View source for The Brady Bunch Hour

{{short description|American television series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = TheBradyBunchHour.jpg
| alt_name             = ''The Brady Bunch Variety Hour''
| genre                = [[Variety show|Variety]]
| creator              = [[Sid and Marty Krofft]]
| based_on             = {{Based on|''[[The Brady Bunch]]''|[[Sherwood Schwartz]]}}
| director             = Art Fisher<br />Jack Regas
| creative_director    =
| developer            = 
| starring             = {{Plainlist|
* [[Robert Reed]]
* [[Florence Henderson]]
* [[Ann B. Davis]]
* [[Barry Williams (actor)|Barry Williams]]
* [[Maureen McCormick]]
* [[Christopher Knight (actor)|Christopher Knight]]
* [[Geri Reischl]]
* [[Mike Lookinland]]
* [[Susan Olsen]]
* [[Rip Taylor]]
}}
| theme_music_composer = 
| opentheme            = 
| endtheme             = "[[United We Stand (song)|United We Stand]]" performed by the Bradys
| composer             = [[George Wyle]]
| country              = United States
| num_seasons          = 1
| num_episodes         = 9
| executive_producer   = [[Sid and Marty Krofft]]
| producer             = {{Plainlist|
* Lee Miller
* Jerry McPhie
}}
| editor               = 
| writer               = {{Plainlist|
* Carl Kleinschmitt
* [[Ronny Graham]]
* Terry Hart
* [[Bruce Vilanch]]
* Steve Bluestein
* Mike Kagan
}}
| location             = [[KTLA Studios|Golden West Videotape Division]]
| cinematography       = 
| camera               = [[Multi-camera setup|Multi-camera]]
| runtime              = 60 minutes
| network              = [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| company              = {{Plainlist|
* Sid & Marty Krofft Productions
* [[Paramount Television]]
}}
| first_aired          = {{Start date|1976|11|28}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|1977|5|25}}
| related              = {{Plainlist|
*  ''[[The Brady Kids]]''
* ''[[The Brady Bunch#The Brady Girls Get Married / The Brady Brides|The Brady Girls Get Married]]'' 
}} 
}}

'''''The Brady Bunch Hour''''' is an American [[variety show]] featuring skits and songs produced by [[Sid and Marty Krofft|Sid & Marty Krofft Productions]] in association with [[Paramount Television]]. It ran on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] from November 28, 1976, to May 25, 1977.

The series starred the original cast members of ''[[The Brady Bunch]]'', with the exception of [[Eve Plumb]], who was replaced by [[Geri Reischl]] (popularly called "Fake Jan").<ref name=fakejan>{{cite web|url=http://www.gerireischl.com/about/the-legend/|title=Geri Reischl: The Legend|access-date=June 6, 2014}}</ref> The show began as a 60-minute special titled '''''The Brady Bunch Variety Hour''''' on November 28, 1976. The special garnered high ratings and led to eight additional 60-minute episodes which were produced and aired sporadically under the shortened title ''The Brady Bunch Hour'' from January 23 to May 25, 1977.

Later ''Brady Bunch'' revival series and TV reunion movies do not include or mention the show's events.

== Premise ==
When the family is chosen to star in a new variety series for [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], [[Mike Brady (The Brady Bunch)|Mike Brady]] gives up his [[architect]]ural career and moves his family into a beach-side home somewhere in [[Southern California]]. In addition to the Brady clan, next-door-neighbor Jack Merrill ([[Rip Taylor]]) frequently finds his way into the act and is a love interest for the Bradys' maid, Alice (her former boyfriend, Sam the Butcher, is never mentioned). Each episode features the obligatory variety show song-and-dance numbers and sketches, as well as a show-within-a-show behind-the-scenes story which takes place in the Bradys' home.

== Cast ==
* [[Robert Reed]] as [[Mike Brady (The Brady Bunch)|Mike Brady]]
* [[Florence Henderson]] as [[Carol Brady]]
* [[Ann B. Davis]] as [[Alice Nelson]]
* [[Barry Williams (actor)|Barry Williams]] as [[Greg Brady (Brady Bunch)|Greg Brady]]
* [[Maureen McCormick]] as [[Marcia Brady]]
* [[Christopher Knight (actor)|Christopher Knight]] as [[Peter Brady (The Brady Bunch)|Peter Brady]]
* [[Geri Reischl]] as [[Jan Brady]]
* [[Mike Lookinland]] as [[Bobby Brady]]
* [[Susan Olsen]] as [[Cindy Brady]]
* [[Rip Taylor]] as Jack Merrill

'''The Krofftettes and Water Follies'''
* Charkie Phillips
* Christine Cullen Wallace
* [[Susan Buckner]]
* [[Linda Hoxit]]
* Judy Susman
* [[Lynne Latham]]
* Dee Kaye
* [[Robyn Blythe]]

== Background ==
=== Development ===
In 1976, ABC president [[Fred Silverman]] concocted the idea of reuniting the cast of ''[[The Brady Bunch]]'' on an episode of the ''[[Donny & Marie (1976 TV series)|Donny & Marie]]'' variety show.<ref name="LTLYB">{{cite book |last=Nichelson |first=Ted |date=2009 |title=Love to Love You Bradys: The Bizarre Story of the Brady Bunch Variety Hour |publisher=ECW Press |isbn=978-1-55022-888-5}}</ref> Florence Henderson, Maureen McCormick, Mike Lookinland, and Susan Olsen were booked and when the show aired on October 8, it was a ratings success, prompting Silverman to begin developing a variety show starring the Brady family. ''Donny & Marie'' producers [[Sid and Marty Krofft]] agreed to helm the show, as their paths had crossed with the Brady Bunch stars on numerous occasions, but no one bothered to seek the approval or involvement of [[Paramount Pictures]] (the producers and then-property holders of ''The Brady Bunch'') or [[Sherwood Schwartz]] (the series creator).<ref name="LTLYB" /><ref name="GUB" /> Both parties eventually gave their approval of the new series, mainly as a way to keep interest in the original series. The variety hour was the only ''Brady'' project to not have the involvement of Schwartz during production.

