From 1969 to 1974, a large, happy family known as The Brady Bunch dropped by millions of American homes one night a week. The popular sitcom (situation comedy; see entry under 1950s—TV and Radio in volume 3) about an architect, his wife, and their six children became an even bigger hit in syndicated reruns. An icon (a symbol) of 1970s culture, the "groovy" family comedy inspired two popular movies and numerous TV spin-offs, becoming one of the best-known American television (see entry under 1940s—TV and Radio in volume 3) properties worldwide.

A scene from The Brady Bunch, which charmed American audiences. The Kobal Collection. Reproduced by permission.

Sherwood Schwartz (1916–), the creator of Gilligan's Island (1964–67; see entry under 1960s—TV and Radio in volume 4) developed The Brady Bunch after reading a newspaper report about the growing divorce (see entry under 1970s—The Way We Lived in volume...