How Lucille Ball Influenced The Brady Bunch's Name

The Brady Bunch, a beloved TV show of the 20th century, almost had a different title before it became known as "The Brady Bunch." The series was initially called "Yours and Mine" by its creator, Sherwood Schwartz, but network executives had their own ideas and wanted to make changes that Schwartz wasn't willing to accept. However, everything changed when Lucille Ball's 1968 film "Yours, Mine and Ours" hit the theaters.

The film, which features a blended family, was a massive success and sparked network executives to reconsider Schwartz's original idea.

Though there was one final hurdle: the similarity between the titles of Ball's film and Schwartz's show. Schwartz initially considered "The Brady Bunch," but it sounded too much like a Western series. Another suggestion, "The Brady Brood," made people think of witches. Ultimately, Schwartz chose "The Brady Bunch" due to a tight deadline, as it resonated with alliteration, which he believed would make the title memorable.

When "The Brady Bunch" premiered on ABC in 1969, the producers of "Yours, Mine and Ours" accused Schwartz of copying their story about two families coming together. Schwartz had protected his idea by registering it with the Writers Guild of America before the movie was released, which saved him from a lawsuit. Although the show had a rocky start, "The Brady Bunch" eventually became a hit in syndication and is now considered one of the defining shows of the 1970s.

Its name, along with its iconic opening credits, instantly evokes images of family, warmth, and happiness.