About
"I think that God does give us all different gifts and sometimes it takes people longer to find what that gift is. I was just lucky that I found it early. I loved to entertain. I loved to make people smile. I loved to make them feel something and I've never lost that desire."
In her four-and-a-half-hour interview, Florence Henderson (1934-2016) discusses her career as an actress, first on Broadway, and later on television. She talks about her appearances on The Tonight Show with Jack Paar and becoming the show's first female guest host. She speaks of her tenure as a "Today Girl" on NBC's Today, and recalls her appearance on Jim Henson's The Muppet Show. She then details her time as "Carol Brady" on the hit sitcom The Brady Bunch, reminisces about later Brady incarnations (made-for-television movies and feature films), and speaks of the place that the show holds in pop culture. She touches on her long-time affiliation with Wesson Oil, and mentions her work on the first EmmyCast (a live interactive webcast accompanying the Emmys telecast), and on NBC's Later Today. Michael Rosen conducted the interview in two parts on October 20 and October 29, 1999 in New York, NY.
Highlights
Florence Henderson on how she got cast as "Carol Brady" on The Brady Bunch
Florence Henderson on becoming the first female guest host on The T onight Show
Florence Henderson on her commercials for Wesson Oil
Florence Henderson on starring in "The King and I" with Ricardo Montalban
Florence Henderson on one of the highlights of her career: being on The Muppet Show
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her childhood and early interests; on living through the Depression years; on loving music and books as a child
On attending the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York; on deciding to become an actress and working on Broadway
Chapter 2
On her work in theater productions of "Wish You Were Here", "Oklahoma!", and "Fanny"
On her early memories of television; on her first TV appearances on The Tex and Jinx Show, The Bell Telephone Hour, and Sing Along; on getting married
Chapter 3
On her appearances on The Tonight Show aka The Jack Paar Show, and becoming a regular and the first female guest host on the show
On co-hosting jobs and appearances on The Big Record; on being a "Today Girl" on Today
On working during her pregnancies
Chapter 4
On her appearances on The Dean Martin Show, The Jackie Gleason Show, The Jonathan Winters Show
On her game show appearances and enjoying being on Password and Hollywood Squares; on touring with "The Sound of Music" and starring in "The King and I" with Ricardo Montalban; on Later Today
On how she got cast as "Carol Brady" on The Brady Bunch
Chapter 5
On the success of The Brady Bunch and why the show appealed to her; on The Brady Bunch creator Sherwood Schwartz
On shooting the pilot and production on the show; on being peacemaker between Robert Reed and Sherwood Schwartz
On the development of "Carol Brady" on The Brady Bunch; on working with Ann B. Davis; on how the children were cast on the show
Chapter 6
On the children and their real-life parents on the set of The Brady Bunch; on her role as "Carol Brady" and her character's look and wardrobe
On memorable episodes of The Brady Bunch - playing her own grandmother, shooting in Hawaii, the song and dance numbers, and her favorite episodes
On the end of The Brady Bunch; on her appearances on The Tom Jones Show, The Muppet Show, and The Love Boat
Chapter 7
On her role on Just Another Kid: an AIDS Story; on her cooking shows
On The Brady Bunch movies; on advice to aspiring actors; on her mentors
Chapter 8
On the cast and guest stars on The Brady Bunch; on shooting at Paramount; on the actors who played her children on The Brady Bunch and her "date" with Barry Williams
On the cancellation of The Brady Bunch; on the reunion specials and spin-off series: The Brady Bunch Hou r, The Brady Girls Get Married, and The Brady Brides
On her commercials for Wesson Oil
Chapter 9
On her work on the Wesson oil commercials
On her appearances on Nashville Now, and Hart to Hart; on hosting the first awards show on the web; on her website
On appearing on Murder She Wrote and A Very Brady Christmas