=== Casting ===
Although Robert Reed's dissatisfaction with other ''Brady Bunch'' incarnations is well-known, he quickly signed on to star in the variety show. Maureen McCormick recalled: "We joked that it was the first time any of us could remember him wanting to do something Brady-related."<ref name="HTS">{{cite book|last=McCormick|first=Maureen|date=2009|title=Here's the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice|publisher=Harper Collins|isbn=978-0-06-149015-6|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/heresstorysurviv00maur}}</ref> Barry Williams once wrote: "''The Brady Bunch Hour'' was incredibly bad, but even ''more'' incredible was the fact that Robert Reed (who you'd expect would be foaming at the mouth about this mess) really ''enjoyed'' being on it."<ref name="GUB">{{cite book |last=Williams|first=Barry|date=2009 |title=Growing Up Brady |publisher=Harper Collins |pages=178–180 |isbn=978-0-06-109122-3}}</ref> When Williams asked him why, Reed said: "I've studied voice and dancing. I'm terrible at both, and it proved to be true, but when Sid and Marty met with me, they described the whole thing in very positive terms and I thought, 'What fun! This'll be a hoot!'"<ref name="GUB" /> Quipped McCormick, "He sang and danced without caring that he was lousy and the show itself was worse. His [[Friend of Dorothy|inner Dorothy]] had found her calling."<ref name="HTS" />

Florence Henderson, the only cast member with real experience singing and dancing, was leery of the project but also agreed to appear, so the producers then set their sights on reuniting the Brady kids. Barry Williams was working on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] when he got a call from Marty Krofft, who pitched the show as "The Barry Williams Variety Hour with The Brady Bunch",<ref name="LTLYB" /> promising the young entertainer featured solos and elaborate dance routines. Maureen McCormick was excited at the prospect of singing and working with the Krofft brothers; and Susan Olsen loved the idea of doing ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''-type skits. Christopher Knight had turned his back on the entertainment industry and was aware of his own singing/dancing limitations, but he agreed to do the show when he was promised that his work would be limited to the opening and closing numbers and comedy sketches. Knight later said that it did not work that way "and I learned one of life's lessons—always get it in writing!"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bradyhour.com/ckinterview.html |title=BradyHour.com Presents An Interview with Christopher Knight |access-date=June 6, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020111041019/http://www.bradyhour.com/ckinterview.html |archive-date=January 11, 2002}}</ref> [[Mike Lookinland]] was uncomfortable dancing and had no desire to do the show, so he demanded twice the salary he was offered in hopes that the producers would be forced to recast his role.  To his surprise, this resulted in an increased salary for each cast member.<ref name="LTLYB" /> Even then, he did not want to do the show and often skipped the rehearsals, until one day Florence Henderson found him in the parking lot and reminded him that they were all doing their job and "if his heart wasn't in it, neither should he be".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.recapo.com/the-talk/the-talk-interviews/talk-florence-hendersons-80th-birthday-brady-bunch-reunion/|title=The Talk: Florence Henderson's 80th Birthday & Brady Bunch Reunion|date=19 August 2014 |access-date=November 28, 2014}}</ref> Ann B. Davis had left Hollywood in 1974 and was working as a volunteer in a [[clergy house]] in [[Denver, Colorado]] when the series was hurried into production.<ref name="LTLYB" />   Originally, no one thought to include Davis, but at the last minute the crew decided to offer her a guest-starring role, which she retained throughout all nine episodes of the series. The producers made a deal which allowed her to be on the set only a few days a week so she could commute to Denver and fulfill her responsibilities to the church.

Contrary to popular belief, Eve Plumb was originally slated to appear in the variety hour. She said in her interview from 1976: "I wanted to do the show but there was a built-in option for thirteen more shows and possibly five years".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bradyhour.com/newscitizen.html |title=Excerpt from: The News Citizen – December, 1976 |access-date=June 6, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030225105808/http://www.bradyhour.com/newscitizen.html |archive-date=February 25, 2003}}</ref>  Plumb agreed to appear in five of the thirteen planned episodes, but when the network demanded that it was all-or-nothing, she backed out of the project.<ref name="LTLYB" /> In late October 1976, producers scrambled to find a replacement and met with over 1500 hopefuls, eventually settling on [[Geri Reischl]] to fill the void. Reischl, who had extensive singing experience, auditioned several times and landed the role only one day before rehearsals began. Reischl's costars made her feel at home (Robert Reed told her it felt like she had always been a part of the Brady family,<ref name=RetFan10>{{cite journal|last=Eury|first=Michael|date=August 2020|title=Fake Jan Gets Real: An Interview with The Brady Bunch Variety Hour's Geri Reischl|journal=RetroFan|publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]]|location=United States|issue=10|pages=46–52}}</ref> and she developed a lasting friendship with Susan Olsen), but because of the recasting, Reischl was later dubbed "Fake Jan",<ref name=fakejan /> a moniker which she has openly embraced.<ref name=RetFan10/>

After the [[television pilot|pilot]] was shot, producers decided that they needed a regular comedian on the show, so Rip Taylor was brought aboard to portray the Bradys' realtor, moving man, next-door-neighbor, general [[Jack of all trades, master of none|Jack-of-all-trades]] and Alice's boyfriend, Mr. Jack Merrill. Like Reischl, Taylor felt welcomed by the cast—with the exception of Ann B. Davis, who barely spoke to him except when they were doing scenes. Series writer Mike Kagan commented that Rip Taylor is a "salty guy, he's got a dirty sense of humor and Ann B. Davis is a born-again Christian."<ref name="LTLYB" />

