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Show February 22, 1995 ‘The Brady Bunch’ Olsen ReminiscencesofLife as ‘Cindy’ aa was only 14 monthsold. Unable to get un-Cindy-like roles, she took a had barely stepped foot in New York when she was whisked off to self-imposed hiatus to attend high school, and experience a non- a screening of “The Brady Bunch showbizlife When Olsen was finally ready Movie,” which opens in theaters this month. Sitting in the back ofa filled-tocapacity sereening room, Olsen watched newcomer Olivia Hack reprise the role of Cindy Brady, the same part Olsen brought to — Associated Press Pressure on CBS News anchor Connie Churg has remained in- tense after that “just between us”/“bitch” interview. But the Gingrich matter also threw a harsh light on a series of badly handled stories — interviews with Tonya Harding and Faye Ri nick, most prominently — with which Chung had been involved. Chung Re-Anchors Role Olsen, whobegan acting whenshe By Christy Slewinski NewYork Daily News NEW YORK — Susan Olsen to get back in the business, the businessstill wasn’t ready forher. “They would say, ‘Oh, that girl from the ‘Brady Bunch?’ We don’t wantto see her.”” So Olsen dropped out of the business altogether, and began a life in the early ‘70s, and carried career as a graphic artist and il- into TV history. lustrator. “I thought, if all I can Olsen laughed heartily throughout the film, particularly at Hack’s on-the-markre-creation of Olsen’s one-time real-life lisp haveis somesort of warmed over, “Love Boat’ kind of career, I don’t want to be an actress,” she said. “Now, after 10 years, I’m realizing that I shouldn't have given up, and that nowit’s really OK to have been on ‘The Brady Bunch.” It’s actually cool — there are people who I really respect who are fans.” And Olsen’s not ready to shut the door on Cindy just yet. She just got the go-ahead to produce a documentary for CBS on the Brady phenomenon. It'll include homefilm footage shot on theset and, of course, reminiscences of her formercast mates. “It was a unique experience, and I think that’s because we(the cast) had sucha great chemistry, and weall got along well. That's why the showwasso successful, because, let's faceit, it wasn’t the scripts,” said Olsen, laughing Incidentally, those who wanted to brush upon their Brady history had the opportunity this month as Nickelodeon offered an extensive look at the Bradys nightly through Thursday, from 8 to 11 p.m. ET. which, over the years, became as muchof a Cindytrademark as her mandatory golden-curled pony- tails. “It was so wonderful to hear someone finally say ‘What the hell are you saying?’ Olsen said in reference to a scene in which a By Eric Mink New York Daily News It’s going on six weeks since the controversial interview between CBS News anchor Connie Chung and Newt Gingrich’s parents aired But the Gingrich matter also threw a harsh light on a series of badly handled stories — interviews with Tonya Harding and Faye Resnick, most prominentiy — with which Chung previously had been involved. t] tween us’’/“bitch” interview — If the worst has happened and workto repair the damage and Chung’s credibility has continues. been damaged, she may be Chung took a pounding for caughtin an unpleasant Catchweeks as the butt of jokes in 2 2. late-night monologues, scathThe best thing she could do, ing editorial cartoons and politicians’ cheapshots, and there’s as she’s been lobbying for for no disputing that someof those some time, would be to immerse herself in coverage of shots landed hard. The onslaught has abated toa substantive stories — domestic large degree, but pressure on and international, from the anChung and CBS Newshasre- chor desk and from thefield — mained intense. The key issue for the “CBS Evening News.” is whether — and, if so, to what And,in fact, said executive prodegree — the public has incor- ducer Andrew Heyward, poratedall that abuseinto their “Viewerswill be seeing a lot of notion of who Chung is and Connie on the ‘Evening News’ whatshe standsfor. in the weeks and months The irony, as I’ve noted be- ahead.” fore, is that an impartial viewThe delicate job will be baling of the complete interview ancing those assignments beconfirms that Mrs. Gingrich tween Chung and her veteran was in no way sandbagged by co-anchor Dan Rather. Chung's tongue-in-cheek en- treaty to confide to her what son Newthadsaid about Hillary Clinton (that ‘‘She’s a bitch,” Mrs. Gingrich revealed). “T’d love to put closure on the Gingrich matter,” Chungsaid, “and I believe that I have, we have here at CBS Newsand the viewers have. I’m simply mov- ing forward and doing my job.” Chung acknowledged that the attacks hurt. “I really hope that viewers have come to know meover the 25 years I've been in the business and knowthatI would never deceive anyone or take