Christmas saved Barry Williams and “The Brady Bunch” early in the show’s run. With only a middling audience base, the cast - including Williams as the eldest son, Greg Brady - filmed a Christmas episode. If Williams recalls correctly, they filmed it in September in time for a holiday appearance.

The episode saw Carol Brady (played by Florence Henderson) lose her voice before her recital at church.

Her ability to sing returns just in time, perhaps due to Cindy Brady’s (played by Susan Olsen) desperate plea to Santa Claus for the restoration of her mother’s voice in lieu of an actual Christmas present.

The strength of that episode drew a wide audience and convinced its producers to pick up the show for the rest of its first season, recalls Williams by phone from Branson, Mo.

“It created a tremendous bump in our viewership,” says Williams.

The group, with the exception of one cast member, would all reunite for the 1988 film “A Very Brady Christmas.” And behind the scenes both then and today, Williams says he celebrates Christmas with the Brady clan.

“We’ve grown up as a second family, and we remain that way,” Williams says.

He’ll attempt to introduce himself to a new family - Northwest Arkansas and, specifically, Eureka Springs - tonight. Williams will serve as the grand marshal of the Eureka Springs Christmas Parade, which begins at 6 p.m. and travels throughdowntown.

Williams, who has lived in Branson full time for about six months, says this will be his first visit to Eureka Springs. He’s got a busy day arranged for himself, with meetings with city officials and a trip to the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge scheduled. That’s in addition to the parade. He’s been practicing his parade wave, he says.

Williams says Christmas is a time for caring, giving and reflecting. But he’s looking forward, too.

After spending about two years performing a program called “Brady Lunch” at the Yakov Smirnoff Theater, Williams is moving on his own into the RFD Theatre.

Called the “’70s Music Celebration,” the show will tell the story of a decade via song, from pop to disco to one-hit wonders to television theme songs and more. The show is slated to open in March.

“It’s a huge undertaking,” Williams says.

Whats Up, Pages 12 on 11/30/2012