=== Krofftettes ===
The Krofftettes were a dance troupe, who also performed [[synchronized swimming|water ballet]] created by [[Sid and Marty Krofft]] as a spin-off of The Ice Vanities, which performed skating routines on their other variety endeavor, ''[[Donny & Marie (1976 TV series)|Donny & Marie]]''. When ABC programming executive [[Michael Eisner]] asked the Kroffts to create a new show for ''[[The Brady Bunch]]'', Sid decided that the next best thing to ice would be a gigantic swimming pool, inspired by [[Esther Williams]] movies of the 1940s and 1950s. On October 25, 1976, the Kroffts held auditions for the group with choreographer Joe Cassini in the ABC headquarters at 1313 North Vine Street in Hollywood. There, they met Charkie Phillips, a classically trained dancer from Florida and competitive swimmer with an extensive background in synchronized swimming. Phillips was selected to help Cassini choose dancers who could also handle the rigors of synchronised swimming.<ref name=LTLYB />

=== Production ===
The series was taped on Stage 2 at [[Old Warner Brothers Studio|KTLA Studios]] in Los Angeles. The first episode was taped over three days beginning Monday, November 22, completing just days before its air date that Thanksgiving Sunday.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} The pool—{{convert|45 x 25|ft|m}} and {{convert|68|in|m}} deep with a capacity of {{convert|47756|gal|L}}—arrived in sections that were bolted together and made watertight. The pool included windows along the sides of the tank to ease filming underwater. When the pool was first filled, early taping tests were unsuccessful. Assistant director Rick Locke commented that "it looked like milk". The pool was then filled with {{convert|50000|gal|L}} of Sparkletts bottled water, which was chlorinated along with filter and pump facilities added outside the studio.

Both the swimmers and stage crew faced many challenges with the swimming pool during production. Because the pool was located next door to the ice rink for ''[[Donny & Marie (1976 TV series)|Donny & Marie]]'' on Stage 1, the Krofftettes entered and exited the water in frigid air temperatures while rehearsing for the pilot episode. This caused steam to rise out of the water. Attempts to equalize the temperature of both the water and air then turned the pool into a warm bath.

Unlike traditional synchronized swimming, the Krofftettes were expected to sit on the bottom of the pool floor in various formations. In order to accomplish this, the women had to completely exhale all of their breath so that they would sink in a state of [[Hypoxia (medical)|hypoxia]]. The ABC network would not allow the use of goggles and any unsightly air bubble escaping from a desperate nostril was absolutely forbidden. Because the Krofftettes had double duty as dancers on stage with the Bradys during the day, swimming sequences were often relegated to late night hours. This required the women to work more than 15 consecutive hours on days they were filming.

Other hazards with the swimming pool included props weighed to the bottom, which presented unwelcome obstructions. In addition, the Kroffts decided in one production number to have gas canisters in the pool, which they ignited during filming as a special effect. The Krofftettes were also forced to smear [[Vaseline]] into their scalp so that everything would stay in place while under water. This could only be removed with a recipe of [[Spic and Span]] household cleaner along with [[Joy (dishwashing liquid)|Joy]] dishwashing liquid, which turned everyone's hair green. [[Turban]]s and other head pieces were then used for the remainder of the series.

The Krofftettes were the first water ballet troupe to be recorded on video tape, which presented its own set of challenges. The Kroffts experimented with an underwater camera, but relied more on large porthole windows in which cameras taped from outside of the pool itself. Cast, crew, and visitors alike were known to visit the stage and observe the young women during rehearsals through these windows, which included [[Chevy Chase]] and [[Paul Shaffer]] who were working at the studio on a television special. According to Shaffer, Chase would cut production meetings short so that everyone could go watch the Krofftettes.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Ritz|first1=Paul Shaffer with David|title=We'll be here for the rest of our lives: a swingin' showbiz saga|date=2010|publisher=Anchor Books|location=New York|isbn=978-0-7679-2886-1|edition=1st Anchor Books}}</ref>

Apart from the first episode, the production crew were very resistant to the expense of doing multiple takes, even allowing [[blooper]]s to appear in the finished episodes rather than re-shooting the sequences.<ref name=RetFan10/>

=== Scheduling ===
The show was intended to air every fifth week in the same slot as ''[[The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries]]''.  Starting in November 1976, the series maintained this schedule for the first few episodes.  By March, however, the series was briefly a weekly show, running for three weeks consecutively in March and April.  It then returned to being scheduled sporadically for its final few episodes, leading to inconsistent ratings. A promo was often shown with Reed and Henderson stating, "''The Brady Bunch Variety Hour'' won't be seen this week, but we will be back again soon."{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

