This poll was actually done a year ago. However, since there are new members here and since maybe members who voted in last year's poll may have had a change of preference, I thought it was time to do it again.

The question here is what is your favorite FOL era? I think this is a tough question because all of the eras were great and had their share of classic episodes, If I had to choose, I would pick Eastland with Jo.

Your right, every season did have it moments and I really do like Nancy McKeon and her Jo character. However, Im so partial towards the first season and all the characters, so it would have to be Eastland without Jo. :)

I agree. Eastland with Jo was the best. The first year with Edna's edibles was good too. I don't know if anyone's thought about this or not, but for me, the show went downhill once Jo lost her ponytail. After that, she was just one of the gang and the conflict was missing.

The 1st year!

"How would you like me to fix it so you can breathe through your ears?"
"<strum> The skies are junkeee, the lakes are chunkeee, <strum>..."
"You're falling for old man Bradley!"
"You put jelly beans in it."

Sue Ann forever!!!

I agree. Eastland with Jo was the best. The first year with Edna's edibles was good too. I don't know if anyone's thought about this or not, but for me, the show went downhill once Jo lost her ponytail. After that, she was just one of the gang and the conflict was missing.


Jo did change a little bit after season five. Not only did she lose the ponytail she also began to dress more like a girl. During the last season she even began to wear skirts and dresses. Though even in the later seasons she still had her own little special kind of style going. Also, there was less conflict between Jo and Blair after season five.

I have to disagree though with the show going downhill after season five. Infact I think season eight (the first with Beverly Ann) is one of the the show's very best. I also think seasons six and seven are both really good with a lot of classic episodes. Both George Clooney and McKenzie Astin were great additions to the cast. I do think, however though, that season nine was a bit of a disappointment.

Sue Ann forever!!!


Sue Ann rocks! :rock:

I definetly have to say Eastland with Jo...I didnt really like the later season..though thats when I was younger and I couldnt really relate to them..it might be different now that Im older but I havent seen them recently ...So I'd say the Eastland with Jo..cause Jo is my favorite character..

I can't vote, because I love both Eastland without Jo, and what I call "The Classic Cafeteria Years".

My favorite era was the Over Our Head one. It doesn't matter with who.

I have to say Eastland with Jo followed by Edna's Edibles.

I'm kind of stuck between the Edna's Edibles seasons and the period with Edna's Edibles before Mrs. Garrett left. I did happen to see several episodes of the final season being filmed in Hollywood twenty years ago.

My favourite is Eastland with Jo. The girls looked so fresh & it was more fun when all of them were pretty close to each other. I also find their performance more spontaneous which brought a lot of humour in many scenes.:happyface on the whole, I would say that each season is special in its own way with the exception of Season 1 & 9.

Honestly, it's been so long since I've seen the later years that I can only vote between the first three. But out of those, I'd say Eastland with Jo and most of Edna's Edibles. Eastland without Jo was just too short-lived, not that it wasn't good.

I have a question. Suppose FOL had been canceled after the first season. Would we even remember the show had that been the case? Would anyone even be talking about it?

I have a question. Suppose FOL had been canceled after the first season. Would we even remember the show had that been the case? Would anyone even be talking about it?


That is a really good question. I'm not sure. I guess it would all depend on if whether the first season was rerun at all. Since there are a lot of people who do not like the first season, the show would not have as large of a following if it hadn't lasted beyond the first year.

Since there are a lot of people who do not like the first season, the show would not have as large of a following if it hadn't lasted beyond the first year.

Or, if it had only been the first season, maybe it would have had a larger following, considering the public wouldn't have known what they were "missing" with Jo and the reformatted show after that first season...;)

I pick Eastland without Jo. Maybe more because of nostalgia reason and not quality of the show. It could also be because I had a teacher who looked just like Miss Mahoney. :)

Or, if it had only been the first season, maybe it would have had a larger following, considering the public wouldn't have known what they were "missing" with Jo and the reformatted show after that first season...;)


I'm still not sure why so many people are down on the first season. I think it is one of the best seasons in the series. As I've said before, I think a lot of people just don't like it because Jo isn't there and it isn't The Facts of Life that they are used to.

The debate over the first season of "Facts" reminds me so much of the debate over the first season of Charles In Charge, because the first seasons of both shows are so different from the seasons that followed. In the case of CIC the first season is by far the best though.

I don't mind Jo not being there. I just don't think that the show had found it's niche yet. But the first season was excellent.

Eastland with Jo is the 1 FOL era i ca mostly perfer. Of Course Edna’s Edibles is the another great era on The Facts of Life.

I voted for Season One, but I also like Season Two through early Season Five (5-03). I'd also pick out a few episodes from later years for one final "season", with some good episodes mixed in with episodes needed for continuity, possibly 5-05, 5-06, 5-12, 5-22, 5-25, 5-26, 6-08, 6-14, 6-26, 7-01, 7-02, 7-23, 7-24, 8-01, 8-02, 8-04, 8-06, 8-19, 9-06, 9-12, 9-13, 9-23, 9-24.

Sue Ann forever!!!

Sue Ann rocks! :rock:
Yesssss!!!!!
I voted for Season One, but I also like Season Two through early Season Five (5-03). I'd also pick out a few episodes from later years for one final "season", with some good episodes mixed in with episodes needed for continuity, possibly 5-05, 5-06, 5-12, 5-22, 5-25, 5-26, 6-08, 6-14, 6-26, 7-01, 7-02, 7-23, 7-24, 8-01, 8-02, 8-04, 8-06, 8-19, 9-06, 9-12, 9-13, 9-23, 9-24.
Agree season 1 is my pick with 2-4 after.