The concept of "The Brady Bunch" started back in 1966 when Sherwood Schwart… Read Full Bio ↴The concept of "The Brady Bunch" started back in 1966 when Sherwood Schwartz (the creator and producer of the show) heard that somewhere between 20-30% of all families had at least one child from a previous marriage. He wrote a 30-minute pilot episode about a blended family; a man with three boys marries a lady with three girls and in the end they all go on the honeymoon together. He also had prepared several story ideas about the kids and their growing-pains and problems arising due to the new living situation.
He first submitted his concept to the three major networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC) hoping that one of them would pick up his show. The networks liked the idea but wanted to make some changes. For example, NBC didn't find it realistic that parents would want their children on a honeymoon and ABC wanted to make it into a movie. Schwartz nevertheless stuck to his principles and ideas and the project was put aside. He felt he had compromised too much with the network when he changed many of his ideas for "Gilligan's Island", which he had also created and produced.
It wasn't until 1968 when the movie, "Your's, Mine and Ours", became a success that the Brady Bunch concept was reborn. This movie joined Henry Fonda who portrayed a father of several children with Lucille Ball who also had several children and in the end they had a baby of their own. It was at that time the networks thought differently and remembered Schwartz's tv pilot. ABC picked up the show and Schwartz began looking for the actors and actresses that would make up the Bradys.
Schwartz began by casting the children. He felt that to simplify which kids belonged to which parent, their hair color would match. Because he did not know who would play the parents, his goal was to find 3 blonde girls, 3 brunette girls, 3 brunette boys, and 3 blonde boys. The children would be cast according to which actors were chosen for the parents. Schwartz has said that Susan Olsen just won his heart on the first interview and that Mike Lookinland was the best actor (though he had blonde hair which was a problem).
The part of Carol was originally going to go to Joyce Bulifant (Marie, Murray's wife on the "Mary Tyler Moore Show"), but after screen-testing Florence Henderson, he felt she was the lady for the job. Next came Alice: Monty Margetts was originally chosen but after casting Florence Henderson, Schwartz felt that more of a comedienne was needed and thus, Ann B. Davis was cast into the role. Finally, Schwartz originally had Gene Hackman in mind for the role of Mike Brady, but was told by Paramount that Hackman was too much of an unknown at the time and he had never done television. Robert Reed, who had starred in the "Defenders", tested for three different tv parts for Paramount. The Brady Bunch was his least favorite, yet he was cast as Dad. Robert Reed went on to have many arguments and differences of opinion about the show and did not even appear in the final episode.
This set the stage for blonde daughters Marcia, Jan and Cindy (Maureen McCormick, Eve Plumb, and Susan Olsen) and brunette sons, Greg, Peter and Bobby (Barry Williams, Christopher Knight, and Mike Lookinland with dyed black hair). They were chosen from over twelve hundred kids, 464 of which Sherwood Schwartz personally interviewed.
The pilot episode, "The Honeymoon", premiered on September 26, 1969 and the show ran for 5 seasons and 117 episodes. The last show, "The Hair Brained Scheme", where Greg graduates, aired on March 8, 1974. During the original run of "The Brady Bunch" the kids also became a singing group, touring the country with a live stage performance. There was also a animated cartoon series "The Brady Kids" which ran from September 9, 1972 through August 31, 1974, with a total of 22 episodes in which the kids did the voices for their cartoon counter-parts.
In August, 1974, everyone believed that "The Brady Bunch" had run its course. It had never been a top-rated show and could have been like most shows which when cancelled fade into history. But this was not the case with "The Brady Bunch". Immediately following its cancellation "The Brady Bunch" began airing in syndication as reruns. Since then it has never left the airwaves. The Brady Bunch has been airing somewhere around the world ever since. But the story does not end here!
In 1976, Sid and Marty Krofft, producers of "The Donny and Marie Show" came up with the idea for a variety show similar to their present show but starring the Brady family. Without Paramount's or Schwartz's permission or knowledge, the Kroffts debuted their show "The Brady Bunch Variety Hour". This led to 8 more 1-hour shows called "The Brady Bunch Hour". This show had the family singing, dancing and doing comedic skits.
