I know, I know, Mrs. Garrett was kind and helpful to all of them, but I always got the feeling (in the way the episodes were portrayed), that Blair was her favorite. Follwed by Natalie, then Tootie, then Jo.

I always feel Natalie is her favourite. Not sure why. hahaha

Yeah I always thought Natalie was her favorite as well.

Yeah I always thought Natalie was her favorite as well.

I think maybe it was Natalie tied with Blair. Whenever Blair was pulling one of her "Woe is me" spells, Mrs Garrett seldom got angry and was always supportive. And whenever she was mad at ALL the girls, she was especially impatient with Jo. She talked to Jo differently than she did the other girls. I even rewatched some of those episodes and it was pretty obvious. But maybe you're right. Maybe Natalie was her most favorite (with Blair a close second).

I always got the feeling Tootie was her favorite, maybe because she was always over protective of Tootie since she was the youngest.

Blair

To me, it has always been Blair & Jo is her least favourite.:(

I think she liked Natalie the best as a friend figure. She was more of a mentor to Tootie. She always got Blair out of trouble. It kind of seemed like she didn't worry or need to worry about Jo... a sort of intimidation thing maybe. That's just the impression that I got.

To me, it has always been Blair & Jo is her least favourite.:(

I agree. She didn't seem to display that same warmth toward Jo. I just got the feeling like Mrs. Garrett didn't necessarily like Jo all that much. When she was being kind toward the others, it seemed very sincere. With Jo, it seemed sincere too, but more like she cared about Jo because she saw another human being suffering. I guess what I'm saying is that it seemed like she would have been much more upset if one of the other three had moved out as opposed to Jo.

i think the reason we see natalie as her favorite on the set is becuase she was close to mindy in the first few seasons. Since charlotte had found her at an actual boarding school and tried to get her into acting, i think charlotte sort of tried to mother her, just to get her to used to acting and help her out in the new setting, and i think we see a lot of that come out in the first few seasons... (mainly the eastland years) but yea, i always could see natalie as being mrs. g's favorite. i think mrs. g sometimes got annoyed with jo becuase she flipped out over the littlest things sometimes, and i think that really irked her. I think mrs. g also got annoyed with blair becuase of how much she was spoiled and how much esteem she had, i'm sure mrs. g could NEVER relate to anything like that.. so i'm sure it irked her in that aspect too. you often saw her roll her eyes at her when blair would go on one of her rampages about how beautiful and rich she was. I think each character had their high point and low point along with mrs. g... so i think at one point or another each was her favorite... :)

I have to disagree with everyone who thinks that Mrs. Garrett loved Jo less than the other girls. I just don't see that. I can think of countless moments in the series where Mrs. G. showed her love for Jo. Even though I think that Blair may have been Mrs. Garrett's favorite, I feel that she loved all the girls like daughters.

I know, I know, Mrs. Garrett was kind and helpful to all of them, but I always got the feeling (in the way the episodes were portrayed), that Blair was her favorite. Follwed by Natalie, then Tootie, then Jo.


I lways Thought it was Tootie since she was the Youngest out the 4

I have to disagree with everyone who thinks that Mrs. Garrett loved Jo less than the other girls. I just don't see that. I can think of countless moments in the series where Mrs. G. showed her love for Jo. Even though I think that Blair may have been Mrs. Garrett's favorite, I feel that she loved all the girls like daughters.

I guess I have this opinion because when the other girls did something irritating, Mrs G just sort of rolled her eyes in bemusement. She seemed to find their faults a bit endearing. With Jo, it was different. Mrs G had a hardness about her when she was dealing with Jo. It's hard to explain. I just never thought she cared about Jo in the same way she cared about the other girls.

I guess I have this opinion because when the other girls did something irritating, Mrs G just sort of rolled her eyes in bemusement. She seemed to find their faults a bit endearing. With Jo, it was different. Mrs G had a hardness about her when she was dealing with Jo. It's hard to explain. I just never thought she cared about Jo in the same way she cared about the other girls.

I thought Mrs. G was very loving toward Jo in "Double Standard" and "Sweet Sorrow." And was very concerned for her in "Teenage Marriage 1 & 2." And did put Jo in charge unofficially of the shop when she was away in "Lonely at the Top."

But a favorite is hard to pick. I think she had a unique relationship with all 4 suited to their personalities.

We learn in the "Interview Show" that she and Tootie had many private chats.

We see in "Working it Out" that she let Blair get away with talking worse to her than she'd ever let anyone else talk to her.

We see the personal gifts she gives to Jo (the quartz rock) and Blair (the homemade scarf) at graduation.

