Sure. Why not? The truth is, Olivia Newton-John was the producers’ first choice to play Laurie Partridge.
To further complicate things, Susan Dey, the sweet-faced girl who got the role of Laurie on The Partridge Family, was almost cast as Sandy in the 1978 hit musical “Grease!”
Danny Bonaduce, the Cast Clown
No one disputes the fact that Danny Bonaduce was a troublemaker. Not only that, but he often forgot his lines—one time, causing a scene to require 36 takes. Shirley Jones is known to have said, “Danny was a wild child who came from an unhappy home. At eleven, he started smoking.” Growing up in the spotlight only compounds the problems caused by conflicts at home.
Playing Danny Partridge, he would frustrate the cast. Completely vexed, Shirley once ordered him to go upstairs to his room! Never mind that the set did not have an upstairs or that she’s not his real mom.
The Partridge Family Home
Shots of the Partridge family’s house from the outside may look familiar. The same house was used in other popular shows of the time like Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, and Dennis the Menace. It was also featured in Pleasantville with Resse Witherspoon.
The pretty yellow and white house was particularly noticeable during shots when the iconic Partridge family tour bus drove by.
Where’s Fido?
In season one, there was a pet dog named Simone. The Benji-look-alike didn’t make the cut. When season two rolled around, the family pet had disappeared without explanation.
As far as we know, this change-up in the cast also brought in no complaint letters from fans.
David Cassidy Would Rather Be Rockin’
After the Rolling Stone exposé went over with little consequence, besides losing Coca-Cola and a getting a few execs uptight, Cassidy realized he was stuck with the TV show commitment. Letting it all hang out, the teen idol could have lost his job at ABC, and it would have been a break for him.
He barely had time to keep up with his schedule between playing sold-out stadiums on worldwide tours and taping episodes at home. And, frankly, he preferred a rock star image to a goody-two-shoes family entertainer. When he didn’t sign for season five, the show was over. There was no way he could keep up his recording and touring schedule, it had already been taking a toll on his health. Something had to give.