Everyone but Eve Plumb (Jan), who was recast with Geri Reischel, returned to star in this show. Most of the actors today admit that this show was a disaster.
But, in 1981 the Bradys were once again resurrected by NBC. What was originally to be a 2-hour movie "The Brady Girls Get Married" became the first 4-episodes of a new series "The Brady Brides". This series would prove to be the last time in which all the original cast would be together again. The concept of this show was the marriage of Marcia and Jan to two completely opposite men, Wally Logan and Phillip Convington III, and the four of them sharing a house as newlyweds. It had a relative success and ran for ten 30- minute episodes.
Next, in 1988 the Bradys were back again for a holiday celebration, "A Very Brady Christmas". Susan Olsen (Cindy) would be missing from this reunion, Jennifer Runyon took her place. This was a two hour movie in which the Bradys got together to celebrate Christmas, introducing the world to the spouses and children of the Brady kids. This movie was the highest rated TV-movie of 1988.
Based on the success of the Christmas movie, CBS attempted once again to bring the Bradys back. In 1990, Schwartz was asked to write three 2-hour movies related to the bunch, and this ultimately turned into a 2-hour movie with four 1-hour episodes to follow. Maureen McCormick (Marcia) did not return for this series. He role was recast with Leah Ayres. This show was placed in the Friday night 8 o'clock time-slot, which Schwartz believes was its doom.
He felt that dealing with the adult Bradys and their 90'ish problems was too grown-up for the time-slot and that it may have fared better an hour later. Thus explains its quick cancellation.
Since this time several documentaries and specials have been made: "Bradymania, A Very Brady Special", hosted by Florence Henderson; "Brady Home Movies" written and produced by Susan Olsen; and the "Brady Chronicles" produced by Nickelodeon television. Even a play was produced called "The Real Live Brady Bunch". A touring cast of actors used the original scripts and exaggerated the lines and mannerisms to create an even more satirically humorous dedication to "The Brady Bunch". Along with these specials, many unrelated shows, such as Saturday Night Live and Day by Day, and even Former- President George Bush have made reference to or satirized the Bunch. All these events capture the history and cult-feeling that "The Brady Bunch" has inspired. But it doesn't end there.
In 1995 Paramount studios created "The Brady Bunch Movie" and in 1996, "A Very Brady Sequel". These motion pictures were written to display the vast differences between the days of "The Brady Bunch" and today. The movies spoof and laugh at the wholesomeness of the 1970 Bradys and remind the world of easier days of the past.
Along with all the stage and screen works dedicated to "The Brady Bunch", there are numerous toys, songs and books dedicated to the show as well. Most notable is "Growing Up Brady: I Was a Teenage Greg", written by Barry Williams and Chris Kreski and updated in 1999. Barry Williams is currently touring the United States promoting his new CD 'The Return of Johnny Bravo' and the new edition of his book.
The 30th Anniversary brought many documentaries and specials, along with a television movie based on Barry Williams' book. The Brady Bunch is the only series ever to be shown in some form on all three major networks (ABC, NBC and CBS), as well as in theatrical and motion picture media. With all these firsts and now entering the fifth decade worth of history, the question is: Will the Brady phenomenon ever end? With each new generation will a new bunch of children tune-in to learn how Marcia handles wearing braces, or how Jan deals with being the middle child? There are so many lessons to learn and laughs to enjoy. It is very likely that despite their 1960's roots, "The Brady Bunch" will continue to have universal appeal long into the 21st century.
He first submitted his concept to the three major networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC) hoping that one of them would pick up his show. The networks liked the idea but wanted to make some changes. For example, NBC didn't find it realistic that parents would want their children on a honeymoon and ABC wanted to make it into a movie. Schwartz nevertheless stuck to his principles and ideas and the project was put aside. He felt he had compromised too much with the network when he changed many of his ideas for "Gilligan's Island", which he had also created and produced.
