As a film critic with over four decades of viewing under my belt, I must say that the latest turn of events regarding the Brady Bunch reboot has left me somewhat bewildered and disappointed, much like the feeling you get when you realize you’ve been watching the wrong TV channel for an hour.
As a movie critic, I find myself expressing disappointment upon hearing the news about CBS Studios cancelling yet another reboot. The actress who portrayed Cindy Brady, Susan Olsen, has reportedly taken the fall for this decision. However, it seems there’s some debate about the real reasons behind the cancelation.
Two years ago, plans for a new Brady Bunch project were under consideration, but no network or streaming service picked it up, and it’s uncertain if a script was ever developed. The revival aimed to explore the lives of the original Brady kids as they dealt with adulthood, but regrettably didn’t materialize because of comments made by Olsen. During an interview on the Walk Away Campaign podcast, Olsen shared that she was let go from her role by CBS due to her political views. In essence, she said, “I had a conversation with my TV family and my agent. They all expressed their apologies but insisted they couldn’t have me in the project because of my beliefs. I felt like I had been canceled.
A role that I’ve played for over 50 years, I can’t play it now because I’m too dangerous.
Olsen seems convinced that it was her controversial opinions that lost her the role — but, in fact, the actress has been removed from numerous projects in the past due to hate speech. In 2016, she was fired from the Two Chicks Talkin’ Politics radio show after spouting anti-LGBTQ views on social media; upon subsequent criticism, she doubled down by sending a previous guest on the show text messages filled with homophobic slurs. During her podcast interview, however, Olsen referred to these and similar incidents as her “greatest hits,” saying that she “stand[s] by everything [she] said.” Given her staunch refusal to show remorse, it’s unlikely CBS will consider moving forward with a Brady Bunch reboot that features Olsen’s character.
A Brady Bunch Revival Might Not Be a Lost Cause
Although Olsen’s controversial views are widely known, it appears that other members of The Brady Bunch do not hold similar opinions, leaving room for a contemporary adaptation of the Brady kids’ lives to be possible. This is reminiscent of what happened with Roseanne Barr in 2018 when her sitcom was canceled due to racist tweets and replaced by “The Conners,” which essentially continued without Roseanne herself. In the same vein, a reboot of The Brady Bunch could potentially ignore Olsen’s character or offer an explanation for her absence, much like “Fuller House” did with Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who were absent from their role as Michelle Tanner.
In a contemporary reimagining, I find myself eagerly anticipating the potential success of a fresh take on the iconic “Brady Bunch.” Originally, this classic sitcom skillfully navigated the social and cultural nuances of 1970s suburban life, daring to challenge the norm by showcasing the surprising harmony that could arise when diverse individuals and viewpoints cohabited under one roof.
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2024-10-25 17:03