Brady Bunch Variety Hour

Rating:
Summary: Greatest DVD of all time!
Review: Oh my God! The Brady Bunch doing disco? Hard to beleive, I know. But the way they did it was just so...so...so unexpected! Who would have thought the peppy, hip, bell bottom family would start doing variety? Well, anyway, it's SO GOOD! I love their preformance of Baby Face. It's pretty cool. And Attitude Dancing, The Hustle, and most weird of all, Shake your Booty?!?!?! This is a must watch for all Brady fans, but I will give you a warning: This could be dangerous to children under 3 years of age.

Rating:
Summary: From the #1 city in America for Speed Racer DVDs.
Review: Rhin$o you never learn. The classic variety show with the infamous fake Jan to counter the less known but also infamous fake Ginger of another Swartz show should have every episode in the run. But that's not what I care about. How cool would it be if Paramount/Viacom(?) would release every season of the Brady Bunch in a good restoring job that is close in quality to The Honeymooners job for the Classic 39. Do you know how great it would be to own a major piece of Americana like that? To get to watch them in order and note the growth in the show and then what happens when Cousin Oliver comes around? Just the image of the hot chick Marsha having to mow the astro turf with the manual mower is almost worth it in and of itself. Each season should be at the same price as Gilligan's Island. Of course if Rhin$o got the rights- and they won't thank god-
it would be one so-called best of of 6 episodes and nothing else for $50. And to make you think you got your moneys worth it would be in a cardboard Brady House that wouldn't open right and wear easily. But I want the full series and cool pictures of like Peter as the Sunflower girl and Jan showing off in the black wig for the packaging and the menus. You might have something like the ow my nose when you choose an episode or an offkey time to change from Scoop Brady. Also I want extras on each disc. Maybe a short concert set of the Brady Bunch 6 on one. Or short footage of them rehearsing or getting chased by fans and then one song live. Maybe just a brief history of the hippest group ever with footage only and one of those old skool deep voiced white narrators. Maybe a rare TV interview and whatever or appearance on another. Maybe a jukebox like for The Simpsons Season 3 on another. Maybe special tidbits on another that are fascinating with great moments from the series and maybe behind the scenes to go along with it. The pieces only have to be 10 to 20 minutes. One per disc. There you go then you have a major winner on your hands. An amazing piece of American folklore.

Rating:
Summary: From the #1 city in America for Speed Racer DVDs.
Review: Rhin$o you never learn. The classic variety show with the infamous fake Jan to counter the less known but also infamous fake Ginger of another Swartz show should have every episode in the run. But that's not what I care about. How cool would it be if Paramount/Viacom(?) would release every season of the Brady Bunch in a good restoring job that is close in quality to The Honeymooners job for the Classic 39. Do you know how great it would be to own a major piece of Americana like that? To get to watch them in order and note the growth in the show and then what happens when Cousin Oliver comes around? Just the image of the hot chick Marsha having to mow the astro turf with the manual mower is almost worth it in and of itself. Each season should be at the same price as Gilligan's Island. Of course if Rhin$o got the rights- and they won't thank god-
it would be one so-called best of of 6 episodes and nothing else for $50. And to make you think you got your moneys worth it would be in a cardboard Brady House that wouldn't open right and wear easily. But I want the full series and cool pictures of like Peter as the Sunflower girl and Jan showing off in the black wig for the packaging and the menus. You might have something like the ow my nose when you choose an episode or an offkey time to change from Scoop Brady. Also I want extras on each disc. Maybe a short concert set of the Brady Bunch 6 on one. Or short footage of them rehearsing or getting chased by fans and then one song live. Maybe just a brief history of the hippest group ever with footage only and one of those old skool deep voiced white narrators. Maybe a rare TV interview and whatever or appearance on another. Maybe a jukebox like for The Simpsons Season 3 on another. Maybe special tidbits on another that are fascinating with great moments from the series and maybe behind the scenes to go along with it. The pieces only have to be 10 to 20 minutes. One per disc. There you go then you have a major winner on your hands. An amazing piece of American folklore.

