Other mistake: Mike asked Carol where his checkbook was because he needed it to buy her a Christmas present. Carol pulled open the kitchen drawer she was conveniently standing next to, got the checkbook out, and handed it to Mike. A little later when Carol is telling Peter about her secret plan, she points out that she will be using their (Carol and Mike's) "special savings account." There would be a separate book for making deposits/withdrawals from the savings account, so it doesn't make sense for Mike to be using regular checking account to buy the present. (00:03:06 - 00:05:34)
A Very Brady Christmas (1988)
Plot summary
Directed by: Peter Baldwin
Starring: Robert Reed, Florence Henderson, Maureen McCormick, Ann B. Davis
Mr. And Mrs. Brady (Mike and Carol) are "empty nesters." Carol is a real estate agent who recently sold property to Ted Roberts and Mike was the architect - until he wouldn't budge on his larger margin of safety and was replaced with another architect (and a disaster in the making). Instead of each using their "special vacation savings" to surprise the other with airline tickets for Christmas (to Greece for Carol; to Japan for Mike), they decide to spend the money on airline tickets to get the Brady kids (and their significant others) together for Christmas. (Alice shows up, too, because Sam left her for a younger woman.) Each Brady kid (plus Alice) has an issue or relationship problem that will be exposed and resolved - all before their Christmas feast.
Seconds before Mike is going to start carving the turkey, he receives an urgent call - the building has collapsed and two men are trapped inside. The architect who replaced Mike was not available, so Mike goes to "save the day." Mike gets someone to bulldoze a certain section to relieve the pressure. This enables the two trapped men to escape unharmed... but now Mike is trapped inside with only one pillar holding up what is left of the building. Nothing short of a miracle is needed to get Mike out alive... well, then again, maybe all that is needed is Carol singing Christmas Carol's ("O Come All Ye Faithful.") with the rest of the family and the crowd that has gathered singing along. Everyone returns home safely, but something is still missing: Santa Clause! Santa knocks on the door and has ONE present for Alice that will resolve Sam's break-up with her. And they all lived happier (and cornier) ever after.
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Suggested correction: Except, Mike wouldn't just draw out money and take cash to the travel agency. He likely transferred the money to checking and therefore would still need a check to write out to the travel agency.
Trivia: All the original main cast members were in this movie except Susan Olsen ("Cindy"). Jennifer Runyon took her place. Two possible reasons that Susan/Cindy didn't participate: filming conflicted with her honeymoon to Jamaica and she was offered less money than the other cast members.
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Suggested correction: According to all sources, it was just the first answer (the honeymoon reason). No confirmation anywhere about being paid less.
You should do some actual research before correcting people so you know what you're talking about. Olsen herself said in a 1993 interview about why she wasn't in the movie. "It came down to money and bad politics. I was asking for way less than the two other girls wanted, but they still wouldn't give it to me." Plumb and McCormick even tried to get Olsen paid a fair amount, but the show's creators wouldn't budge and started a look for a look-alike.
Yeah, right... it is never about the money.
Question: During the run of the series, the Brady's had a housekeeper, Alice. When they were giving Alice a few days off they even hired a temp to keep things straight while she was away - even though Carol had no career and all six kids did chores. So now that the kids are gone and they both (Mike and Carol) have careers, can they live without a housekeeper?
Chosen answer: I'm sure they could, but as long as she's there, now a part of the family, and they can afford her, why fire her? Plus, with six kids help is welcome, with a career and no kids, help is welcome, and everything in between.
Answer: Technically, they DO live now without a housekeeper. Alice is simply their guest in this film, because she dropped by after her husband left her and Mike and Carol took her in. She was helping out while there since the whole family was visiting.
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