It wasn't until 1968 when the movie, "Your's, Mine and Ours", became a success that the Brady Bunch concept was reborn. This movie joined Henry Fonda who portrayed a father of several children with Lucille Ball who also had several children and in the end they had a baby of their own. It was at that time the networks thought differently and remembered Schwartz's tv pilot. ABC picked up the show and Schwartz began looking for the actors and actresses that would make up the Bradys.
Schwartz began by casting the children. He felt that to simplify which kids belonged to which parent, their hair color would match. Because he did not know who would play the parents, his goal was to find 3 blonde girls, 3 brunette girls, 3 brunette boys, and 3 blonde boys. The children would be cast according to which actors were chosen for the parents. Schwartz has said that Susan Olsen just won his heart on the first interview and that Mike Lookinland was the best actor (though he had blonde hair which was a problem).
The part of Carol was originally going to go to Joyce Bulifant (Marie, Murray's wife on the "Mary Tyler Moore Show"), but after screen-testing Florence Henderson, he felt she was the lady for the job. Next came Alice: Monty Margetts was originally chosen but after casting Florence Henderson, Schwartz felt that more of a comedienne was needed and thus, Ann B. Davis was cast into the role. Finally, Schwartz originally had Gene Hackman in mind for the role of Mike Brady, but was told by Paramount that Hackman was too much of an unknown at the time and he had never done television. Robert Reed, who had starred in the "Defenders", tested for three different tv parts for Paramount. The Brady Bunch was his least favorite, yet he was cast as Dad. Robert Reed went on to have many arguments and differences of opinion about the show and did not even appear in the final episode.
This set the stage for blonde daughters Marcia, Jan and Cindy (Maureen McCormick, Eve Plumb, and Susan Olsen) and brunette sons, Greg, Peter and Bobby (Barry Williams, Christopher Knight, and Mike Lookinland with dyed black hair). They were chosen from over twelve hundred kids, 464 of which Sherwood Schwartz personally interviewed.
The pilot episode, "The Honeymoon", premiered on September 26, 1969 and the show ran for 5 seasons and 117 episodes. The last show, "The Hair Brained Scheme", where Greg graduates, aired on March 8, 1974. During the original run of "The Brady Bunch" the kids also became a singing group, touring the country with a live stage performance. There was also a animated cartoon series "The Brady Kids" which ran from September 9, 1972 through August 31, 1974, with a total of 22 episodes in which the kids did the voices for their cartoon counter-parts.
In August, 1974, everyone believed that "The Brady Bunch" had run its course. It had never been a top-rated show and could have been like most shows which when cancelled fade into history. But this was not the case with "The Brady Bunch". Immediately following its cancellation "The Brady Bunch" began airing in syndication as reruns. Since then it has never left the airwaves. The Brady Bunch has been airing somewhere around the world ever since. But the story does not end here!
In 1976, Sid and Marty Krofft, producers of "The Donny and Marie Show" came up with the idea for a variety show similar to their present show but starring the Brady family. Without Paramount's or Schwartz's permission or knowledge, the Kroffts debuted their show "The Brady Bunch Variety Hour". This led to 8 more 1-hour shows called "The Brady Bunch Hour". This show had the family singing, dancing and doing comedic skits.
Everyone but Eve Plumb (Jan), who was recast with Geri Reischel, returned to star in this show. Most of the actors today admit that this show was a disaster.
But, in 1981 the Bradys were once again resurrected by NBC. What was originally to be a 2-hour movie "The Brady Girls Get Married" became the first 4-episodes of a new series "The Brady Brides". This series would prove to be the last time in which all the original cast would be together again. The concept of this show was the marriage of Marcia and Jan to two completely opposite men, Wally Logan and Phillip Convington III, and the four of them sharing a house as newlyweds. It had a relative success and ran for ten 30- minute episodes.
Next, in 1988 the Bradys were back again for a holiday celebration, "A Very Brady Christmas". Susan Olsen (Cindy) would be missing from this reunion, Jennifer Runyon took her place. This was a two hour movie in which the Bradys got together to celebrate Christmas, introducing the world to the spouses and children of the Brady kids. This movie was the highest rated TV-movie of 1988.
