The Brady Bunch : Common Sense & Nostalgia Combined: television show review

We've been watching the Brady Bunch in our house lately, well my 10 year old has, and it's a big hit. As I sit and watch the shows with her, I like it too.

It originally aired from 1969 to 1974, and had 5 seasons with the number of episodes ranging from 22 to 25 per season, so there are lots of shows to keep us entertained. It was created by Sherwood Schwartz and starred 9 main cast members. Robert Reed plays the dad or "Mike Brady" and his sons, Greg the oldest is played by Barry Williams, Peter is played by Christopher Knight, and Bobby is played by Mike Lookinland. Florence Henderson plays the mom or "Carol", Marcia the oldest boy is played by Maureen McCormick, Jan is played by Eve Plumb and Cindy is played by Susan Olsen. Ann Davis plays Alice, the lovable live in housekeeper/nanny who adds a ton of humour to the show. The story plot is about the merging of these 2 families and evolves as the 2 families become one.

The subjects of the story lines are simple life problems, relationships with friends and family, and the communication that is needed to make it through life solving those problems on a daily basis. It's interesting to watch and listen to the types of issues that get dealt with, and I love the fact that nothing goes unresolved; that makes it a learning tool.

The language is simple. It makes it very easy to understand. The challenges the kids and parents face are still the same today as they were back then too. Today maybe there are more issues and more problems, but the basic consequences are the same, and the learning opportunities are still there.

Not too simple for today's youth, the show has engaged my child. One of the points of interest for her is that she is an only child, and there are a lot of those out there today.

It has definitely helped her curiosity about having brothers and sisters, and it is something she has always wondered about. Since the age group of the children is spread out, it has given her help with understanding pecking order according to age as well as the knowledge and life experiences that come with the process of growing up.

The scene sets are simple and not full of distractions, it makes the show easier to watch. In many of today's tv series the sets are so full of stuff it fills the screen, the focus isn't on the story, it's on the distractions; the products being sold perhaps?

The show has lots of fun with crazy antics and with regular, real household and life props, (ie in season 4 Bobby tried to watch his clothes himself and flood the laundry room with suds: it's hilarious - yet so simple!). They don't need the complicated toys; the scripts are easy to watch and well written - even if it is corny at times; that's just a sign of the times.

The stories all revolve around the family, living life with integrity, honesty and learning from mistakes that happen, and it's done with a sense of humour. Mom and dad Brady are always laughing, so it helps to see that resolutions to problems don't have to come with anger, but they do have to happen.

The messaging is clear, treat one and other the way you want to be treated; and the show always explains why. It discusses consequences for actions and encourages thinking from the perspective of the person who has been wronged. It's a good old fashion television series that impacted a whole generation and with some good morals.

It makes me wonder if we have made our lives too complicated, and for what.?

We are witnessing the generation that watched that programming. They work more than stay home, can't get enough stuff, are focused on money instead of family and are afraid to talk to their kids or discipline them. Somewhere along the line our job as parents has been diluted; too many people fall into the traps I mentioned above and I wonder if we need reminders in our daily lives.

I don't believe the messaging in current television programming is the same. It's more about how to deal with divorced parents, getting ahead, being a part of the "in" crowd, getting all the cool stuff you can, making money ... these things, we have been taught, will bring happiness. My reality is that I've learned that the bonds and connections I have with my family makes me happy; enough money to be comfortable is all I need.

A show like the Brady Bunch is a reminder to take the opportunities that life throws at us in the form of our mistakes, and discuss it with our kids, each other and our families. We need to face and resolve the things in life that we do that don't make us proud, correct them and move on, respectfully.

I miss this simple programming and hope that one day more simple programming that sends quality messages to our society. will come back to the airwaves, whatever airwaves those may be.

© 2012 eye say