advantageof anyone,” she said. ‘So for that reason, it was a very sad experience.” At the same time, if Chung’s credibility has been damaged, her presence on the “Evening News”’ risks damaging the broadcast. Recent numbers suggest the program mayhave reboundedfrom anyratings hit it sustained as a result of the Gingrichincident. There's another,even thornier, issue, though. Whatif the source of Chung’s primary, personal connection with the audienceis the real-people, unpretentious, funny, open side of her personality? That side really isn’t compatible with hard news or the “Evening News” environment. Brady neighbor loses his temper with the lispinglittle girl. Movie ads everywhere are trumpeting the fact that the irrepressible Bradys are back once more. And with this umpteenth resurgence comesa flood of memories for Olsen. “One of the more precious things about the show — what I’m seeing now — is the innocence,” she said of the original episodes, whichaired on ABC from 1969to 1974. “In someof the shows, it’s really obviousthat this is another time and anotherplace.” She admits, however, that the innocent show taught her some hardlessons about show business. “Being a Brady was not cool whenthe show first ended,” said — Associated Press The Brady Children — from left, Cindy (Olivia Hack), Jan (Jennifer Elise Cox), Marcia (Christine Taylor), Greg (Christopher Daneil Barnes), Peter (Paul Sutera), and Bobby (Jesse Lee) — competeina talent contest in “The Brady Bunch Movie.” Seeing this flick is sure to be a blast from the past for Generation X-ers. AndAll Had Hair of Gold — Like Their Mother By Jay Dedrick Knight-Ridder Newspapers If the phrases “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!” and ‘Oh, my nose!” hold nosignificance for you, you meetthefirst set of criteria indicating you should stay away from “The Brady Bunch Movie.” If you rememberthe 1969-74 situation comedy, but can’t imagine why anyone would spend time or moneylaunchingit onto the big sereen, nothing in the film will change your mind. That leaves those of us who, through the mind-numbing magic of after-school reruns, literally grew up with this fictional clan of three boys, three girls, two parents, a maid and, sometimes, a dog. We couldn't always identify with the tambourine-banging antics of life on the road with the Partridges, but many experiencesof the Brady kids cornily hit home with "70s suburban youth. “The Brady Bunch Movie” does a campy — and eerie — job ofre-creating the show’s characters andsets, but largely just plunders old episodes for its gags, story (what story there is) and sub-plots. The movie’s culture-clash premise has the action taking place today, but with the Bradys just as they werein the early °70s: constantly smiling, attired in bell-bottoms, spouting ex- clamations like “Groovy!” and “Far out!” Eldest son Greg isn’t threatening to come home with a pierced nipple; housekeeperAliceisn’t whipping uplow-fat, iced cappuccino for Brady parents Mike and Carol. Instead, teen vanity (Jan feels ‘‘positively goofy” wearing her glasses!) and dating protocol (Marcia inadvertently makes two dates for the same night!) preoccupy the Brady youth. The bigger picture has the Bradys fiercely holdingon to their San Fernando Valley home For Once, Good Movies and Money Go Hand-in-Hand *By Philip Wuntch Dallas Morning News In Hollywood, the uneasiest marriage isn’t between celebrities; it’s between art and commerce. Show business really is a ‘business. The movie industry is, in ‘fact, an industry. : Never are the terms of this Marriage more publicly negotiat- ved than in the annual Academy ,Awards race, which begins when -the nominations are announced andwill climax with the March 27 awards ceremony. This year’s marriage should be unusually harmonious, although not completely biissful. The reason for this harmony is simple: Some of 1994's best films also were its most popular. Ask their answer probably would be “Forrest Gump.” With its emotional tugging and technical wizardry, the Tom Hanksfilm is expected to lead the Oscar nomination race. Anotherlikely answer would be last year’s box-office champ, “The Lion King,” whichis sure to be an Oscar contender. Both “Gump” and “King” are among the top five all-time blockbusters. Or Mr. and Ms. Doealso might cite “Pulp Fiction,” which ranks as one of the highest-grossing films ever released by an inde- Fields,” “A Passage to India,” “Places in the Heart” and “A Soldier’s Story.” At the box office, the public voted for ‘Ghostbusters,” & = z # 3 ® 2 Managing Editor: Rodd Wagner Editors: Shauna Neeley and Amy Stewart ‘Advertising Director: Ed McCaffrey Production Supervisor: John Hurst Production Assistant: Jaimie L. Mastin | | Any opinions expressed in Midweek Fic. are those ofthe individaal writers and do oot necessarily | reflect the editorial