It's like it has nothing to do with the show it's basically just Natatlie with her two boyfriends with.They never even showed clips from the hsow.They barley ever mentioned things that happened on the show.I expected more from this film.

I agree, I am probably one of the biggest FOL fans out there and I can't even watch the reunion movie a second time. I felt like I didn't even recognize any of the characters. I wish the writers and producers would have consulted w/some of the people on these boards to get out opinion.

I would have made the movie to focus on the 4 girls and Mrs G. Yes, I know the characters have grown and developed since the last episode, but I wouldn't have put the kids, husbands and boyfriends in the movie, we as fans don't know them and don't care about them.

I like the season (maybe 5) when the girls all hook up on the train and then catch each other up on what happened in there lives and then found the store had a fire and the storyline when from there.

I agree they wasted a great opportunity with this reunion.

I was thinking, (this might get a lot of people angry) but I would have another actress play Jo to get that thing between Blair and Jo. They could have made it funny by saying Jo had plastic surgery or something.

I loved The Reunion Movie

I agree they wasted a great opportunity with this reunion.

I was thinking, (this might get a lot of people angry) but I would have another actress play Jo to get that thing between Blair and Jo. They could have made it funny by saying Jo had plastic surgery or something.

I agree the reunion movie was pretty bad. But there is no way I would want another actress playing the part of Jo. It just wouldn't be right and it would not feel the same. Nancy and Lisa had great chemistry with each other, to have another actress try and replicate that chemistry would just feel forced. And your right FOL fans would be angry. :)

I could watch it but I'm not crazy about it. It just didn't seem like the four musketeers without Jo. :(

Since the reunion movie has not aired since I started watching the show a year ago, I have not seen it.

I really disliked it too even though I wanted to like it so bad.

Warning that there might be spoilers ahead for those who haven't seen it.

It's not just that Jo wasn't there, but it just didn't work. For one, the plot surrounding Natalie and her two boyfriends was sort of lame.

I hated that they decided to kill Jeff off.

I also don't like when they blow continuity. I get the Mrs. Garrett years were the most popular years of the show, but I would have at least liked some actual mention of Beverly Ann, Andy and other characters who played a big part in the show. Not saying we have to see them, but some acknowledgment.

It just felt like they could have done so much more.

Folks... think about it.

If you met up with four friends from 15 years ago (or even 5 years ago), things are NOT going to be the same. Everyone has different life experiences that affect personality, ideas, etc.

The reunion movie was not perfect, largely because of Nancy's absence. However, it was reflective of the life situation the women (no longer girls) were in. No complaints from me, that's for sure...

Folks... think about it.

If you met up with four friends from 15 years ago (or even 5 years ago), things are NOT going to be the same. Everyone has different life experiences that affect personality, ideas, etc.

The reunion movie was not perfect, largely because of Nancy's absence. However, it was reflective of the life situation the women (no longer girls) were in. No complaints from me, that's for sure...
It was all about Natalie's having two boyfriends.

Folks... think about it.

If you met up with four friends from 15 years ago (or even 5 years ago), things are NOT going to be the same. Everyone has different life experiences that affect personality, ideas, etc.

The reunion movie was not perfect, largely because of Nancy's absence. However, it was reflective of the life situation the women (no longer girls) were in. No complaints from me, that's for sure...

What's to think about it? For those who like it, that is an opinion. For others of us, it fell short.

Nobody was expecting things to be exactly the same, but I thought more effort could have been made--not by the cast who were fine and just acting what was put before them, but in development, plot and etc.

What's to think about it? For those who like it, that is an opinion. For others of us, it fell short.


Don't they seemingly all far short, Raya? I cannot honestly name a TV reunion movie that was done so well that it was actually "memorable."

Most shows have a tough time getting all of their cast members to participate, simply because some actors are still desperately attempting to the break the typecasting that resulted from their former roles. I completely understand why Nancy McKeon was not interested in participating in the FOL reunion movie.

