Tiger Fluffy Tiger
May 31st, 2017 by Proprietor
Everyone has heard the rumors and the gossip, the dog that appeared in the first episode of the Brady Bunch was not the only dog to appear in the series. The first dog was run over by a truck. That would have been a hell of an episode. The second Tiger was a mutt rescued from the pound. Eventually, Tiger would just simply become a figment of everyone’s imagination. His dog house would remain in the backyard throughout the entire run of the show to remind us there once was a Brady pet, and for the kids to physically end up in, when they were in trouble, metaphorical symbolism.
At least Tiger, named for a cat, had a future on the show, unlike the actual cat, Fluffy, an orange tabby, sort of tiger like, whom was cut from the show after the pilot episode. Girls had cats, boys had dogs, it was cliche, and it was the chase between the dog and the cat that created hilarity in the first episode. The wedding cake fell, Mike saved the cake, then splat! It would not be the last we ever saw of cake in the Brady series. That was the last we ever saw of Fluffy. Honeymoon over.
According to Lloyd Schwartz, the plan was to move the Bradys into their house with the cat and the dog, but after discussion it was decided six kids, a dog and a cat would be too much to juggle. The cat got to live on with Carol’s parents, we wanted to believe, Tiger came to the Brady household, and in real life, got hit by a truck, then replaced. Fluffy was the lucky one, we hope. An episode situated around Tiger getting hit by a truck would have been an awesome episode. It would have been a great way to bring Fluffy back. Maybe it was Fluffy’s revenge?
Loved and maligned, Tiger was the center of several shows, a four footed plot device that was phased out, eventually a dog house left to remind us of his existence. Jan was allergic to the flea powder, but everyone thought she was allergic Tiger, the poor pooch was going to be sent to live with Carol’s parents. No mention of Fluffy. Though after the discovery of why Jan sneezed, Tiger got a reprieve, he could stay. No cake to celebrate for some reason, but the lucky dog got to sleep with Jan for the night.
Tiger was a thief, taking Bobby’s kazoo, so much for loyalty, and Cindy’s doll. Then hiding the stolen goods in his house out back. He would disappear, but the house would stay.
Tiger was afraid of mice. When Jan took Myron, the mouse, and hid him in a hamper, the mouse escaped, ended up in the dog house, which caused Tiger to howl. When the Brady kids tried haunting their own house, Tiger was blamed for some of the noises, but never seen. Maybe the house was really haunted by the memory of Tiger?
Tiger went on to run wild, and get another dog across town pregnant. Apparently smoking was bad, spaying and neutering was bad as well, but cake was good. Sticking some poor person on the other side of town with puppies is not really Brady like. At least Bobby took some responsibility and brought food over for the puppies. Oddly no cake to celebrate the puppies.
Tiger moved on. The Bradys moved on. The dog house remained in the backyard, like a Driscoll’s box remained in the garage. In the spinoff shows, no one ever seemed to recall having a dog or cat.
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Johnny Bravo
May 28th, 2017 by Proprietor
First episode of season five of the Brady Bunch saw Greg’s longtime pursuit of a career in music possibly come to fruition. A gorgeous talent agent talks to Greg after he singing with his siblings to appear on television. The agent wants to talk, and everyone is excited. Except, all the talent agent wants is Greg. His siblings are crushed, but Greg has to make hard choices. College or a career in music? Family loyalty or pop star success? His parents council caution. Would Greg listen?
Greg has been a budding musician since the second season of the show. He had been asked to join a band with some guys at school, “The Banana Convention”. These guys offered him a cigarette, not wanting to appear uncool, Greg took a puff. Immediately hated it, and vowed never to smoke again. Marcia ratted on him, Greg confessed to his parents and promised he was never going to do it again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwNRhEfVgqo
Mrs. Brady decided to join an anti-smoking campaign. Even back then cigarettes could kill you, and the Bradys were ardent anti-smoking advocates. Eating too much cake could kill you, but that never bothered the Bradys. Greg being his normal sloppy self tossed his letterman’s jacket on the couch, Mrs. Brady chided him, he picked it up, but there was a pack of cigarettes in the inside pocket. This almost derailed Greg’s chances to play in a band. But, the Brady parents believed Greg, and it turned out his friend who offered him the cigarettes was at fault.