We see her have a heart to heart with Nat after Nat's dad dies.

And we see in the reunion movie that she has a picture of all 4 on her computer desktop and calls them her girls.

hrh
www.viewfromstonewater.blogspot.com

I agree that Mrs G was great to all four. I think we all would have loved to have a Mrs. G in our lives! However, if she was on a sinking ship (and she herself couldn't be the one to jump out for whatever reason) and she had to push one person out for the others to survive, it would definitely be Jo. Jo would be out of that ship before she even knew what hit her. :)

I think Mrs. G is more vocal in showing her love towards Blair, Natalie & Tootie compared to Jo. I remember an episode which was during her wedding. She said a lot of nice things about the other three but talked so little about Jo which made me feel dissapointed. I wish she could voice out a lot more on Jo's positive aspects. I think the writers are to be blamed for making us feel this way.:(

well I clearly remember she took special interest in Jo because she was the "trouble maker" and plus Mrs. Garrett knew Jo was a smart and caring young girl. Also she paid alot of attention to Blair and Jo because they were always "at each other's throats", so to speak.

I definitely don't agree that Mrs. Garrett didn't like Jo as much as the others. She said a few times how she was proud of Jo because she has grown up so much from when she first arrived at school. Also, in the Double Standard episode, they have that huge moment together that I think sets up their bond and the strong relationship the two of them are going to have for the rest of the series. I also just watched the 'Friend In Deed' episode and when Blair's mom says, "I just had another one of my brilliant ideas," Mrs. Garrett looks at Jo and smiles and she just has this look on her face that is like 'haha, I know exactly what you are thinking.' I think Mrs. Garrett really gets Jo and understands her.

I think she loved all the girls equally, like a mother would her children.

I adore Nancy McKeon, I really do. But she didn't have the same chemistry with CR as the other girls did. There was always some sort of a wall between them. (I know they're good friends in real life. It just didn't show onscreen). Some actors just don't have chemistry with one another. CR never seemed as comfortable with NM as she did with the three other girls.

I think in the earlier episodes Mrs. Garrett was just a little rougher with Jo. Jo was really rough around the edges in the beginning and Mrs. G just had to use a firmer hand with Jo. I don't think she loved Jo any less though.

Wow, never thought I'd say this, but I don't think I'm watching the same show. I thought for the most part Mrs. G was equally close with all of them--just in different ways. I don't think she really had a favorite.

I also don't agree that Jo was her least fave. I think if anything she was sometimes harder on Jo because she expected more from her. Like you tend to get more frustrated with the people who have the most potential, if that makes sense. Jo was the one most likely to do something crazy (in the early years) so Mrs. G. would get upset with her when she would do something that could potentially screw up her future.

In the later years in particular, I think it was just expected by Mrs. G and the others than Jo would always take and be in charge, as that episode when Blair starts getting upset by it shows. To me when it came to running things and trusting somebody from a business perspective, Mrs. G. usually went to Jo.

I know some mentioned how little Mrs. G talks about Jo in her wedding episode, but Jo had already had a private moment with her earlier...and it goes both ways. In the Eastland graduation episode when Mrs. G. gives both girls their gifts, she says a lot about Jo and then sort of skimps out on Blair.

Whereas I think Nat probably made Mrs. Garrett laugh the most and Tootie was the baby of the group and needed the extra attention.

And Blair well, I don't know...I just think they all got about equal attention. Just different people need attention in different ways.

WOW! AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO THINKS MRS. G & JO WERE THE CLOSEST? SEEMS SO!

I'M REALLY SURPRISED AT EVERYONE'S THOUGHTS, AND I'M GLAD THIS THREAD WAS STARTED. I WAS THINKING OF THIS VERY THING A WHILE BACK.

ALTHOUGH I HAVE TO RUN, WHEN I RETURN IN ABOUT 2 WEEKS (I'M GUESSING) I'LL LIST MY REASONS WHY I THINK MRS. G & JO WERE THE CLOSEST.

UNTIL THEN...I MISS YOU FACTS OF LIFERS AND KNOW I'LL BE COUNTING THE DAYS TILL I CAN COME ON HERE AGAIN. IT CAN'T BE SOON ENOUGH:wave: MEANWHILE, HAPPY POSTING AND REMEMBER TO BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER:)

I tend to agree that Mrs G and Jo were the closest. I think that she felt that Jo needed the special attention in the beginning. She felt that Jo was probably the most mature & responsible. Wasnt it Jo who did the paperwork for Ednas Edibles & worried about the inventory & giving stuff away.