I think the networks misinterpret why reunion movies do well in the ratings quite often. It's not that the screen play captivates the audience, but rather the show's fans really desire to see how the years have changed their favorite actor(s). No show has had more reunions than the Brady Bunch, and each was surprisingly successful given that the scripts were absolutely horrid. Fans tuned in to see the Brady Bunch kids as adults, first and foremost. Reassembling the cast can never recapture the charm of the original series, especially when they were young people dealing with kids' problems.

I've seen one too many reunion movie in which a cast member runs for congress. We're to believe everyone grew up be to a doctor, a lawyer, a designer, a journalist, ect.

Can't someone give me a twice-divorced, unemployed crack addict, just once in a while? :lol:

It was all about Natalie's having two boyfriends.
No, it wasn't "all about" Natalie's boyfriends. We also learned that Jeff had passed away and Dorothy was having trouble getting back into her passion -- acting. We learned that Blair and her husband weren't communicating, especially about children. We learned Jo was a cop (granted, all a play on her role in "The Division," but still) and was a loving mother. We learned Mrs. Garratt had lost her husband, and she considers the girls her family. In short, we learned what they have been doing in the the last twelve-thirteen years. A lot has changed!

Two hours is not a lot of time to tell a lot of stories... and remember, they brought back Raymond, they mentioned Sue Ann, they recreated the cafeteria (not Edna's Edibles or Over Our Heads)... In short, the production was very connected to the original series. If they had done "The Facts of Life" today, with the girls living together, I wouldn't have believed it. This was much better than many other reunion movies I have seen.

No reunion show has gone back to an immediate continuation of the series (i.e., like an added season). If that happened with this reunion, I wouldn't have been so excited to watch it. I think it's respectable for what it was...

[FONT="Book Antiqua"][SIZE="3"]Don't they seemingly all far short, Raya? I cannot honestly name a TV reunion movie that was done so well that it was actually "memorable."

I can, The Brady Bunch Christmas Reunion "A Very Brady Christmas." All but one of the the original cast members returned (Cindy being the exception). The plot was believable and well written. Most importantly, we were able to catch up on the lives of all the Brady children as well as Alice. :) I like the fact that the writers did not make all children to grow up and have typical careers like you mentioned. Bobby was a race car driver (although Mike and Carol thought he was going to business school). But I do agree most reunion movies fail to capturing the magic that was.

They could have done so much with it... It just wasn't what I was expecting. :(

I enjoyed it quite a bit. It felt like an epsiode of the show to me. There is no way they could've backtracked through the past 10+ years in two hours, and I really didn't want to see that. What they gave us was more than enough for fans to put the pieces together and move forward. I wanted Jo to be there, but her absence didn't destroy the reunion for me. I also loved that they made an effort to recreate the Eastland cafeteria. I think that was a great touch! In the Growing Pains reunions, you never did see their house as it was on the tv show. I was hoping that the reunion movie would be released on dvd as a separate item or as an extra on one of the future sets. I also would hope that they'd make one more movie (like Growing Pains) centered around a pregnancy for Blair, but five years have already passed since the reunion- so I won't hold my breath.

For those who haven't seen it, The Facts of Life Reunion pops up periodically on the ABC Family Channel.

I also would hope that they'd make one more movie (like Growing Pains) centered around a pregnancy for Blair, but five years have already passed since the reunion- so I won't hold my breath.

Something tells me that we haven't seen the last of Blair, Natalie, and Tootie.

I believe that the girls (Lisa, Mindy, and Nancy) were asked during a TV interview, last May, about the potential for another reunion project. While Lisa and Mindy seemed open to the idea, Nancy was not. She strongly feels the show is in the past. Nancy didn't participate in the 2001 reunion, and I think it's safe to say that she won't consider participating in any future reunion movies.

However, if the script is respectable and the paycheck is good, I'm confident that at least Blair, Natalie, and Tootie will live once again!