Throughout the entire run of the show, the Bradys, mainly Greg, flirted with music. Family acts were big back in the era of psychedelic Jimmy Hendricks style rock. Odd. No Jimmy Hendricks posters on Greg’s walls. Even when he temporarily took over his dad’s former den/office to have a room of his own. Back then the attic was only fit for little people, yet at some point, the Brady’s would go to war over a room in the attic. Yeah, there were some inconsistencies in the whole Brady show, but not Greg’s desire for a music career or cake.
From raising money to cover Jan’s math mistake when it came to a silver platter. To producing a record that would sell millions. Greg maintained his love for music, and wanted to become a success. As Greg grew toward manhood, he wanted the rock and roll lifestyle. Now as he was preparing to go to college, Greg had the offer of a lifetime. Johnny Bravo would be the next big thing, maybe get a cigarette endorsement deal or better a CAKE endorsement deal. A guy in a matador suit, playing guitar before millions of screaming fans. Greg fit the suit. It did not matter whether he had talent or could sing, he fit a suit and was just going to be a front man, as Johnny Bravo he could make millions. When Greg heard the heavily distorted recording of his music, and found out why he was hired, He Fit The Suit, Greg was shocked. Greg was not a sellout, he quit. All was good in the Brady world, Greg would go to college. Though he would wind up with hair that looked like clown hair rather than dress like one.
In later spinoff shows, it was revealed, Greg would graduate college, become a doctor, and get married. The dreams of playing guitar, singing and entertaining millions, gone. But, out there, somewhere, Johnny Bravo lives on, some other guy might have fit the suit.
Thanks for stopping by.
Buttons
May 24th, 2017 by Proprietor
Stepping out of my normal Brady Bunch posting, that will return Sunday with a new Kid Spider Adventure comic, to post something about comic books. I have been a nearly life long fan of comic books. I have read good stories, bad stories, and all kinds of stories in between. Some have been insightful while others have been down right painful.
Currently DC, is going through a bit of a crisis. DC had gone through all kinds of crises, but the current rebirth of their comic line was intended to take all the previous continuity and graft it back into place after DC decided to go with a continuity light New 52. For decades DC has had problems with characters having been around for seven to eight decades, and various writers tinkering with the history of the characters, then there were all the alternate earths and futures and dimensions and what have you. Many writers felt constrained. My opinion is if they were really good writers they would figure things out.
When DC decided to go with the New 52, strip out the whole past history, and condense some of the history of characters to make those characters more accessible, and user friendly, something was lost. A good Batman story is a good Batman story. Just the basics of the character lead to good story telling, regardless of the previous histories or cannons.
After nearly four years of New 52, DC announced another relaunch, keep in mind, it was not build as a relaunch or reboot or retcon, but Rebirth was exactly what it was not billed as, a reboot. With complex histories, and lost possibilities due to stripping down characters, DC decided to bring back the lost, but in a way that would tie it to the current version of the DC universe.
Lets face it, current models for selling comics are wring as much money out of people as we can get, though that seems to happen all the time. I did not read the previous story lines and Rebirth specials. From what I gather, DC is now trying to bring in and tie the Watchmen Universe to the DC Universe. Dr. Manhattan has something to do with the current situation.
Recently DC put out a four part crossover between Batman and Flash titled “The Button”. It revolves around a smiley face button that was worn by the Comedian in Watchmen, and has sort of become a de facto symbol for the Watchmen. The Button showed up in the Batcave after Wally West returned or something to the effect. With Flash being able to travel through time and alternate dimensions, Flash will always be a key to the DC universe.
Before the New 52, there was a story line “Flashpoint” in which Flash travels back in time to save his mother’s life, and in doing so created alternate realities and the New 52. Not having read the extensive storyline, but due to “The Button” story line I am tempted to pick up the trade paperbacks, it seems that Flash caused some event that allowed Dr. Manhattan to perceive the multiverse, and now create a form of time collapse that would graft everything onto the DC universe.
“The Button” was a decent story, but it could have been done in two parts or even one comic, but as stated, the current practice in comics is to wring money out of people. That is write an extended story that can later be repackaged into trade format.
