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Recap / The Brady Bunch S 5 E 14 Kellys Kids

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A backdoor pilot for the show that 12 years later became Together We Stand. Here, the Bradys' friends adopt three boys; one is white, one is black and the third Asian. A racist neighbor causes problems and eventually the Bradys become involved.

Tropes present in this episode:

  • The Danza: Ken Berry as Ken Kelly
  • Interracial Adoption Struggles: A white couple with whom the Bradys are friends adopts a white boy. When the boy says he misses his two best friends from the children's home, the couple goes to meet the other two boys — one of whom is African-American and the other being Asian. After some hesitancy, the couple quickly adopts them. A next-door neighbor, the aptly-named Mrs. Payne complains about the decision, three boys causing a ruckus, especially "the minorities". It is implied that her husband swings enough weight in town to make things rough for the new family.
  • Pilot: See episode description.
  • Obnoxious Entitled Housewife: Mrs. Payne is a busybody older woman in the same affluent neighborhood as the Kelly and Brady families who feels entitled to the private business of her neighbors, even showing racist attitudes towards children.
  • Poorly Disguised Pilot: The Bradys take a back seat to Ken and Kathy Kelly and their three adopted children, all of mixed races.
  • Racist Grandma: The Kellys' next door neighbor, Mrs. Payne (Molly Dodd) is a racist that Kathy Kelly suggests makes Archie Bunker look like a saint.
  • Real-Life Relative: Matt is played by Mike Lookinland's (Bobby) younger brother Todd.
  • Shout-Out: All in the Family – Kathy Kelly's suggestion that Mrs. Payne's bigotry dwarfs that shown by that show's lead protagonist, Archie Bunker.

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