Very Brady Christmas, A (1988) – Nostalgia Central

14 years after the demise of the long-running Brady Bunch TV series, the beloved Brady clan was revived again for this two-hour made-for-television movie. It seems the world wasn’t finished with Bradyism quite yet.

The film begins as Christmas approaches and Carol Brady (Florence Henderson) plans to surprise Mike with a trip to Greece. But Mike is going to surprise Carol with a trip to Japan!

Instead of flipping a coin or having an arm wrestle, Mr and Mrs Brady decide to spend the money on sending plane tickets to all their kids and families so Christmas can be even Bradier.

It turns out that every one of the clan has a Very Secret Reason for not wanting to come to a Very Brady Christmas . . .

Greg’s wife has gone off to see her family instead; Marcia’s husband has lost his job; Peter doesn’t want his family to know he’s afraid of marrying his girlfriend because she’s his boss; Jan’s husband has moved out of the marital house; Bobby has dropped out of graduate school, and Cindy is tired of being treated like a baby.

Meanwhile, housekeeper Alice has discovered that her husband, Sam the butcher, has left her for another woman.

The many concurrent storylines and resolutions are all topped off with Mike Brady getting trapped in a collapsed building on Christmas Day. The distraught Bradys flock to the rescue site, where Carol saves the day with an a cappella version of O Come, All Ye Faithful – a schmaltzy bit even by Brady standards.

Jennifer Runyon filled in for Susan Olsen, who was on her honeymoon in Jamaica.

Despite pulling a whopping 39 share when first broadcast on TV on 17 December 1988, A Very Brady Christmas was largely reviled by both viewers and critics but gained credibility over time, prompting genuine affection as one of the final efforts – however flawed – of the original Brady television series, especially with the passing of Robert Reed and Ann B. Davis.

The film has since become a much-loved Yuletide viewing staple and is frequently rebroadcast during Christmas.

Paramount Home Entertainment finally issued the film on DVD in 2017.

The ratings triumph of A Very Brady Christmas led to the 1990 TV series, The Bradys (initially nicknamed “Bradysomething” as a play on the then-current dramedy Thirtysomething).

Carol Brady
Florence Henderson
Mike Brady
Robert Reed
Alice Franklin
Ann B. Davis
Marcia Brady Logan
Maureen McCormick
Jan Brady Covington
Eve Plumb
Cindy Brady
Jennifer Runyon
Greg Brady
Barry Williams
Peter Brady
Christopher Knight
Bobby Brady
Mike Lookinland
Wally Logan
Jerry Houser
Phillip Covington III
Ron Kuhlman
Nora Brady
Caryn Richman
Valerie
Carol Huston
Jessica Logan
Jaclyn Bernstein
Mickey Logan
G.W. Lee
Kevin Brady
Zachary Bostrom
Mr Prescott
F.J. O’Neil
Mrs Powell
Barbara Mallory
Mr Powell
Nick Toth
Ms Crane
Selma Archerd
Belinda
Tonya Lee Williams
TV Announcer
Inez Pedroza
Sam Franklin
Lewis Arquette
Howie
Lenny Garner
Donald
Doug Carfrae
Nurse
Frances Louise Turner
Police Chief
Gerry Black
Receptionist
Patricia Mullins
Mechanic
Bart Braverman
Ted Roberts
Phillip R. Allen

Director
Peter Baldwin