The Brady Bunch: Miss Popularity

The Brady Bunch: Miss Popularity
ABC
December 21, 1973
Sitcom
DVD
B-

This episode, the last written by Martin Ragaway and the last directed by Jack Donohue, is a bit uncharacteristic for Jan, who not only becomes the title character, but does so by making a lot of empty promises.  If you can get past that, it's an entertaining episode, especially all the innuendo and flirtation between Mike and Carol, e.g. "You can ride my range anytime."  Note that Friday falls on the 8th, which would place this in February or March of '74.  As for its being Jan's Senior Night, that seems premature, unless she skipped a grade somewhere.  (Maybe that's why she was in junior high at the same time as Marcia although apparently not now with Bobby.)

Darryl Seman, who's Herman, was recently Billy Naylor.

The Brady Bunch: You Can't Win 'Em All

The Brady Bunch: You Can't Win 'Em All
ABC
March 16, 1973
Sitcom
DVD
C+

Yes, Lois Hire's second Brady story has the same title as a recent Bob Newhart Show episode.  This is a "swelled head" episode for Cindy, and briefly Bobby.  Other than seeing Cindy in a variety of hairstyles, and listening to the Bradys try to plan a dinner party that includes Florence Henderson and her husband, there's not much reason to tune in.

Clinton (Avenue Elementary) Boy Harlen Carraher previously played Steve.

The Brady Bunch: The Show Must Go On??

The Brady Bunch: The Show Must Go On??
ABC
November 3, 1972
Sitcom
DVD
B

Harry Winkler's second Brady story, the first of three directed by Jack Donohue, has Greg and Marcia drafting their same-sex parents to perform with them in the high school's Family Night Frolics.  I suspect there's a bit of ribbing of both Henderson and Reed, she with her hammy moments, and he with Greg saying that he told the drama teacher that his dad didn't have any talent.  (Henderson in particular finds this very funny.)  What would be wincey on The Variety Hour is charming here.  There's a subplot where Jan and Cindy make Sam (Allan Melvin) jealous so he'll skip bowling and take Alice to the event.  It works, and there's some innuendo when he accuses her of thumping Malcolm the grocer's melons.  I could've done without the return of Karen Foulkes as the homely girl chasing Peter (named Muriel instead of Margie this time), but otherwise a good episode.

Composer Frank De Vol plays the musician father.  Barbara Morrison had previously played a Drama Coach, and she does well in the similar dowager-like role of Mrs. Tuttle.  Brandy Carson would play an unidentified woman on the show again, as well as a Nurse on Soap.