Community Chat

[sidsmom]

(source: Wiki)

In 1966, following the success of his TV series Gilligan's Island, Sherwood Schwartz conceived the idea for The Brady Bunch after reading in The Los Angeles Times that "30% of marriages [in the United States] have a child or children from a previous marriage." He set to work on a pilot script for a series tentatively titled Mine and Yours.

Schwartz then developed the script to include three children for each parent. While Mike Brady is depicted as being a widower, Schwartz originally wanted the character of Carol Brady to have been a divorcée, but the network objected to this. A compromise was reached whereby Carol's marital status (whether she was divorced or widowed) was never directly revealed.

[meallen616]

We learn in the first episode that Mike's wife passed away. However, the absence of Carol's first husband remains a mystery. Sherwood Schwartz, the creator of the show, wanted her to be divorced. The network wanted her to be a widow, thought being divorced was too risque for the times.

[Poodlepet2]

@sidsmom, yes! I had never known that until now! 

What a fun idea: IF Carol did divorce, why? Just sayin', all she ever did was plan menus, sit on the sofa doing needlepoint-I mean what????

If she was divorced, how did she meet Mike?

....I still want to know what went on between Sam and Alice....

Poodlepet2

[sidsmom]

@Poodlepet2

I'm like everyone else...I thought she was a widow.

If the writers didn't reveal & the series didn't reveal,

not quite sure how anyone can surmise she was divorced...?

But yeah, there was sumthin goin on w/ Sam & Alice...!

[Poodlepet2]

@goldensrbest, it's a slow day....I gotta stir up the pot here!

We both love dogs-in real life, the poor dog playing Tiger succumbed by being hit by a car: that could have been a great moment in tv history by having Mike-with Carol by his side of course- to have lectured the kids about responsibility and pets!

Poodlepet2

[Roni18]

Carol seemed to have it made.  She didn't work and had Alice to do most of the work around the house!

[beckyb1012]

From the first episode at the wedding you learn they are widowed.  She tells Mike that just "two years ago she thought her world was over," and he as a scene telling Bobby he can put his deceased Mom's photo back on his nightstand.  Carol will not mind.  I bet the first episode can be goolged and watched for fun.

Of course could be over could also mean left high and dry, but I never took it that way.

[missy1]

Brady Bunch is one of my favorite shows! Go read: Growing Up Brady (by Barry Williams)

[Mothertrucker]

why in the world would the girls change their last name to "Brady" if their father were alive? That is why I thought she was a widow...

[Bri36]

I just always assumed she was a widow 

At least Mike and Carol  shared the same bed.  Always laughed when married couples had twin beds.  Lol