Vote for why you think it jumped
Same Character, Different Actor (Jan)
Day One
Singing (The Hustle)
Never Jumped
Shark Bytes
Hey look at it this way... She's not the Fake Jan...She's just The New Jan Brady Eve Plumb pined for on the original series! LOL. Carefuly what you wish for...
You people need to get lives. Geri Reischl is an actor who played the role of Jan when Eve Plumb opted not to be a part of The Brady Bunch Hour. She is happy to be known as Fake Jan and doesn't pretend to be on the original series.
Susan Olsen (the original Cindy) decided not to be a part of A Very Brady Christmas and Jennifer Runyon was cast in the role. Why doesn't she get called Fake Cindy?
Also, Maureen McCormick was not a part of The Bradys TV series from the 90s. Marcia was played instead by Leah Ayres. Why doesn't she get called Fake Marcia?
They are all just actors playing parts.
Susan Olsen (the original Cindy) decided not to be a part of A Very Brady Christmas and Jennifer Runyon was cast in the role. Why doesn't she get called Fake Cindy?
Also, Maureen McCormick was not a part of The Bradys TV series from the 90s. Marcia was played instead by Leah Ayres. Why doesn't she get called Fake Marcia?
They are all just actors playing parts.
I just wanted to comment that I just commented on my comments on the Geri Reischl super-dupity great blog over on the TV Shows Are My Life site where I talked at length about how much I love Fake Jan in a completely non-sexual way and how I want her to come live with me in a completely non-sexual way since it's so obvious that the Brady lovers all hate on her so much and that I would just love her to death in a completely non-sexual way and make her want to live with me forever in a completely non-sexual way. And I just want to comment on here that I want everyone on here to go on over to the TV Shows Are My Life site and sign into the Geri Reischl super-dupity great blog and read all of my comments about Geri Reischl who played Fake Jan on the Brady Bunch Hour and who I really really love in a completely non-sexual way and want to come live with me forever in a completely non-sexual way because she is so awesomely cute and cuddly in a completely non-sexual way and I could just hug her and hug her and hug her in a completely non-sexual way.
The biggest part that Geri has had in the past thirty years in the one down the center of her scalp. I vote for Fat Jan. She made the show jump off the face of the planet.
sigh....
Mark, you're confusing having a nice personality and/or sane personal life with talent. It's nice that GR has been able to settle into a nice life for herself. That's wonderful.
However, that doesn't in any way mean that she has or had talent. She was a third-rate actor who has not had a significant part for thirty years. That doesn't mean she's not a good, decent person. It just means that she can't act.
I think some of the hostility towards her comes from the feeling that she tries to trade on the whole 'fake Jan' routine. Fans of the Brady cult tend to be very possessive both about the character of Jan and also of Eve Plumb. When it is felt that someone is encroaching on either one, backs bristle and claws come out.
I find it all to be a bit silly. Jan Brady is nothing more than a part on some TV shows and she is fictional. All of the Jan Brady's that have appeared over the years are 'fake', including Eve Plumb's version -- in the sense that they are all fictional characters. None of them are 'real'.
People need to stop blurring the line between reality and fiction. It's kind of scary.
Mark, you're confusing having a nice personality and/or sane personal life with talent. It's nice that GR has been able to settle into a nice life for herself. That's wonderful.
However, that doesn't in any way mean that she has or had talent. She was a third-rate actor who has not had a significant part for thirty years. That doesn't mean she's not a good, decent person. It just means that she can't act.
I think some of the hostility towards her comes from the feeling that she tries to trade on the whole 'fake Jan' routine. Fans of the Brady cult tend to be very possessive both about the character of Jan and also of Eve Plumb. When it is felt that someone is encroaching on either one, backs bristle and claws come out.
I find it all to be a bit silly. Jan Brady is nothing more than a part on some TV shows and she is fictional. All of the Jan Brady's that have appeared over the years are 'fake', including Eve Plumb's version -- in the sense that they are all fictional characters. None of them are 'real'.
People need to stop blurring the line between reality and fiction. It's kind of scary.
Wow, I am a mazed at allthe controvery that has emerged from a 31 year old show. Geri was a replacement for Eve and did as well as could be expected withthe role. She endured criticism and rejection for having played the part- however it wasa just that a part. She is a talented actress who has a long list of accomplishment including Tv, movies, commercials and music. You don't get jobs if you are that bad. She has a beautiful singing voice. Geri has been married for almost 30 years and she has raised 2 children. That says much about a person. I have the privledege of emailing and sometimes chatting on line with her, she is a remarkable person who had no "Hollywood drama" surrounding her life other that taking on a role that another actress had prior to her. Look at thse yong stars tody who are on a fast downslide- Brittney, Jessica, Paris, you know the rest. Geri has made a wonderful life for herself and her family and should be commended for it. She certainly does not need all this badmouthing
I agree that this was a bad show from the start, but FAT JAN was the one who made it Jump The Shark!
Who on earth could possibly remember a show that aired only once 32 years ago?
