When The Brady Bunch premiered in September 1969, it wasn’t exactly a ratings hit. The series about a blended family – newlyweds Mike and Carol (Robert Reed, Florence Henderson), and their combined six kids, Greg (Barry Williams), Peter (Christopher Knight), Bobby (Mike Lookinland), Marcia (Maureen McCormick), Jan (Eve Plumb), and Cindy (Susan Olsen)—was almost on the chopping block. The show was panned by critics and was never a Nielsen ratings hit, per The Museum of Broadcast Communications.
That was until Christmas came early for The Brady Bunch.
In its first season, The Brady Bunch had a Christmas episode, “The Voice of Christmas,” which aired on Dec. 19, 1969, on ABC.
The episode featured Carol coming down with laryngitis just before she was scheduled to sing a solo for her church’s Christmas service. Youngest daughter Cindy sweetly asked a department store Santa (Hal Smith ) to “give mommy her voice back” for Christmas. Her plea miraculously worked, and the Christmas episode ended on a merry note, with Mama Brady belting out “O Come All Ye faithful” for the congregation.
Brady Bunch star Barry Williams told People magazine that "The Voice of Christmas” changed the course of the show, which would go on to run until 1974 and then forever in syndication
“What’s significant about that episode is our show looked like it was going to be canceled coming into December,” Williams said. “So September, October, even November, were not that strong for the network, and there was a lot of dialogue about the cancellation of the series — until that episode. That episode was a turning point in our viewership. Renewals came up pretty soon after that and we were picked up and then picked up and picked up again. It never really faced that kind of danger again.”
Chris Knight elaborated on The Christmas Past podcast. “The ratings for ‘The Voice of Christmas’ sort of got us that first pickup,” he said. “We had a pilot and 13 episodes and…11 more episodes were the backside of that season. But to get that pickup one had to be confident from the ratings that occurred from September through February. And the ratings, I guess, in December were suggestive to those in power that this is a show that should get its midseason pickup and not just disappear after 13 weeks.”
While The Brady Bunch went on for five seasons, Knight noted that there was only one Christmas episode because the show was on Friday nights and would often be preempted by Christmas specials.
He compared the general vibe of The Brady Bunch to Christmas all year round. “We are Christmas the other 11 months of the year,” he said. “It is the same sentiment if you look at Christmas, what does Christmas do, and what do Christmas programming mostly try to engender? That is this brotherhood, this feeling of warmth and acceptance and camaraderie. It's the month to put differences down and to feel warm, jolly, happy, hopeful, and all those are all kind of elements that were the Bradys.”
Of “The Voice of Christmas,” he added, “I like to call it it's the Miracle on Clinton Avenue because it has it has the same tone that Miracle on 34th Street has.”
‘The Brady Bunch’ Kids Released a Christmas Album
“The Voice of Christmas” also produced another miracle—for the Brady kids. In November 1970, the child actors released an album called Merry Christmas From the Brady Bunch.
A Billboard review teased, "With the success of their TV show assured, The Brady Bunch makes their recording debut with a first-rate collection of Christmas carols and songs.”
The kids from the show performed versions of "Jingle Bells", "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town," “Silent Night,” and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Suddenly, they were the singing stars and would later hit the road for a tour.
In an interview with Retro Crush, Brady Bunch creator Sherwood Schwartz recalled that most of the Brady kids had musical talent. “All of them had a certain amount of talent in that direction, except for poor Peter, who had no talent,” he said of Knight. “Most of the time, he just kept quiet. The odd thing was that the mother (Florence Henderson), who was a talented singer and a Broadway star, never got to sing at all. Well, she sang in that Christmas episode, and it was beautiful. The kids emerged as big stars.”
?SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox?
Hence then, the article about how the brady bunch christmas episode saved the show was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( How ‘The Brady Bunch’ Christmas Episode Saved the Show )
Also on site :
- Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky awaits Putin response to new peace plan while Christmas Eve blast kills 3 in Moscow
- JCPenney Has a 'Stunning' White Sapphire Jewelry Set on Sale for Just $16, and It's Perfect for Every Occasion
- ‘Adopt-a-Grandparent’: DJ’s Christmas event reminds nursing home residents that somebody cares