On working with Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson; on spoofing "Carol Brady" on Day by Day and resuming the role of "Carol Brady" on The Bradys
Chapter 10
On co-authoring a book with children's show creator Sherri Lewis
On her work on Ellen and The Rosie O'Donnell Show; on co-hosting Later Today; on how she'd like to be remembered
Shows
Bell Telephone Hour, The
Florence Henderson on appearing on The Bell Telephone Hour
Brady Brides, The
Florence Henderson on The Brady Girls Get Married and The Brady Brides
Brady Bunch Hour, The
Florence Henderson on The Brady Bunch Hour
Brady Bunch, The
Florence Henderson on how she got cast as "Carol Brady" on The Brady Bunch
Florence Henderson on the success of The Brady Bunch and why the show appealed to her
Florence Henderson on The Brady Bunch creator Sherwood Schwartz
Florence Henderson on auditioning for The Brady Bunch
Florence Henderson on shooting the pilot of The Brady Bunch and production on the show
Florence Henderson on working with The Brady Bunch director John Rich
Florence Henderson on why The Brady Bunch was not filmed in multi-cam in front of an audience
Florence Henderson on a typical work week on The Brady Bunch
Florence Henderson on Robert Reed not getting along with show creator Sherwood Schwartz on The Brady Bunch
Florence Henderson on the development of "Carol Brady" on The Brady Bunch
Florence Henderson on working with Ann B. Davis ("Alice") on The Brady Bunch
Florence Henderson on how the kids were cast on The Brady Bunch
Florence Henderson on "Carol Brady" on The Brady Bunch
Florence Henderson on the children and their real-life parents on the set of The Brady Bunch
Florence Henderson on the premise of The Brady Bunch
Florence Henderson on what she brought to the role of "Carol Brady" on The Brady Bunch; on "Carol's" look
Florence Henderson on memorable episodes of The Brady Bunch
Florence Henderson on shooting The Brady Bunch in Hawaii and King's Island
Florence Henderson on shooting The Brady Bunch at the Grand Canyon
Florence Henderson on the song and dance numbers on The Brady Bunch
Florence Henderson on her own children appearing on The Brady Bunch and how they dealt with having a famous TV mom
Florence Henderson on her favorite episodes of The Brady Bunch
Florence Henderson on the end of The Brady Bunch
Florence Henderson on not feeling typecast as "Carol Brady" after the conclusion of The Brady Bunch
Florence Henderson on a possible spin-off of The Brady Bunch
Florence Henderson on teaching morality on The Brady Bunch
Florence Henderson on child stars on The Brady Bunch
Florence Henderson on her Brady Bunch co-star Robert Reed
Florence Henderson on guest stars and production of The Brady Bunch on the Paramount lot
Florence Henderson on working with child actors on The Brady Bunch
Florence Henderson on the cancellation of The Brady Bunch and the reunion specials
Brady Girls Get Married, The
Florence Henderson on The Brady Girls Get Married and The Brady Brides
Bradys, The
Florence Henderson on the series The Bradys
Coke Time
Florence Henderson on making a guest appearance on Coke Time with Eddie Fisher, while on Broadway in "Fanny"
Day by Day
Florence Henderson on spoofing "Carol Brady" on Day by Day
Dean Martin Show, The
Florence Henderson on appearing on The Dean Martin Show
Ed Sullivan Show, The aka Toast of the Town
Florence Henderson on singing in the off-camera chorus on The Ed Sullivan Show
Florence Henderson on her second appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show (with John Raitt)
Ellen
Florence Henderson on appearing on Ellen
Hart to Hart
Florence Henderson on her appearance on Hart to Hart
Hollywood Squares, The
Florence Henderson on her appearances on Hollywood Squares
Jackie Gleason Show, The
Florence Henderson on appearing on The Jackie Gleason Show
Jonathan Winters Show, The (1956-57)
Florence Henderson on appearing on The Jonathan Winters Show
Kelly's Kids
Florence Henderson on a possible spin-off of The Brady Bunch
Love Boat, The
Florence Henderson on appearing on The Love Boat
Muppet Show, The
Florence Henderson on one of the highlights of her career: being on The Muppet Show
Murder, She Wrote
Florence Henderson on her appearances on Murder, She Wrote
Password
Florence Henderson on her appearances on Password and going into labor on the show
Police Squad!
