Here's the story of a lovely lady, who…well, you know the rest. All you need to know about The Brady Bunch is included in that classic era-defining theme song. A cultural landmark that spawned not only campy TV spin-offs (The Brady Bunch Hour, anyone?) but a subversive stage show and two slyly funny feature films, this old-school suburban sitcom took its cue from the 1968 Lucille Ball-Henry Fonda film, Yours, Mine and Ours. Episode 1, "The Honeymoon," shows how "the whole booming Brady bunch" came to be, as architect Mike (Robert Reed) marries Carol (a pre-mullet Florence Henderson). He has three sons: Greg (Barry Williams), Peter (Christopher Knight), and Bobby (Mike Lookinland). She has three daughters: Marcia (Maureen McCormick), Jan (Eve Plumb), and adorable, lisping Cindy (Susan Olsen). With the exception of the odd use of "groovy" hippie patois and a guest appearance by Desi Arnaz Jr., the first season is not as dated as those that followed. Although such major episodes as Marcia's broken nose and the one with Davy Jones are yet to come, the 25 episodes in the 1969-70 inaugural season have their own share of benchmarks, including: "Vote for Brady," which pits Marcia and Greg against each other for class president; "The Voice of Christmas," in which Cindy asks Santa to cure her mother's laryngitis so she can sing at the church Christmas concert; "Kitty Karry-All Is Missing," in which Bobby is the prime suspect when Cindy's precious doll disappears; and "Lost Locket, Found Locket," in which housekeeper Alice (Ann B. Davis) reveals her special bond with Jan (they're both middle sisters). Select commentaries with cast members and creator Sherwood Schwartz and the featurette “Coming Together Under One Roof” add to the retro fun. Recommended. (D. Liebenson)
The Brady Bunch: The Complete First Season
Paramount, 4 discs, 652 min., not rated, DVD: $39.98 Volume 20, Issue 3
The Brady Bunch: The Complete First Season
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