I absolutely agree with you. I've always thought that Jo was Mrs.G's favourite. In Sweet Sorrow you can tell how close they are when Jo shares everything about how she feels with Mrs.G without holding anything back. Of course I've only seen seasons 1,2 and 3 so maybe with time things change...

I think she liked Natalie the best as a friend figure. She was more of a mentor to Tootie. She always got Blair out of trouble. It kind of seemed like she didn't worry or need to worry about Jo... a sort of intimidation thing maybe. That's just the impression that I got.

I agree with a lot of this. :happyface

I have to disagree with everyone who thinks that Mrs. Garrett loved Jo less than the other girls. I just don't see that. I can think of countless moments in the series where Mrs. G. showed her love for Jo. Even though I think that Blair may have been Mrs. Garrett's favorite, I feel that she loved all the girls like daughters.
I definitely have to agree here lol. I think Mrs. Garrett was the closest to Jo, even though that's not what Mike said. In the new girl, you saw how closely Jo connected with Mrs. G so quickly. Then in double standard, when Harrison tried to take advantage of her, she just held Jo. From then on, whenever Jo needed to cry and didn't want anyone else to see it, she went to Mrs. G. She only rolled her eyes at Jo when Jo made smart remarks, but I think she was trying to break Jo of that habit, but we all know that will NEVER happen! :D

I think Tootie.

I think she always had the softest spot in her heart for Jo. It always came out in their heart-to-heart talks...Jo wasn't as guarded around Mrs. G as she was around the others.

I agree with Mike she didnt dislike Jo or think less of her...yeah she didnt have to worry about her as much but she respected her too and when it was needed she was there for Jo.(Like in Double Standard) And in the New Girl eps Jo connected with her quick and they became close) I always thought Jo was her fav cause of that but at the same time I think she cared about all of them the same and when one of them needed her she was there...I'd love to have a person like that in my life.

I think she always had the softest spot in her heart for Jo. It always came out in their heart-to-heart talks...Jo wasn't as guarded around Mrs. G as she was around the others.


I agree with you :)

I think that Tootie was the favorite, then Blair, then Jo, and last was Natalie.

I don't think she had a least favorite, but I think Jo was her favorite. She and Jo had a lot of one on one moments, and the graduation episode made it seem like she would miss Jo more.

I thought Mrs Garrett's extra kindness to Jo in the graduation episode was more an acknowledgment of how much Jo had grown in her two years at Eastland. She had more serious issues than the other girls. Don't forget she had a habit of cutting school (before Eastland), hotwired a van, made fake ids, drank, picked locks, shoplifted, admitted to doing graffiti, socked Blair in the jaw, had trouble controlling her anger and had a huge wall around her that only Mrs G was allowed past.

I thought Mrs G was pretty even with them all. She didn't treat them all the same way but then they didn't all need the same kind of treatment.

Interesting that none of the girls ever complained "Mrs Garrett always liked YOU best!"

I think Jo (Nancy Mckeon) was her favorite. She just always seemed to have a spot for her. In the second season she knew that Jo had a difficult adjusting to her new enviornment at Eastland and would give more than anything to leave it. However, Mrs. Garret mothering instinct changed her, she helped her, comforted her and was there the best she could and made her understand that just because things got tough you can't run and learn to face her fears. This made her become stronger as a person, and made her more mature as well. Anyone else agree with this?

It looked to me like Tootie was more of her favorite.

I think Blaire was her favorite.they always had like there own special chats.

I have to admit, my first thought was Natalie, cuz Natalie made her laugh:lol:

I have to admit, my first thought was Natalie, cuz Natalie made her laugh:lol:


Mrs. G didn't play favorites-she liked all 4 equally.

Kim and Mindy were asked this question when they were on Watch What Happens Live last week. Mindy thought Jo was Mrs. Garrett's favorite; Kim said Tootie.

I've been rewatching this a lot lately. Like it's been stated she loves all 4 of them but if I had to pick one I think it'd be Blair. She seems to have a soft spot for her and always looking out for her, not that she doesn't with all the girls but something about their scenes have so much of a motherlike chemistry.

It's really hard to pick just one though because she has so many great moments with all the girls. Tootie kind of comes across as the least favorite to me but I haven't rewatched a Tootie episode in a long time so that's probably why.

I've been rewatching this a lot lately. Like it's been stated she loves all 4 of them but if I had to pick one I think it'd be Blair. She seems to have a soft spot for her and always looking out for her, not that she doesn't with all the girls but something about their scenes have so much of a motherlike chemistry.

It's really hard to pick just one though because she has so many great moments with all the girls. Tootie kind of comes across as the least favorite to me but I haven't rewatched a Tootie episode in a long time so that's probably why.



