Do you think the original premise would have lasted longer than one season if Dana was added along with Charlotte Rae?

I think 'The Facts of Life' could have had Kimberly on occasionally because she went to school at Eastland, but not as a regular character. On 'Diff'rent Strokes', her role was a lot more important because part of the show was having Arnold and Willis adjust to having a new sister, especially one who was wealthy and white. On 'Facts', Kimberly would have just gotten lost in a sea of giggly school girls.

I think that would have done Dana a world of good to be around other kid actors who weren't getting in trouble. I don't know if the first season would have been any more successful though. There were just too many regulars. They had to cut the cast down. I do think that she could have fit right in. Although I think Dana was an important member of DS, the show could have survived as long as they had Gary Coleman.

I think 'The Facts of Life' could have had Kimberly on occasionally because she went to school at Eastland, but not as a regular character. On 'Diff'rent Strokes', her role was a lot more important because part of the show was having Arnold and Willis adjust to having a new sister, especially one who was wealthy and white. On 'Facts', Kimberly would have just gotten lost in a sea of giggly school girls.


There was a similar discussion on the Diff'rent Strokes board about this same subject . I remember one episode of Diff'rent Strokes where Mr . Drummond said that Kimberly goes to boarding school and comes home on the weekends . I later watched The Facts of Life where Mrs . Garrett rode herd on a bunch of girls at a boarding school . It took me a while to realize that the school on The Facts of Life was the self -- same school that Kimberly attended . I never saw the episode that introduced Mrs . Garrett and Eastland .

Since Arnold and Willis visited The Facts of Life and Blair, Natalie, and Tootie visited Diff'rent Strokes, Kimberly should have appeared on The Facts of Life a few times a season . She could have been seen visiting Mrs Garrett, and say something like "I'll tell Daddy I saw you !" .

I read where Blair, Jo, Natalie, and Tootie stole an Eastland van, visited a bar, and got arrested . I thought the four girls did some damage to Eastland school property, so they had to live together in a spare room next to Mrs . Garrett's bedroom, and work in the cafeteria for Mrs . Garrett to pay for the damage .

I remember one episode where Mrs . Garrett announced to the girls that their debt was paid . The girls were all looking forward to moving into the dorms . They wound up having a food fight, throwing flour all over each other, so they wound up at square one, having to work for Mrs . Garrett and pay off a debt . This element diminished in importance over the run of the series, and the four girls and Mrs . Garrett probably felt like a family at one point, so they didn't want to seperate .

If Kimberly wasn't part of the situation where Blair, Jo, Natalie, and Tootie stole an Eastland van and visited a bar / the damage to Eastland school property, she wouldn't have had to work for Mrs . Garrett to pay off a debt . She could still be friends with Blair, Jo, Natalie, Tootie and Mrs . Garrett . I'm always interested in seeing how fictional characters work with each other, so I can would have liked to see Kimberly Drummond, Blair, Jo, Natalie, Tootie and Mrs . Garrett together more often . Kimberly's part on Diff'rent Strokes probably WAS more important, but making her a semi -- regular on The Facts of Life would have added a lot to the show .

There was a similar discussion on the Diff'rent Strokes board about this same subject . I remember one episode of Diff'rent Strokes where Mr . Drummond said that Kimberly goes to boarding school and comes home on the weekends . I later watched The Facts of Life where Mrs . Garrett rode herd on a bunch of girls at a boarding school . It took me a while to realize that the school on The Facts of Life was the self -- same school that Kimberly attended . I never saw the episode that introduced Mrs . Garrett and Eastlend .

Since Arnold and Willis visited The Facts of Life and Blair, Natalie, and Tootie visited Diff'rent Strokes, Kimberly should have appeared on The Facts of Life a few times a season . She could have been seen visiting Mrs Garrett, and say something like "I'll tell Daddy I saw you !" .

Hi there! I just read your interesting post & i was wondering if you could tell me the name of the DS episode where BLAIR, NAT & TOOTIE go & visit KIMBERLY (i ve heard about it but, because i only bought the season 1 of DS i v never watch the rest): is it on season 2 or what? is MRS. G also still leaving at the Drummonds or is she already gone?
Please answer asap cos i m a big fan of the sitcom!Thanks:)

I read where Blair, Jo, Natalie, and Tootie stole an Eastland van, visited a bar, and got arrested . I thought the four girls did some damage to Eastland school property, so they had to live together in a spare room next to Mrs . Garrett's bedroom, and work in the cafeteria for Mrs . Garrett to pay for the damage .

I remember one episode where Mrs . Garrett announced to the girls that their debt was paid . The girls were all looking forward to moving into the dorms . They wound up having a food fight, throwing flour all over each other, so they wound up at square one, having to work for Mrs . Garrett and pay off a debt . This element diminished in importance over the run of the series, and the four girls and Mrs . Garrett probably felt like a family at one point, so they didn't want to seperate .

If Kimberly wasn't part of the situation where Blair, Jo, Natalie, and Tootie stole an Eastland van and visited a bar / the damage to Eastland school property, she wouldn't have had to work for Mrs . Garrett to pay off a debt . She could still be friends with Blair, Jo, Natalie, Tootie and Mrs . Garrett . I'm always interested in seeing how fictional characters work with each other, so I can would have liked to see Kimberly Drummond, Blair, Jo, Natalie, Tootie and Mrs . Garrett together more often . Kimberly's part on Diff'rent Strokes probably WAS more important, but making her a semi -- regular on The Facts of Life would have added a lot to the show .

