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‘The Brady Bunch’: Christopher Knight Explained Why the Show Resonates After All These Years

During a 2019 interview, The Brady Bunch star Christopher Knight opened up about why the classic show still resonates with fans years later.

Fans know Knight well from his role as middle brother Peter Brady on the classic ’70s TV show. He played the character during all five seasons the show was filmed from 1969 to 1974. Surprisingly, The Brady Bunch wasn’t a critical success while on-air five decades ago. However, the show became a hit after it went off-air, and became a staple of TV viewing while in syndication.

In fact, even though it didn’t happen overnight, the Brady family turned the cast into household names. Generations of fans have grown up watching The Brady Bunch even though the show was fairly short-lived. It continued to grow and become part of American culture, which no one could’ve guessed when it first aired. Re-runs, numerous parodies, and a 1995 movie have all contributed to its lasting influence.

While speaking to the New York Post for the 50th anniversary of the show, the Peter Brady actor shared why he thinks it still resonates with so many fans to this very day. He says a large part of it is nostalgia from one generation to another.

“I think it’s now a nostalgia thing, but initially it was a child’s show for children to tap into. And then it became nostalgia as soon as people got old enough to look on what they consumed as a child. We’re doing that right now. Regardless of whatever generation you are… it’s the same loop for everyone, regardless of their era. The Brady Bunch has never not been around [it seems],” Knight explained to the NY Post.

‘The Brady Bunch’ Star Reveals Why the Bradys Were Relatable to Any Family in the World

Christopher Knight helped explain why The Brady Bunch still resonates with so many fans. But in another past interview, Carol Brady actor Florence Henderson revealed why the TV family was so relatable.

The classic sitcom revolves around a large California family navigating the day-to-day issues that stem from living in the same household. With two parents and six children under one roof in a four-bedroom, two-bathroom house, there were indeed some difficulties each day.

Henderson gave a career-spanning interview to the Archive of American Television in 1999 about her life and work in Hollywood. She touched on the show’s incredible reach while highlighting the fact that fans have watched it in more than 100 countries around the world. The American sitcom means so much to so many around the globe.

“I think The Brady Bunch reflects the idealized version of a family. And I don’t mean an American family. I mean a family anywhere in the world,” Henderson said to the outlet. “Because this show has been on the air for so many years, I get mail from so many different countries- like 122 countries or something. So I know that this show represents something to people, you know, all races, all colors, religions. I know that minority groups absolutely adore this show. Because I travel around so much, and I see that, and I experience it.”