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Entertainment • TV Series

The Brady Bunch

The Brady Bunch is an American sitcom created by Sherwood Schwartz that aired on ABC from 1969 to 1974.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated September 10, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Brady Bunch is an American sitcom created by Sherwood Schwartz that aired on ABC from 1969 to 1974. It follows a blended family of six children and their parents, and became a major pop-culture property through reruns and later spin-offs and films. The series has long been available in Canadian television reruns and remains part of North American popular culture familiar to Canadian viewers.

Premise

The series follows the daily life of a blended suburban family after Mike Brady and Carol Martin marry. Their household includes three sons, three daughters, and housekeeper Alice Nelson.

Broadcast history

The Brady Bunch premiered on ABC in 1969 and ended in 1974 after five seasons. Sources note that it drew mixed to negative reviews and did not rank highly in the Nielsen ratings during its original network run.

Cultural impact

Despite modest initial reception, the series became a long-running syndicated favourite and a recognizable symbol of idealized American family life. It also generated cartoons, reunion projects, and feature films.

Franchise expansion

The Brady Bunch inspired multiple spin-offs and related works, including animated projects, TV specials, stage parodies, and theatrical films in the 1990s and 2000s.

Key facts

  • The series centers on Mike Brady and Carol Brady, who form a blended family of six children.
  • It starred Robert Reed, Florence Henderson, and Ann B. Davis in key roles.
  • The show aired for five seasons and 117 episodes on ABC.
  • It was not a major ratings hit during its original run but became popular in syndication.
  • The franchise later expanded into spin-offs, reunion specials, feature films, and other merchandise.
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Canadian context

The Brady Bunch has long been available in Canadian television reruns and remains part of North American popular culture familiar to Canadian viewers.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Brady Bunch about?
It is about a newly blended family formed when a widower and a widow marry, bringing together six children in one suburban household.
Who created The Brady Bunch?
The series was created by Sherwood Schwartz.
When did The Brady Bunch originally air?
It aired on ABC from September 26, 1969, to March 8, 1974.
How many episodes are there?
The original series has 117 episodes across five seasons.
Why is The Brady Bunch well known?
It became a major pop-culture property through reruns, spin-offs, specials, and films, even though it was not a major hit during its first run.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Brady_Bunch
    Supports: Created by Sherwood Schwartz; original ABC run; premise; main cast; five seasons.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Brady-Bunch
    Supports: Series overview; cultural impact; blended-family premise; original run and later popularity.
  3. The Encyclopedia of Television & Radio — https://www.tvencyclopedia.org/tvencyclopedia2/the-brady-bunch
    Supports: Broadcast history; critical reception; significance in American television; merchandise and spin-offs.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Brady_Bunch_episodes
    Supports: 117 episodes; original air dates; premise details.