A Very Brady Christmas!

Welcome to a SPECIAL EDITION of the Piece of Advice Newsletter!

Good morning! Today we are looking into a beloved Christmas TV film, A Very Brady Christmas! I was lucky enough to ask Greg Brady himself; Barry Williams, a couple questions!

When “A Very Brady Christmas” aired on CBS in December 1988, it surprised everyone by becoming one of the highest-rated TV movies of the year. Nearly twenty years after “The Brady Bunch” ended, the reunion drew over 25 million viewers eager to see what had become of America’s most cheerful TV family. Creator Sherwood Schwartz, joined by his son Lloyd, wanted to do more than a simple nostalgia piece; they set out to show the Bradys as adults, juggling careers, relationships, and the chaos of family life, all wrapped in a holiday story that still felt true to the show’s upbeat spirit.

The idea came after years of reruns kept the Brady kids alive in pop culture. Schwartz saw that viewers missed the family’s optimism and warmth, and a Christmas movie seemed like the perfect way to bring them back together. The story followed Mike and Carol Brady’s plan to surprise their now-grown children with a holiday trip, only for each child to arrive home carrying their own personal troubles. The film’s emotional climax; Mike rescuing workers trapped in a collapsed building; brought a surprisingly dramatic touch that resonated with audiences and added weight to the familiar Brady wholesomeness.

Barry Williams, returning as Greg Brady, played a key role in grounding the reunion. Unlike some of his co-stars who’d drifted from acting, Williams embraced the chance to revisit the character that defined his early career. He worked closely with the producers to give Greg a sense of maturity without losing his easygoing charm. On set, Williams described the experience as “a real family reunion,” noting how quickly the cast fell back into their old rhythms despite years apart. His performance helped anchor the film’s mix of nostalgia and sincerity.

The success of “A Very Brady Christmas” led to a new, more dramatic follow-up series, “The Bradys”, in 1990, though it didn’t last long. Still, the holiday movie became a surprise television milestone; a rare reunion special that actually worked. It reminded audiences why the Bradys mattered in the first place: not because they were perfect, but because they always managed to find their way back to each other, even when life got complicated.

Bonus Question:

Giancarlo: What was it like working on “A Very Brady Christmas”?

Barry: It was a like a family reunion. Great to be with the Bunch!

Piece Of Advice:

Giancarlo: What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Barry: Don’t sweat the small stuff and it’s all small stuff.

Thank you for reading! Have an amazing day and we will catch you again soon!

-Giancarlo