You know, i'm surprised all of you nancy fans out there are so ok with her not having wanted to participate in the reuinion movie project... i dont think it would have hurt her tough image she had going on the division... i thought it was actually kind of selfish of her to not participate... but, obviously she doesn't want to be associated to FOL anymore even though for some odd reason she is the most loved character of the show... it's too bad she didn't care about her fans enough to participate... only to look into her future... oh well... and whos to say they couldn't do one around natalie being pregnant... she did decide to pick the one really cute guy, maybe they got married... who knows

You know, i'm surprised all of you nancy fans out there are so ok with her not having wanted to participate in the reuinion movie project... i dont think it would have hurt her tough image she had going on the division... i thought it was actually kind of selfish of her to not participate... but, obviously she doesn't want to be associated to FOL anymore even though for some odd reason she is the most loved character of the show... it's too bad she didn't care about her fans enough to participate... only to look into her future... oh well... and whos to say they couldn't do one around natalie being pregnant... she did decide to pick the one really cute guy, maybe they got married... who knows

Nancy was trying to NOT make the same mistake many actors on popular shows do - they become typecast. Let's face it... she's the only one who's had a wide, quality career in acting. She's been in several well-received shows, been recognized for her producing abilities, and, in short, has come far from being "Jo." So, to go back to that would be a disservice to her.

I think she does care about her fans... and remember, Nancy showed up for the publicity tour of the S1 DVD - where were Kim and Charlotte? Perhaps Nancy has made a turn, but don't say she does "care about her fans enough." She should look out for herself first.

I'd encourage everyone on here to do a search for the reunion movie back when it came out in 11/2001. Look at the posts we all made when the film originally aired. You'll see that there was a lot more acceptance of Nancy's absence.

As for Mindy/Natalie being pregnant...perhaps. However, I like seeing her start her new life as a married woman. It illustrated how, even though the girls were pretty much the same age, they were all at different stages in their lives.

There's my nickel's worth of knowledge... :)

if you think nancy is the only successful one then you do NOT know kim fields's running... she was on Living Single in her young adult hood, nancy JUST made her comback with the start of the division... kim fields is just as successful in her acting and producing career as nancy... you should do some more research on your FOL characters... and Charlotte Rae had SOOO many works behind her, FOL was like the top of her acting career... and charlotte rae was the only one nominated for anything from fol FOR fol.... and i was around when the reunion movie posts were out, i was around before then as well.. adn yes, everyone was more accepting, and i was fine with nancy not being there.. i infact liked her not being there, i just thought it was funny

if you think nancy is the only successful one then you do NOT know kim fields's running... she was on Living Single in her young adult hood, nancy JUST made her comback with the start of the division... kim fields is just as successful in her acting and producing career as nancy... you should do some more research on your FOL characters... and Charlotte Rae had SOOO many works behind her, FOL was like the top of her acting career... and charlotte rae was the only one nominated for anything from fol FOR fol.... and i was around when the reunion movie posts were out, i was around before then as well.. adn yes, everyone was more accepting, and i was fine with nancy not being there.. i infact liked her not being there, i just thought it was funny

I don't want this to be a I-said, you-said thing.

Living Single was a decent show, agreed. Nancy has definitely contined to reinvent herself, like Kim has. I just think Nancy's career has grown more.

Charlotte has done good things, but I'm simply measuring on popularity (wrong, but it's a basic thing). Lisa has ceased acting, except for the reunion. Mindy is doing voice-over work, and "The Help" failed quickly. Aside from "Living Single," Kim hasn't been out front so much. I think Nancy has moreso.

I wish ABC Family would rerun The Reunion Movie

I don't think that Nancy McKeon ditched the reunion movie because she thought she was better than anyone else. I think the reason is that she knows that you can't go home again. FOL was great in it's day. It should have been left that way. I think it was a disservice to the show to even broadcast a reunion program.