Overall “The Button” is a prelude to a larger fall event coming to DC in November “Doomsday Clock”, written by Geoff Johns. All the earmarks point to the Watchmen having a big part within the story, and throughout “The Button” story was hints that the Legion of Superheroes will be returning. The Legion has extensive time travel experience, and due to the constant rebooting and retconning DC has done over the years, the Legion’s future and history has been mushed up. Several years ago, Johns wrote one of the best Legion stories I have read. Johns has an affinity for revamping characters that are thematically dead or unwieldy. Look at what he did for Aquaman.
I will more than likely pick up “Doomsday Clock” when it comes out. Though I will have to see how DC handles the marketing and tie ins. If it becomes a you can buy the main mini series, but in order to get the full scope of things, you have to by all the tie ins, then I am out.
Thanks for stopping by.
Attic Room Attica
May 21st, 2017 by Proprietor
The Brady Bunch series had plenty of inconsistencies within the show, and the short lived spin-offs. Basic stuff like, why did Mr. Brady, an architect, design a three bedroom house for six kids, then stuff three kids in each room? Well, even back in the 70s Los Angeles, prices for land and housing was becoming outrageous. The original house used for the establishing shots of the Brady residence was sold for over a million, though it is quite nice. Also, when people are writing for a half hour comedy show that might not be picked up again for another season, consistency is not on the forefront of everyone’s mind.
In season two, Greg wanted to be a man, in his own room. He was now in high school after all, and a man has to have his own space. Mrs. Brady suggested remodel the attic, but Mr. Brady sarcastically remarked that it would be fine if Greg were four feet tall, which implied the attic was standard height for most houses. Greg asked about having the den. After some goading Mr. Brady caved in, and let Greg take over his den/office. In the end, Greg returned to his room with his two brothers.
Two seasons later, the Bradys were cleaning out the attic to get rid of stuff for charity, and suddenly the attic was the size of a nice spare bedroom. Naturally the conflict was established. Marcia mentioned to her mother how it would be awesome to have a room of her own, Greg mentioned to his dad the same thing. Mr. Brady promised the attic to Greg. Mrs. Brady promised the attic to Marcia. So the children begin moving stuff up to the attic, and a fight ensues. Protests and sit ins, then mom & dad settle it with the logic and coolness the Brady parents are known for.
Greg is the oldest, then he gets the room. When Greg leaves for college Marcia gets the room, when she goes away, Peter, Jan, Bobby, Cindy, all can live in the attic room. But the two youngest do not really need to move into the attic. Once Peter moves to the attic, Bobby has his own room, and once Jan moves to the attic, Cindy has her own room, so Bobby and Cindy have no real need for the attic room. Unless Oliver ended up being a perpetual long term guest, then Bobby would want the room. Fortunately the series was cancelled, so the questions never had to be answered.
Greg caves into Marcia’s tears, and she has the room. Bobby and Peter begin to wage war against Marcia playing dirty tricks to point out how hard it is to live in the attic. Marcia accuses Greg of putting them up to the tricks, but Bobby and Peter confess. Marcia realizes how she was being selfish and when Greg goes to college the room is hers. Everyone moves and everyone is happy. The attic becomes Greg’s space throughout the rest of the show.
Once the show is cancelled, the attic room goes into oblivion.
The short lived spinoffs, Brady Brides, and Bradys never mention the attic room. In the movie “A Very Brady Christmas” the children, with their wives and children, and Alice return to the Brady house. Mike and Carol have to find room for everyone. The girls room will hold Marcia, her husband, and daughter. For some reason they need a cot. What happened to Cindy’s old bed? Jan and her husband would take the boy’s old room, which is now an office. Cindy & Peter’s finance sleep in the den, Peter and Bobby sleep in the living room, and Greg with his son, and Marcia’s son sleep in the family room/exercise room. What about the attic room? When Mike remodeled the house, did he remove the attic?
Due to the Brady Bunch, every boy who shared a room with a sibling wanted their own attic room.
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Goodbye Chris Cornell
May 18th, 2017 by Proprietor
I was listening to the radio on my way to work, like I always do in the morning, and they announced Chris Cornell had passed at the age of 52. This news was sad, because I remember the Grunge Movement in rock music. It brought about a different sound and feel. Soundgarden was one of the best bands to come out of that era in my opinion. Chris Cornell being their lead singer became one of my favorite singers. He had an incredible voice. When he went to Audioslave, I gave the band a listen because of him. Turns out they were a great band. He will be missed.