== Episodes ==
{| class="wikitable" width=99%
|-
! style="background-color: #801818" | <span style="color: white;">{{Abbr|Ep.|Episode number}}</span>
! style="background-color: #801818" |  <span style="color: white;">Airdate</span>
! style="background-color: #801818" | <span style="color: white;">Title</span>
! style="background-color: #801818" | <span style="color: white;">Director</span>
! style="background-color: #801818" | <span style="color: white;">Writers</span>
! style="background-color: #801818" | <span style="color: white;">Guest stars</span>
|- style="background-color: #FADADD;" |
| 1 || November 28, 1976 || The Brady Bunch Variety Hour || Art Fisher || [[Ronny Graham]], Terry Hart, [[Bruce Vilanch]], Steve Bluestein || [[Tony Randall]], [[Donny Osmond]], [[Marie Osmond]], [[Patty Maloney]]
|-
|colspan="6"| '''Plot''': The Brady kids fear their father is not talented enough to appear on their variety show, so Bobby schemes to replace him with Tony Randall.
|-
|colspan="6"| '''Music'''
* "[[Baby Face (song)|Baby Face]]"/"[[Love to Love You Baby (song)|Love to Love You Baby]]" performed by The Brady Bunch
* "[[A Chorus Line|One]]" performed by The Brady Bunch
* "[[Splish Splash (song)|Splish Splash]]" by Barry Williams, Maureen McCormick, Donny Osmond & Marie Osmond
* "[[There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight]]" (instrumental)
* "[[Pippin (musical)#Songs|Corner of the Sky]]" performed by Barry Williams
* "[[Façade (entertainment)|Facade]]" performed by Tony Randall
* "[[A Chorus Line|What I Did For Love]]"/"[[The Way We Were (song)|The Way We Were]]" by Florence Henderson
* "[[Attitude Dancing]]" performed by Barry Williams
* "[[Cheek to Cheek]]" performed by Robert Reed and Florence Henderson
* "[[Dance with Me (Orleans song)|Dance with Me]]" performed by The Brady Bunch
* "[[I Could Have Danced All Night]]" performed by Florence Henderson
* "[[The Hustle (song)|The Hustle]]" performed by The Brady Bunch
* "[[(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty]]" performed by The Brady Bunch
* "[[The Way We Were (song)|The Way We Were (reprise)]]" performed by Florence Henderson
|-
|colspan="7"|'''Notes'''
* [[Barry Williams (actor)|Barry Williams]] performs ''Corner of the Sky'' from ''[[Pippin (musical)|Pippin]]'', the Broadway musical which he resigned from to appear in this series.<ref name="LTLYB" /><ref name="GUB" />
|-
|- style="background-color: #FADADD;" |
| 2 || January 23, 1977 || 0101 || Jack Regas || [[Ronny Graham]], Terry Hart, [[Bruce Vilanch]], Steve Bluestein, Mike Kagan || [[Lee Majors]], [[Farrah Fawcett]], [[The Krofft Supershow#Kaptain Kool and the Kongs|Kaptain Kool and the Kongs]] ([[Michael Lembeck]], [[Louise DuArt]], Debra Clinger and Mickey McMeel)
|-
|colspan="6"|'''Plot''': When the Bradys spend their first night in their new home, they find themselves with two unexpected houseguests: Lee Majors and Farrah Fawcett.
|-
|colspan="6"|'''Music'''
* "[[The Yankee Doodle Boy]]" performed by The Brady Bunch
* "[[Chicago (musical)|Razzle Dazzle]]" performed by The Brady Bunch
* "The Wicked Witch's Song" performed by Ann B. Davis
* "[[Car Wash (song)|Car Wash]]" by Maureen McCormick, Barry Williams, Chris Knight & Rip Taylor
* "[[Your Song]]" performed by Geri Reischl
* "[[Send in the Clowns]]" performed by Florence Henderson
* "Names" performed by Kaptain Kool and the Kongs
* "[[Damn Yankees|You've Gotta Have Heart]]" performed by Maureen McCormick, Susan Olsen & Geri Reischl
* "[[Heart and Soul (1938 song)|Heart and Soul]]" performed by Florence Henderson & Robert Reed
* "[[Happy Heart]]" performed by The Brady Bunch
* "[[Heart of My Heart]]" performed by Florence Henderson & Robert Reed
* "[[Don't Go Breaking My Heart]]" performed by Kaptain Kool and the Kongs
* "[[How Can You Mend a Broken Heart]]" performed by Florence Henderson
* "[[The DeFranco Family#Heartbeat, It's A Lovebeat|Heartbeat, It's a Love Beat]]" by the cast
* "[[United We Stand (song)|United We Stand]]" performed by The Brady Bunch
|-
|colspan="7"|'''Notes'''
* Rip Taylor joins the cast, credited as a guest-star.
* Geri Reischl re-recorded "[[Your Song]]" in 2011. It was first released on the single "Fake Jan Sings for Real"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/gerireischl|title=CD Baby: Fake Jan Sings for Real|access-date=June 3, 2014}}</ref> and later included on her full-length album ''[[1200 Riverside]]''.<ref name=riverside>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/1200-Riverside-Geri-Reischl/dp/B005Z5H0D0/|title=amazon.com: 1200 Riverside|website=Amazon |access-date=June 3, 2014}}</ref> Footage from this episode is incorporated into the official music video,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFLABZWri7E |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/fFLABZWri7E |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=You Tube: Your Song (2011 Version) Geri Reischl|website=[[YouTube]] |date=October 2011 |access-date=June 3, 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> along with many other ''Brady Bunch'' references and brief cameo appearances by [[Susan Olsen]] and [[Mike Lookinland]].
* The debut broadcast was sponsored by [[Oscar Mayer]] and, as the Bradys exited the stage, an animated mascot marched across the screen brandishing the company's logo.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJW4VDb06xg&t=56m46s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/oJW4VDb06xg |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=The Brady Bunch Variety Hour #2 (with commercials!)|website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=June 6, 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> This bit of animation was omitted from subsequent reruns.
* During the "Car Wash" number, the [[headdress]] worn by dancer [[Charkie Phillips]] was fastened so tightly that she was in excruciating pain and discovered her head was bleeding when it was removed.<ref name="LTLYB" />