Now, onto Kim versus Nancy. I look at it like this. Do you remember that TV show, "Dawson's Creek"? In it there were two actresses: Katie Holmes and Michelle Williams. In real life, MW has been slow and steady in her work and received an Oscar nomination (although I seriously doubt most people even know her name). Katie Holmes is splashy (did you READ the plotline of her latest "movie"?) and superficial, if you will (at least that is her image). I look at Kim as Katie. Her acting on "Living Single" was funny, but fatuous, lacking in substance. Her acting ability is extremely limited to one-liners. Nancy has broadened out and has been quite successful (I am talking in terms of critical acclaim). Her movies are well-received by critics. Her roles in Tracey Thurman and Strange Voices among others were critically acclaimed. I think by most critic's standards, NM would be considered the more talented one. She simply has a broader range. Do I think KM is the pretty one? Yes. Do I think she is good at one-liners? Yes. Do I think she looks like a nice woman? Yes. All I'm saying is that NM may not be the "pretty" one, she may not be the one who ever graces the cover of a magazine. But I do think that she has a great amount of acting talent. I know I mentioned before that I have corresponded with Lisa Whelchel and that she has helped me immensely in my Christian development. We correspond probably about once every other week. I have had a very hard time dealing with a specific event in my life, an experience that LW has not had. She asked me if she could have my permission to give NM my email address, phone number. Will NM ever call? Who knows? Maybe not. But I've learned that NM is a very good woman. She has done alot behind the scenes to help girls in a similar situation. I did not know any of this before because it was never promoted in any way. And you know what? I'll bet money that KF is a good woman too. I'll bet she has helped people also. That's all that really matters.

they usually do rerun it on marathon weekends, just wait a couple months... and as for jayman, of course you will side for nancy, you are what? her millionth number one fan? its quite true you think she has been up front more, becuase you watch what she's involved in and what she'll be on like a hawk... i think that all of hte girls have had successful careers... so i dont want to go into who is number one, becuase your opinions are bias on the fact that you are a huge nancy fan and well, i am not

Nancy has had a succesful carrerr and Kim has as well.Kim does plays(I belive) and Nancy does TV movies now I think.

FOL85NatandMrsGRock,

May I ask you a question? Please do not take offense by this. I mean no harm. You sound quite aggressive in your dislike of Nancy McKeon. It's fine that you don't like her. But you sound so angry. Your anger may not be healthy. Could it be that you have a lot of anger inside of you that you direct toward objects and people (such as NM) that are "safe" targets? It seems to make you very upset that NM has people who like her. I'm really not trying to be confrontational with you. I just think maybe you should examine your feelings. Is there a reason why a person who is popular upsets you so much? Just remember that life is too short for unhealthy emotions. And maybe someone could help you with this. Life's too short for negative emotions, especially ones that MAY be misplaced.

FOL85NatandMrsGRock,

May I ask you a question? Please do not take offense by this. I mean no harm. You sound quite aggressive in your dislike of Nancy McKeon. It's fine that you don't like her. But you sound so angry. Your anger may not be healthy. Could it be that you have a lot of anger inside of you that you direct toward objects and people (such as NM) that are "safe" targets? It seems to make you very upset that NM has people who like her. I'm really not trying to be confrontational with you. I just think maybe you should examine your feelings. Is there a reason why a person who is popular upsets you so much? Just remember that life is too short for unhealthy emotions. And maybe someone could help you with this. Life's too short for negative emotions, especially ones that MAY be misplaced.
I was thinking that

and as for jayman, of course you will side for nancy, you are what? her millionth number one fan? its quite true you think she has been up front more, becuase you watch what she's involved in and what she'll be on like a hawk... i think that all of hte girls have had successful careers... so i dont want to go into who is number one, becuase your opinions are bias on the fact that you are a huge nancy fan and well, i am not

Ummm, whoa! Time to take a breather.

You are taking all this way too seriously. I am not Nancy McKeon's number one fan. I simply appreciate her talent.

I never said the girls weren't successful -- success is measured in more than TV appearances. It seems like they all have had their share of success in their chosen fields.

