Well, here it is, my 1000th post. It took a year and a half after getting 500, though I'm wondering if some of them might still be lost after the glitch a couple of months ago. Is there an emblem for it, or is it only after 500? Anyway, this blog is in honor of the 40th anniversary of the debut of an American icon, The Brady Bunch. As a child it was one of my favorite shows, and I looked forward to it every Friday night on ABC, along with The Partridge Family and Nanny and the Professor. I think the first episode I saw was a few episodes after its debut in 1969, the one where Cindy's doll Kitty Karry-All is missing, and Bobby gets blamed. It soon became a favorite of mine and my family, and we saw each character as ourselves, since we're from a family with three of each (though with the same parents, and not quite in the same order). I was Peter. Another bit of trivia: it is said that Louisiana's current governor and possible future presidential candidate Bobby Jindal, the son of immigrants from India, liked the show so much he named himself after the youngest Brady boy. That should be an interesting campaign issue! Before the Brady quiz, here are the answers to the Bonanza quiz (congratulations to Jokipper for getting them all):
1.Which cast member had a #1 song on the pop charts in the 1960s?
a, Lorne Green. The cast members actually recorded a couple of albums in the early 60s, and Lorne Green had a song (I think it was actually a poem read to music) called "Ringo" in 1964 that made it to #1.
2. Which cast member was a native of Canada?
a, Lorne Green again. He was a well known radio and TV personality in Canada before Bonanza.
3. Which cast member did not have a regular role in another television series?
c, Dan Blocker, although he did have a couple of fairly regular roles before. I remember when he died in 1972. My dad was pretty upset, probably because he knew it spelled the end for the show. After it was cancelled in 1973, Lorne went on to star in the popular Battlestar Galactica and the less popular Code Red. Pernell Roberts was the title character in Trapper John M.D., and, of course, Michael Landon starred in Little House on the Prarie and Highway to Heaven.
4. Which cast member starred with Frank Sinatra in a theatrical movie?
c, Dan Blocker again, in Lady in Cement, in 1968. He was considered a protagonist in it, but not at all the teddy bear that he was as Hoss.
5. Who played Michael Landon in a TV biopic?
b, John Schneider, though any one of the others would have done well. It aired in 1999 and I haven't seen it since, though I'd like to. It was pretty good. Now, here's a Very Brady quiz:
1. Robert Reed, who played Mike Brady, earlier co-starred in the 60s legal drama The Defenders as a young lawyer. Who was the star?
a. Mason Adams
b. John Houseman
c. Martin Balsam
d. E.G. Marshall
2. Reed also had a recurring role in what crime drama just prior to The Brady Bunch?
a. Mannix
b. Dragnet (the 1960s version)
c. Hawaii Five-O
d. Felony Squad
3. Ann B. Davis, who played lovable maid and nanny Alice ("Oh, Alice"), earlier co-starred in what sitcom?
a. The Donna Reed Show
b. Mr. Ed
c. The Bob Cummings Show (aka Love That Bob)
d. Hazel
4. Which female cast member was replaced by a different actress in the weird 70s variety show The Brady Bunch Hour?
a. Florence Henderson (Carol Brady)
b. Maureen McCormick (Marcia! Marcia! Marcia!)
c. Eve Plumb (Jan)
d. Susan Olson (Cindy)
5. Who was the show's producer and creator?
a. Paul Henning
b. Sherwood Schwartz
c. Jess Oppenheimer
d. Don Fedderson
Again, leave your answers in a comment below or in a PM, and share any memories or tidbits about the show.