The Brady Bunch Movie
Growing Up Brady
November 26, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
For television historians, fans, and enthusiasts, Growing Up Brady is a must-have book. Written by Barry Williams with Chris Kreski in the early 1990’s, Growing Up Brady gives an inside view of life at the fictional address of 4222 Clinton Way -- the home of The Brady Bunch.
The Brady Bunch aired on ABC from 1969 to 1974. Barry Williams plays Greg Brady, the oldest sibling.
Growing Up Brady tells us how Barry Williams got the part.
Growing Up Brady tells us about the fights, arguments, and tension between Robert Reed and Sherwood Schwartz, the show’s lead actor and creator/executive producer, respectively.
Growing Up Brady tells us about Barry Williams interconnected social life on The Brady Bunch -- his date with Florence Henderson who plays his stepmother on The Brady Bunch and his romance with Maureen McCormick who plays his stepsister, Marcia.
Growing Up Brady also displays Williams’ view on the continuous reinvention of The Brady Bunch -- The Brady Kids (early 1970’s Saturday morning cartoon show), The Brady Bunch Hour (1977 variety show), The Brady Girls Get Married (tv-movie), The Brady Brides (sitcom), A Very Brady Christmas (1988 tv-movie), The Bradys (1990 drama series).
Additionally, Paramount produced two feature films in the 1990’s -- The Brady Bunch Movie (1995) and A Very Brady Sequel (1996). Finally, The Brady Bunch in the White House was a tv-movie that aired on FOX in 2002. The main story line features patriarch Mike Brady becoming President of the United States.
Robert Reed wrote the Foreword for Growing Up Brady. Williams does more than explain Reed’s aforementioned conflicts with Sherwood Schwartz. He uses Reed’s own words -- memoranda that Reed wrote to Schwartz concerning various points of contention in the scripts.
Williams provides another bonus for Brady fans. He frequently shares opinions, memories, and personal stories. Williams’ efforts complement the factual information of episode title, synopses, and credits. It truly is a behind-the-scenes peek.
He also reveals the harsh realities of show business. In excruciatingly honest detail, Williams portrays the contract renegotiations between the child actors’ representative and Schwartz and the consequent effect on the relationship between the actors and their father figure boss.
Williams writes, All along, we had basically been a bunch of ordinary kids who liked each other and who interacted naturally with each other on camera. Now, with burnt business deals, lawsuits, angry parents, and a jaded mistrust of those in charge thrown into the mix, our chemistry went from spontaneous to stilted and our united ensemble mentality burst into six-sided selfishness. Worst of all, our spirits were dampened and that resulted in some noticeably low energy episodes. We listened to the hype, believed it, and screwed up big time.
Growing Up Brady -- a behind-the-scenes look at an American television icon.
david@davidkrell.com
For television historians, fans, and enthusiasts, Growing Up Brady is a must-have book. Written by Barry Williams with Chris Kreski in the early 1990’s, Growing Up Brady gives an inside view of life at the fictional address of 4222 Clinton Way -- the home of The Brady Bunch.
The Brady Bunch aired on ABC from 1969 to 1974. Barry Williams plays Greg Brady, the oldest sibling.
Growing Up Brady tells us how Barry Williams got the part.
Growing Up Brady tells us about the fights, arguments, and tension between Robert Reed and Sherwood Schwartz, the show’s lead actor and creator/executive producer, respectively.
Growing Up Brady tells us about Barry Williams interconnected social life on The Brady Bunch -- his date with Florence Henderson who plays his stepmother on The Brady Bunch and his romance with Maureen McCormick who plays his stepsister, Marcia.
Growing Up Brady also displays Williams’ view on the continuous reinvention of The Brady Bunch -- The Brady Kids (early 1970’s Saturday morning cartoon show), The Brady Bunch Hour (1977 variety show), The Brady Girls Get Married (tv-movie), The Brady Brides (sitcom), A Very Brady Christmas (1988 tv-movie), The Bradys (1990 drama series).
Additionally, Paramount produced two feature films in the 1990’s -- The Brady Bunch Movie (1995) and A Very Brady Sequel (1996). Finally, The Brady Bunch in the White House was a tv-movie that aired on FOX in 2002. The main story line features patriarch Mike Brady becoming President of the United States.
Robert Reed wrote the Foreword for Growing Up Brady. Williams does more than explain Reed’s aforementioned conflicts with Sherwood Schwartz. He uses Reed’s own words -- memoranda that Reed wrote to Schwartz concerning various points of contention in the scripts.
Williams provides another bonus for Brady fans. He frequently shares opinions, memories, and personal stories. Williams’ efforts complement the factual information of episode title, synopses, and credits. It truly is a behind-the-scenes peek.
He also reveals the harsh realities of show business. In excruciatingly honest detail, Williams portrays the contract renegotiations between the child actors’ representative and Schwartz and the consequent effect on the relationship between the actors and their father figure boss.