Florence Henderson on her appearance on Police Squad!
Rosie O'Donnell Show, The
Florence Henderson on appearing on The Rosie O'Donnell Show
Tex and Jinx Show, The
Florence Henderson on appearing on The Tex and Jinx Show
Today
Florence Henderson on being a "Today Girl" on Today
Florence Henderson on working with host Dave Garroway on Today
Florence Henderson on working with NBC's Pat Weaver
Florence Henderson on the hosts during her run as a "Today Girl" on Today
Florence Henderson on working on Today when Charles Van Doren was a correspondent
Florence Henderson on working on Later Today
Florence Henderson on co-hosting Later Today, which airs immediately after Today
Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The
Florence Henderson on working with Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Tonight Starring Jack Paar aka The Jack Paar Show
Florence Henderson on her first appearances on The Tonight Show aka The Jack Paar Show
Florence Henderson on becoming a regular on Jack Paar's Tonight Show
Florence Henderson on Jack Paar walking off The Tonight Show
Florence Henderson on becoming the first female guest host on The T onight Show
Florence Henderson on working with Hugh Downs on Jack Paar's Tonight Show
Florence Henderson on serving as guest host on The T onight Show
United States Steel Hour, The
Florence Henderson on appearing on The U.S. Steel Hour in 1957
Topics
Characters & Catchphrases
Florence Henderson on the development of "Carol Brady" on The Brady Bunch
Florence Henderson on "Carol Brady" and the concept of The Brady Bunch
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Florence Henderson on her mentors
Historic Events and Social Change
Florence Henderson on working during her pregnancies
Florence Henderson on her role in Just Another Kid: an AIDS Story
Industry Crossroads
Florence Henderson on working on Today when Charles Van Doren was a correspondent
Pivotal Career Moments
Florence Henderson on her mentors
Pop Culture
Florence Henderson on the development of "Carol Brady" on The Brady Bunch
Florence Henderson on "Carol Brady" and the concept of The Brady Bunch
Quiz Show Scandals
Florence Henderson on working on Today when Charles Van Doren was a correspondent
Representation on Television
Florence Henderson on working during her pregnancies
Television Industry
Florence Henderson on working on Today when Charles Van Doren was a correspondent
Women
Florence Henderson on working during her pregnancies
Professions
Actress
Florence Henderson on deciding to become an actress
Florence Henderson on advice to young actors
Florence Henderson on making scenes believable
Performers
Florence Henderson on deciding to become an actress
Florence Henderson on advice to young actors
Florence Henderson on making scenes believable
Genres
Comedy Series
Florence Henderson on how she got cast as "Carol Brady" on The Brady Bunch
Florence Henderson on production and the cast and creator of The Brady Bunch
Florence Henderson on working with the kids, memorable episodes, and the end of The Brady Bunch
Florence Henderson on her co-stars, the spin-offs and reunion specials of The Brady Bunch
Commercials
Florence Henderson on appearing in live television commercials
Florence Henderson on her commercials for Wesson Oil
Florence Henderson on the famous Wesson oil jingle
Game Shows
Florence Henderson on her game show appearances and the popularity of game shows
Late Night
Florence Henderson on becoming a regular guest and a guest host on The Tonight Show aka The Jack Paar Show
Talk Shows
Florence Henderson on being a "Today Girl" on Today
Florence Henderson on becoming a regular guest and a guest host on The Tonight Show aka The Jack Paar Show
People
George Burns
Florence Henderson on working with George Burns and the talent he and Bob Hope had
Johnny Carson
Florence Henderson on working with Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Imogene Coca
Florence Henderson on guest stars on The Brady Bunch - Imogene Coca
Ann B. Davis
Florence Henderson on working with Ann B. Davis ("Alice") on The Brady Bunch
Fred de Cordova
Florence Henderson on working with director/producer Fred De Cordova when she guest hosted The T onight Show
Ellen DeGeneres
Florence Henderson on appearing on Ellen
Charles Van Doren
Florence Henderson on working on Today when Charles Van Doren was a correspondent
Hugh Downs
Florence Henderson on working with Hugh Downs on Jack Paar's Tonight Show
Greg Garrison
Florence Henderson on working with Greg Garrison and Kate Smith on The Dean Martin Show
Dave Garroway
Florence Henderson on working with host Dave Garroway on Today
Jackie Gleason
Florence Henderson on appearing on The Jackie Gleason Show
Oscar Hammerstein II
Florence Henderson on meeting Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein and getting the role of "Laurie" in "Oklahoma!"
