Laughs Save The Day For Television’s Mild Bunch

So how to explain the success of “The Brady Bunch Movie,” that adaptation of the early ‘70s sitcom about the peppiest family ever? Well, each star has a pet theory.

“It’s a horror movie, I think,” says Gary Cole, who portrays Brady dad Mike. “People need to regard the Bradys as horror movie creatures, as bizarre. They are not normal.”

For Jennifer Elise Cox, who plays disgruntled middle sister Jan, the show was “like a fantasy family that worked everything out and really didn’t have any problems. Except for Jan. She had a lot of anger toward Marcia.”

Christine Taylor agrees. Taylor, who is nothing if not a doppelganger for the original Brady teen queen Maureen McCormick, says, “We figured out that if the show was done in the ‘90s, Jan probably would have killed Marcia.”

Entertainment Weekly magazine’s Jim Mullen on the hairstyle of a certain “Today” co-host: “Katie Couric’s haircut: Just because Willard Scott gives her his old hairpieces doesn’t mean she has to wear them.”

We remember him as tough-guy Tom Lopaka

Robert Conrad turns 60 today.

Hmmmm, wonder whose photo she pins on her fridge?

At age 47, Cheryl Tiegs is making a reappearance in the venue that first brought her fame - Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue. And you won’t hear her complaining about it. “I’m proud to have kept myself together,” sniffed Tiegs. “Women don’t have to be 22 to be beautiful.”

Yeah, cookie, gimme some more of those ham and limas

CBS Broadcaster Paula Zahn had no trouble adjusting to a Marine Corps diet. In a recent story covering Marine boot camp, Zahn and her crew ate the same rations as the recruits. “It’s the same stuff I eat at the CBS cafeteria,” Zahn reported. “I actually like them. Of course, you’re talking to someone who’s not very talented in the kitchen.”

We’re shocked, shocked, at the man’s effrontery

As to news that Kevin Costner plans on remaking “Casablanca” with him in the Humphrey Bogart role and Demi Moore doubling for Ingrid Bergman, some observers are already predicting disaster. “Once critics and fans get a look at any version made by Costner,” says Knight-Ridder critic Robert Musial, “he’s liable to wish he was dancing with wolves.”

And nothing would change - until MTV came along!

Jerry Leiber, who with Mike Stoller co-wrote such rock hits as “Hound Dog,” “Jailhouse Rock” and “There Goes My Baby,” isn’t particularly proud of his handiwork. Says the 61-year-old composer, “The earlier market of swing and Frank Sinatra and Peggy Lee and Duke Ellington was pretty much gone (by 1965). We helped kill it… We had helped to bring down that cathedral and now didn’t know where to pray.”

Funny, we thought their Oscar was called ‘le Jerry’

At the recent Cesar Awards, France’s Oscars, best-actor nods went to Gerard Lanvin (“Favorite Son”) and Isabelle Adjani (“Queen Margot”). “Four Weddings and a Funeral” won best foreign movie.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by staff writer Dan Webster