Love to Love You Bradys: The Bizarre Story of The Brady Bunch Variety Hour [Paperback]

Ted Nichelson (Author), Susan Olsen (Author), Lisa Sutton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2009

Chronicling a production rife with conflicts—from drug addiction and power struggles to sexuality and weight issues—this behind-the-scenes history of the rarely seen Brady Bunch Variety Hour investigates how the show was conceived, produced, and ended up ranked one of the “Worst Shows of All-Time.” Featuring hundreds of never-before-published photos and interviews with cast, crew, and production staff, this colorful retrospective details how the spin-off ultimately shattered the Brady’s perfect image and forever scarred their television legacy. After decades under lock and key, the story behind the most disastrous offering in television history is revealed in full Brady detail.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[Susan Olsen] bravely relives this disco-era cautionary tale while dissecting the singing-and-dancing Brady's pop culture impact in her new behind-the-scenes tell-all."  —Retroality.tv

"Undeniably, a head-scratchingly hilarious celebration . . . Love to Love You Bradys is the Wisconsin Death Trip of the disco era—strange, awful and utterly, guilt-inducingly fascinating."  —Salon.com Critics' Picks

"An incredibly detailed account of exactly how this TV debacle came to be be."  —AfterElton.com

"Full of photos, the book is a colorful document of a television show so bad, it's legendary. Most good shows don't get treatments this detailed."  —Bookgasm

About the Author

Ted Nichelson is a writer, musician, scholar, business entrepreneur, and pop culture historian. Susan Olsen is internationally recognized for her role as Cindy Brady on The Brady Bunch. She is an actress, writer, artist, producer, and radio personality. Lisa Sutton is a graphic designer and art director. She writes a weekly television and pop-culture memorabilia column for TVLand.com. They all live in Los Angeles.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: ECW Press (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550228889
• ISBN-13: 978-1550228885
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 8.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #302,881 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The amazing untold story..., August 26, 2009

By 

Vinnie Rattolle - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love to Love You Bradys: The Bizarre Story of The Brady Bunch Variety Hour (Paperback)

The original "Brady Bunch" sitcom has been written about endlessly, but little attention has been paid to any of the subsequent spin-offs... until now, and it's a pretty incredible story! With its tacky sets and costumes, painful song and dance sequences, corny writing and camera-mugging galore, "The Brady Bunch Hour" is more reviled and beloved than any of the subsequent Brady incarnations. It's quite unusual for a show that filmed a grand total of nine episodes to be remembered over 30 years later, let alone be the subject of an entire book -- but the book is jam-packed with interesting info, interviews and remembrances, and tons of rare and never before seen pictures!

The book answers burning questions such as: Why wasn't Eve Plumb involved in the show and which famous socialite nearly replaced her? Which guest-star staggered through a taping drunk? Whose coochie did Chris Knight sneak a peek at? What happened to guest-star Lee Majors' steak? Which Brady became hostile with their co-stars during tapings? Which Brady was nearly reduced to tears by executive producer Marty Krofft? What did they fill the swimming pool with? Which Brady did Fake Jan sleep with... and which one did she WANT to sleep with? Why was Hollywood legend Natalie Wood at a taping? How do Paul Shaffer and Chevy Chase fit into the grand scheme of things? Which series regulars couldn't stand each other? What happened when series writer Bruce Vilanch asked to see guest-star Milton Berle's infamous endowment? Which Brady kid can be seen flipping the bird in an episode?

In addition to all of that, there's an episode guide that includes details on flubs and other things to look for, info on each of the guest stars and cast/crew's remembrances of them, production sketches, script excerpts and much more!

For any fans of The Brady Bunch and/or Sid & Marty Krofft, the book's a must-read!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have for KROFFT and BRADY Fans Alike!, August 20, 2009

By 

L. Latouf "xgdfalcon" (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Love to Love You Bradys: The Bizarre Story of The Brady Bunch Variety Hour (Paperback)

I read this 300 page book in one sitting....I just couldn't put it down. This 'coffee table book' is also jam packed with great pictures. The side notes by Susan Olsen (Cindy Brady) really put it over the top.

If you have any interest in the Brady Bunch, Sid and Marty Krofft, or just TV show business in the 70s in general, this is the book to get. This is the story from start to finish on how the Brady Hour came to be, and how it faded away. I loved every minute of it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "A Fun Read", August 5, 2010

By 

Terry Richard "Terry Richard" (Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Love to Love You Bradys: The Bizarre Story of The Brady Bunch Variety Hour (Paperback)

"Love to Love You Bradys:..." was originally released in September, 2009 and was written by Susan Olsen who played Cindy on the original series. A coffee table book with some rare and fascinating pictures, this work details the behind-the-scenes events on "The Brady Bunch Hour" that aired for only nine episodes on ABC in late 1976/early 1977.

After a few members of the original "Brady Bunch" appeared on "The Donny and Marie Show", which sent that shows' Nielsen figures through the roof, "Donny and Marie's" shows' producers decided to spin-off the cast of "The Brady Bunch" into their very own weekly one hour variety show. Another fact that led to this decision was how popular "The Brady Bunch" was in syndication in 1976, even more popular than it was in its original netwrok airings.

Susan Olsen does a remarkable job detatiling the back-stabbing, the heartbreak, the problems, and the humungous egos that beset not only the members of the cast of "The Brady Bunch Hour", but it's producers and guest-stars. TV Guide stated in 2002 that "The Brady Bunch Hour" ranked as one of the five worst shows ever broadcast on American television. Susan doesn't shy away from this known fact: if anything she writes how bad the series was acted, how terrible the song choices were, and how rediculous the premise was in putting the Bradys in their own variety hour.

If your a fan of the Bradys or interested in anything to do with 1970's television, this is a fun read and a great walk down memory lane when disco was in, bell-bottom pants were the rage, and variety programming ruled network TV.