“Florence Henderson, the actress who portrayed matriarch Carol Brady on the Seventies sitcom The Brady Bunch, died Thursday in Los Angeles from heart failure. She was 82.
`We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear mother Florence Henderson from heart failure,` the Henderson family said in a statement. `On this day of thanks, our beloved mother was surrounded by her devoted children and dearest friends. We thank all of her fans for their many years of love and ask that we be allowed to grieve in private.` “
Rolling Stone
The Henderson family is grieving the loss of their dear mother Florence Henderson, and America is mourning the death of our beloved TV mother Carol Brady.
Florence Henderson and the Brady Bunch were icons of a bygone area when television had the power to unite the country.
The Brady Bunch aired from 1969 to 1974, a quaint era when there were only a few broadcast channels.
The beloved sit-com wasn`t a critical or ratings success during its original run, but it became a monster hit in syndication. The Brady Bunch was must-watch TV in the 80s, 90`s and even today it still garners decent ratings.
It`s unlikely that a sit-com, or any type of program, has the ability to unite America like the Brady Bunch. In the digital age when cable TV, satellite TV, streaming services, podcasts and Internet shows provide us with a gazillion and one choices, it`s almost impossible for a program to break through the niche universe and become a huge hit that is watched by a majority of the American public.
When I was a teenager I watched the Brady Bunch; my friends and I identified with one of the Brady boys and had a crush on one of the Brady sisters. I had a strong physical resemblance to Greg, and I identified with him, and I was madly in love with groovy, Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!
Truth be told I also had a crush on Carol Brady, not only did male teens idolize her as the perfect TV mom, we also fantasied about going to 3rd base with her.
Carol Brady will live forever in syndication, but alas the actress Florence Henderson has died.
America`s Mom has died, and as homage to Carol Brady, I won`t turn on my TV today.
Read More:
http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/florence-henderson-the-brady-bunch-actress-dead-at-82-w452384
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