Growing Up Brady: I Was a Teenage Greg [Paperback]

Barry Williams (Author), Chris Kreski (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1993

Greg Brady tells all in a funny, sometimes shocking expose+a7 of America's favorite 1970s TV family, including juicy tales of teenage make-out sessions within the cast, backstage tiffs, substance abuse, and much more. Reprint.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A must-read for anyone who grew up with TV's favorite family!" -- Variety

"Barry thumps! Johnny rocks, and I'm down with the bunch!" -- Coolio

"Packed with juicy tidbits of backstage battles, rivalry and teen make-out sessions." -- USA Today

"Was I really that difficult?" -- Robert Reed --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Barry Williams was fourteen, and already a veteran actor, when he landed the role of Greg Brady. Since the show ended, he has used his diverse talents as an entertainer and singer to head a successful business in corporate and institutional events, as well as starring and guesting in numerous TV shows and in musical theater on Broadway and across the country. Barry recently moved from Southern California to New York City to live with his new wife, Eila Mary Matt, an investment banker.

Chris Kreski is the head writer of The Martin Short Show, and has written for The Daily Show, as well as many other cable comedy shows. His other books include Star Trek Memories, Star Trek Movie Memories and Get a Life, all with William Shatner. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Harpercollins (Mm) (February 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061091227
• ISBN-13: 978-0061091223
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,646,236 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent but sometimes melancholy autobiography ...., November 26, 2001

By 

Echo "Echo" (Western Hemisphere) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Growing Up Brady: I Was a Teenage Greg, Special Collector's Edition (Paperback)

I never thought I'd ever say this about anything "Brady", but this is a very multilayered book. Barry Williams is quite the storyteller, and Chris Kreski packaged "Growing Up Brady" very nicely. It remains the standard TV autobiography for the Gen X voyeur who wants to know the details of on-set romances, Hawaii wipeouts, guest star memories, etc. What I really enjoy about "Growing Up Brady" is the easy, affable way that Barry Williams publicly comes to terms with his Brady past. One can only imagine the inane questions, the ignorant comments, and the stares this man has had to endure. And, of course, no matter how good or bad his talents are, there will always be a Brady subtext to anything he does.

Despite the superficial Hollywood tell-all there is a sad undercurrent to Williams' book. Robert Reed's unhappiness as Mike Brady was a surprise to me, although it wasn't unpredicatable. While his mannerisms and on-set antics seem trivial, the man seemed genuinely bothered by how insignificant he perceived his role to be. Watch anything non-Brady from the 1970s and you'll see Reed try to act as different from Mike as he can manage, to the point of extreme hamminess (catch "Pray For The Wildcats", co-starring the king of ham himself, William Shatner). Reed's limits were imposed by himself, and I find it very sad that despite trying very hard, he never seemed to come to terms with his most notable role. Reed's documented generosity and warmth towards his castmates seems to far outweigh any negative insight into his character.

Almost as sad is the inevitable comparison of the actors' post-Brady lives with their former roles. Williams alludes to this many times in the book...fans addressing the cast by their "Brady" names, inane questions about fictional people, and surprised stares from the public when they demonstrate their natural personalities. From the anecdotes, the cast's self-consciousness sometimes manifested itself through refusal to be part of reunions, interview comments, etc. According to Williams, they all turned our remarkably well and very successful in their various pursuits, and hopefully they are all as well-adjusted as Williams seems to be.

For now, I wish Barry well and hope that he and the entire cast can eat at a restaurant free of thoughtless idiots screaming out their "Brady" names. Hopefully we will see more from this talented man.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No other "Brady" book compares, June 12, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Growing up Brady : I Was a Teenage Greg (Paperback)

There are many books about "The Brady Bunch," but I find all of them to be sorely lacking except for Barry Williams' memoir. His book offers insight and behind-the-scenes material that the other "Brady" authors could have provided but didn't. They would have had to have worked exceptionally hard and get meaningful interviews with the cast and crew of the show. They would have had to write their books with wit and flair. Instead, they were content simply to build glorified episode guides and trot out all sorts of meaningless trivia. That's why this book stands out. Barry Williams told a story that was rich with colors and personality. He showed how a lightweight sitcom could make such a huge impact on our pop culture. He made me laugh by showing the weird ways in which "Bradymania" affected his life. I never thought he was a particularly good actor on "The Brady Bunch." But he makes a mighty fine author.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing, May 11, 2002

By 

Robin Orlowski "political activist" (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Growing Up Brady: I Was a Teenage Greg, Special Collector's Edition (Paperback)

Authored by Barry Williams, (aka Greg Brady) this volume differs from fan-books of retro tv shows in that it is neither a hyper-romanticized trip down memory lane, nor bitter attacking screed from an individual wishing the spotlight back on themselves.

In refreshingly honest prose, Williams recalls the thrill of growing up in the early 1970's (including celebrity perks). The balanced perspective on America's most famous sitcom on seccond marriages and mixed families draws in readers who liked the show, but were never tremendous fans. Openly candid, Williams shares hillarious backstage hijinks that attempt to explain why these former child stars have managed to avoid the negative publicity that caught up with so many of their contemporaries.

True, the long-standing animosity between Robert Reed and Sherwood Schwartz is included, but this does not detract from the genuinely caring sentiment that cast members feel towards one another on and off cammera. The exact family composition may have been the work of a hollywood scriptwriter and casting director, but hollywood personnel could not have required these people to develop the strong personal bonds with eachother that only strengthened over time.

In keeping with the desire for a book transcending the typical low expectations for former Child Star memoirs, a suprisingly small lack of space is devoted to an apparent fling with co-stars Maureen McCormick and Florence Henderson. Certainly mentioned, both incidents are not excessively doted on by the author.

The overall focus of the text seems to be on how a shared sense of cooperation and commuinity among the cast helped a tv show about step-families become a favirote in the American pop psyche at a time when "stepfamily" still conotated various fairy-tale horror stories.