960s to be aired on television, but there was growing popularity for airing widowed parents raising their families together. Even so, many critics complained that The Brady Bunch was doing too much.
Too Extreme?
Fan Mail
The Brady Bunch saw a lot of fan mail come in, much of it from children. It’s heartbreaking to know that many of those kids asked to live with the Brady family because their own families were not what they saw on the show. Sherwood Schwartz made it a point to reply to those children and say The Brady Bunch was a fictional show, and that no family’s perfect.
Fan Mail
Who Nose?
Sometimes, episodes on The Brady Bunch got a little too close to reality. Marcia’s nose got it’s first injury from a wayward football in one of the episodes. Later, Maureen injured her nose again, but this time, in a car accident off-set. This inspired creating the episode “The Subject Was Noses.” Who knew that the show wasn’t entirely based on fiction!
Who Nose?
Sorry, Shirley
Shirley Jones was originally offered the part of Carol over Florence Henderson. Shirley turned down the role and later explained that she didn’t want to only “take a pot roast out of the oven.” The irony here is that she went on to play the mother on The Partridge Family, where there were plenty of roasts! Sorry Shirley, but we’re glad the network went with Florence.
Sorry, Shirley
Sponsors
Who again, sponsored The Brady Bunch? In case you forgot, the beginning episodes were sponsored by company powerhouses Mattel Toys and Cheerios.
Sponsors
Inspired By Real Life
Marcia’s incident with the football wasn’t the only real-life event that was written into the show. In truth, Schwartz often incorporated real life events into episodes. He often used things that happened to the actors and their true personality traits as inspiration for the plot. An example is when Barry, also known as Greg, plays music. In real life, that was something he enjoyed doing a lot.
Inspired By Real Life
Head Spinner
This next one will have your head spinning! Eve Plumb was actually considered to play Regan in The Exorcist. She auditioned for the movie while still acting on The Brady Bunch. It’s probably best that she didn’t get the role because it would be pretty difficult to see Eve the same after watching her in that horrifying film!
Head Spinner
Brown-Eyed Boy
There were no brown-eyed girls to fawn over, on the show, but there was one brown-eyed boy! Christopher Knight, also known as Peter, was the only brown-eyed actor on the show. Now that’s crazy!
Brown-Eyed Boy