My thoughts exactly.She loves them all.But Blaire is the fav.Even though she would never admit it,You can tell.

I don't it would be like Mrs. G to have a favorite. I feel she loved all them with all of her heart.

MRS. G loves the 4 of them dearly but BLAIR is the favourite: they have a mother daughter type of relationship, they have more heart to heart talks, she s always looking out for her, she seems to have a soft spot for her + the facts that she spends more time trying to raise her properly (she needs more guidance than the other girls since her biological parents never had time to teach her manners); JO comes quite close though: being a trouble maker she also needs lots of guidance (MRS. G clearly spends more time with the 2 older girls who are in each others throats) + nurturing too.
MRS. G cares for NAT + TOOTIE too, but with less vehemence (possibly cos they don t need as much attention as JO & BLAIR).......
Needless to say she is the girl s strong mother figure & they workship her like no one else.......

I thought Mrs. G was very loving toward Jo in "Double Standard" and "Sweet Sorrow." And was very concerned for her in "Teenage Marriage 1 & 2." And did put Jo in charge unofficially of the shop when she was away in "Lonely at the Top."

But a favorite is hard to pick. I think she had a unique relationship with all 4 suited to their personalities.

We learn in the "Interview Show" that she and Tootie had many private chats.

We see in "Working it Out" that she let Blair get away with talking worse to her than she'd ever let anyone else talk to her.

We see the personal gifts she gives to Jo (the quartz rock) and Blair (the homemade scarf) at graduation.

We see her have a heart to heart with Nat after Nat's dad dies.

And we see in the reunion movie that she has a picture of all 4 on her computer desktop and calls them her girls.

hrh
www.viewfromstonewater.blogspot.com

I agree with you 100%: MRS. G has a unique relationship with her 4 girls + loves them like her own children (the 4 of them are the daughters she never had):happyface

Tootie by far. Not that she didn't care for the other girls but Tootie was the most innocent, naive, youngest of the bunch. Mrs. Garrett was also the youngest so she can relate to Tootie on that.

And she knows Tootie's personality the best and can see her for who she really is because they have private chats while the girls are asleep.

I think she loved all of them equally.


But if I had to choose I would say she shared a very powerful connection with Jo and Blair at times, but more with Jo. As for her favorite I would say it would have been Natalie/Tootie, the youngest of the girls. But her best scenes though were with Jo/Blair.

Kim and Mindy were asked this question when they were on Watch What Happens Live last week. Mindy thought Jo was Mrs. Garrett's favorite; Kim said Tootie.

I agree with Kim. I wonder what Nancy and Lisa would have said, HA!

Her favorite definitely wasn't Molly! :lol:

Her favorite definitely wasn't Molly! :lol:

:rofl:

I've been rewatching this a lot lately. Like it's been stated she loves all 4 of them but if I had to pick one I think it'd be Blair. She seems to have a soft spot for her and always looking out for her, not that she doesn't with all the girls but something about their scenes have so much of a motherlike chemistry.

It's really hard to pick just one though because she has so many great moments with all the girls. Tootie kind of comes across as the least favorite to me but I haven't rewatched a Tootie episode in a long time so that's probably why.

I totally agree with you: BLAIR was definitely her favourite and they always seemed to have a mother daughter chemistry on the set. I think she saw in her the daughter she never had, and the fact that BLAIR was neglected by her own rich parents made her closer to MRS G. You can also see how she pushes BLAIR to act more maturely (she even says in one episode how she helped raise her)
JO came as equally close as BLAIR in my opinion and for a very obvious reason: she choose the 'tomboy' to room with the 'rich, spoiled' girl so they would challenge each other, and boy they did hee hee!
NAT would come as next due to the fact that MRS G and her were so alike: both funny and hilarious!
And TOOTIE was definitely the least favourite even though she was the younger: actually maybe because of it!
Overall, i think MRS G could always relate to the two oldest girls....:talk:

BLAIR was definitely her favourite

Well, that's up to viewer interpretation.


and the fact that BLAIR was neglected by her own rich parents

That's not a fact. To me, that's a sad way of looking at it. And Blair's mom made more of an effort than her dad did, but he still loved her.


she choose the 'tomboy' to room with the 'rich, spoiled' girl so they would challenge each other, and boy they did hee hee!

Well, Cindy was a tomboy, but Jo wasn't. She was too "street" to be thought of as a tomboy.


And TOOTIE was definitely the least favourite even though she was the younger: actually maybe because of it!

Actually sometimes it seems as Tootie is her favorite, because she's the youngest.