The producers of the movie are committed to making sure the locations look right and have the best reunion pic ever, and they've asked me to gather some feedback from the FOL web community.

They have some question as to the relative size of Eastland. Their feeling is that the school is a couple hundred of people and that the campus must have some scale as a result. What do you think?

They are also involved in discussion as to the relative merits of reconstructing the cafeteria/dining hall set and how important such a rebuild will be to the fans. Their prevailing feeling is that they should deliver at least one key location from the old show...even though this will be VERY expensive. Your thoughts?

Please post your replies here or e-mail me at tofull@ix.netcom.com and I will forward the responses to them.

Wow. This is cool. I think if they keep one spot, they should keep the living room(if we're talking about Mrs. G and the girl's house)--but in Eastland, how about the kitchen area? They should keep the room(s) exactly the same and not monkey with it I think.

As for the size of Eastland, i don't think it's that big. Look at the last episode. There wasn't even 50 people there. And would they still have Eastland mixed with girls AND boys? That's one of the main things I think if they keep the idea from the last show or change it back.

Thanks for letting us in on this, TJ.

That's so cool! I would personally love to see an Eastland set rebuilt. I think a lot more fans would recognize that set, and it would be great to see the characters back where it all started! (well, the start of season 2 anyhow lol).

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Amy Joy

P.S. "The Facts Of Life" is my fave show but I luv this "The Division" (my 2nd fave show) member name :0)

I always imagined that Eastland was between 100 and 150 girls.

If they had to rebuild one key location, I would expect the lounge attached to the cafeteria. It shouldn't be too expensive. If memory serves correct, there was a couch, an arm chair, a coffee table, a vending machine, and a payphone. But this area makes the most sense to recreate, since it is probably economically more affordable for the set designers and it would fit into a story better than somehow getting Nat, Tootie, and Blair all in the cafeteria working.

This is another reason why TJ is awesome. He passes this info on to us and gives the fans here an opportunity to be heard. Thanks TJ, for being so kewl.

I would have picked Edna's Edibles for a reunion, but it burned down of course. I'd say the living room in the Over Our Heads era.

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Andrew Carden

WOW! How cool is this that we get to have a little input...

I think they should go with the living room at Eastland. Maybe update it a little. But not so much as to where you would not recognize where the setting is actually suppose to be.

I never really thought that Eastland had very many students. Probably around 100-200...


Thanks for letting us give our thoughts on this, TJ.

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²Tiffany²

LYLAS or LYLAB
Peace Out!

Teddy: Hey, I'm making you an offer you can't refuse.

Jinny: Look, you know who I am, OK? You know who my family is. Why do you even wanna be with me at all?
Teddy: Because, I love you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jinny: Basically, people are who people are. Your born, you die pretty much the same person. All the rest is just window dressing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'd say the cafeteria area thing. That's where they were mos of the time at Eastland, [besides their bedroom] and I think it would make the most sense to recreate it. But that's just MO.

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-Jinny

Jinny: Oh, come on, folks, please, don't be shy. Apparently anyone is welcome to crap all over me tonight, so please, step right on up!

Notice: If you copy me, I will be forced to send you to the outermost reigons of the pig where you will suffer miserably, for I am Jinny: Queen o' the Pigs and Penguins!

"'Cause your everywhere to me. When I close my eyes, it's you I see. Everything I know that makes me believe, I'm not alone. I'm not alone." -"Everywhere" by Michelle Branch

Check out my Nancy McKeon Supersite (http://www.angelfire.com/stars2/NancyMcKeon)!

This is so kewl.Anyway I think they should do like the cafeteria and living room set that's what I always think of and like someone said earlier update it alittle but now to much so you can still reconize it.By the way I'm sooooooooooooooo excited cause THE RUNION WILL AIR ON MY BIRTHDAY,NOVEMER 18!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Now how kewl is that i was like jumping off the walls when I found out what better way to dpend my b-day than in front of the TV watching the FOL reunion.I can't wait.

This is so cool! I can't believe that the producers want OUR input!! Well, I would love to see either the lounge/cafeteria/or the girls bedroom recreated.

Originally posted by coily2:
I always imagined that Eastland was between 100 and 150 girls.



Yeah, that sounds about right. As for the set, I would like to see either the cafeteria or the girl's bedroom. I prefer the latter. Thanks, TJ, this is awesome!