Based on the success of the Christmas movie, CBS attempted once again to bring the Bradys back. In 1990, Schwartz was asked to write three 2-hour movies related to the bunch, and this ultimately turned into a 2-hour movie with four 1-hour episodes to follow. Maureen McCormick (Marcia) did not return for this series. He role was recast with Leah Ayres. This show was placed in the Friday night 8 o'clock time-slot, which Schwartz believes was its doom.
He felt that dealing with the adult Bradys and their 90'ish problems was too grown-up for the time-slot and that it may have fared better an hour later. Thus explains its quick cancellation.
Since this time several documentaries and specials have been made: "Bradymania, A Very Brady Special", hosted by Florence Henderson; "Brady Home Movies" written and produced by Susan Olsen; and the "Brady Chronicles" produced by Nickelodeon television. Even a play was produced called "The Real Live Brady Bunch". A touring cast of actors used the original scripts and exaggerated the lines and mannerisms to create an even more satirically humorous dedication to "The Brady Bunch". Along with these specials, many unrelated shows, such as Saturday Night Live and Day by Day, and even Former- President George Bush have made reference to or satirized the Bunch. All these events capture the history and cult-feeling that "The Brady Bunch" has inspired. But it doesn't end there.
In 1995 Paramount studios created "The Brady Bunch Movie" and in 1996, "A Very Brady Sequel". These motion pictures were written to display the vast differences between the days of "The Brady Bunch" and today. The movies spoof and laugh at the wholesomeness of the 1970 Bradys and remind the world of easier days of the past.
Along with all the stage and screen works dedicated to "The Brady Bunch", there are numerous toys, songs and books dedicated to the show as well. Most notable is "Growing Up Brady: I Was a Teenage Greg", written by Barry Williams and Chris Kreski and updated in 1999. Barry Williams is currently touring the United States promoting his new CD 'The Return of Johnny Bravo' and the new edition of his book.
The 30th Anniversary brought many documentaries and specials, along with a television movie based on Barry Williams' book. The Brady Bunch is the only series ever to be shown in some form on all three major networks (ABC, NBC and CBS), as well as in theatrical and motion picture media. With all these firsts and now entering the fifth decade worth of history, the question is: Will the Brady phenomenon ever end? With each new generation will a new bunch of children tune-in to learn how Marcia handles wearing braces, or how Jan deals with being the middle child? There are so many lessons to learn and laughs to enjoy. It is very likely that despite their 1960's roots, "The Brady Bunch" will continue to have universal appeal long into the 21st century.
Keep On
The Brady Bunch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Riding down the highway in a makeshift Model T.A.
Ooh Yeah (ooh)
Beautiful morning and it's gonna be a beautiful day.
The wheels are humming,
The guitar strumming.
The radio a blasting,
The good times a coming.
Riding down the highway in a makeshift Model T.A.
We're gonna keep on, keep on, keep on singing and dancing all through the night.
Keep on, keep on, keep on doing it right.
We're gonna keep on, keep on , keep on moving,
We're gonna keep on, keep on, keep on grooving.
Keep on singing and dancing all through the night.
You can hear the music from a hundred miles away
Ooh Yeah (ooh)
Beautiful morning and it's gonna be a beautiful day.
The wheels are humming,
The guitar strumming.
The radio a blasting,
The good times a coming.
We're gonna keep on, keep on, keep on singing and dancing all through the night.
Keep on, keep on, keep on doing it right.
We're gonna keep on, keep on , keep on moving,
We're gonna keep on, keep on, keep on grooving.
Keep on singing and dancing all through the night.
You can hear the music from a hundred miles away
The lyrics of "Keep On" by The Brady Bunch talk about a group of people riding in a makeshift Model T.A. down the highway, enjoying the beauty of the morning and the good times that are coming, with the guitar strumming, the wheels humming, and the radio blasting. The song then goes on to talk about how they are going to keep on singing and dancing all through the night, doing it right, moving, and grooving. The music is so loud that it can be heard from a hundred miles away.
