I've watched nearly every episode from the new Facts of Life DVDs, and I am wondering if anyone else noticed this:

Notice how much sexier the producers had Lisa Whelchel dress in Season 1 as opposed to Season 2? In the first season, with the larger cast, Lisa Whelchel wore, in a couple of episodes, really short, shorts and a blouse with a knot tied in it. In the "Emily Dickison" episode, could Lisa's jeans have been in tighter (and sexier!) when Mrs. Garrett slapped her on the rear end and then Blair turned around and did the same to her? She also wore a lot less makeup in Season 1 as well.

Put in the Season 2 DVD and notice that the girls are wearing their school uniforms in the majority of the episodes. Lisa is often wearing long jean skirts, when not in the school uniform. In "Double Standard," Lisa's wearing her tight Gloria Vanderbilt jeans for one of the few times in season two, but it is easy to tell Lisa had already gained some weight.

Don't mistake my commenting on her weight gain. I think she was stunning either way! And by the way, even though "Gloria Vanderbilt" jeans had gone out of fashion by the mid- '80s, notice how really good Lisa can still make them look 25 years later!

I'm convinced Lisa Whelchel was one of the most beautiful young women ever on TV.

It seemed that the producers tried to make all of the characters look really sexy first season. Not just Blair, but Sue Ann and Nancy too.

It was addressed in the E True Hollywood story that the writers for Season 2 wanted to do away with the sexier outfits of Season 1. They mention that they thought it was a bit unrealistic to have girls parading around New York in the middle of winter in short shorts and tight t-shirts.

That's why by Season 2 they opted for the school uniform and clothes that left them more covered.

But yes, Lisa was dressed sexier in Season 1. But so were all the girls.

It was addressed in the E True Hollywood story that the writers for Season 2 wanted to do away with the sexier outfits of Season 1. They mention that they thought it was a bit unrealistic to have girls parading around New York in the middle of winter in short shorts and tight t-shirts.

That's why by Season 2 they opted for the school uniform and clothes that left them more covered.

But yes, Lisa was dressed sexier in Season 1. But so were all the girls.
what i don't get is that Lisa is strict regarding her religion, so why would she allow herself to dress that way? She spoke up before when she didn't want her character to do certain things...why didn't she say anything abt the style of clothing?

I don't think they dressed sexy at all, what was so sexy about it:confused:

I guess you gotta be a guy to appreciate it!

what i don't get is that Lisa is strict regarding her religion, so why would she allow herself to dress that way? She spoke up before when she didn't want her character to do certain things...why didn't she say anything abt the style of clothing?


The same thought crossed my mind. Today, Lisa is very particular about what she allows her own daughters to wear, claiming that guys respond to the visual, so girls should not dress in tight clothing or clothing which shows a lot of skin.

My own guess is that because she was only 16 that first season and fortunate to have a job on TV, maybe she didn't feel that she was in a position to rock the boat, so to speak.

I agree with JustWondering. I think Lisa, if she had a problem with the clothes, probably didn't have much of a say at that point--or she didn't feel too comfortable voicing her opinion yet. As a young person in Hollywood on a non established show, if Lisa was seen as too difficult, who knows...she might have worried they'd replace her and young starlets looking to get a job on television are a dime a dozen.

By later on, Lisa was established enough to voice her opinions without fear of being replaced. Plus at that point FOL was already a hit show, so Lisa had some bargaining power on her plate.

When I think of S1, I think of that black dress Blair had on when she was coming down the stairs!

When I think of S1, I think of that black dress Blair had on when she was coming down the stairs!
or that light blue one when she was in the contest for the Harvest Queen Contest. That is when Blair got pissed because Mrs. G. inferred that Blair was probably "experienced"...

Not only that, when the show returned and it was just the four girls, notice how much heavier Lisa was...her hips were much bigger. I believe she wore a dress and her school uniform all the time other than the episode when she wore that motorcycle outfit in the cotillion episode. She had on jeans and her heaviness was so obvious.

or that light blue one when she was in the contest for the Harvest Queen Contest. That is when Blair got pissed because Mrs. G. inferred that Blair was probably "experienced"...

Not only that, when the show returned and it was just the four girls, notice how much heavier Lisa was...her hips were much bigger. I believe she wore a dress and her school uniform all the time other than the episode when she wore that motorcycle outfit in the cotillion episode. She had on jeans and her heaviness was so obvious.


Who cares if Lisa put on a few pounds.

Who cares if Lisa put on a few pounds.
Um, I don't care...but if you understand the thread and why i put that post referring to her weight, you would understand. Let me change it for you.

Lisa having put on weight probably meant the "sexier" look was no longer feasible as it was on season one. Not to imply that girls who are heavier can't be sexy, but the kind of dresses Lisa wore in season one would no longer be fitting for her to be wearing in season 2. Got it. Oh my God, I can't believe you misconstrued my post.

