Barry Williams and Christopher Knight on the Way They Became the ‘Brady Bunch’

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condensed and clarified version of the interview with Maureen McCormick (Marcia Brady) and Barry Williams (Gregg Brady) and Christopher Knight (Peter Brady) discussed their experiences as child actors on the popular sitcom “The Brady Bunch” and no one wanted it. They said it was 195, Mine and Ours came out and it did well at the box office. So he went back to the network] with a blended family]. The pilot was picked up in 1969.

Back in 2019, HGTV’s series “A Very Brady Renovation” brought the mid-century ranch house from Studio City that symbolized the exterior of the Brady Bunch home to life inside. Fast forward to 2023, socialite and die-hard Brady fan Tina Trahan snatched this property for a cool $3.2 million. Since then, she’s been meticulously filling it with every prop and decorative item that ever graced the screens of our beloved sitcom – a whopping 300 “easter eggs” in total! Recently, I had the surreal pleasure of exploring this house, and let me tell you, it’s one of the most mind-bending experiences I’ve ever encountered. Every detail, from salt and pepper shakers to handwritten birthday cards, night table readings – they’re all just as we remember them from the show (and so are the rooms).

Currently, Trahan is brainstorming on how best to utilize her latest project. She has brought in Barry “Greg” Williams and Christopher “Peter” Knight, popular cast members from the Brady Bunch series (notably, Christopher Knight’s furniture collection, which gained widespread attention when Oprah Winfrey and Meghan Markle sat on it during their interview), to help generate ideas. With photos being taken outside of the house since the ’70s, Trahan now wants to extend this experience inside as well, giving fans an opportunity to immerse themselves in the authentic environment. The inaugural event is a contest called “The Brady Experience,” where five lucky winners will be flown to Los Angeles for a day inside the house, including dining on pork chops and applesauce with Knight and others (the proceeds from this event will go to charity).

The Hollywood Reporter had a chat with the friendly duo, Williams and Knight (known for their “The Real Brady Bros” podcast), reminiscing about Brady Bunch auditions, Ann B. Davis’ impeccable humor, and the tricky Hawaiian curses they encountered.

Hello, Barry and Christopher! I’ve been wondering, as The Brady Bunch, it must be quite a load to carry around your entire lives. Could you share what that experience is like for you both?

CHRISTOPHER KNIGHT It’s deep in the recess folds of their brains. They know us from somewhere.

BARRY WILLIAMS It feels like making friends wherever you go, as people often have pleasant memories or fandom of the show. When this connection is made with us, it seems to ignite a sense of warmth or camaraderie, in a way.

As a gamer, it feels like I’m being welcomed into virtual families just like Santa Claus does in real life. The way they treat us is as if we’re cherished members of their own households.

WILLIAMS It’s not really a burden, it’s just a different kind of experience.

Let’s go way back. Tell me about getting cast as Greg and Peter Brady.

WILLIAMS Prior to joining the cast of the show, I had already spent around five years in the acting profession. I’ve worked on numerous television productions such as Dragnet, The Mod Squad, and Marcus Welby, M.D., which means I wasn’t a rookie. An audition for a show called the Brady Bunch came along. The director of the pilot had previously directed me in both That Girl and Gomer Pyle, which helped me land in the running for this new project. A total of over 1,000 children were brought in to audition, and I admit I was feeling quite nervous. My thoughts were, “If I could secure a series role, it would mean fewer auditions and a steady job each day.

BARRY Barry wasn’t entirely sure what it entailed, but I hadn’t a clue. I had spent around two years predominantly working on commercials, with only three speaking roles under my belt before landing the pilot. To be honest, I didn’t understand the concept of a series, nor did I spend much time pondering it. Growing up, my parents believed that children should contribute to the family income. It was quite traditional: Kids worked and helped support their families. My father encouraged me to audition for roles.

Christopher, you were from New York?

KNIGHT I was born on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, but when I was just two years old, we relocated to Hollywood because my father was an aspiring actor. He described the move as a potential opportunity for struggling stage actors to earn some income. This new venture was in the world of television. In 1959, we embarked on a cross-country journey for Thanksgiving with my dad’s family and didn’t return afterwards. Each member of our family eventually secured an agent as a child. Some had minimal success, while others didn’t fare well, but I was incredibly fortunate.

