The Brady Bunch: The Snooperstar

The Brady Bunch: The Snooperstar
ABC
February 22, 1974
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Harry Winkler's last Brady script seems to have been sitting around for a few seasons, since not only does Cindy read Marcia's diary, but she falls for Marcia's trick that Cindy has a chance to be "the new Shirley Temple."  When Mike's client Penelope Fletcher (Natalie Schafer, playing a different version of a rich woman than Mrs. Howell*) shows up, Cindy thinks this must be the talent scout.  At this point, Marcia shares some of her diary entries with Jan, who's more of an equal now that they're in their teens.  And Oliver is Cindy's sidekick here, although he's more often Bobby's.

*I can't do any extra tags, but this is Schafer's 100th program I've reviewed.

The Brady Bunch: Snow White and the Seven Bradys

The Brady Bunch: Snow White and the Seven Bradys
ABC
September 28, 1973
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Like a lot of Season Five, this last Ben-Starr-written episode is something I enjoyed more as a kid.*  I loved the idea of the Bradys putting on a show in their backyard, and I thought it was funny when the cop questioned the costumes of Mr. Brady as Prince Charming and Sam (Allan Melvin) as Dopey.  As I became an older kid, I guess preteen, I liked the suggestiveness of Mr. Brady telling Mrs. Brady that if she's thinking about producing a seventh kid, forget about it.  Now, shrug, the episode is cute, but it seems like they could've done more with both the play itself and the behind-the-scenes stuff.  Also, shouldn't Mike as an architect know more about permits?

*I think I was watching it as it aired that year although what I mostly remember from that season is David Cassidy and Susan Dey, possibly in character, in a promo saying that The Partridge Family was changing air-days.  (To Saturdays opposite All in the Family, unfortunately for them.)  In any case, if I didn't see the last season of BBunch at the time I certainly saw it with the smallest gap and it certainly felt less dated to me in the mid '70s than the first season did.

The Brady Bunch: Mail Order Hero

The Brady Bunch: Mail Order Hero
ABC
September 21, 1973
Sitcom
DVD
C+

Martin Ragaway would later recycle this middle of his three Brady stories, using it for "Arnold's Hero" (Muhammad Ali) on Diff'rent Strokes.  Even here in the original, it doesn't feel right that 12-year-old Bobby benefits from his and Cindy's lies, although of course Joe Namath is a good sport about it.  Peter's C- earning line in his essay about politicians lying is too vague to be a comment on Watergate, although I guess it could be seen as a comment on the main plot.  Note that this time we see not only Greg's groovy attic room (as in the previous episode) but also the younger boys' Greg-less room with the bunk beds split up.

Kerry McLane was a Boy on a previous Bobby episode, "The Winner," and plays his friend Eric Parker here.

The Brady Bunch: You're Never Too Old

The Brady Bunch: You're Never Too Old
ABC
March 9, 1973
Sitcom
DVD
B-

In this Gershman & Freedman story, Reed and Henderson play their respective grandparents Henry and Connie.  I'd say his performance is better than hers, but they both face more of a challenge than usual in Schwartziana, since their characters look and act much more different than "look-alikes" usually do on BBunch or Gilligan's Island.  (Eva Grubb started resembling Ginger more as her episode went on.)  Marcia and Jan matchmake them and, after arguing, the two elders hit it off enough to elope to Vegas, making Mike and Carol step-cousins.

M*A*S*H: Bananas, Crackers and Nuts

M*A*S*H: Bananas, Crackers and Nuts
CBS
November 5, 1972
Dramedy
DVD
C

Burt Styler's second of two M*A*S*H episodes has potential, but sacrifices it all for a scene of Margaret fighting off the advances of Capt. Phillip G. Sherman (Stuart Margolin).  She's invited Sherman, who's a psychiatrist, to the 4077th because she suspects that Pierce is faking his sudden insanity.  She's right of course and again my sympathies were more with her and Burns, especially after the scene where she yells for help and no one but Frank seems concerned.  I also should mention that at this point I'm not sure how to take all the times where Hawkeye and Trapper sort of flirt, played for laughs but not really homophobic, I mean not hostile.  In this episode, he pretends to be in love with Frank, as a sign of his craziness.

Odessa Cleveland again plays Bayliss.  This is the only episode in the series that Bruce Bilson directed, although he'd done one for That Girl and three for Gidget.

That Girl: The Collaborators

That Girl: The Collaborators
ABC
November 2, 1967
Sitcom
DVD
B

Another good script by Ruth Brooks Flippen, this has Ann and Donald falling out after trying to co-write a play about her life.  Some actual episodes, such as the bowling ball one, are referenced, a nice touch.  I also like how Don and Ann are both wrong, and both right.  It is annoying to see people crumpling up sheets of paper, some of them with hardly anything typed on them, but I accept that as one of the cliches about writing, up until some point in the '90s.  Bruce Bilson directed three Gidget episodes, but this is his only time for TG.

Gidget: Independence Gidget Style

Gidget: Independence Gidget Style
ABC
March 17, 1966
Sitcom
DVD
B-

This episode has some biographical details, not necessarily consistent with the rest of the series.  Gidget, who's been 15 1/2 since at least the beginning of the school year, claims to have a May 7th birthday.  Russ's birthday takes place during the episode, whenever it's set.  He refers to Anne reading her sister's diary, as if this has happened recently.  And John and Anne have been married for three years.  The episode is also notable for its Playboy Club satire, here the Kit Kat Club.  The family, Anne in particular of course, suspect that Gidget is working there.  Along with a Lolita reference, that makes this one of the more suggestive episodes in the series.

Rick Sorensen makes his fourth appearance on the show, here as a Boy Surfer.  And Bob Beach is back as Toby.

Gidget: We Got Each Other

Gidget: We Got Each Other
ABC
February 10, 1966
Sitcom
DVD
B-

Earlier episodes hinted that Gidget might have an Electra Complex, but this one, written by John McGreevey, addresses the issue relatively directly.  The phrase isn't used ("father image" is), but it's pretty clear that Gidget is worried she has such a complex.  So she decides to first encourage one of his relationships, and then to distance herself from Russ.  Of course it all backfires on her and Russ, till they clear the air at the end.

Bob Beach had earlier appeared as Pete on "Chivalry Isn't Dead," but this is his first of five appearances as Toby.  Penny Kunard, who plays Katie would be on That Girl.  (No, that's not the Michael York as Perry.)

Below, the contrast between mid '60s TV farce and early '80s TV farce.

Gidget: In and Out with the In-Laws

Gidget: In and Out with the In-Laws
ABC
February 3, 1966
Sitcom
DVD
B-

The first of three Gidget episodes directed by Bruce Bilson, this is another one where the premise is good but it doesn't quite play out.  There is a series of misunderstandings but the final confrontation doesn't have the impact it should.  However, it is interesting to see Russ uncharacteristically be the over-protective, to the point of violence, father for a change.

Jeff's father is played by Hal March, who was an early Harry Morton on Burns & Allen.  Janis Hansen, who plays Della Mae, was a nameless girl on an earlier Gidget.