The Brady Bunch is arguably TV’s most iconic show to date. The massive reaction fans have had to the cast’s reunion 45 years (45!!!) after the show ended for HGTV’s A Very Brady Renovation special says it all. My parents freaked out, reporters and I touring the actual house freaked out, and I’m pretty sure my neighbor’s goldfish freaked out. But the return of the phenomenon really got me thinking about the impact all of this has had on the living actors. Think about it: We will always see them engraved in history as their wholesome, perfect, kid characters. I really wondered how that continues to affect them as they navigate through adult lives, removed from their characters, with struggles and issues of their own. Turns out, the need for perfection happened before the Instagram era (and as Barry points out, before there was Facebook).
From the very groovy and shaggy carpet at the HGTV premiere (the special airs Monday, Sept. 9), I talked to stars Maureen McCormick (Marcia, Marcia, Marcia) and Barry Williams (Greg) about the difficulty of living that dichotomy and how the show, while a perfect escape, did gloss over hardships of the late ’60s and early ’70s.
What do you think?
How would a show like The Brady Bunch be received today? Should we have more shows like The Brady Bunch for hope and escape? Is there more pressure for perfection in the social media age? Let me know in the comments and check out the interview above.
PLUS:
Here’s an extended version of the video with cast members Christopher Knight (Peter Brady) and Even Plumb (Jan) as they give input on the dichotomy of their pop culture kid personas and their real, adult selves:
And here are some behind-the-scenes pics from this groovy night below 🙂
Leave a Reply