By having nine cast members that include three children of different ages from each gender, Sherwood also insured that each viewer at home would have at least one character with whom they could identify closely. It was an especially gentle world as seen through the eyes of a child, so all kids could easily relate. That factor, along with the universality of the situations the family dealt with, has much to do with the show’s timeless, cross-cultural appeal over the decades. It was strange toward the end that when Sherwood and Lloyd (Sherwood’s son) tried to introduce some new dynamics to the show, notably Cousin Oliver (played by Robbie Rist to bring a new younger child to the mix) and the Kelly family next door (as a potential new series spin-off starring Ken Berry), the audience didn’t go for it. “Don’t mess with a good thing” was their message.
The other part of the equation that is a little less tangible was in the execution, what we as the actors brought to it. First and foremost, Bob and I tried to set the tone for the kids about being professional and doing our jobs the very best we possibly could. The kids learned that they had to come to the set prepared. Nobody gave them any slack in that regard. Since I was not only portraying a mother but was the only cast member who was a mother and a wife in real life, I think the parenting role spilled over into my relationship with the kids. The life of a child actor may sound appealing from the outside, but looking back over the history of the industry, such a large percentage of these children have had difficulties later on as they grew into adults. I tried to impart to the kids on the show a spirit of gratitude. I told them, “Don’t ever resent it. Always embrace what you do. Don’t talk badly about it. Don’t negate it. It is. It’s there. You did it. And you did it well. Accept that.” And for the most part, that’s what they did. Like a real family, we have all remained good friends throughout the years and stay in touch periodically.
Of all the kids, Barry Williams as Greg had the easiest time embracing his role. Barry had a serious interest in becoming a musical performer and he had talent, so I became a mentor to him of sorts. He listened to what I had to say and applied it. He was always a special kid, and I liked him from the start. All right, all right, I know what you’re thinking. So let’s deal with it once and for all. It is time for me to have the definitive say on our “affair.” Get ready for the row of asterisks.
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One of the most popular bits of Brady Bunch lore that has followed me like a piece of toilet paper stuck to a shoe is my alleged affair with Barry. So juicy is this rumor, some of you readers probably could not wait to purchase the book to leaf through and find this section to learn “the truth.”
Those of you who have diligently read this book from the beginning have already come to understand that Florence Henderson has a racy sensibility, in direct contrast to the more staid onscreen image of Carol Brady. Carol would not even give such an idea the dignity of a reply. She would have dismissed it immediately with a bat of a false eyelash. If it happened to be true, she would still deny it until such time as she reached a ripe old age where such things don’t really matter anymore. Until then, she would laugh with feigned disdain at why anyone would give credence to such a preposterous rumor.
But Florence Henderson is different.
When Barry published his account of the Brady years in the early 1990s, he put it out there that Florence Henderson and he went out on a date during those halcyon days. It is true. I won’t deny it. When the book came out, he asked me to do some interviews with him. Given our close relationship, how could I say no? Our date was a hot topic of conversation during these interviews. We were having fun with the idea. Now, since we’re both older, dating the more mature-looking version of Barry doesn’t seem like such a bad idea!
Barry asked me to go with him to hear a popular singer perform at the Cocoanut Grove, the famous but long gone Los Angeles nightclub. I didn’t give it all that much thought, since I would gladly have done the same for any of the older children if asked. Admittedly, Barry was making his first steps into adulthood at fifteen. But it was innocent enough, and I didn’t want to discourage him. At the time, he was not old enough to drive a car by himself. He had a learner’s permit, so he drove with his older brother in the car to pick me up. We then ditched the brother, so that we could be alone for our drive to the Grove. We went in and were shown to a lousy table. I whispered sweetly in Barry’s ear that the maître d’ was expecting a tip. Immediately upon payment, like magic, our host recognized the celebrities we were and showed us to an excellent table. After the concert, Barry was very sweet. We fetched his brother and he gave me a goodnight kiss at my hotel. So from his book, our playful but coy interviews, and the telephone game (where the facts change each time it’s
