This is the show Rory and Lorelai are watching on television when Rory’s college application from Harvard is delivered by the mailman during the cold open.
The Brady Bunch Variety Hour is a variety show featuring sketches and songs, a spin-off from The Brady Bunch sitcom, previously discussed. It features the same cast as the original show, with the exception of Eve Plumb, who played Jan, previously mentioned. She was replaced with Geri Reischl, forever to be known as “Fake Jan”.
The premise of the show is that the Brady Bunch family have been chosen to star in a new variety television show, and moved to southern California. It was originally going to be a one-off one-hour special in November 1976, but high ratings meant it was extended for nine episodes and aired sporadically over six months, ending in May 1977.
There were many problems filming the show, and the erratic scheduling affected ratings. It’s considered an unmitigated disaster, and as this episode says, TV Guide rates it as #4 on the list of worst shows of all time.
Lorelai and Rory are watching the first episode (the pilot) of The Brady Bunch Variety Hour.
The Annotated Gilmore Girls 