Greg Brady (Barry Williams)

  Contributed by Deb Neuman
 
Barry Williams turned 59 today.   You and I likely know him best as Greg Brady.   You know the one - from that show - the Brady Bunch?   "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia"!   I was in love with him (although I admit I also had a crush on Peter).... torn between two Brady's - feeling like a fool.   That show was such a part of our lives.   I wanted to date Greg (and Peter).  I wanted Marcias perfectly straight hair.   I wanted that house with that staircase and I wondered if Alice and the Butcher ever made out.   Although the show only ran for 6 years from 1969 to 1974 it impacted an entire generation and contiues to do so today.

I recently had the opportunity to chat with Barry Williams - as part of my job in radio.  When my morning show co-host told me he had set up the interview for us I was giddy like a 13 year old.   I swear I didn't sleep the night before!    But of course I wanted to behave like the broadcast professional that I am - so I had to really pull myself together... then I heard him say "Hello!"...
(Oh my God - Oh my God ---pull it together!!!)

But before the interview I asked my niece what would she want to ask Greg Brady if she could.   You see my niece Alden, who is 9 and my nephew, Woody who is 10 are huge Brady Bunch fans!   They are actually slightly obsessed with the show (now in syndication).   I love that!   What I found interesting were her questions for "Greg":

1.  Why - in such a big house are all the kids crammed into two rooms?
2.  Why all the formality - they refer to the Dad as "Sir " and "Mr. Brady" 
3.  Why is the phone attached to the wall?
...and my favorite...
"How do they know where to look when they're in those boxes?"

So once I was able to pull myself together I asked Barry Williams his thoughts about these questions and what it means to him to know that a new generation has fallen in love with the show?   He chuckled at Alden's questions and loves that the show is now more than just a family sitcom - it's a lesson in history.   Reflecting life in the late 60's early 70's.     

We talked about what Barry Williams is up to these days - many years "post Greg" and he told us about his latest venture  the "70's Music Celebration".  A show that celebrates the 70's with song, dance and costume.   Starring Barry himself!   He said what he loves most about the show is how it makes the audience feel.    Many of whom are in our demographic - coming to see our teen crush all grown up and being taken back to a time in our lives that was a lot more innocent.

What struck me most about Barry aka Greg was his enthusiasm and "spark" for life.  He seems to have embraced the reality that once you are Greg Brady - you are always Greg Brady.   Rather than fighting that - he has evolved it into the performer he is today.  He now celebrates it and shares it with his audiences.   I love that!   A great lesson for the rest of us.   Accept the path that life has taken you so far and continue forward - embracing the person you've become while continuing to grow!  

Oh and by the way... he's still pretty dreamy:)

For more info about his show:   
www.70smusiccelebration.com