* Guest-star Debra Clinger (of Kaptain Kool and the Kongs) was one of singers for "''Rock Flowers''",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://geocities.com/TelevisionCity/1378/artclinger.html |title=All-American Girl Debra Clinger Stars in "Midnight Madness" |access-date=June 7, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804155742/http://geocities.com/TelevisionCity/1378/artclinger.html |archive-date=August 4, 2009}}</ref> a line of dolls for [[Mattel]] toys which were marketed with tie-in [[Gramophone record|record albums]]. Geri Reischl starred in a series of commercials for Mattel culminating with the ''Rock Flowers'' campaign<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srkA41F0U6k |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/srkA41F0U6k |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=Rock Flowers doll commercial with "Fake Jan" (30 second version)|website=[[YouTube]] |date=7 June 2014 |access-date=June 7, 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.retrojunk.com/commercial/show/2445/rock-flowers|title=Rock Flowers doll commercial (60 second version)|access-date=June 7, 2014}}</ref> and was the prototype for the "Heather" doll.<ref name=popcultureaddict>{{cite web|url=http://popcultureaddict.com/interviews/geri/|title=The Real Life of Fake Jan: A Conversation with Brady Bunch Alumni Geri Reischl|access-date=June 7, 2014}}</ref>
|-
|- style="background-color: #FADADD;" |
| 3 || February 27, 1977 || 0102 || Jack Regas || [[Ronny Graham]], Terry Hart, [[Bruce Vilanch]], Steve Bluestein, Mike Kagan, Carl Kleinshmitt|| [[Milton Berle]], [[Tina Turner]], Collette
|-
|colspan="6"|'''Plot''': When Bobby asks Milton Berle to appear on the show, the showman promptly runs amok.
|-
|colspan="6"|'''Music'''
* "[[Hooray for Hollywood]]" performed by The Brady Bunch
* "[[Make 'Em Laugh]]" by Robert Reed, Florence Henderson, Barry Williams, Maureen McCormick & Chris Knight
* "[[Make 'Em Laugh]]" performed by Ann B. Davis & Rip Taylor
* "[[Sing (Joe Raposo song)|Sing]]" performed by Chris Knight & Collette
* "[[Hooray for Hollywood]] (reprise)" performed by The Brady Bunch
* "[[The Rubberband Man]]" performed by Tina Turner
* "[[Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)|Evergreen (Love Theme from ''A Star Is Born'')]]" performed by Florence Henderson
* "[[Catch a Falling Star]]" performed by Robert Reed & Florence Henderson
* "[[You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)]]" performed by Geri Reischl & Barry Williams
* "[[Broadway Melody of 1936|You Are My Lucky Star]]" performed by Florence Henderson
* "[[Everybody is a Star]]" performed by The Brady Bunch
* "[[Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes]]" by Milton Berle, Florence Henderson & Tina Turner
* "[[Good Morning Starshine]]" performed by The Brady Bunch
* "[[Shining Star (Earth, Wind & Fire song)|Shining Star]]" performed by the cast
* "[[United We Stand (song)|United We Stand]]" performed by The Brady Bunch
|-
|colspan="7"|'''Notes'''
* A puppet named Collette sings a duet with Peter. Collette appeared in various Krofft productions dating back to ''[[The Dean Martin Show]]''.
* The lyrics to "Hooray for Hollywood" were altered to include references to ''[[H. R. Pufnstuf]]'', ''[[Laverne & Shirley]]'' and [[Jo Anne Worley]].
* Writer [[Bruce Vilanch]] accosted guest-star Milton Berle backstage and asked to see his [[Milton Berle#Berle offstage|infamous endowment]], but his request was denied.<ref name="LTLYB" />
|-
|- style="background-color: #FADADD;" |
| 4 || March 4, 1977 || 0103 || Jack Regas ||  [[Ronny Graham]], [[Bruce Vilanch]], Steve Bluestein, Mike Kagan, Carl Kleinshmitt || [[Vincent Price]], [[H.R. Pufnstuf]] ([[Van Snowden]]), Kiki Bird ([[Sharon Baird]])
|-
|colspan="6"|'''Plot''': When Greg decides to move out on his own, Vincent Price warns him that his new apartment is haunted.
|-
|colspan="6"|'''Music'''
* "[[Sunny Side Up (1929 film)#"(Keep Your) Sunny Side Up"|(Keep Your) Sunny Side Up]]" performed by The Brady Bunch
* "[[Seesaw (musical)|It's Not Where You Start]]" performed by The Brady Bunch
* "[[Rockin' Robin (song)|Rockin' Robin]]" performed by Maureen McCormick
* "[[Classics IV|Traces]]" performed by Florence Henderson
* "[[All by Myself]]" performed by Barry Williams
* "Celebration" performed by [[Elton John]]
* "[[Time in a Bottle]]" performed by Maureen McCormick
* "[[I Want to Be Happy]]" performed by Robert Reed and Florence Henderson
* "[[You've Made Me So Very Happy]]" performed by Barry Williams
* "[[Do Re Mi (musical)#Make Someone Happy|Make Someone Happy]]" performed by Florence Henderson
* "[[Happy Together (song)|Happy Together]]" performed by the Brady Kids
* "[[Bye Bye Birdie (musical)|Put on a Happy Face]]" by Robert Reed, Florence Henderson, Ann B. Davis & Rip Taylor
* "[[Happy Days (TV theme)|Happy Days]]" performed by The Brady Bunch
* "[[United We Stand (song)|United We Stand]]" performed by The Brady Bunch
|-
|colspan="7"|'''Notes'''
*[[Ted Knight]] was originally slated to guest-star, but he backed out and was replaced by Vincent Price.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Nichelson |first1=Ted |date= |title=Love to Love You Bradys |trans-title= |url= |url-access= |format= |language= |location= |publisher= |isbn= |page=111 |via= |quote=Ted Knight was one celebrity who bailed on the Bradys at the last second and was replaced by Vincent Price.}}</ref>
* In a lurch without a musical guest, they brought in H.R. Pufnstuf,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Nichelson |first1=Ted |date= |title=Love to Love You Bradys |trans-title= |url= |url-access= |format= |language= |location= |publisher= |isbn= |page=111 |via= |quote=Dore was struggling to book anyone and even had musical guests canceling, so at one point she was forced to bring in H.R. Pufnstuf to fill the void when nobody else would.}}</ref> who pantomimed to an original [[Elton John]] song that was recorded for a puppet show at the recently defunct theme park [[The World of Sid & Marty Krofft]].<ref>{{cite AV media |people= |date=1976 |title=Magic in Midtown: The World of Sid & Marty Krofft |trans-title= |medium= |language= |url=https://kaltura.uga.edu/media/t/1_cttqtlkf |access-date=2021-07-12 |format= |time=11:50 |location= |publisher= |id= |isbn= |oclc= |quote= }}</ref>
 