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"You're old, you're ugly, you live with it!" - Jo
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"Why would you want to be popular? You have to smile and talk to peple and all that stuff!" - Jo
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Rose: So, Jerry, ever dressed up like a horse?
Jerry: No, but thank you for asking!
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"Get back here, you deceitful little Sicilian gecko!" - Dorothy Zbornak
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"I've got PMS and I've got a gun - any questions?" - Jinny Extead

I think I'd like to see the living room in the Edna's Edibles/ Over Our Heads years recreated. Either that, or their bedroom in that house. I also have always imagined that there were about 50-100 students.

I think that they should recreate the Eastland cafeteria, lounge, or girls' bedroom. I think this makes the most sense, because I think it is safe to assume someone else will be living in the old Edna's Edibles/Over Our Heads era house. What are they gonna do, go up to the door and ask if they can look around? Sure it's a possibility, but I think it would be stupid and awkward and not fit into the story very well. Whereas it would be much easier for a group of Eastland alumni to come in for a tour of the old school.

I also felt that Eastland was around 150-200 students, max.

It's airing in November?!?!?!?! http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/eek.gif Gosh I thought it was gonna air next spring!!!!

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~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~
I'm the BIGGEST Facts of Life #1 fan! And Sep 4 is my anniversary!

Don't worry :) BE HAPPY

Hey! If anyone from the Facts of Life cast is reading this you have heard from me and I want to meet you baaaaaaad
~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

I think they should rebuild the Cafeteria, the girl's room, and the little lounge area. or they should use the area where the girls lived in the last years.

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--Dana
Actressgrl7@aol.com

Blair: I just had another one of my brilliant ideas!!!!!

I've always pictured Eastland as being pretty spread out because of what Tootie said in Season 5 "A New Beginning Part 2" She is telling Mrs. G about hw the two of them (Tootie and Nat) were split up, she said:
Nat's all the way up by the willow grove in dorm A and I'm down by the lake in dorm C.

As for reconstructing the cafeteria/dining hall set, I think that would really be cool, because they spent so much time there. However, if Beverly Ann is still living in the old house, I would love to see the living room again.

Someone mentioned earlier about updating the rooms, and I think that would be expected. That could be some of the things the girls could discuss, about how it had changed. Like in the "Oldest Living Graduate" Marie talks about how Eastland has changed.

I can see Eastland now-a-days as a coed school still. It could have a computer lab etc. The girls would be talking about how they didn't have anything like that when they were going there. They had a hard enough time getting a stereo (have a flashback to season 1 when they got the stereo) Stuff like that would be cool.

D

The house from the last era should definately be the location!!! Eastland would be stupid, bcause all the girls are grown, and Blair doesn't even own it anymore, so it should be in the house. Definatelly!!

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Shane Pantellas, the PANMAN!

I don't think they should use anything from Eastland, because, as it's been mentioned, they don't go to Eastland anymore, and none of them own it, there would be no point.If they "recreate" some of the set I would say the girls' room at the house in the last few seasons.I dont' know how they would work it in, unless, the girls were "visiting" the house, but hey, they wanted input and they're the writers, so they don' even have to take my suggestions, personally, I think they're doing a great job from what I read in articles, so I say MORE POWER TO THE WRITERS!!!

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*Blair:I just had another one of my brilliant ideas!
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my e-mail is charlotte_rae_fan@yahoo.com e-mail me!!
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I think that CHARLOTTE RAE is the BEST ACTRESS that EVER lived!!She is incredible!!SOMEDAY...I *WILL* meet HER!!
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Roll out the red carpet...here comes the princess!
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IM me using piggy2111 or The GGirls R Koo
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Tootie:WE ARE IN TROUBLLEEEEE!!!!
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I'm SOOOOO EXCITED about the FOL REUNION!!!I CAN NOT WAIT TO C Charlotte Rae again!!

Over Our Heads era, boo!!!

Anyway, I think that the cafeteria would be the number 1 set choice to have the girls revisit. Because, we really have to think about mainstream fans that only have seen the show a few times, they'll probably remember the cafeteria first and foremost.
And besides, the cafeteria was probably the most recognizable set from FOL. All the great moments happened there, and the lounge area. They have to have that too, of course.
Maybe even slip in the bedroom above the kitchen as well. I'd think that would mean more than them revisiting the Over Our Heads house...ugh.

Eastland student body, I'd say by now it's 200-250. Something like that...

Yea, boo to Over Our Heads- that was an 80's style store and it belongs in the 80's.

Hey- I think they should use some part of Eastland for the set- let's not forget that Blair took over as headmistress of Eastland in the very last episode.

Attention TJ:

When and where is the reunion movie being filmed, and how is the audience being selected?

Definitely the cafeteria/dining hall. Even though they don't go to that school anymore, that's where it all began, so I think that should be the part they recreate.

