2nd ep of a New Tv season when it could have been the last ep of the 85-86 season and the end of the entire series. I never got into the show when that Beverly Ann showed up. Very Stupid move by the producers if you ask me. That's like Mr. Drummond's Brother coming to live with Willis and Arnold on Diffrent Strokes after he leaves the show-LOL

ah yes, the Suzanne Somers syndrome, or how about Sandy Duncan replacing Valerie Harper on the Valerie/Valerie's Family/The Hogan Family

I like Beverly Ann though...those are the episodes I remember best from the original run of the series (I was 9) and I just get flashbacks seeing those episodes. I wish I could get a hold of more!

ah yes, the Suzanne Somers syndrome, or how about Sandy Duncan replacing Valerie Harper on the Valerie/Valerie's Family/The Hogan Family

I like Beverly Ann though...those are the episodes I remember best from the original run of the series (I was 9) and I just get flashbacks seeing those episodes. I wish I could get a hold of more!


I just think it was foolish to replace a MAIN character of a show. The Mrs. Garrett character was the Glue that held that show together and to mw it would have made more sense to end the series when she got married.

Mrs G wasn't the main focus of the show in seasons 6 & 7 - leading up to her departure. There are so many episodes where she is absent, the girls always had the spotlight - nbc knew they could still get great ratings with out Mrs G. Season 8 is one of the best - season 9 not so much. Out of Peekskill was a great stunt to attract viewers to the new season 8. i remember seeing a promotion that led the viewer to think that maybe mrs g died when she drove off that cliff.

Mrs G wasn't the main focus of the show in seasons 6 & 7 - leading up to her departure. There are so many episodes where she is absent, the girls always had the spotlight - nbc knew they could still get great ratings with out Mrs G. Season 8 is one of the best - season 9 not so much. Out of Peekskill was a great stunt to attract viewers to the new season 8. i remember seeing a promotion that led the viewer to think that maybe mrs g died when she drove off that cliff.



Are you saying the Ratings was good after season 8?

Hell ya, Ratings were still very good in season 8, I believe in the low 30's. Remember the last season of the golden girls was like 40 something, Facts of life Never hit the 40's, (well they hit the 70's but that was the horrible first season.)

I loved the show with Beverly, plus when you've got a show called the Facts of Life, what comes with life, but a bunch of changes. That's real life Folks. I take it as Beverly Ann would live in the house until mrs. Garrett returned to peekskill, and by that time all the girls would have been gone anyway. She couldn't have stayed in africa for the rest of her life.

I think the later seasons are much more funnier and not as cheesy, it relates to adults more than teenagers because these characters were now adults. not kids.

80's child is right, Mrs. G wasn't in many season 6 and 7 episodes, and when she was she'd walk in say a line and walk out. like the Stake out blues ep, she walks in says a line and walks out. Same goes for Concentration, The Apartment, and many others.

After Charlotte Rae left the series there was a huge hole there and the show was never the same. I am a big Cloris Leachman fan but Facts of Life wasn't for her.

After Charlotte Rae left the series there was a huge hole there and the show was never the same. I am a big Cloris Leachman fan but Facts of Life wasn't for her.



You can say that again-lol

I didn't mind season 8. I liked it better then seasons 6 and 7. I thought the show was losing something during those seasons and CR was only in half the episodes.

I'll agree with folbartman, season 8 was alot less cheezy and seemed more adult. Beverly Ann was less preachy/maternal than Mrs G, and brought a new energy. 'Write or Wrong' (http://www.80schild.com/writeorwrong.htm) is a great episode that showcases BA - she stands by natalie and confronts her plagerist - infact BA wants to fight her (& says squirm in your rocker) - Nat holds her back. Thats something the calm/goodie goodie Mrs.G would never do.

Yes ratings were actually good in Season 8 and 9 - goto my site check out the nielsen ratings (http://www.80schild.com/ratings2.htm).

I don't think BA was that bad people.

Mrs G wasn't the main focus of the show in seasons 6 & 7 - leading up to her departure. There are so many episodes where she is absent, the girls always had the spotlight - nbc knew they could still get great ratings with out Mrs G. Season 8 is one of the best - season 9 not so much. Out of Peekskill was a great stunt to attract viewers to the new season 8. i remember seeing a promotion that led the viewer to think that maybe mrs g died when she drove off that cliff.
I agree, the FOL was one show that pulled off replacing a main character quite well. I loved a lot of the episodes from season 8, in fact I think that was one of my favorite seasons. Beveryly Ann added something to the show that most replacements dont. She was a good fit and the show still did do well with her. I missed Mrs. G but it made the show more interesting, like someone else said it was very realistic and stuff like that really does happen in real life. I'm glad the show didnt end after Mrs. G got married, we wouldve been cheated out of 2 very good seasons.

I agree, the FOL was one show that pulled off replacing a main character quite well. I loved a lot of the episodes from season 8, in fact I think that was one of my favorite seasons. Beveryly Ann added something to the show that most replacements dont. She was a good fit and the show still did do well with her. I missed Mrs. G but it made the show more interesting, like someone else said it was very realistic and stuff like that really does happen in real life. I'm glad the show didnt end after Mrs. G got married, we wouldve been cheated out of 2 very good seasons.


Well it was tough for me because I watched Mrs. Garrett for 7 years and to bring in a replacement was silly-IMO

In my opinion seasons 7, 8 & 9 were a lot cheesier than 1 to 6 for these reasons:
The introduction of BEVERLY ANN was a big mistake
Some of the stories were very superficial
The acting was weak (except for JO & BLAIR)
I think the writers got lazy & finally
never replace a main character (with MRS. G gone it should have been just the 4 girls + nobody else!)

Seasons 1 to 6 had so much potential (even if they were just teenage girls + an adult):
The cast bonded so well
the acting was spectacular
the stories were very real + taught many generations about life
The writers did a fabulous work in general & finally
FOL is a very unique sitcom!

COMMENTS?

Beverly Ann was awesome. And I agree with all the folks who loved season eight, lots of great episodes. Edna getting remarried, the attic remodel, Beverly Ann adopting Andy, the return of Roy, Jo and Blair graduating from Langley, and so much more.