Common Sense Media Review
Oh, my nose! '70s icon is family-friendly fare.
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The Brady Bunch
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 7 parent reviews
Based on 32 kid reviews
Kids say this TV show is a delightful family-friendly option, highlighting positive messages and relatable characters, making it enjoyable for children and parents alike. While some viewers note outdated concepts and occasional cheesy moments, many appreciate its clean humor and the important life lessons it imparts, creating a nostalgic and wholesome viewing experience.
- role models
- positive messages
- clean humor
- family friendly
- nostalgic viewing
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In the iconic '70s sitcom THE BRADY BUNCH, a blended family tackles all sorts of life challenges together. When widowed architect Mike Brady (Robert Reed) met Carol (Florence Henderson), he knew immediately that she and her three girls -- Marcia (Maureen McCormick), Jan (Eve Plumb), and Cindy (Susan Olsen) -- were a perfect fit for him and his three sons, Greg (Barry Williams), Peter (Christopher Knight), and Bobby (Mike Lookinland). Also along for the ride is chipper housekeeper Alice (Ann B. Davis). Early in the series, the Bradys learn to deal with their new living arrangements, with the boys and girls fighting over bathroom time and chores. In later seasons (the show ran for five years, from 1969 to 1974), the kids deal with personal issues revolving around dating, cliques, and identity.
Is It Any Good?
Adults will no doubt watch The Brady Bunch with nostalgic fondness, remembering when they first watched the Bradys build a card house, go to Hawaii, or camp in the Grand Canyon. Parents eager for some quality TV may have fun revisiting their favorite episodes with younger viewers, but kids past the tween stage may not see the appeal quite as much.
However, this show is still winningly sweet and may even be refreshing for viewers fed up with the motor-mouthed, sardonic kids on today's television shows. Even though the Brady kids sometimes argue, they're always down for each other in the clinch. They're supportive when things are going right, too: A Brady kid who wins an honor will be treated to backslaps and cheering from his or her sibs. And Mom and Dad are always there to help out when things go wrong, never distracted by email or Facebook. Each show tries to impart a lesson: cheating is bad, you shouldn't accuse someone of a misdeed if you don't know what really happened. The Brady values are timeless, even if some of the hairstyles and outfits have aged badly.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what (and who) should define a family. Parents and stepparents can also discuss the challenges of combining two families. How can new family members find ways to relate to one another? Why is it sometimes hard for kids to accept a stepparent? Do you think the Bradys' family harmony is realistic?
Is the Brady family wealthy or poor? What makes you think that? What kinds of things do the Brady kids have that a poor person wouldn't? What kinds of things do you have that the Brady kids don't?
The Brady Bunch is set in a time before the Internet or do-it-all phones and the family entertains itself in different ways than most modern families. What kinds of things do the Bradys do that your family doesn't? Would you like to try activities like putting on plays in the backyard?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 26, 1969
- Cast : Ann B. Davis , Barry Williams , Christopher Knight , Eve Plumb , Florence Henderson , Maureen McCormick , Mike Lookinland , Robert Reed , Susan Olsen
- Network : Syndicated
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , School ( High School )
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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