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Maureen McCormick in one of her appearances on "The Love Boat" in the '80s. Source: Facebook/Grew Up in the '70s and 80's (May be subject to copyright) |
Perhaps the most memorable character from “The Brady Bunch” is Marcia Brady, the eldest daughter of one of the first, if not the first, blended families on primetime network television.
Maureen McCormick played Marcia Brady in “The Brady Bunch” and all the spin-off and follow-up productions afterwards.
It is her birthday today, and a great chance to look back at the pop culture phenomena that was “The Brady Bunch”.
Here’s the story…
When I was a kid, it seemed Channel 13 on the peasant vision dial was always playing reruns of “The Brady Bunch” after school, often alternating with “The Flintstones”. It was the story of Mike Brady, a widowed architect, who had three sons, marrying Carol Martin, who had three daughters. The result was a blended family with parents Mike and Carol Brady, played by Robert Reed and Florence Henderson; sons Greg Brady, played by Barry Williams; Peter Brady, played by Christopher Knight; and Bobby Brady, played by Mike Lookinland; and daughters Jan Brady, played by Eve Plumb; Cindy Brady, played by Susan Olsen; and the eldest daughter Marcia Brady, played by Maureen McCormick. They also had a housekeeper named Alice, played by Ann B. Davis.
When I was a kid, it seemed Channel 13 on the peasant vision dial was always playing reruns of “The Brady Bunch” after school, often alternating with “The Flintstones”. It was the story of Mike Brady, a widowed architect, who had three sons, marrying Carol Martin, who had three daughters. The result was a blended family with parents Mike and Carol Brady, played by Robert Reed and Florence Henderson; sons Greg Brady, played by Barry Williams; Peter Brady, played by Christopher Knight; and Bobby Brady, played by Mike Lookinland; and daughters Jan Brady, played by Eve Plumb; Cindy Brady, played by Susan Olsen; and the eldest daughter Marcia Brady, played by Maureen McCormick. They also had a housekeeper named Alice, played by Ann B. Davis.
What ensued was a show that ran from 1969 to 1974, for a total of five seasons and 117 episodes, chronicling the busy household of a family with six children.
Marcia Brady was the oldest girl, and often the subject of sibling rivalry, most notably in an episode where middle daughter Jan has had enough, exclaiming everything is “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia.”
In another episode, I recall the trauma Marcia felt after being hit in the face by a ball and having her nose broken.
The “Brady Bunch” would live on in a number of sequels.
The first one was in 1976, when an hour-long TV special aired called “The Brady Bunch Variety Hour”, that became “The Brady Bunch Hour”. It ran from November of 1976 to May of 1977 for one season and nine episodes. It featured songs and skits, but just did not last long.
I remember hearing about the show, but don’t recall seeing an episode.
I did see the reunion movie “The Brady Girls Get Married” in 1981, which aired in half-hour segments over three weeks. I recall really enjoying it, especially seeing what the Bradys had been up to. Mike is still an architect, Carol sells real estate, Greg is a doctor, Marcia is a fashion designer, Peter is in the air force, Jan is also an architect, and Bobby and Cindy are in college.
They reunite for Marcia and Jan’s double wedding. Marcia marries Wally Logan, played by Jerry Houser, a salesman for a large toy company. Jan marries a college professor several years older than her, played by Ron Kuhlman.
It was a cool show, with the final segment serving as a pilot for the TV series “The Brady Brides”.
Unfortunately, “The Brady Brides” did not air on peasant vision, and I only leared about it from “TV Guide”. That’s where I also read it was cancelled after 10 episodes.
There were further sequels. “A Very Brady Christmas” was a TV movie airing in December of 1988, which led to a new series called “The Bradys”. That lasted six episodes from February to March of 1990. Notably, Maureen McCormick was replaced as Marcia Brady by Leah Ayres.
The actress
Maureen McCormick, however, was more than just Marcia Brady. Prior to “The Brady Bunch”, she appeared on television in shows such as “The Farmer’s Daughter”; “Bewitched”; “Honey West”; “Camp Runamuck”; “I Dream of Jeannie”; and “My Three Sons”. She was also in movies such as “The Arrangement” and “Cold Turkey”.
Maureen McCormick, however, was more than just Marcia Brady. Prior to “The Brady Bunch”, she appeared on television in shows such as “The Farmer’s Daughter”; “Bewitched”; “Honey West”; “Camp Runamuck”; “I Dream of Jeannie”; and “My Three Sons”. She was also in movies such as “The Arrangement” and “Cold Turkey”.
Subsequent to “The Brady Bunch”, she was in shows such as “Marcus Welby, M.D.”; "Happy Days”; “Harry O”; “Joe Forrester”; “The Streets of San Francisco”; “Gibbsville”; “Delvecchio”; “The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries”; “Vega$”; “Insight”; “Lou Grant”; and “The Runaways”.
In the ‘80s, she was in several episodes of “The Love Boat” and “Fantasy Island”; “New Love, American Style”; and more.
During the years after, she was in “Herman’s Head”; “The Single Guy”; “Touched by an Angel”; the TV movie “Get to the Heart: The Barbara Mandrell Story” as Barbara Mandrell; “Teen Angel” for 12 episodes; “Passions” for 10 episodes; “Son of the Beach” for three episodes; “The Ellen Show”; “Scrubs”; “The Guardian”; and much more.
Maureen McCormick continues to work to this day.
Parting thoughts
It is one thing to say someone is typecast based on a role, but another to say an actor is closely associated with a role. Maureen McCormickj was not typecast after playing Marcia Brady. She played roles that were much different than the eldest Brady daughter.
It is one thing to say someone is typecast based on a role, but another to say an actor is closely associated with a role. Maureen McCormickj was not typecast after playing Marcia Brady. She played roles that were much different than the eldest Brady daughter.
However, by virtue of syndication and a number of sequels that kept “The Brady Bunch” alive, Maureen McCormick will always be most closely associated with Marcia Brady.
I don’t see a problem with that, because it was a great character, and she did a great job.
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