views of The Sali Lake Tribune | or Deseret News | For information on advertising in Midweek Etc, | cat) 237-2815 | Tosubscribe to The Salt Lake Tribune or Deseret ‘News, call 237-2900. t J 5 Let’s not get too smug, though. “The Shawshank Redemption,” “Quiz Show” and “Ed Wood” are destined for strong showings on Oscar lists. But they were shunned by the public. And such wondrous films as ‘‘Hoop Dreams,” “To Live,” “Fresh” and “Heavenly Creatures’ crossed overonly marginally from the arthousecircuit. honored Linda Fiorentino’s performanceas a very fatale femme in “The Last Seduction.” Yet, according to academybylaws, Fiorentino is ineligible because the movie was shown first on cable television. Thosecritics groups might have just been trying to exercisea little powerandinitiate a rule change in the actress’ behalf. “Beverly Hills Cop” and “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.” The disparity was never more noticeable. Jokes were made abouttypical Clint Eastwood fans watching the Oscar telecast and wondering what on earth a movie called Amadeus could be about — and, by the way, wasn’t “Placesin the Heart”an old movie with Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift? Of course, with 1992's “Unforgiven,” typical Clint Eastwood fans had their vengeanceon those 4 Something like ““Wayne’s World,” for in- stance, didn’t need much story to generate plenty of laughs. Indeed, screenwriters of that 1991 hit worked on “The Brady Bunch Movie.” But like middle-sister Jan struggling for her identity, ‘The Brady Bunch Movie’ isn’t quite sure whatit wants to be. There are a few “Airplane!’’/‘‘Naked Gun’’-style gags, broad physical humor, sexual double-entendres morereminiscent of “Three’s Company,” and jokes eked out of cliched supporting characters. The bottom line for Brady fans: Despite potential cult appeal, “The Brady Bunch Movie” might simply leave you longing for the orange Formica and AstroTurf lawn of the original series. Crank up the VCR. Interactive Film Gets Mixed Reviews From One Audience a moot point. Many critics groups pendent company. vorite movie was last year, and Midweek Eve. is a weekly supplementto The Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News. Correspor Newspaper Agency Corporati Street. Salt Lake City, UT'8411 1, Phone: 237-2924 | business, nothing is permanent Theinfluenceofcritics remains Compare this year’s probable contenders with the best-picture nominees a decade ago: “Amadeus” (the winner), ‘The Killing Jane and John Doe whattheirfa- | Ete. snobbish jokesters. In the movie despite someseriously overdue property taxes and neighborhoodpressuretosell out to big business. — Ausociated Press Some of 1994’s best films also were its most popul “Forrest Gump”with its emotional and technical wizardry, is expected to lead the Oscar nomination race, along with “The Lion King.” « By Ken Armstrong Willit be the future, a fad or Chicago Tribune a flop? CHICAGO — Half game,half In the Chicago area, the movmovie and, according to some ie opened at the Sony Rolling early reviews, half-witted, Hol- Meadows Theatrein the northlywood's first interactive film west suburbs. For $5, viewers in wide release will open in 22 got two showingsof the movie, cities this month. which features an avenging With their hands on pistol hero who exacts justice upon grips — each press of the all mannerof bad guy. thumbregistering another vote Which villain and what ven— iegoers watching ‘Mr. geanceis upto the audience. Payback” will get to choose the The movie and the medium nextplot element. were created by Interfilm, a Cheerleader,farm girlorfig- New York company launched ure skater? in 1992. Its first interactive Mucus, saliva or loogie? movie, “I’m Your Man,” had a Rod, paddle or prod? $300,000 budget and was It’s enough to make ‘Dumb filmedin six days at the compaand Dumber” look high-brow, ny’s SoHooffices but then again, the movie’s It was released only in New makers weren’t shooting for York and Los Angeles, but aufine art. Their target audience dience support was so strong is moviegoers ages 10 to 25, the that Sony New Technologies people who go to the video came on board and signed a store and check out Sega’s two-movie deal with Interfilm. — “Mortal Kombat,” not Fellini’s It costs about $85,000 to out“La Dolce Vita.” fit a theater for interactive In the months to come, those movies, and so far, 44 screens moviegoers will determine across the country have made more than whether a villain the conversion. The world’s gets paddled or prodded. De- largest theater company, Unitpending upon how many go to ed Artists Theatre Circuit, has “Mr. Payback” and how often, outfitted 10 screens. they will help decide whatrole “Webelieveit’s the direction +: interactive filmswill play in the of entertainment,” said John entertainmentindustry. Neal. |