A first for Florence Henderson

Florence Henderson is a television legend whose accomplishments include being the first woman to ever guest host The Tonight Show, being The Today Show “girl,” and hosting her Country Kitchen show on the Nashville Network for 11 years. Of course, there is also her iconic role as Carol Brady on the classic Brady Bunch series and its various follow-up shows The Brady Bunch Variety Hour, The Brady Brides, A Very Brady Christmas and The Bradys.

But one thing Miss Henderson has never done is been submitted for Emmy consideration. She is being touted in the outstanding lead actress in a television movie category for her performance in Ladies of the House. How cool would that be to see her get an Emmy nod?

Florence turned 75 years old on Valentine’s Day and I was among those in the audience that week for her one-woman show at the Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood, She was dazzling. She will next appear on and episode of ABC’s Samantha Who? as Jean Smart’s mother (and Christina Applegate’s grandmother). The episode also features Tony winner Christine Ebersole as her other daughter.

Miss Henderson on this show will be a far cry from Carol Brady. We spoke earlier this year about the character: “Nobody loved me and why should I love these two girls? She’s a tough broad. It’s against type and that’s why I love doing these kind of roles. It becomes even funnier.”

The door is open for some return appearances which she hopes will happen because she had such a good time on the show.

“Jean Smart is to die for,” she said. “And Christina Applegate? I haven’t been that impressed with a young actress in so many years. Her attitude, her demeanor. Her work ethic is just astrounding.”