Friend Encounters: Robbie Rist and Troy Babbs

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

Troy Babbs is one of the great friends I have gotten through the convention scene. Troy has been a volunteer helper at several cons and he also joined Johngy's Beat to help me a few times. Of course, I appreciate his assistance, but I appreciate his friendship more.

If you are lucky enough to know Troy, you are well aware of his great sense of humor. Sometimes offbeat and quirky, it never ceases to make me laugh. Speaking of quirky and offbeat, his partner in the picture below is just that or at least his most famous character was. 

Rist played cousin Oliver on The Brady Bunch. Although surprisingly Rist only appeared in six episodes of the show, he is often remembered unfavorably as a much bigger part of the end of it.

Realistically, nobody blames Rist for the demise of the show. It was clearly on its last legs, but the addition of the young Rist has become somewhat of a legendary concept. Many shows inject youth to try to revive sagging ratings. This has become known as "The Cousin Oliver Syndrome." It's a bif unfair, but it keeps his name around.

For his part, Rist takes it all in good humor. He has remained busy in entertainment, doing acting, voice overs, music and more. He ia also a popular guest on the comic con scene. He embraces his part in television history and profits a bit from it.

He was very cool the couple times I met him. I did not meet him at the same place as Troy did, but I wish I did. Look at the fun they are having. It's typical Troy. I am so happy I will finally see this guy again at the upcoming Squared Circle Expo this weekend.

Troy Babbs and Robbie Rist in Indianapolis, IN-August 2018.

Half of the Brady Bunch

Collectors Shows are great for unique photo opportunities.  At the Hollywood Celebrities Show a couple years ago, three of the six Brady kids and cousin Oliver were all seated at one table.  They were signing autographs and posing for pictures all day.
You had any option you would want for pictures.  They would pose in any combination.  I imagine the logistics were a bit difficult.  ERach time someone wanted a group photo, they would all have to walk to a ide area and pose with the fan.  The tricky part was sometimes a fan would want them all, but sometimes just the boys or just the "real" Brady kids (sorry Oliver) or sometimes just the youngest...well, you get the point.
I have to say it all ran very smoothly, despite the potential mind-numbing possibilities.  The stars were also very patient and willing to make everyone happy.
Shows like this are great for the hobby and the collector.  Walking away feeling like you got what you wanted will probably lead to return visits.  I know I have been going to their shows for about 10 years!

Chris Knight, Robbie Rist, Mike Lookinland and Susan Olsen in Rosemont, IL-Fall 2008.

Cousin Oliver!!!

Robbie Rist will forever be known as Cousin Oliver, the "unlucky" Brady cousin for the last season of The Brady Bunch.
It was hoped that the addition of the Oliver character would help the sagging series, instead it gave rise to "The Cousin Oliver Syndrome". The Cousin Oliver Syndrome occurs when a tv show attempts to boost up dropping ratings by adding a young, cute character (see Happy Days, Family Ties, Facts of Life and others).
It really never works. Unfortunately it usually unfairly tags the young actor with helping to sink a popular show, when in fact the show was already doomed by the time the youngster appeared.
When I met Rist at a Hollywood Celebrities Show, I heard that topic discussed several times. I am sure Rist must be tired of it by now, but he handled it all with good humor. He joked that it cemented his place in tv history.
Rist has actually carved out a nice career acting, playing music, producing and doing voiceover work. None of it would bring him the massive exposure like being a Brady, but all of which allowing him a nice life.

Robbie Rist and me in Rosemont, IL-Fall 2008.