|- style="background-color: #FADADD;" |
| 5 || March 21, 1977 || 0104 || Jack Regas || [[Ronny Graham]], [[Bruce Vilanch]], Steve Bluestein, Mike Kagan, Carl Kleinshmitt || [[Charo]], [[The Hudson Brothers]]
|-
|colspan="6"|'''Plot''': When his family criticizes his singing and dancing talents, Mike decides to prove he can carry a tune. But when he teams up with Charo for rehearsal, Carol becomes jealous.
|-
|colspan="6"|'''Music'''
* "[[Toot, Toot, Tootsie (Goo' Bye!)|Toot, Toot, Tootsie (Goo' Bye)]]" performed by The Brady Bunch
* "[[Malagueña (song)|Malagueña]]" performed by Charo
* "[[Singin' in the Rain (song)|Singin' in the Rain]]"/"[[Stormy Weather (song)|Stormy Weather]]" by Rip Taylor
* "[[Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word]]" performed by Florence Henderson
* "[[I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face]]" performed by Robert Reed
* "[[Strike Up the Band (song)|Strike Up the Band]]"/"[[Seventy-Six Trombones]]" performed by Robert Reed, Florence Henderson, Barry Williams, Maureen McCormick & Chris Knight
* "Disco Queen" performed by The Hudson Brothers
* "[[Chicago (That Toddlin' Town)]]" performed by Robert Reed & Florence Henderson
* "[[California Dreamin']]" performed by Maureen McCormick
* "[[Back Home Again in Indiana]]" performed by Florence Henderson
* "[[Do You Know the Way to San Jose]]" performed by Maureen McCormick, Geri Reischl & Susan Olsen
* "[[Theme from San Francisco|Theme from ''San Francisco'']]" performed by Robert Reed & Florence Henderson
* "[[Philadelphia Freedom (song)|Philadelphia Freedom]]" by Barry Williams & The Hudson Brothers
* "[[America (West Side Story song)|America]]" performed by Charo
* "[[Big D (song)|Big D]]" performed by Ann B. Davis & Rip Taylor
* "[[America (West Side Story song)|America]]" performed by the cast
* "[[United We Stand (song)|United We Stand]]" performed by The Brady Bunch
|-
|- style="background-color: #FADADD;" |
| 6 || March 28, 1977|| 0105|| Jack Regas || [[Ronny Graham]], [[Bruce Vilanch]], Steve Bluestein, Mike Kagan, Carl Kleinshmitt || [[Edgar Bergen]], [[Charlie McCarthy]], [[Rich Little]], [[Melanie Safka]] and [[Van Snowden]]
|-
|colspan="6"|'''Plot''': Rich Little develops amnesia and believes he is one of the Brady children.
|-
|colspan="6"|'''Music'''
* "[[I've Got the Music in Me]]" performed by The Brady Bunch
* "[[Consider Yourself]]" performed by The Brady Bunch
* "[[Hello, Dolly! (song)|Hello, Dolly!]]" performed by Rich Little
* "[[Photograph (Melanie album)|Cyclone]]" performed by Melanie Safka
* "[[Beautiful Noise]]" performed by Florence Henderson
* "[[Ease on Down the Road]]" by Ann B. Davis, Chris Knight, Barry Williams, Maureen McCormick & Rip Taylor
* "[[That's Entertainment! (song)|That's Entertainment!]]" by Florence Henderson & Robert Reed
* "[[Pinball Wizard]]" performed by Barry Williams
* "[[The Pink Panther Theme]]" (instrumental)
* "[[For All We Know (1970 song)|For All We Know]]" performed by Florence Henderson
* "[[Live and Let Die (song)|Live and Let Die]]" performed by the Brady Kids
* "[[Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious]]" performed by Rip Taylor, Ann B. Davis & Rich Little
* "[[Over the Rainbow]]" performed by Melanie Safka
* "[[That's Entertainment! (song)|That's Entertainment! (reprise)]]" performed by the cast
* "[[United We Stand (song)|United We Stand]]" performed by The Brady Bunch
|-
|- style="background-color: #FADADD;" |
| 7 || April 4, 1977|| 0106|| Jack Regas || [[Ronny Graham]], [[Bruce Vilanch]], Steve Bluestein, Mike Kagan, Carl Kleinshmitt || [[Robert Hegyes]], [[Redd Foxx]], [[Ohio Players]], [[Sharon Baird]]
|-
|colspan="6"|'''Plot''': Marcia announces her engagement to Winston Beaumont (Robert Hegyes), a carefree hippie. Meanwhile, Redd Foxx lurks around the set in preparation for his upcoming variety show, ''The Redd Foxx Comedy Hour''.
|-
|colspan="6"|'''Music'''
* "[[Suitable for Framing|Celebrate]]" performed by The Brady Bunch
* "[[If My Friends Could See Me Now]]" performed by The Brady Bunch
* "[[Southern Nights (song)|Southern Nights]]" by Barry Williams, Maureen McCormick & Geri Reischl
* "[[Fire (Ohio Players song)|Fire]]" performed by The Ohio Players
* "[[Funny Lady|How Lucky Can You Get?]]" performed by Florence Henderson
* "[[Singin' in the Rain (song)|Singin' in the Rain]]" performed by [[The Krofftettes]]
* "[[April Showers (song)|April Showers]]" performed by Florence Henderson & Robert Reed
* "[[Rose Garden (Lynn Anderson song)|(I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden]]" by Geri Reischl
* "[[Christmas Holiday|Spring Will Be a Little Late This Year]]" performed by Florence Henderson
* "[[Paper Roses]]" performed by Maureen McCormick
* "[[Tiptoe Through the Tulips]]" performed by Ann B. Davis & Rip Taylor
* "[[Stop and Smell the Roses (Mac Davis song)|Stop and Smell the Roses]]" by Barry Williams
* "[[Laughter in the Rain]]" performed by Barry Williams
* "[[United We Stand (song)|United We Stand]]" performed by The Brady Bunch
|-
|colspan="7"|'''Notes'''
* [[Geri Reischl]] re-recorded "[[Southern Nights (song)|Southern Nights]]" and "[[Rose Garden (Lynn Anderson song)|(I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden]]" for her 2011 album ''[[1200 Riverside]]''.<ref name=riverside />