Lisa talks about the weight gain in one of her books...I believe it was THe Facts of Life and Other thing smy Father taught Me...or whatever the book was called.

Lisa talked about doing the first season then coming home not knowing if they would renew the show or not. Back home in Texas she didn't exactly eat the healthiest and gained weight. When she got the phonecall that it had been renewed, well, she had put on weight by then. End of story.

D

Lisa talks about the weight gain in one of her books...I believe it was THe Facts of Life and Other thing smy Father taught Me...or whatever the book was called.

Lisa talked about doing the first season then coming home not knowing if they would renew the show or not. Back home in Texas she didn't exactly eat the healthiest and gained weight. When she got the phonecall that it had been renewed, well, she had put on weight by then. End of story.

D
Which proves what I just posted earlier abt her heavier look. But it was so obvious abt the weight gain. It didn't take away from her beauty at all. I for one was glad they got rid of that part of the character, the sexiness. It made me not like Blair that much in season one. Her character had changed somewhat and made her more appealing.

Which proves what I just posted earlier abt her heavier look. But it was so obvious abt the weight gain. It didn't take away from her beauty at all. I for one was glad they got rid of that part of the character, the sexiness. It made me not like Blair that much in season one. Her character had changed somewhat and made her more appealing.


Lisa actually has had a life long battle with her weight. At one point (I believe it was during the third season) the producers threatened to fire her if she did not take off the weight. Though I think it was an empty threat. After all, what would FOL be without Blair?

Though the producers did threaten to fire her, you are right, it was an empty threat on their parts. Lisa couldn't be replaced, and they knew it.

Lisa acknowledges in her "The Facts of Life. . ." book that she has no problems with what the producers did in an effort to motivate her to lose weight. She admitted that they cast her as an attractive girl and that's what was expected of her. Lisa said that the producers did their jobs, but it was she who was not doing hers. She does have a point: How could Blair be so egotistical if Lisa's appearance didn't match Blair's high opinion of herself?
You have to admire Lisa for her honesty. Lisa didn't blame others or make excuses; she merely said, "It was my fault entirely." Gaining weight is no crime, but when millions of dollars are riding on a certain look, it must sure feel like it!

Lisa admitted as much in this round of interviews too. I think on ET. She knows the producers wanted a certain look and can understand that now...however your viewpoint at 16 and at 43 is rather different. At 16, you probably aren't going to understand what the producers are doing and why.

It also was made worse by the fact that while I think they were eventually on all the girls about their weight (except maybe Mindy), Lisa was the main focus of their attention since it mattered more for her character than it did for Kim, Mindy or Nancy. She also probably felt a bit singled out by that and not in a good way.

At 16, you probably aren't going to understand what the producers are doing and why.At age 16, she probably would have known. I don't think a 10 year old may understand fully, but a 16 year old? Yes. That's just my opinion, though. I think teenagers are pretty aware of this stuff.

At age 16, she probably would have known. I don't think a 10 year old may understand fully, but a 16 year old? Yes. That's just my opinion, though. I think teenagers are pretty aware of this stuff.

I didn't mean it quite that way. At 16, I'm sure Lisa understood what the producers wanted and why. She's a smart girl.

I just meant that at 16 you don't appreciate being told by a bunch of suits to drop pounds or you're going to get fired. You're not going to appreciate being told to eat only certain foods or being sent to nutritionist and all that stuff when you are still a growing girl. In fact while you might understand the basis for it, at that age it might seem hurtful or like someone is just out to get you.

Teenagers aren't always going to see an issue from both sides in the way someone with over forty years life experience might. Now Lisa can look back in hindsight, when she's not actually going through the hurt or resentment or whatever, and probably see the issue from a different perspective.

At age 16, she probably would have known. I don't think a 10 year old may understand fully, but a 16 year old? Yes. That's just my opinion, though. I think teenagers are pretty aware of this stuff.


In fairness to Raya, I think what she was trying to say was that at 16, Lisa may have intellectually understood the producers' position, but emotionally it may have been very difficult on her. "Constructive criticism" at age 43 is not the same as at age 16. We all know that constructive criticism is meant to initiate self-improvement; it is not meant to offend. However, a sixteen year old, as Lisa was then, might take constructive criticism as a personal insult.

Lisa has had many years to reflect on what happened, and I'm sure that if she had written her book in 1981 rather than 2001, she might not have been nearly as understanding.

Thanks Justwondering. That's exactly what I meant. :)

Anytime, Raya!;)

I think we posted responses within seconds of one another.

In season 1 the girls were wearing "daisy dukes " so naturally with all the cast revamps and changes so did the wardrobe (blahh my spelling) anyways Blair did dress sexier in the first season but became established from the second on . I still need to see the earlier eps to see when Lisa and the others gain weight especially Jo ...off topic..My point Lisa was a young woman when she dressed that way but that doesnt mean she was less than a Christian.

