In later-day interviews about her time on the show, Maureen McCormick has cited "The Show Must Go On" as one of her favorite episodes, as it gave her and her castmates — not just the juvenile members, but the adults, too — a chance to show their talents. In fact, she said that she wished she had suggested that the producers have an episode centered around a talent revue once a season.
But so it was, as McCormick and Florence Henderson, and separately Barry Williams and Robert Reed perform (in their Brady characters) for the Westdale High Family Night Frolics, a talent revue where students join their parents, other family members and/or community members to perform one-off acts, such as songs, dramatic readings, reader's theater and so forth.
In storyline, Marcia and Carol perform "Together (Wherever We Go)" from the musical Gypsy, while Mike (reluctantly) does a dramatic reading of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "The Day Is Done," with Greg on guitar. Both Mike and Carol are reluctant, for various reasons, to join in — Carol is a bit scared as she's not performed in several years, while Mike is a bit concerned about his lack of talent — but on the night of the show, both come off as naturals. (And by doing so, they’d show that they’re supportive of their kids.)
In the subplot, Alice and Sam have a brief spat as Sam's preoccupation with bowling practice — his union's team is contending for the championship of a prestigious bowling tournament — means they won't get to go to the Frolics together. In fact, Alice is upset that Sam is spending all of his time with bowling rather than paying attention to her lately. Of course, in the end the two make up and both go to the Frolics as though nothing had happened ... and they can thank Jan and Cindy for helping to patch things up.
Tropes present in this episode:
- Friendship Song: Carol and Marcia's "Together," from Gypsy. The mother and daughter duo play a pair of hobos who stick together through thick and thin.
- Practical Effects: To spice of the "snore-fest" of Mike's poetic reading, Peter and Bobby toss down items comically related to the line(s) in the poem. Mike even has to blow feathers off the script during one part.
- Talent Show: The Westdale High Frolics.
