After all, she went to the school where those girls went. Kimberly's character gave birth to the Facts Of Life. It would have made sense for her star in there along with Mrs. Garret. On Diff'rent Strokes, the storylines involved Willis and Arnold, and she was just in scenes. Maybe she would have ha a better career, and maybe she wouldn't have had so many problems in her life. Kimberly should have starred in the Facts Of Life.

Ya but the the girls on 'Facts' had a lot of chemistry (would she have the same? or be kicked off after season 1?) and faced some scrutiny themselves (I think it's inevitable when you're teen role models...) I don't think the show would have been any better.

Dana's problems were internal. I don't think it had anything to do with what show she happened to star in. Even if she had gone the Facts of Life route she would have battled with herself. :(

Maybe her and Mrs. Garrett should have been spinned off since she was always going to be in the shadow of Todd Bridges and Gary Coleman

She would have been in the shadow of the other characters on Facts of Life too. The other girls all lived at the school and were there 24/7. Kimberly went to school there but always went home every night to the Penthouse apartment she shared with her Dad, Willis, and Arnold. So she could only have been in scenes that occurred in the daytime hours. And there would be no reason for her to be in any scenes that take place in the dorm since she doesn't live there. So she would have been a secondary character at best.

She would have been in the shadow of the other characters on Facts of Life too. The other girls all lived at the school and were there 24/7. Kimberly went to school there but always went home every night to the Penthouse apartment she shared with her Dad, Willis, and Arnold. So she could only have been in scenes that occurred in the daytime hours. And there would be no reason for her to be in any scenes that take place in the dorm since she doesn't live there. So she would have been a secondary character at best.


She wouldn't have been in the background if she was spinnned off with mrs, garrett. She would have been there all the time

Seriously, I don't know why Dana's pregnancy wasn't written into the show. Since DS (not to mention FOL) always had "very special" storylines, they could've written Kimberly as being pressured into sleeping with a boy, carrying a baby and trying to cope as a single mom. THAT would've been realistic TV, but I guess the producers and/or NBC didn't feel they could take that risk.

She wouldn't have been in the background if she was spinnned off with mrs, garrett. She would have been there all the time

That's true, because Jo was a late addition at the school, she wasn't original. Suppose if Kimberly went to the FOL, the Jo character probably would not have existed. She would have been in the forefront like the rest of the girls.

With Blair already being the rich girl token, would Kimberly have needed to be there? At least she should have been the one to do crossovers (not Arnold and Willis) and even graduated with Jo and Blair (I think they were in the same grade)...the writers here messed up continuity by not having Kimberly at least do some crossovers.

I think that Kimberly could have held her own on "Facts" but she was just fine on "DS". I think that she should have made more crossover appearaces on "Facts" though.

Seriously, I don't know why Dana's pregnancy wasn't written into the show. Since DS (not to mention FOL) always had "very special" storylines, they could've written Kimberly as being pressured into sleeping with a boy, carrying a baby and trying to cope as a single mom. THAT would've been realistic TV, but I guess the producers and/or NBC didn't feel they could take that risk.
I don't know if they could have written her pregnancy into the show but the Producers shouldn't have fired her for it. They tossed her out and that's when she started going down hill. DS wasn't the same after she left.

I don't know if they could have written her pregnancy into the show but the Producers shouldn't have fired her for it. They tossed her out and that's when she started going down hill. DS wasn't the same after she left.
Didn't they bring her back a few times when the show moved to ABC?

Didn't they bring her back a few times when the show moved to ABC?
Yea she guest starred a couple times. I remember the bulimia episode. That was quite good and gross too. :lol:

She would have been in the shadow of the other characters on Facts of Life too. The other girls all lived at the school and were there 24/7. Kimberly went to school there but always went home every night to the Penthouse apartment she shared with her Dad, Willis, and Arnold. So she could only have been in scenes that occurred in the daytime hours. And there would be no reason for her to be in any scenes that take place in the dorm since she doesn't live there. So she would have been a secondary character at best.

Not in the first season. Kemberly lived at the school and came home for the weekend. Well thats what Mr.Drummond told the social worker in the 2nd episode of the series tittled-The Social Worker.
Yeah I thought it was funny that Kimberly went to the same school as the girls from Facts of Life but was never scene on the show.Well she was in the first episode but that was about it.
My guess she left Eastland and started going to a public school instead?

My guess she left Eastland and started going to a public school instead?



She did in a 1982 episode. She and Willis had to adjust to her transferring to his high school.

Dont remember the episode where Kemberly started going to Willis's high school. Well apart from the episodes I have on DVD and VHS theres many Diffrent Strokes episodes that I have not scene since the 80's. Alot I would love to see again.Like the Christmas episode where The guy dressed as Santa broke into The Penthouse and stole all the presents-Thats the one I want to see agiain the must.

I agree that Kimberly should have been in more episodes of Facts of Life if not being on the show.

Seriously, I don't know why Dana's pregnancy wasn't written into the show. Since DS (not to mention FOL) always had "very special" storylines, they could've written Kimberly as being pressured into sleeping with a boy, carrying a baby and trying to cope as a single mom. THAT would've been realistic TV, but I guess the producers and/or NBC didn't feel they could take that risk.


That would've been really interesting. And you're right, since the show tackled some heavy issues, why not tackle this one?

That would've been really interesting. And you're right, since the show tackled some heavy issues, why not tackle this one?
Plus they could've shown teen single motherhood as it realistically is. Of course it would've been easier in Kimberly's case since her dad was rich. Or they could've had Kimberly choosing to carry the baby and then giving it up for adoption. Sure, it would have been a big risk but it could've reaped a HUGE payoff. ohno:

Plus they could've shown teen single motherhood as it realistically is. Of course it would've been easier in Kimberly's case since her dad was rich. Or they could've had Kimberly choosing to carry the baby and then giving it up for adoption. Sure, it would have been a big risk but it could've reaped a HUGE payoff. ohno:

You know, the more I think about it, the more I think this really would've been a good storyline for the show.
I guess they wanted Kimberly's character to be more wholesome?

You know, the more I think about it, the more I think this really would've been a good storyline for the show.
I guess they wanted Kimberly's character to be more wholesome?
I guess so.

I would have loved seeing Kimberly interacting with Jo.

Kimberly lived at Eastland but visited home often. Several episodes made reference to that fact such as what Mr. D said to the social worker, in the episode The Woman Kimberly mentions to Diane that she is away at boarding school but vists and talks to Daddy often, and in The Girls School Kimberly says her housemother quit. I wish she did more crossovers too. She wouldn't have graduated with Blair and Jo because she switched to public school at one point.