We all know Lisa Whelchel refused to appear in "First Time" because of her Christian belief against premartital sex, when Natalie and Snake first did it, but Lisa chose to remain in "My Boyfriend's Back" where Tootie wanted to have premarital sex. I mean, Lisa Whelchel's character talked about it openly on that episode, and acted like it was a natural thing to do in college. Was anyone surprised by this? I thought it was interesting.

I've wondered about this often myself. Honestly, I am very disturbed by the episode My Boyfriend's Back. Tootie was willing and ready to have sex with her boyfriend and if he hadn't dumped her she would have done it. I don't really feel like the episode dealt very well with the subject matter, not to mention the character was only 15 years old. The First Time is a much better episode to deal with the subject and Nat and Snake were both adults at the time.

While I respect Lisa's right not to be in The First Time, I do think My Boyfriend's Back was much more controversial. Maybe because Tootie does not end up having sex she felt okay with doing the episode. I guess she had to do what was right for her, even if others don't understand it completely.

The First Time was supposed to have been about Blair losing her virginity (which some people debate, because her character in the pilot and the first season was definitely....well you know!). She refused to play that part, so she chose to stay out of the show and the writers reworked it as a plot for Natalie.

She also appeared in the episode "Ready or Not" where Tootie contemplates sex with her boyfriend Rudy. I don't think she minded appearing in episodes that dealt with the other characters, as long as it wasn't her character. I heard her say one time that she didn't want some girl, who may have been contemplating it thinking that just because Blair did it she should.

Part of it almost certainly was that Lisa knew the show was ending and there would be no backlash from the producers for not appearing in "The First Time." Even if the show had gone on and the producers had held it against her, she simply would have left to get married, so it didn't matter. The other episodes were earlier, and Lisa would have hurt her career (which she was still interested in then) terribly if she'd refused to appear in a particular show, no matter how offensive she found the subject matter. Plus, as someone above me said, the other stories didn't involve Blair directly at any point.

i thought it was odd too

Because this thread did a pretty good job of stimulating conversation, I have decided to see what happens if I bring it to the top of the page.

Lisa said in her book the facts of life and other things my father taught me that when she was younger she was more naive and didn't put her Christianity into account with her career and she did more controversial episodes. Then when she got older she put her Christianity first and realized that she would be hurting her Christianity by portraying her character as someone who does sinful acts.

I am very glad to see that this page is finally getting some action! As you can see, I have worked very hard to stimulate some conversation yesterday and today. In any event, I own the same book that the last poster has written about and I have read it from cover to cover. I thought that it was a very interesting read! On top of this, I think that this poster has raised some very interesting points!

I think this thread raises some interesting questions. My personal opinion as to why Lisa appeared in "My Boyfriend's Back" and not "The First Time" is because Tootie actually did not sleep with her boyfriend in "My Boyfriend's Back" where as Natalie really did have sex with Snake in "The First Time".

I am very glad to see that this page is finally getting some action! As you can see, I have worked very hard to stimulate some conversation yesterday and today. In any event, I own the same book that the last poster has written about and I have read it from cover to cover. I thought that it was a very interesting read! On top of this, I think that this poster has raised some very interesting points!

Back in 2000, this page was the most active out of all pages. Believe me. I was there! :lol:

I wonder how Lisa felt about the "Best Sister" episode. That's the one where Eve Plumb played her sister who was going to be a nun. Lisa never mentioned that episode in her book, but mentioned asking to be written out of the Natalie/Snake episode.

I wonder how Lisa felt about the "Best Sister" episode. That's the one where Eve Plumb played her sister who was going to be a nun. Lisa never mentioned that episode in her book, but mentioned asking to be written out of the Natalie/Snake episode.


That is a very interesting observation!

I remember the episode having a "viewer discretion advised" warning a la the earliest episodes of Soap, but that's about it.

And Lisa also did the Cliff Stripper episode and was OK with Blair being sort on the loose side in Season 1.

Lisa also did that Family episode in 1978 I posted that implied her character Cathy was willing to sleep with Zack played by Leif Garrett.

In the first season Blair wanted to have a little fun with Steve in his brothers van, but I don't think she meant all the way. In the pilot she said " I'm not that kind of girl, I'm a tease".