The song is an upbeat and happy tune that encourages listeners to keep on dancing and enjoying life. It's a classic feel-good song that has a catchy chorus and fun lyrics. The song is an excellent example of the popular music of the 1970s, featuring a blend of pop, rock, and disco elements.
Line by Line Meaning
Riding down the highway in a makeshift Model T.A.
Travelling on a potentially makeshift or modified car on a beautiful day.
Ooh Yeah (ooh)
Expressing enthusiasm for the forthcoming journey.
Beautiful morning and it's gonna be a beautiful day.
Anticipating a fantastic day is ahead as the journey begins.
The wheels are humming,
The car wheels are spinning and producing a pleasing sound.
The guitar strumming.
The sound of guitar being played is in the background.
The radio a blasting,
The music on the radio is playing loudly.
The good times a coming.
The travelers are optimistic that their day will be filled with joy.
Riding down the highway in a makeshift Model T.A.
Reiterating the vehicle used to travel.
We're gonna keep on, keep on, keep on singing and dancing all through the night.
Planning to continue singing and dancing cheerfully through the night.
Keep on, keep on, keep on doing it right.
Encouraging others to keep going and maintain their high energy.
We're gonna keep on, keep on, keep on moving,
Intending to keep moving ahead, no matter what comes across in their way.
We're gonna keep on, keep on, keep on grooving.
Intending to keep the music going and having fun moving to the rhythm.
Keep on singing and dancing all through the night.
Reiterating their plan to continue singing and dancing through the night.
You can hear the music from a hundred miles away
The joyous and energetic music can be heard from far distances, beyond the immediate surrounding.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SIMON RICHARD MILLS, ELIZA WREN PAYNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@alexthehooligan
Most of the original cast members even had cameos in this film!
Florence Henderson played Carol Brady in the OG series, and she plays the grandmother in this film!
Barry Williams played Greg Brady in the OG series and he played the record producer here! Even better, the movie Greg actually met the record producer which was Og Greg!
Christopher Knight played Peter Brady in the OG series and he played a coach briefly seen in the Cafeteria!
Mike Lookinland played Bobby Brady in the OG series, and in this film, he plays a cop. Which might explain why Movie Bobby has a nice cop thing going on at the end.
Ann B. Davis played Alice in the OG series, and in this film, she plays a truck driver named Shultzy.
@roninjoey
The funny thing about this scene is that in the 90’s it was meant to be a joke because of how lame they are, but nowadays it’s an unironically really cool and entertaining scene
@thesupplantor
I have no idea why this movie is rated so low. It's a fantastic movie. It's difficult to sit through it without bursting into laughter. You have to be a fan of the original show to understand the humour maybe.
@maxfrankow1238
Exactly. The humor only works if you watched the show.
@mpa1931
I barely saw the original show and I still love this movie, people just don't have taste in comedy if they didn't find this movie funny.
@finster1968
It’s not really rated low. It’s rated middle of the road. Because unless you were a real Brady fan and watched the series, you mostly wouldn’t get it. To the rest of us, this was a hilarious and a dead on parody. So it’s either a 10 star movie, or a 1 star movie (to the ignorant). Hence, a mid 5 star rating. Make sense?
@elliotpole8596
I did not watch the original show, and I like these movies. I'm not a fan of comedy though so forget the humor, I'm here for the happy Brady songs, Marcia being adorable, and also because this was a movie my family watched and we saw the sequel int heaters, good times.
@ian_b
@finster1968 I don't think you need the original show as such, I was a kid in the 70s but in the UK and never saw The Brady Bunch. But it parodies a particular period of time of the television definition of "hip for kids" with pop music and various shows like The Brady Bunch and others e.g. The Partridge Family, a strange collision of lame pop music, family values and tone deaf attempts by middle aged TV producers to produce something with-it and groovy.
@Brock8169
"Clowns have never laughed before and Bean stocks never grew.. "
@mysterioussunshine2026
Worst song evur
@melissacooper4282
That song was from the episode "Where There's Smoke". I think Barry Williams the original Greg Brady co-wrote it.