My opinion is not "biased." If anything, yours are. You keep blowing this thing up bigger and bigger. Perhaps you have the bias. I agree with the others... you need to take some time out!

I'm done on this topic, and I think it should be locked.

Guys, do you honestly think Kim Fields, Nancy McKeon, or any of the FOL girls would really want anyone especially us, their fans, to be arguing over who is more sucessful? I don't think so. Me being a Nancy fan, of course I love her work, but I would never put the others down. I think Nancy fans should respect fans of the others, and in reverse, fans of the other girls should respect us Nancy fans. It's only fair.

Now, can't we all get along?

Guys, do you honestly think Kim Fields, Nancy McKeon, or any of the FOL girls would really want anyone especially us, their fans, to be arguing over who is more sucessful? I don't think so. Me being a Nancy fan, of course I love her work, but I would never put the others down. I think Nancy fans should respect fans of the others, and in reverse, fans of the other girls should respect us Nancy fans. It's only fair.

Now, can't we all get along?

Well said, Kelly. :)

I can't help but think that this thread dissolved from "Who disliked the reunion movie" to "My dad can beat up your dad!" :lol:

I can't help but think that this thread dissolved from "Who disliked the reunion movie" to "My dad can beat up your dad!" :lol:
I was thinking the same thing.

Well said, Kelly. :)
:)

FOL85NatandMrsGRock,

May I ask you a question? Please do not take offense by this. I mean no harm. You sound quite aggressive in your dislike of Nancy McKeon. It's fine that you don't like her. But you sound so angry. Your anger may not be healthy. Could it be that you have a lot of anger inside of you that you direct toward objects and people (such as NM) that are "safe" targets? It seems to make you very upset that NM has people who like her. I'm really not trying to be confrontational with you. I just think maybe you should examine your feelings. Is there a reason why a person who is popular upsets you so much? Just remember that life is too short for unhealthy emotions. And maybe someone could help you with this. Life's too short for negative emotions, especially ones that MAY be misplaced.

well that's what sucks about internet, what you mean is usually misinterpretted... it's totally cool that people like nancy. I mean i like charlotte, i watch any movies or shows she's in... i also like barbara billingsley and tony dow and try to watch anythign they are in as well... everyone has their likes and dislikes... i just wanted jayman to realize that all of the girls in fol had success in some way... kim also had a successful career, it is soooo rare for a childstar to jump from one hit show to the next... and then all of the plays she is in... nancy obviously made her comeback with the division and is a huge success at that and now more movies... lisa is a successful mom and wife, charlotte was already successful long before FOL and FOL just topped her list and then mindy, lots of voice overs, guest appearances, pretty successful as what i understand... and i was showing before about how ironic it is that there are soooooo many nancy fans and that they weren't saying that the ruinion movie sucked becuase she wasn't in it, it was for other reasons... to me, that's just an ironic thing, so i thought it funny... I have no anger, i have no reason to be angry, i'm actually quite estatic and excited lately becuase i just got engaged over christmas to my 4 year boyfriend... so yea, i'm sorry that internet makes us have problems conveying thoughts, internet does that to a lot of our posts... and yea, i am not a nancy fan, i like the character jo to a point (sometimes she got annoying, sometimes all of the characters got annoying) but i definately like other characters before jo, and i guess i'm just not afraid to say it... and i realize she is the most popular thing, but i like being different, that's just me :) so yea, hope that answers it all :)

First off, I don't for one second think Nancy has disrespected FOL by not doing the reunion movie. That was her choice to make, and from what I've heard Kim almost didn't do it it either and has possibly had some regrets since, so it's not as if Nancy is the only one who had to think about it.

My personal opinion is that at the time part of it was that she was just at the beginning of "The Division" and there might have been some concerns about people tying her back into Jo just as she's starting to work on a new show and a new character that she also wants to be successful. Wouldn't her priority at that time have been her current series?

Not to mention that she has basically said flat out that she doesn't like reunion shows altogether, which I can understand. It's not as if she didn't even meet with the producers to discuss it--she just opted out--possibly she didn't like the script. Which again, I can't exactly blame her cause I thought it was a bit lame myself.