Rating:
Summary: The Television Enigma That STILL Puzzles America...
Review: The weirdness of this 1977 television show defies description. Itlasted less than ten episodes, and no wonder it has been forgotten byfans and viewers, and conveniently left off of the resumes of allthose involved in making the program.

The well-loved Brady Bunchgathers together for another Brady show, the first after the originalwas cancelled. Unfortunately, this one was created by Sid & MartyKrofft of Saturday morning Super Seven fame. '70s disco-spangledweirdness is at full power!

The Brady kids (especially Greg),wanted to get into music, like the Partridges. They put out severalalbums (some have been re-issued on CD), so naturally the producersfelt this would be a hit show with a built-in audience.

All of theoriginal cast but Jan signed on, leading to the Brady conundrum ofwhat has become known as the "Fake Jan" character, areplacement Brady!

Of all the Brady cast, only Greg & Carol canactually sing. Marsha and the Fake Jan can manage.

The showappeared at the peak of television musical variety shows in the'70s. Donny & Marie, Sonny & Cher, Captain & Tennille,Tony Orlando & Dawn, The Osmond Family, and others were part of agenre of television that has largely been forgotten. Every week wouldbring a new guest star and/or singing act. Only "Saturday NightLive" survives the variety show era and is still in productiontoday.

The Brady show boasted two innovations, the Rockette wannabesknown as the "Krofftette Dancers & Water Follies", and aset that featured a large swimming pool for the underwater balletswimmers. Both are just weird when juxtaposed with the Bradys!

Onthe DVD, two shows are featured, with guest stars Ann B. Davis(Alice), Tony Randall, Rip Taylor, Vincent Price, Donny & MarieOsmond, and H.R. Puffnstuff. Randall & Price steal their scenes,and Davis is the most comfortable with the bad scripts. There is alsoa short interview with Bobby & Cindy talking about what it waslike growing up as a Brady, working on the Variety Hour, and otherthings about their careers.

Although the show has terrible writing,is horribly dated, and emits 1970's toxically radioactive happiness inits purest form, the Bradys are still the Bradys, and this is onetelevision enigma that is not to be missed. The DVD is reasonablypriced, too.

Rating:
Summary: GRREAT VIDEO
Review: THIS IS A GREAT CORRABORATION OF MANY GOOD,TALENTED PEOPLE.FUN AND TALENT ARE COMBINED WITH A LOT OF NICE COLORS TO MAKE A NICE SHOW.AND THE CLOSING ACT IS SO GOOD IT COULD DESTROY YOUR TV SET!!!KOOL SHOW!!!

Rating:
Summary: Yikes...you might want to turn the color DOWN on your TV....
Review: This is a trip....I was smiling almost all the way through it! The DVD is divided into three parts: The interview with "Bobby" and "Cindy", which is fairly interesting (they talk about their remembrances of the variety show, even though Mike Lookinland seems to have blocked much of it out). The other two parts are the first and second BBVH installments. Guest stars include Tony Randall (what was HE thinking????), Vincent Price, Rip Taylor, H.R. Puffnstuff, and Donnie & Marie.

The first episode has a truly surreal "number" featuring a bunch of clowns jumping around in a swimming pool (some of the clowns being Bradys). Very strange and incoherent! This whole Variety Hour concept seems like something Ed Wood had a hand in! The first episode is also notable because Jan is portrayed as a whining, complaining malcontent...which is surprising because the whole Jan-Brady-angst phenomena didn't really take shape until the last 10 years or so.

Fun Fact: Bruce Valanch, currently appearing in, and writing for, Hollywood Squares (and also well-known in Hollywood as a comedy writer for many stars such as Woopie Goldberg, etc.) is one of the writers for The Brady Bunch Variety Hour (What was HE thinking??). If I ever meet him, you can be sure I will ask him about this!