* "[[Rose Garden (Lynn Anderson song)|(I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden]]" was popularized by [[Lynn Anderson]], who later guest starred on the show.
|-
|- style="background-color: #FADADD;" |
| 8 || April 25, 1977|| 0107|| Jack Regas || [[Ronny Graham]], [[Bruce Vilanch]], Steve Bluestein, Mike Kagan, Carl Kleinshmitt || [[Fred Berry]], [[Haywood Nelson]], [[Ernest Lee Thomas]], [[Danielle Spencer (American actress)|Danielle Spencer]], [[Rick Dees]], [[Patty Maloney]], Mike Kagan, [[Bruce Vilanch]]
|-
|colspan="6"|'''Plot''': When the Brady Kids announce that they have invited the kids from ''[[What's Happening!!]]'' to appear on their variety show, their parents inform them that a last-minute addition to the show is not possible.
|-
|colspan="6"|'''Music'''
* "[[Get Ready (The Temptations song)|Get Ready]]" performed by The Brady Bunch
* "[[Walk Right In]]" performed by The Brady Bunch
* "[[Thank God I'm a Country Boy|Thank God I'm a Country Girl]]" performed by Ann B. Davis
* "[[The Sound of Music (song)|The Sound of Music]]" performed by Geri Reischl
* "[[Rick Dees|Dis-Gorilla]]" performed by Rick Dees
* "[[This Masquerade]]" performed by Florence Henderson
* "[[Turn the Beat Around]]" performed by The Brady Kids
* "[[Those Were the Days (song)|Those Were the Days]]" by Florence Henderson & Robert Reed
* "Enjoy Yourself with Me" performed by Barry Williams
* "[[Disco Duck]]" performed by Rick Dees & Patty Maloney
* "[[Tangerine (1941 song)|Tangerine]]" performed by Rip Taylor & Ann B. Davis
* "[[Dancing Machine]]" performed by the kids from ''What's Happening!''
* "[[Wilton Place Street Band|Disco Lucy]]" ("[[I Love Lucy#Theme song|I Love Lucy Theme]]") by the cast
* "[[You Make Me Feel Like Dancing]]" performed by the cast
* "[[United We Stand (song)|United We Stand]]" performed by The Brady Bunch
|-
|- style="background-color: #FADADD;" |
| 9 || May 25, 1977|| 0108|| Jack Regas || [[Ronny Graham]], [[Bruce Vilanch]], Steve Bluestein, Mike Kagan, Carl Kleinshmitt || [[Paul Williams (songwriter)|Paul Williams]], [[Lynn Anderson]]
|-
|colspan="6"|'''Plot''': When Paul Williams arrives to rehearse for the show, he confesses his love for Carol. Meanwhile, Jan swoons over guest star Lynn Anderson.
|-
|colspan="6"|'''Music'''
* "[[Purlie|I Got Love]]" performed by The Brady Bunch
* "We Got Us" (from ''[[Golden Rainbow (musical)|Golden Rainbow]]'') performed by The Brady Bunch
* "[[Me and My Shadow]]" performed by Rip Taylor & Chris Knight
* "[[Right Time of the Night]]" performed by Lynn Anderson
* "[[Phantom of the Paradise#Musical numbers|The Hell of It]]" performed by Paul Williams
* "[[It's a Sunshine Day: The Best of The Brady Bunch|Born to Say Goodbye]]" by Florence Henderson
* "[[Music! Music! Music!]]" performed by Robert Reed & Florence Henderson
* "[[Melanie Safka#Cover versions|What Have They Done to My Song, Ma?]]" by Maureen McCormick
* "[[The Sweetest Sounds (song)|The Sweetest Sounds]]" performed by Florence Henderson
* "[[Music is My Life]]" performed by Barry Williams
* "Hey Mister Melody" performed by Geri Reischl
* "[[The Music Goes Round and Round]]" performed by Rip Taylor & Ann B. Davis
* "[[An Old Fashioned Love Song]]" performed by Paul Williams & Lynn Anderson
* "[[Piano Man (song)|Piano Man]]" performed by The Brady Kids
* "[[I Believe in Music (song)|I Believe in Music]]" performed by the Cast
* "[[United We Stand (song)|United We Stand]]" performed by The Brady Bunch
|-
|colspan="7"|'''Notes'''
* [[Florence Henderson]]'s recording of "Born to Say Goodbye" was released on the album ''[[It's a Sunshine Day: The Best of The Brady Bunch]]''. This is the only audio recording from the show to be officially released.
* [[Geri Reischl]] re-recorded a solo rendition of "[[I Believe in Music (song)|I Believe in Music]]" for her 2011 album ''[[1200 Riverside]]''.<ref name=riverside />
* The producers asked aspiring country singer [[Geri Reischl]] which country star she would like to see appear on the show and she chose [[Lynn Anderson]] and [[Tammy Wynette]].<ref name="LTLYB" />
* The recording of "The Hell of It" is lifted from the soundtrack for ''[[Phantom of the Paradise]]''. [[Paul Williams (songwriter)|Paul Williams]] performed the song in an attempt to boost awareness of the film.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSVMKGC728g&t=13m35s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/zSVMKGC728g |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=You Tube: Paul Williams Interview – Phantom of the Paradise At The Museum of the Moving Image|website=[[YouTube]] |date=26 January 2013 |access-date=June 6, 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
* [[Lynn Anderson]] later referred to [[Paul Williams (songwriter)|Paul Williams]] as her "almost brother-in-law."<ref name="LTLYB" /> Although they never married, Anderson maintained a decades-long relationship with Williams' brother, whom she began dating in the early 1980s.
* "What Have They Done to My Song, Ma?" was written by previous guest star [[Melanie Safka]].
* According to various cast and crew members, former alcoholic [[Paul Williams (songwriter)|Paul Williams]] got very drunk before they filmed the closing number.<ref name="LTLYB" />
|}

