The Brady Bunch (TV Series) Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1969) User Reviews

Alice says she is leaving

[jaybabb · 7/10 · 21 June 2006]

Lead in this episode: Alice A little background info is helpful to explain the events in this episode. After Mike's first wife died, Mike hired Alice as the house keeper. We know from this episode that She's been with Mike and the Boys for over 7 years. That means that Bobby would have to have been a baby when his mother died and both Greg and Peter were small boys. This means that a 7 year period passed before Mike married Carol.

Alice begins to get the feeling that she is no longer needed when the boys go to Carol with their problems such as when Greg and Peter get into a fight over a baseball glove, or when they receive a telescope. Alice feels that she is being left out of the family's activities.

Alice decides to leave. She makes up a bogus story about a sick aunt that has asked her to come and stay with her. However, the girls over hear a phone conversation that Alice was having with a friend-they learn that the story is Bogus.

The family enact on a plan to get Alice to stay. Does it work? Watch and see!

PACK UP ALL MY CARES AND WOES....

[tcchelsey · 10/10 · 20 December 2023]

Excellent episode written by Paul West, who wrote dozens of episodes for DONNA REED and FATHER KNOWS BEST. The only thing is those shows didn't have a housekeeper.

It's the old, "I'm not needed here anymore" story, fitted especially for Alice, and with good reason. Having helped Mike and the guys when their mom passed was a call to action, but now with Carol as the new lady of the house, Alice figures it's time to split.

The problem is Alice actually brought it on herself, steering the kids to new mom Carol instead of her. The gang suddenly doesn't even know she exists.

It's a great story, sentimental at times, one that will be repeated (for different reasons) a few seasons later. And how times and styles change in just a few years.

Some very good acting, especially the kids (who are really young here). Anne B. Davis, in a more serious type role also.

Best scene comes at the end with everything going haywire, and Mike's new suit is TOAST.

As to the 1967 Oldsmobile Toranado question in the notes. My only answer is that MANNIX also drove (for awhile) a Toranado, and it looks like the same blue car. Both shows were produced by Paramount tv. It may have been a production shot outside the Brady Bunch house, using that particular car. Same in later episodes when the station wagon was parked out front of the house, even when they no longer had that car. Blame the production crew.

Lots of memories. SEASON 1 (1969) EPISODE 4 remastered color Paramount/ABC dvd box set.