Rating:
Summary: Yikes...you might want to turn the color DOWN on your TV....
Review: This is a trip....I was smiling almost all the way through it! The DVD is divided into three parts: The interview with "Bobby" and "Cindy", which is fairly interesting (they talk about their remembrances of the variety show, even though Mike Lookinland seems to have blocked much of it out). The other two parts are the first and second BBVH installments. Guest stars include Tony Randall (what was HE thinking????), Vincent Price, Rip Taylor, H.R. Puffnstuff, and Donnie & Marie.

The first episode has a truly surreal "number" featuring a bunch of clowns jumping around in a swimming pool (some of the clowns being Bradys). Very strange and incoherent! This whole Variety Hour concept seems like something Ed Wood had a hand in! The first episode is also notable because Jan is portrayed as a whining, complaining malcontent...which is surprising because the whole Jan-Brady-angst phenomena didn't really take shape until the last 10 years or so.

Fun Fact: Bruce Valanch, currently appearing in, and writing for, Hollywood Squares (and also well-known in Hollywood as a comedy writer for many stars such as Woopie Goldberg, etc.) is one of the writers for The Brady Bunch Variety Hour (What was HE thinking??). If I ever meet him, you can be sure I will ask him about this!

Rating:
Summary: NOT ANYWHERE Near as bad as they say..... ENJOY
Review: To be honest, I as expecting something far worse and was actually delighted with the 80's charm and Brady charisma. The fact of the matter is, individually, perhaps some did not have the talent to pull off a variety show - but as a "Bunch", it was endearing ! I was a Brady Bunch fan during their tenure when it first aired and -- kinda like Bobby (Mike Lookinland), remember nothing about this show and pretty sure I never watched it when it originally aired. I also preferred the Partridge Family to the Brady's, but generally enjoyed them both and am enjoying my retrospective of those years.

Yes - I know, TV Guide says this show was one of the 50 Worst ever... But they are dead wrong and I can prove it: Bosom Buddies is not in the 50 Worst List !

So, get thinking 80's here Folks: Remember too: The Carpenters had a number of Variety Shows - and no one disputes Karen and Richard were one of the most talented duos of the last decade: But even their variety show was of the same ilk --- and not much better ! (sans Karen's Gorgeous and Rich voice register that could melt me like butter...).

I think this also proves that while Robert Reed had his demons, he genuine loved this brood and stayed with them until the end...

Rating:
Summary: NOT ANYWHERE Near as bad as they say..... ENJOY
Review: To be honest, I as expecting something far worse and was actually delighted with the 80's charm and Brady charisma. The fact of the matter is, individually, perhaps some did not have the talent to pull off a variety show - but as a "Bunch", it was endearing ! I was a Brady Bunch fan during their tenure when it first aired and -- kinda like Bobby (Mike Lookinland), remember nothing about this show and pretty sure I never watched it when it originally aired. I also preferred the Partridge Family to the Brady's, but generally enjoyed them both and am enjoying my retrospective of those years.

Yes - I know, TV Guide says this show was one of the 50 Worst ever... But they are dead wrong and I can prove it: Bosom Buddies is not in the 50 Worst List !

So, get thinking 80's here Folks: Remember too: The Carpenters had a number of Variety Shows - and no one disputes Karen and Richard were one of the most talented duos of the last decade: But even their variety show was of the same ilk --- and not much better ! (sans Karen's Gorgeous and Rich voice register that could melt me like butter...).

I think this also proves that while Robert Reed had his demons, he genuine loved this brood and stayed with them until the end...

Rating:
Summary: So unbelievably bad that it's incredible fun to watch!
Review: Trust me when I say this: the show and therefore the DVD are brutal. Awful. A complete embarrassment. And entertaining as all hell! The show is an acid-trip mess of Brady whitebread smarminess and Krofft Brothers bizarre-ness that has to be seen to be believed. Poor Robert Reed...as if he didn't hate playing Mike Brady enough, he was turned into a song-and-dance man for this show and he was anything but. At one point, you actually see him stop dancing and laugh at himself because he was so far off his mark. Another time, you actually see Greg wipe out on a roller rink and the editors completely miss it. It's almost unwatchable, but for those who appreciate great cheese like I do, it's a goldmine! I haven't laughed so hard at a movie since I saw Waiting For Guffman.

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