Let me explain to everyone my point of view:
In the 70ies people wore skimpy, tight, sexy, disco clothes (haven t you ever watched "Charlie s Angels"?)& that was the fashion. That is why they had BLAIR, SUE ANN + NANCY (the 14-15 year old teenage girls dressed that way), CINDY, MOLLY, NAT & TOOTIE were pre- teenagers (11 to 13 year old kids) who wore kiddies clothes.....
By the 2d season it was the 1980ies so the "disco sexy era" was over, the producers decided to have the 4 characters look like real boarding school girls, the stories became more dramatic, each girl had at least an episode for herself, MRS.G transformed from housemother to dietician, as well as surrogate mother to 4 trouble maker girls, the reduced cast formed an even tighter bond & the show became a success!
COMMENTS?

Let me explain to everyone my point of view:
In the 70ies people wore skimpy, tight, sexy, disco clothes (haven t you ever watched "Charlie s Angels"?)& that was the fashion. That is why they had BLAIR, SUE ANN + NANCY (the 14-15 year old teenage girls dressed that way), CINDY, MOLLY, NAT & TOOTIE were pre- teenagers (11 to 13 year old kids) who wore kiddies clothes

I was a teenaged girl in the 70's. Most of us didn't wear skimpy, tight, sexy, disco clothes, at least not in the SF Bay Area where I grew up. Some of the slutty girls did but the FOL girls, except for Blair, weren't supposed to be slutty girls. I think the clothing choice for season 1 FOL was not to reflect real life but to draw viewers.

I was a teenaged girl in the 70's. Most of us didn't wear skimpy, tight, sexy, disco clothes, at least not in the SF Bay Area where I grew up. Some of the slutty girls did but the FOL girls, except for Blair, weren't supposed to be slutty girls. I think the clothing choice for season 1 FOL was not to reflect real life but to draw viewers.

BLAIR was not a slut! (Don t you remember in "rough housing" when MRS. G teaches her a lesson about appearances cos BLAIR made some nasty comments about CINDY: we realize then she was just a tease).
About the 70ies clothes i guess i only know from the tv programs i used to watch: you see, i was born in the 70ies + grew up in the 80ies (love the 70ies fashion a lot lol & the music too!).....

BLAIR was not a slut! (Don t you remember in "rough housing" when MRS. G teaches her a lesson about appearances cos BLAIR made some nasty comments about CINDY: we realize then she was just a tease).
About the 70ies clothes i guess i only know from the tv programs i used to watch: you see, i was born in the 70ies + grew up in the 80ies (love the 70ies fashion a lot lol & the music too!).....
I agree, Blair fit a certain "type" in the first season, a tease, in her words, but she was not....oh gosh, I can't even bring myself to say what has been said above. But, yeah.

Btw, is it just me, but was I the only person to find Blair sexy in EVERY season, regardless of her weight gain? I never really noticed until it was pointed out. But then, like I cared anyway about her size. :eyes:

I agree, Blair fit a certain "type" in the first season, a tease, in her words, but she was not....oh gosh, I can't even bring myself to say what has been said above. But, yeah.

Btw, is it just me, but was I the only person to find Blair sexy in EVERY season, regardless of her weight gain? I never really noticed until it was pointed out. But then, like I cared anyway about her size. :eyes:

OK, I'm sorry for using the "S" word for Blair. I couldn't think of a more moderate word for the "type".

I think Blair was pretty regardless of the weight gain. She still had great hair. ("It's to die for" as her NYC friend says.) Although I think season 1 and season 9 were her best looks-wise.

OK, I'm sorry for using the "S" word for Blair. I couldn't think of a more moderate word for the "type".

I think Blair was pretty regardless of the weight gain. She still had great hair. ("It's to die for" as her NYC friend says.) Although I think season 1 and season 9 were her best looks-wise.
Oh, I don't mind the "S" word. I just couldn't see using it myself about her.

I never thought Blair was overweight until it was pointed out. I always thought she looked pretty hot. :) I might have noticed her in the first few seasons when she was overweight but I never really knew she was battling that.

I like the style of jeans women wear above the belly button with shirts tucked in.

I like the style of jeans women wear above the belly button with shirts tucked in.

That was the late 70ies, early 80ies fashion for you!

I was a teenaged girl in the 70's. Most of us didn't wear skimpy, tight, sexy, disco clothes, at least not in the SF Bay Area where I grew up. Some of the slutty girls did but the FOL girls, except for Blair, weren't supposed to be slutty girls. I think the clothing choice for season 1 FOL was not to reflect real life but to draw viewers.

Many of the girls wore short shorts away from the set. There are even pictures of Nancy McKeon wearing short short in this era.