And Brady Bunch creator Sherwood Schwartz, we all know his name, but who was this guy?

Through our podcast, we’ve gained valuable insights into his personality, motivations, and the impact these had on our production.

KNIGHT In other shows similar to Gilligan’s Island, he focused on a common theme: diverse individuals finding harmony among themselves.

Was that related to his own background?

As an ardent admirer, I’d like to share the captivating tale of a remarkable individual, who once harbored dreams of becoming a physician. Amidst the constraints of his time, with a cap on the number of Jewish applicants, he patiently awaited the decision on his application. His talented sibling graced the world as a writer for Bob Hope. Incidentally, our protagonist found solace and support in the form of financial aid for his lodging, courtesy of Sherwood. Remarkably gifted with words, he never ended up pursuing medicine. Instead, he followed the call of his talent and embarked on a writing journey that led him to work with Red Skeleton, earning Emmys along the way.

WILLIAMS The Brady Bunch mirrored real-life scenarios, particularly focusing on children who were raised by a single parent or left unattended after school.

KNIGHT And the divorce rate had reached more than 50 percent.

AS A GAMER: Back then, it was still questionable if TV could depict divorce. Yet, when I envisioned those two tying the knot, I couldn’t help but imagine a world of endless storylines!

In 1965, he penned the initial draft of the script, but it failed to secure a production deal. Three years later, ‘Yours, Mine and Ours’ featuring Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda was released, resembling the concept of ‘The Brady Bunch’. This success reminded Paramount of an old manuscript they had received earlier. Recognizing its potential, they promptly considered the possibility that it might have some merit.

Regarding the unique dynamic among The Brady Bunch characters, is their on-screen connection genuine?

KNIGHT Indeed, it was also about how Florence Henderson took on the role of Carol, similar to how Bob Reed portrays Mike. Additionally, there was Ann B. Davis. Everyone at the network understood that she was the one with exceptional comedic skills in this series. Essentially, her character Alice was the comic relief. The scenarios were designed to supply the rest of the humor.

WILLIAMS It seems you’ve accurately captured the essence of our relationship. You can’t manufacture such a connection; either it exists or it doesn’t. However, we truly share this bond, which remains strong even now, as evident by us still being here together. I believe our feelings were conveyed effectively through the screen, and many could sense and resonate with them.

“Besides Tiger, the 10th character of the Brady Bunch is actually the house itself. With the house now existing physically in our world, what’s the plan for it moving forward?

WILLIAMS We’re safeguarding the brand, upholding its legacy, and providing something special for our fans simultaneously. As Tina has only recently taken ownership, we are essentially at the beginning stages of this venture. We’re working together with her to generate creative ideas. We’ve already organized fundraising events for Marine Mammal Care Center and No Kid Hungry. There’s even a possibility of hosting weddings there.

For four decades, this location has been a popular spot for passersby taking photos of a certain house, often said to be the second most photographed house in America, behind only the White House. As actors at Paramount Studios, we weren’t really a family ourselves, and it wasn’t until 1994 that I even wondered about the location of the exterior shots. However, to many Americans, this image of the house has come to symbolize the Brady House. On HGTV, we were fortunate enough to transform the interior to match as well. Now, truly, it is the Brady House. Unfortunately, visitors can’t enter, but thanks to Tina, some lucky folks will get to drive by and catch a glimpse of it.

Have any of you traveled to Hawaii? The storyline featuring the haunted Tiki figurine left countless children from different eras feeling spooked.

KNIGHT Essentially, we received the symbolic key to Honolulu due to our role in making Hawaii a viable vacation spot. This was post the introduction of the Boeing 747 in ’69. We made our first trip there in ’71, and this advertisement features a large family visiting Hawaii, portraying it as an affordable and practical choice. Previously, it had been considered an extremely exotic destination.

WILLIAMS Hawaii remains my most cherished destination on earth, and I’ve been fortunate enough to keep returning and catching waves there. It’s also exciting that we’re filming a TV show there. Frankly, it was fantastic! They even bestowed an honorary Brady Bunch Day upon us there.

This interview was edited for length and clarity.

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2024-11-21 23:25