TJ, you are the man. As well, the producers are very cool too, taking the fans into account. They want the reunion done right, unlike other reunions/ film adaptations.




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"I STILL GOT IT"!
http://www.angelfire.com/retro/hitman514/folautographs.html

Originally posted by panman:
The house from the last era should definately be the location!!! Eastland would be stupid, bcause all the girls are grown, and Blair doesn't even own it anymore, so it should be in the house. Definatelly!!



I agree with panman why have it at Eastland espacially when they lived at the house longer also like panman said they are all grown and have no connection with Eastland anymore. I mean it wouldn't be bad to see what Eastland looks like now a days but it wuold be kind of stupied to have the reunion there since they lived and had more eps with them living at the house.

somebody just posted a topic about 2 of the first season girls being in the reunion. If that is going to happen, then I think Eastland would be appropriate.

Having a set from the original series would be great. If cost is a determining factor, how about doing a "cheat," that is showing the recognizable room, say the cafeteria through a doorway or window. This would be a low-budget way of incorporating the old sets and locations without having to build them out completely.

Originally posted by FOL & DS fan 4ever:
Attention TJ:

When and where is the reunion movie being filmed, and how is the audience being selected?

Thank you everybody for your replies!

The details about when and where are listed in the 'Reunion Movie News Section' on this site. I don't know if it will be filmed in front of a studio audience, it's going to be filmed like a movie without a laugh track most likely.

They should definitely use the cafeteria. NO doubt.

I agree with everyone because everyone is right and have good ideas which makes it so hard to choose.I feel bad for the writers!
I think they should just go with the house from the last season because that's where they spent most their lives together.But then again having the reunion at Eastland would also be a great idea because that's where they all met in the first place.My goodness,I would be pulling my hair out right about now if I were one of the writers for this.

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"You're born,you move on,you die,that's life."-Jo
Nancy McKeon is #1!!

If they are going to recreate one of the sets, it should definitely be the cafeteria/lounge. That’s the classic setting I think of when I think of Facts of Life. I think the fans would really like that, especially if it fits in well with the plot of the movie. To me, it would definitely be a plus to have the set, but I wouldn’t be devastated if it didn’t happen.

Wow TJ, it is so cool that the producers have contacted you for some input! Thanks for involving us in this.

Just a thought about the reunion. I think it would be neat, if the writers haven't already thought about it, for at least one of the girls mention something about better late then never about getting together again. This would be a reference to the show where Blair is deciding what to do about Cliff and she has a dream about what they would be like in the future. (the episode is Dream Marriage) Natalie makes all of them promise that they will all get together January 1, 2000 to bring in the new century. (I watched the episode last night so I am making corrections today.)

Anyway, just an idea.

D

[This message has been edited by Ags2000 (edited 08-21-2001).]

I hope they add a laugh track...to the producers, keep this in mind:

The Facts of Life Down Under!

We don't want another repeat.lol

Originally posted by Madness:
I hope they add a laugh track...to the producers, keep this in mind:

The Facts of Life Down Under!

We don't want another repeat.lol

Word! http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
But wait, was there a laugh track on the Paris movie? I don't remember...

The first season girls Felice Schachter, Julie Piekarski/Probst and Julie Ann Haddock deserve recognition for there contribution in the initial seasons and deserve to make cameos(even if Ringwald wanted to do it for the kitsch value alone)Since any diehard FOL fan has seen the first season millions of times and would want to see these girls again. Being part of natalie's wedding would be a perfect way to have them back.

I never looked at it that way!That is interesting, it would be kinda nice to see them all again, of course it would also be nice to see me in Holly wood(well, it would be nice for me) but that's not gonna happen anytime soon(unless you people know about some miracle I don't!)but it would be very nice to see what ALL the girls are up to, of course I didn't really get as "into" the first season girls as much as Jo, Blair, Natalie and Tootie.(Well, of course Mrs.Garrett too, but you know what I mean)
Good insight!

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*Blair:I just had another one of my brilliant ideas!
*************************
my e-mail is charlotte_rae_fan@yahoo.com e-mail me!!
*************************
I think that CHARLOTTE RAE is the BEST ACTRESS that EVER lived!!She is incredible!!SOMEDAY...I *WILL* meet HER!!
*************************
Roll out the red carpet...here comes the princess!
*************************
IM me using piggy2111 or The GGirls R Koo
*************************
Tootie:WE ARE IN TROUBLLEEEEE!!!!
*************************
I'm SOOOOO EXCITED about the FOL REUNION!!!I CAN NOT WAIT TO C Charlotte Rae again!!