I say as Lisa matured and grew in her faith she started to be more conscious of her decisions and the parts she played on TV. She knew she was a role model and did not want to set a bad example.

Lisa also said recently that if she could go back in time, she would have done this episode and through Blair, gave her side of the view on the issue.

And Lisa also did the Cliff Stripper episode and was OK with Blair being sort on the loose side in Season 1.

I thought that in Dancing as Fast as I can was more scandalous than The First Time In season 9. I was watching it and was like there is a lot going on and for prime time tv back then, I was surprised there wasn’t push back for that or that they didn’t put a disclaimer up. Plus why would they suddenly take Mrs. G there?!

I thought that in Dancing as Fast as I can was more scandalous than The First Time In season 9. I was watching it and was like there is a lot going on and for prime time tv back then, I was surprised there wasn’t push back for that or that they didn’t put a disclaimer up. Plus why would they suddenly take Mrs. G there?!

Mrs. G. went back to being early seasons Mrs. G. for this episode. Early seasons Mrs. G. was no prude.

Let’s not forget her appearance in “Sex Education” or “The Facts of Love” where she playfully spoke with Mrs. Garrett in all sorts of innuendos about underage and premarital sex, spoke openly with Sue Ann about potentially going “all the way” and experimenting with Steve. Not to mention Steve was 18 and Blair was underage! Then, she had an open discussion about “the first time” in class with the girls. She didn’t have her first time, but it was interesting that she didn’t opt out of this episode. Her Christian awakening must have come much later in the show, because she really was the antithesis or what she later became in later seasons.

Mrs. G. went back to being early seasons Mrs. G. for this episode. Early seasons Mrs. G. was no prude.


MRS G was never a 'prude'! :p

She was quite flirty on the contrary, and in a way i can see why she related so well to BLAIR: both had sometimes moments when they giggled and talked about guys (like on the episodes 'The affair' in the restaurant, when BLAIR decides to pick up a guy, who then eventually approaches MRS G and says "have i seen you somewhere?"
Or the other episode 'The marriage brokers', when MRS G tells BLAIR that she also likes to just date, like her but it doesn't mean she'll get married).:happyface:happyface:happyface:happyface

:bash::bash::bash:

I wasn't really saying Mrs. G was a prude it was just odd that they would take her to a place like that, it was just something that seemed out of place. And the scandal part was more from a viewership perspective. Don't get me wrong it was a great episode, but just thought it was more taboo than others.

I wasn't really saying Mrs. G was a prude it was just odd that they would take her to a place like that, it was just something that seemed out of place. And the scandal part was more from a viewership perspective. Don't get me wrong it was a great episode, but just thought it was more taboo than others.


:cheers::cheers::cheers:

Yeah, I was gonna say... when did Mrs. G become a prude? She’s been always open and welcoming when it came to the opposite sex and sexuality. In season 5, she visited a male strip club!

Yeah, I was gonna say... when did Mrs. G become a prude? She’s been always open and welcoming when it came to the opposite sex and sexuality. In season 5, she visited a male strip club!


Exactly!:thanks::thanks::thanks:

Yes Impressions, we discussed this in cfr's "Opinions on Facts" thread. Last time I binged the series I forgot about this episode, and I was like, "Lisa did THIS one?? When Tootie's in a car in position to have sex?!? :eek:"

Yes Impressions, we discussed this in cfr's "Opinions on Facts" thread. Last time I binged the series I forgot about this episode, and I was like, "Lisa did THIS one?? When Tootie's in a car in position to have sex?!? :eek:"

Yeah, I’m also surprised she did that season 8 episode, “Ready or Not,” as well, which is basically a recycled storyline of “My Boyfriend’s Back” where once again, we find her in the back seat of a car, almost about to have sex with her boyfriend. We find out that she doesn’t. It seems like Lisa is okay with appearing in an episode where it could have happened or already happened but not during an episode where it does happen :confused:

Yeah, I was gonna say... when did Mrs. G become a prude? She’s been always open and welcoming when it came to the opposite sex and sexuality. In season 5, she visited a male strip club!

Well technically she didn't "visit" it of her own volition, she was "taken" there with no knowledge of it. BUT....she didn't leave! :lol: