When Mary Kate Olsen guest-starred on a Samantha Who? episode around a month ago in November 10, a lot of viewers were pleasantly surprised that the girl can still act.  This shouldn't be a surprise, however, as just last year, the twin was on Weeds alongside Mary Louise-Parker as church girl slash druggie who got a little frisky with Silas Botwin (Hunter Parish).  On Samantha Who? Samantha (Christina Applegate) was sentenced to hours of community service after a traffic altercation, where she met Natalie (Mary Kate Olsen), a rebellious young woman who reminds her of herself.

Recently, Entertainment Weekly reports that good ole Carol Brady – or Florence Henderson in real life – will be gracing Samantha Who?? to play the titular character's grandmother when the season returns this January.  According to reports, she comes to town to help settle an argument between Samantha's mom, played by Jean Smart, and aunt, played by Christine Ebersole.

Previously, it was TVGuide.com that introduced Samantha's aunt as Regina's secret sister.  As it turned out, Regina used her daughter's amnesia as an opportunity to also forget the fact that she has a sister.  When Regina, Sam, and she ran into each other, however, they were forced to confront this truth.

Now when you think about it, the choice of the iconic Brady matriarch to come into the picture and settle the conflict.  Henderson, after all, has that pacifist image. The 74-year-old played the big-haired, soft-talking matriarch Carol Brady on The Brady Brunch from 1969 to 1974, plus a movie version in 1995.  For those who've seen the sixth season of The Surreal Life, she appeared as house therapist “Dr. Flo” to look after that show's cast.  Some predict an Emmy nod for her on the guest actress in a comedy series category, while pointing out that The Brady Bunch was never nominated for an Emmy despite its massive popularity.


-Glenn L. Diaz, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Los Angeles Times, Entertainment Weekly, TV Guide
(Image Courtesy of Entertainment Weekly)