I'll be surprised if they use a laugh track or a studio audience. My guess is that they're going to film it with one camera like a TV-movie, as they did with the recent "Growing Pains" reunion, which also aired on "Wonderful World of Disney".

As for the size of Eastland: does anyone remember in the last episode where Andy, after hearing about Blair's plans to buy the school, says something like "Anything you can do to keep 200 babes in town is all right with me." Also in that episode, they make it seem like the dorm that is shown is the only dorm on campus (someone answers the phone "Eastland School Dorm", and they also put all the boys there). This contradicts earlier episodes, which said that there were several dorms on campus.

As far as the sets go, I'd like to see the cafeteria set, but how would they work it in, and how much of the movie could convincingly take place there? If the producers are going to spend money recreating sets, they're probably better off recreating the house from the later years. After all, who's to say that Mrs. Garrett doesn't still own it and moved back in after she got out of the Peace Corps? You could then set a lot of the action in the living room, with the girls visiting.

TJ, have they decided where the location will be?

I think that it would be better to have them in the house. Becuz Lisa doesnt own Eastland anymore...UNLESS someway they have a way to work how they (fol cast) get to Eastland. Becuz i just wouldnt want to see them sitting there and it never saying who owns it, or why they were there. It just seems kinda...odd i guess to have them At Eastland when none of them own it or there is really no reason for them being there. IMO, that would have to be written into the script somehow.
So, i think in the living room of the house they lived in at then end of its run. (where Edna's Edibles was)

Thanx for giving us a "say so" in this wonderful production. Im really looking forward to seeing it. Although, Nancy McKeon probably wont be there from what she says...

Still lookin' forward to.

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²Tiffany²

LYLAS or LYLAB
Peace Out!

Teddy: Hey, I'm making you an offer you can't refuse.

Jinny: Look, you know who I am, OK? You know who my family is. Why do you even wanna be with me at all?
Teddy: Because, I love you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jinny: Basically, people are who people are. Your born, you die pretty much the same person. All the rest is just window dressing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ok, I think some people may be confused. TJ simply said that they were discussing rebuilding one of the sets, not that the whole movie would take place there! Of course, I could be wrong, but I never envisioned that the whole entire reunion would be taking place at some old set from the old show. I figured most of it would take place at one if the girl's houses, and they would just visit Eastland, or the old house, or whatever.

That said, I still think it is better to build something from Eastland, i.e. the cafeteria. Yeah, maybe they spent more time at the house, but without Eastland, there wouldn't even be a show, and the girls would never have met. I think Eastland is far more important. And I think Cokies had an excellent point. More people that aren't diehard fans would remember Eastland, I think.

Hey TJ....are you passing along all our reasons for why we are choosing the set we are, or are you kind of just tallying votes? Just curious! Thanks for letting us be in on this!

Who said Blair doesn't own Eastland? Just because Blair isn't Headmistress doesnt mean someone else didnt take her place. She could still own it and have people run it for her.

Originally posted by Cokies:
Word! http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
But wait, was there a laugh track on the Paris movie? I don't remember...



Nope, no laugh track on the Paris movie...

Originally posted by FOL & DS fan 4ever:
Nope, no laugh track on the Paris movie...



Thought so...thanks for the clearing that up for me.

Originally posted by Bootsy Whoosh:
Ok, I think some people may be confused. TJ simply said that they were discussing rebuilding one of the sets, not that the whole movie would take place there!

That's right...one set will be recreated, but it will NOT be the set for the entire show!

Originally posted by TV Guy:

As for the size of Eastland: does anyone remember in the last episode where Andy, after hearing about Blair's plans to buy the school, says something like "Anything you can do to keep 200 babes in town is all right with me." Also in that episode, they make it seem like the dorm that is shown is the only dorm on campus (someone answers the phone "Eastland School Dorm", and they also put all the boys there). This contradicts earlier episodes, which said that there were several dorms on campus.

As far as the sets go, I'd like to see the cafeteria set, but how would they work it in, and how much of the movie could convincingly take place there? If the producers are going to spend money recreating sets, they're probably better off recreating the house from the later years. After all, who's to say that Mrs. Garrett doesn't still own it and moved back in after she got out of the Peace Corps? You could then set a lot of the action in the living room, with the girls visiting.

I agree with a lot of that, especially the part about the sets. The living room would make the most sense in the movie, I think, but, as others said, Eastland is more regognizable by non-die-hard-fans.
I always thought Eastland was a pretty big school. I mean, it had several grades, and in the early seasons it seemed that there were quite a few dorms on campus.

Thanks, TJ for letting us give input! This is really cool! I appreciate it!

I think they should rebuild the house/store thing.