I wonder if DS had risen in the ratings to the extent it would've stayed renewed that if it had lasted until 1987 or 1988, that just one or two extra seasons could've been the saving grace for its three child stars. I know Plato was fired at the end of the sixth year, but she appeared in season 8 more than 7, who knows maybe she could've been a regular again in the 1986-1987 season if one had happened.

Maybe one or two extra seasons could've been all that was needed to save Gary, Todd and especially Dana from the humiliation that came their way after "hasbeenland" hit. Maybe Gary would've made just enough that he wouldn't have had to auction off his virginity on a website, and maybe Todd would've been so busy working on the television show that he wouldn't have had time to mingle and be introduced to the lowlife that got him in trouble, and maybe Dana could've stayed off drugs and would've had enough money from another season or two's pay from Strokes that she would've never had to go through the humiliating video store incident.

I think one of the things that really kept everyone from Facts Of Life in check was that the show ran for so long that they had all entered adulthood (Lisa was 25 and Nancy/Mindy were both 22 and Kim was entering college) by the time the show ended that they didn't have to deal with the "you're not a kid anymore" embarassment that Todd (who was 20), Gary (18) and Dana (21 and a single mother) did. Maybe a season nine and/or a season ten would've saved them all.

I disagree, I think they were screwed up children to begin with. I mean no disrespect when I say that. I think that fame and money got to their heads at an early age.

I agree with Brian Damage, I don't think extra seasons would have helped. I remember reading Dana said "I would have crashed and burned no matter what" or something like that.

If Gary could loose $18 mil or whatever it was, an extra $1 mil or whatever it would have been would have been highly unlikely to affect him financially from what happaned. And as for his other bad luck, he would have still have been type cast and unable to get serious roles.

Todd was already in trouble from about 1983 with the law. I think even if the show had still been airing for an extra 2 seasons he would have become a drug addict because he was so depressed about his personal problems and fathers death.

The same goes for Dana with the money, an extra lot of money would probably just have been spent on booze or gambling like she probably did with most of her money.

I think in all cases it was when rather than if they would run into hard times, so the extra time I don't really think would have changed anything.