Only 9 episodes aired in a two month period. Not exactly what one would call a season.I was a huge fan of The Brady Bunch and never knew this terrible Variety Hour existed. Now 2 episodes have been released on DVD and I can understand why it never aired again. This has to be the very worst show ever made. Anyone praising it must have been a part of it.
Only 9 episodes aired in a two month period. Not exactly what one would call a season.I was a huge fan of The Brady Bunch and never knew this terrible Variety Hour existed. Now 2 episodes have been released on DVD and I can understand why it never aired again. This has to be the very worst show ever made. Anyone praising it must have been a part of it.
This was a horrible show and replacing Jan makes it the worst show in history. How in the world did they pick this loser to replace Eve Plumb I will never know. I voted for FAT JAN and it appears that over 700 other people feel the same way.
So it appears we all have different tastes. Whats good to some is bad to others. I did notice Jan's name was a little different, but after not seeing the Brady Bunch for two years, and not keeping up with their real names, I didn't let it bother me too much. As long as there was 6 kids. 
I remember there was a lot of variety shows back then, and I didn't quite get all the humor in any of those shows. The acting quality seemed the same in all of them, so I assumed thats the way its supposed to be. I can't fault the actors; there is a producer, and it must have been approved the way it was. I personally thought Jan and the mother was the best singers and most dedicated workers in the show. Lots os YouTube clips available, so someone really liked it!
I remember there was a lot of variety shows back then, and I didn't quite get all the humor in any of those shows. The acting quality seemed the same in all of them, so I assumed thats the way its supposed to be. I can't fault the actors; there is a producer, and it must have been approved the way it was. I personally thought Jan and the mother was the best singers and most dedicated workers in the show. Lots os YouTube clips available, so someone really liked it!
Tony B...
I didn't say Geri Reischl conned anyone. I said she doesn't ROCK. Regardless of whether she's a super nice person beloved by all, she still can't ACT. This is not being cynical, it's being realistic. I'm not the one wallowing in nostalgia, trying to make a bad actor out to be great just because she was in a failed show thirty years ago.
As I noted in my post, I agree completely that there were other components involved with the show's huge suck factor. Bad writing, bad directing, bad concept, everything about this show spelled doom.
To paraphrase you, Sheesh!
I didn't say Geri Reischl conned anyone. I said she doesn't ROCK. Regardless of whether she's a super nice person beloved by all, she still can't ACT. This is not being cynical, it's being realistic. I'm not the one wallowing in nostalgia, trying to make a bad actor out to be great just because she was in a failed show thirty years ago.
As I noted in my post, I agree completely that there were other components involved with the show's huge suck factor. Bad writing, bad directing, bad concept, everything about this show spelled doom.
To paraphrase you, Sheesh!
Geri Reischl cons no one. Her website address is even fakejan. She is the ONLY 'Jan' that actually worked with the 'original cast'. All of the other 'Jans' were with other actors. I read an article that Susan Olsen did and she said that she is best friends with Geri and that her son thinks of Geri as an 'aunt' All of you cynical people need to get a life. Sheesh! This happened 31 yrs ago and you have nothing better do then burn a show which back in the day was fitting right in with the other Variety Shows.
It's not Geri's fault that the show was a bomb. It had to do with the writing and the fact that the Brady Kids were never meant to have a variety show. I'm sure they weren't thrilled to do a show like this but it was money and after the original show had been cancelled for a few years dollar signs can make you do things even if they might not be the right choice. If you check things out better on her MySpace she says at the very top "Brady Bunch Hour" not "The Brady Bunch". Her name is also at the top NOT Eve Plumb. On the Brady Bunch Hour her character WAS Jan Brady.
It's not Geri's fault that the show was a bomb. It had to do with the writing and the fact that the Brady Kids were never meant to have a variety show. I'm sure they weren't thrilled to do a show like this but it was money and after the original show had been cancelled for a few years dollar signs can make you do things even if they might not be the right choice. If you check things out better on her MySpace she says at the very top "Brady Bunch Hour" not "The Brady Bunch". Her name is also at the top NOT Eve Plumb. On the Brady Bunch Hour her character WAS Jan Brady.
"Nobody under 45 years of age has ever heard of it."
Consider yourself lucky that you've never seen it or heard of it...
Your 'under 45' estimate is wrong, though...I haven't hit the big 45 yet and I quite horribly remember having to sit through this dreck when I was 12 yo because my little sister was in love with it. It is quite easily one of the most painful television memories I have.
I agree that Geri Reischl is awful. She can't act her way out of a paper bag. But I also agree with 'Cousin Oliver' below who points out that Jan Brady is fictional -- all 'Jan Bradys' are "fake" and it's kind of scary that some people tend to confuse fictional TV roles with real life.
Consider yourself lucky that you've never seen it or heard of it...
Your 'under 45' estimate is wrong, though...I haven't hit the big 45 yet and I quite horribly remember having to sit through this dreck when I was 12 yo because my little sister was in love with it. It is quite easily one of the most painful television memories I have.
I agree that Geri Reischl is awful. She can't act her way out of a paper bag. But I also agree with 'Cousin Oliver' below who points out that Jan Brady is fictional -- all 'Jan Bradys' are "fake" and it's kind of scary that some people tend to confuse fictional TV roles with real life.
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