== Home media ==
The first and fourth episodes were released on VHS<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/The-Brady-Bunch-Variety-Hour/dp/B00004YA72/|title=amazon.com: The Brady Bunch Variety Hour Volume 1|website=Amazon |date=24 October 2000 |access-date=June 6, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/The-Brady-Bunch-Variety-Hour/dp/B00004YA73/|title=amazon.com: The Brady Bunch Variety Hour Volume 2|website=Amazon |date=24 October 2000 |access-date=June 6, 2014}}</ref> and DVD<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/The-Brady-Bunch-Variety-Hour/dp/B00004WMP2/|title=amazon.com: The Brady Bunch Variety Hour DVD|website=Amazon |date=24 October 2000 |access-date=June 6, 2014}}</ref> in the United States in 2000 by [[Rhino Entertainment]] under license from the Kroffts.

== ''The Brady Bunch Variety Hour'' in popular culture ==
{{unreferenced section|date=October 2016}}
* ''[[TV Guide]]'' listed the series at No. 4 in a 2002 compilation of the 50 [[List of television series considered the worst|worst television series in American history]].
* The show is the subject of a 2009 coffee table book titled ''[[Love to Love You Bradys]]'' by [[Susan Olsen]] (Cindy Brady). It was released in September 2009 by ECW Press. In addition to many color photos and artwork, the book features over 100 new interviews including the Brady Bunch, [[Sid Krofft]], [[Sid and Marty Krofft|Marty Krofft]], [[Sherwood Schwartz]], [[Bruce Vilanch]], [[Rip Taylor]], and [[Paul Shaffer]].
* This show was parodied on a season three episode of ''[[That '70s Show]]'' ("[[Red Sees Red]]"). The entire family, due to a forced curfew, is sitting around watching the show and each one leaves separately in anger ([[Red Forman|Red]] himself remarking that "This show is crap!"). [[Kitty Forman|Kitty]] then daydreams that she and her own family are the stars of a similar show in which they perform "''[[I've Got the Music in Me]]''" before [[Charo]] makes a surprise appearance. As the daydream ends, Kitty remarks, "Oh no, this ''is'' crap".
* The show was also parodied as part of "[[The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase]]", wherein the Simpson family stars in a variety show spin-off of their show titled ''The Simpson Family Smile-Time Variety Hour''. It was noted during the show that [[Lisa Simpson]] had refused to participate (in much the same way Eve Plumb did), so she was replaced with a much older [[prom queen]]-type who also claimed to be Lisa.
* In a season three episode of ''[[Tiny Toon Adventures]]'' titled "Grandma's Dead," Elmyra's pet hamster Jan Brady dies. Ultimately, she gets a new hamster which she also names Jan Brady and refers to as a "midseason replacement".
* In the ''[[Gilmore Girls]]'' episode "Application Anxiety", Rory and Lorelai are watching ''The Brady Bunch Variety Hour'' when Rory's Harvard application comes in the mail.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://bradyhour.com/background/ Complete Guide to ''The Brady Bunch Hour'']
* [http://www.bradyhour.com/ BradyHour.com]
* [http://www.retrojunk.com/details_tvshows/1973-the-brady-bunch-hour/ Retro Junk]
* {{cite web|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130125093440/http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20101103/ETP15/711039834|archivedate=January 25, 2013|url=http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20101103/ETP15/711039834|date=November 3, 2010|title=Former Kroftette turns teacher|author=Murdoch, Katie|newspaper=The Weekly Herald}}
* {{IMDb title|0075485|The Brady Bunch Hour}}

{{The Brady Bunch}}
{{Sherwood Schwartz shows}}
{{Sid and Marty Krofft}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brady Bunch Hour, The}}
[[Category:The Brady Bunch]]
[[Category:1970s American musical comedy television series]]
[[Category:1970s American sketch comedy television series]]
[[Category:1970s American variety television series]]
[[Category:1976 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:1977 American television series endings]]
[[Category:American Broadcasting Company original programming]]
[[Category:American television spinoffs]]
[[Category:American television shows featuring puppetry]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Television series about children]]
[[Category:Television series about families]]
[[Category:Television series by CBS Studios]]
[[Category:Television series by Sid and Marty Krofft Television Productions]]