Now I would have a problem with Nancy if she constantly came out and disrespected the show that gave her her big break, but I don't see that. I see a woman who generally praises the experience and cast and has said repeatedly what a great time it all was for her. Actually, I see a woman who talked about the show quite lovingly on the DVD tour. Hell, she did the DVD tour (which they were not paid for outside of a free trip to NYC).

Personally I don't think there will ever be a second reunion movie. Lisa and Mindy might do it, but I don't think that Kim would. For as much flak as Nancy gets for distancing herself, Kim often tries to as well (something I also don't blame her for either). Like Nancy, I think she respects the show that made her known, but doesn't want it to be all that she's known for either.

I'm not quite understanding why it's considered "ironic" to consider myself a fan of Nancy's work, but yet not like the reunion movie. I can honestly say had Nancy appeared in that same movie with the same plotline, it might have felt a bit more complete having all the girls, but I still wouldn't like it. My reasons for disliking it have nothing to do with any particular cast member.

I thought the movie was very disappointing. Surely they could have come up with something far better. It's a shame, but at least most of them were back together again.

[QUOTE=raya]Personally I don't think there will ever be a second reunion movie.QUOTE]


I'll say it straight out: There shouldn't be another reunion movie, regardless whether Nancy Mckeon participates.

The show was based on the girls' attendance an upscale boarding school during their high school years. Next year will mark two decades since the show had its finale. As times goes on, it becomes more difficult to bring together 4 high school friends, particularly when each is now a very different person, and this is true for both the fictional characters and the real life actors. Creating plausible scenarios becomes much more difficult for the writers.

I realize that many diehard FOL fans would love to see another reunion movie. But let's be realistic. Even if you brought the entire cast back together, the magic is missing when the girls no longer share the commonality of being Eastland students. They are now grown adults with spouses and children. Whatever angles the writers take, the situations will seem so contrived.

Now, having stated why I believe another reunion movie should not be attempted, will there be one? I still think it is possible. These movies tend to do respectably in the ratings. Nancy will likely remain a holdout, but I believe if the other three ladies are available and the paycheck looks tempting, we might have another FOL reunion movie, like it or not.

I also hope that there will be no other reunion movies. I believe they tarnish the memory of a series. Jo, Blair, Tootie and Natalie are different people now. They are two DECADES older. It would NEVER be the same. Not even close.

And I'm very, very tired of all the talk about NM. She is a human being for God's sake, not our puppet. If my husband (an attorney) found another job that was more promising than his current job I would support him. The comissioners and the D.A.'s and the judges and the other attorneys would miss him and he would miss them too. But this is real life. People have to do what's best for them. I do believe people should be good and kind and helpful and humble, but there is a limit when it might negatively affect your life.

These women are all special and talented. Please no more bad mouthing about anyone. They are all wonderful.

Ok, now I'm gonna try replying to the question actually posed by the thread instead of the fight... :)

Even though I love Nancy and Facts, and though I am not a big Kim Fields fan (no offense meaning to anyone here, but anything I've seen her in she seems pretty rude at times...) even if Nancy were in the Reunion movie, I don't think I would have watched it anyway. Not so much because I didn't like the plot, but because I feel that most sequels/reunions never capture that... something, that the TV show or movie itself had. The only sequels I've been able to stand to watch is the Pirates of the Caribbean movies LOL. My only explaination for even watching it was I was curious, though I do admit to liking the scene where they go back to Eastland and talk about "old times" and the cop asking where their partner, the mouthy one was and both Blair & Tootie, sorry, Dorothy answered LOL.

And An 80s Guy, that Nancy icon is cute :) It looks like it's from a talk show; may I ask which one, if any?

The synopsis for the reunion movie seems really WHACK to me and that is the reason why i still haven't seen it. Natalie is not one of my favorite characters so why should i care about 2 guys fighting over her?