Williams writes, All along, we had basically been a bunch of ordinary kids who liked each other and who interacted naturally with each other on camera. Now, with burnt business deals, lawsuits, angry parents, and a jaded mistrust of those in charge thrown into the mix, our chemistry went from spontaneous to stilted and our united ensemble mentality burst into six-sided selfishness. Worst of all, our spirits were dampened and that resulted in some noticeably low energy episodes. We listened to the hype, believed it, and screwed up big time.
Growing Up Brady -- a behind-the-scenes look at an American television icon.
Private Parts
June 15, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
The 1997 movie Private Parts, based on Howard Stern's autobiography of the same title, has fairly rich television connections.
The shock jock plays himself in Private Parts. His gang of Robin Quivers, Gary Dell'Abate, Fred Norris, and Jackie Martling also play themselves.
But Private Parts does more than merely take Howard Stern's storybook rise to fame from the page to the silver screen.
The movie features future stars of the small screen.
Mary McCormack plays Alison Stern, the wife of the self-proclaimed King of All Media. She steadfastly supports her husband as he finds his unique broadcasting voice.
In the final years of The West Wing, McCormack played Deputy National Security Advisor Kate Harper.
Currently, she stars in the USA drama In Plain Sight where she plays Deputy US Marshal Mary Shannon. Shannon is responsible for shepherding federal witnesses through the Witness Protection Program in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Allison Janney also shares a West Wing - Private Parts connection.
In Private Parts, she plays Dee Dee, a radio executive.
In The West Wing, she plays Press Secretary extraordinaire C.J. Cregg who later gets promoted to President Bartlet's Chief of Staff.
Kelly Bishop plays Howard Stern's mother in Private Parts.
We also know her as the matriarch on the poignant, successful, and thoughtful mother-daughter drama Gilmore Girls. Bishop played Emily Gilmore -- mother of Lorelai, grandmother of Rory, and wife of Richard.
Film is a director's medium. Private Parts benefits from a television veteran who draws on her experience to create a definite realism in her productions.
Betty Thomas got her big break as Officer (later Sergeant) Lucy Bates on Hill Street Blues, the highly acclaimed 1980's television drama. Thomas directed the HBO tv-movie The Late Shift based on the book of the same title by Bill Carter. The Late Shift recounts the controversy concerning who would ultimately succeed Johnny Carson as host of The Tonight Show. Thomas has also directed other movies with roots in television -- I Spy, The Brady Bunch Movie.
And lastly, Paul Giamatti.
This fine character actor has starred in American Splendor, Sideways, and Cinderella Man.
In March - April 2008, Giamatti starred in the title role of the HBO miniseries John Adams based on the book of the same title by David McCullough. Giamatti won an Emmy for his portrayal of the unsung founding father.
In Private Parts, Giamatti plays Pig Vomit, Howard Stern's corporate nemesis during his days at WNBC-AM radio in New York City. Stern supplied the moniker.
david@davidkrell.com
The 1997 movie Private Parts, based on Howard Stern's autobiography of the same title, has fairly rich television connections.
The shock jock plays himself in Private Parts. His gang of Robin Quivers, Gary Dell'Abate, Fred Norris, and Jackie Martling also play themselves.
But Private Parts does more than merely take Howard Stern's storybook rise to fame from the page to the silver screen.
The movie features future stars of the small screen.
Mary McCormack plays Alison Stern, the wife of the self-proclaimed King of All Media. She steadfastly supports her husband as he finds his unique broadcasting voice.
In the final years of The West Wing, McCormack played Deputy National Security Advisor Kate Harper.
Currently, she stars in the USA drama In Plain Sight where she plays Deputy US Marshal Mary Shannon. Shannon is responsible for shepherding federal witnesses through the Witness Protection Program in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Allison Janney also shares a West Wing - Private Parts connection.
In Private Parts, she plays Dee Dee, a radio executive.
In The West Wing, she plays Press Secretary extraordinaire C.J. Cregg who later gets promoted to President Bartlet's Chief of Staff.
Kelly Bishop plays Howard Stern's mother in Private Parts.
We also know her as the matriarch on the poignant, successful, and thoughtful mother-daughter drama Gilmore Girls. Bishop played Emily Gilmore -- mother of Lorelai, grandmother of Rory, and wife of Richard.
Film is a director's medium. Private Parts benefits from a television veteran who draws on her experience to create a definite realism in her productions.
Betty Thomas got her big break as Officer (later Sergeant) Lucy Bates on Hill Street Blues, the highly acclaimed 1980's television drama. Thomas directed the HBO tv-movie The Late Shift based on the book of the same title by Bill Carter. The Late Shift recounts the controversy concerning who would ultimately succeed Johnny Carson as host of The Tonight Show. Thomas has also directed other movies with roots in television -- I Spy, The Brady Bunch Movie.
And lastly, Paul Giamatti.
This fine character actor has starred in American Splendor, Sideways, and Cinderella Man.
In March - April 2008, Giamatti starred in the title role of the HBO miniseries John Adams based on the book of the same title by David McCullough. Giamatti won an Emmy for his portrayal of the unsung founding father.
In Private Parts, Giamatti plays Pig Vomit, Howard Stern's corporate nemesis during his days at WNBC-AM radio in New York City. Stern supplied the moniker.