Monty Margetts was set to play in Alice in "The Brady Bunch", an often told tale that can be found in Sherwood Schwartz book, "Brady, Brady, Brady". The casting change was made when Florence Henderson got the role of Carol late in the casting process. Schwartz then felt Ann B. Davis would be better paired with Florence Henderson.
Wow, I can't imagine! Sherwood did a terrific job casting the show, yeah it could be goofy but had just enough realism & drama too. Is that book worth the purchase for Brady fans who have seen & heard it all?
ReplyDeleteI recall the book was good, but there was a disproportionate, relentless criticism of Robert Reed.
DeleteAgreed. That's my one major criticism of "Brady, Brady, Brady." After a few times, one's reaction becomes "we get it. Bob Reed hated the show and made no secret of it. Enough already!" Especially since several of Reed's criticisms of the show were absolutely true.
DeleteThanks guys, I plan to buy it now. That's a shame to hear that about Robert Reed, but I believe what Maureen McCormick said on that recent podcast, that his demanding more realism is what made the show better--and endure all these years. All I know is, as a kid back in the early 1970s, I thought he was a pretty awesome dad.
DeleteMonty Margetts had a seriousness/sadness in her demeanor. May she rest in peace, but I don't think she would have been the best choice for Alice.
ReplyDeleteThey needed at least one adult character with humor. Florence couldn't provide it. Bob definitely couldn't provide it. Ann B Davis was the absolutely correct choice for Alice.
DeleteI agree. Ann B. was the definitive Alice. When I was a kid, I took it all so seriously, and I was very scared the two times Alice threatened to leave. At the time, I didn't realize it was all a comedic yet lesson learning storyline.
DeleteEverything I’ve read said that it was Kathleen Freeman as the final choice for Alice (prior to booking Florence Henderson as Carol and then having to re-cast Alice).
ReplyDeleteKathleen Freeman is not mentioned in Sherwood Schwartz' book about The Brady Bunch. He goes on at length about casting Monty Margetts as Alice. She is also not mentioned in the recent "The Way They All Became The Brady Bunch", book by Kimberly Potts.
DeleteSometime after 2010, Wikipedia and MeTV both started citing Kathleen Freeman as Alice, so people now take that as fact. I think the truth is, Freeman resembles her, and is far better known. (Margetts is unknown) I think its just easier for people to think this way.
Kathleen would've been to stern to play Alice. She always sported that "don't f*** with me brow." She would've been worse than Kay the fill-in maid, who wasn't mean she just didn't give a f***.
ReplyDeleteIf you own a Blu Ray player, do you think you can upload the bonus feature from the 2020 Blu Ray of The Point (1971): "That Kid's Got a Point!"? It's an interview with Mike Lookinland
ReplyDeleteI don't have that, never seen it actually.
DeleteDo you think it's possible to get the Blu Ray and upload the bonus feature?
DeleteJohnny, Monty was in Bewitched's "Safe and Sane Halloween." She played a lady who answered her door when Tabitha and the characters she zapped out of a storybook went trick or treating. They threw a pie in her face and she cried. Check it out.
ReplyDeleteoh thanks! I'll check it out, maybe with Halloween coming it will air soon
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