The Brady Bunch: A Room at the Top

The Brady Bunch: A Room at the Top
ABC
March 23, 1973
Sitcom
DVD
B

That trouble-maker Chris Beaumont is back.  Although this is the least antagonistic of his four Brady roles, as Hank Carter he does plant the seed in Greg's mind about moving out of the house.  As when Greg started high school, he at least wants a room of his own, and this time the attic is the right size.  However, Marcia is sick of being second oldest and the two quarrel over who should get the attic.  Interestingly, Peter and Bobby are thrilled to get Greg out of their room, while Jan and Cindy will miss Marcia.  Peter and Bobby scheme to make Marcia give up the room and, yes, cell phones would make a huge difference in this episode.  In the end, Marcia gives up the room to Greg, and this show at least ends the '72-'73 season in a fitting manner.  The episode was written by William Raynor and Myles Wilder, their last for the series, and directed by Sherwood's son Lloyd Schwartz.   (He apparently had trouble keeping hormonal Williams and McCormick's hands off each other, although this really only shows onscreen in the way Marcia squeezes Greg's shoulder when telling him what a great brother he is.)

I've always felt that BBunch is a show that got gradually better each season, until the decline in the last season.  My grades have borne this out, with this season averaging a very low B, rather than the more typical B-.  It's a combination of things: tackier fashions, more music, more farce, and just a comfort level with the characters, for both the audience and the people who made the show.  I also think the age spread of the kids is at its optimum here, with Bobby and Cindy still little kids rather than preteens.  Of course, there will be the Cousin Oliver factor to consider, but that's only at the tail end of season five.