Bill Hayes
Florence Henderson on her act with Bill Hayes, "The Singing Sweethearts" and her appearances on The Tonight Show
Bob Hope
Florence Henderson on going to Australia with Bob Hope for his 75th birthday
Desi Arnaz, Jr.
Florence Henderson on guest stars on The Brady Bunch - Desi Arnaz, Jr.
Christopher Knight
Florence Henderson on working with child actors on The Brady Bunch - Christopher Knight
Angela Lansbury
Florence Henderson on her appearances on Murder, She Wrote
Shari Lewis
Florence Henderson on co-authoring a book with children's show creator Shari Lewis
Joshua Logan
Florence Henderson on auditioning for theater director/writer Joshua Logan
Florence Henderson on working with theater director Joshua Logan
Mike Lookinland
Florence Henderson on working with child actors on The Brady Bunch - Mike Lookinland
Dean Martin
Florence Henderson on appearing on The Dean Martin Show
Mary Martin
Florence Henderson on meeting Mary Martin
Maureen McCormick
Florence Henderson on working with child actors on The Brady Bunch - Maureen McCormick
Ricardo Montalban
Florence Henderson on starring in "The King and I" with Ricardo Montalban
Eddie Murphy
Florence Henderson on introducing Eve Plumb to Eddie Murphy
Rosie O'Donnell
Florence Henderson on appearing on The Rosie O'Donnell Show
Susan Olsen
Florence Henderson on working with child actors on The Brady Bunch - Susan Olsen
Jack Paar
Florence Henderson on working with Jack Paar
Eve Plumb
Florence Henderson on working with child actors on The Brady Bunch - Eve Plumb
Robert Reed
Florence Henderson on Robert Reed not getting along with show creator Sherwood Schwartz and director John Rich on The Brady Bunch
Florence Henderson on being peacemaker between Robert Reed and The Brady Bunch show creator Sherwood Schwartz
Florence Henderson on her Brady Bunch co-star Robert Reed
Florence Henderson on Robert Reed's death (from AIDS)
John Rich
Florence Henderson on working with The Brady Bunch director John Rich
Richard Rodgers
Florence Henderson on meeting Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein and getting the role of "Laurie" in "Oklahoma!"
Sherwood Schwartz
Florence Henderson on The Brady Bunch creator Sherwood Schwartz
Florence Henderson on Sherwood Schwartz's involvement with daily operations on The Brady Bunch creator
Florence Henderson on being peacemaker between Robert Reed and The Brady Bunch show creator Sherwood Schwartz
Kate Smith
Florence Henderson on working with Greg Garrison and Kate Smith on The Dean Martin Show
Bob Stewart
Florence Henderson on game show creator Bob Stewart
Ed Sullivan
Florence Henderson on singing in the off-camera chorus on The Ed Sullivan Show
Robert Wagner
Florence Henderson on her appearance on Hart to Hart
Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver
Florence Henderson on working with NBC's Pat Weaver
Barry Williams
Florence Henderson on working with child actors on The Brady Bunch - Barry Williams - and her "date" with him
Jonathan Winters
Florence Henderson on appearing on The Jonathan Winters Show
Jeff Zucker
Florence Henderson on co-hosting Later Today, which airs immediately after Today