Hi everyone!
Could someone tell me the name of the episode on DS where BLAIR, NAT & TOOTIE visit KIMBERLY + if MRS. G is also there? (i only have season 1 of DS ) I m a big fan of all the characters, so i would really appreciate it, if only i could have the title of this particular episode asap! thank you very much devoted fans!:wave:

I think the producers and writers should have had Kimberly make a few guest appearances during seasons 2-4. Arnold and even Willis appeared on the show, so it's flabbergasting to realize Kimberly---who attended the school---never did. Very strange...especially when you consider they had Mrs. Garrett attend Mr. Drummond's wedding a few seasons later.

So my opinion: regular, no---recurring or even occasional, yes.

I've watched a few episodes of The Facts of Life on YouTube . When I was watching the The Facts of Life during the 1980s, I wondered why none of the teachers at Eastland ever had trouble pronouncing Jo Polniaczek's name . I know they had to go to college, but that doesn't make "Polniaczek" any easier to pronounce .

I knew Blair, Jo, Natalie, and Tootie stole an Eastland van, visited a bar, and got arrested . The van got damaged, so they had to live together in a spare room next to Mrs . Garrett's bedroom, and work in the cafeteria for Mrs . Garrett to pay for the damage . I didn't know there was an episode that depicted these events . I thought it was decided by the writers and producers when they wanted to slightly revise the show for the second season .

When Mad Magazine did their version of The Facts of Life, their story explained that the girls did some damage to Eastland property, so they had to work for Mrs . Garrett and pay off the the debt . One character said "If our parents can send us to a private school, why can't they pay for the damage we did ?" . That was apparently a plot hole . I thought "Their parents thought the girls should to pay for the damage themselves and learn their lesson !" .

I saw the episode that introduced Jo Polniaczek where the girls stole the van, visited the bar, got arrested, and wound up living together in the spare room next to Mrs . Garrett's bedroom, and working for Mrs . Garrett . Blair had trouble pronouncing "Polniaczek" at first .

When Mrs . Garrett told the girls "You'll have to live in my spare room where I can keep an eye on you, and you'll work in my cafeteria until your debt's paid !", Blair said her mother could pay for the damage all by herself . Mrs . Garrett said "No, your parents all think you girls should to pay for the damage yourselves and learn your lesson !" .

I also watched the episode where Mrs . Garrett announced to the girls that their debt was paid, and the girls were all able to move into the dorms . I thought they had a food fight and found themselves owing Mrs . Garrett a lot of money, so they had to keep living in the same old room and work in the cafeteria . Instead of a food fight, the girls were painting their room and getting it ready for their replacements, and they wound up fighting and painting each other . The floor had to be stripped and revarnished, and they had to pay for the paint, so they had to move back into their old room and keep working for Mrs . Garrett all over again . Obviously, I need to get and watch the DVDs .

Candy -- Blair Warner and Natalie Green appeared in Diff'rent Strokes episode # 65 ( "The Older Man" ) from the third season . Dorothy "Tootie" Ramsey appeared in episode # 51 ( "The Bank Job" ), also from the third season, and episodes # 74 ( "First Day Blues" ) and # 76 ( "The Team" ) from the fourth season . I forgot that Arnold used to have a crush on Tootie . ( Opens a nice, cold bottle of Mountain Dew and takes a drink ) By the same token, Mindy Cohn ( Natalie Green ), Julie Anne Haddock ( Cindy Webster ), Kim Fields ( Dorothy "Tootie" Ramsey ), and Molly Ringwald ( Molly Parker ) appeared in episode # 48 of Diff'rent Strokes ( "The Slumber Party" ) .

Candy -- Blair Warner and Natalie Green appeared in Diff'rent Strokes episode # 65 ( "The Older Man" ) from the third season . Dorothy "Tootie" Ramsey appeared in episode # 51 ( "The Bank Job" ), also from the third season, and episodes # 74 ( "First Day Blues" ) and # 76 ( "The Team" ) from the fourth season . I forgot that Arnold used to have a crush on Tootie . ( Opens a nice, cold bottle of Mountain Dew and takes a drink ) By the same token, Mindy Cohn ( Natalie Green ), Julie Anne Haddock ( Cindy Webster ), Kim Fields ( Dorothy "Tootie" Ramsey ), and Molly Ringwald ( Molly Parker ) appeared in episode # 48 of Diff'rent Strokes ( "The Slumber Party" ) .

THANKS!:wave:

I wish I can ask the producer of DS why the hell did the FOL appear on DS more than once but Kimberly never appeared on FOL???

If not move her to the Facts of Live least having Kimberly showing up now and again might have been great. Especially when they all graduated.

Another mystery

Willis appears on Facts of Life and barely knows the girls but Kimberly never appears:lol:

Since Arnold and Willis visited The Facts of Life and Blair, Natalie, and Tootie visited Diff'rent Strokes, Kimberly should have appeared on The Facts of Life a few times a season . She could have been seen visiting Mrs Garrett, and say something like "I'll tell Daddy I saw you !"

Yep. It was weird that the one person on Diff'rent Strokes who actually attended Eastland/lake was only seen once at Eastland/lake. Still, it was cool that they did do crossovers, bringing Arnold and Willis over to Eastland a few times, Kimberly and Mr. Drummond once, and Blair, Natalie, Tootie, Cindy, and Molly over to Diff'rent Strokes once or twice each.

It was uncommon on sitcoms back then for there to be any real continuity. This was a real attempt at continuity (and I'm sure the network believed these crossovers would help with ratings).

Yep. It was weird that the one person on Diff'rent Strokes who actually attended Eastland/lake was only seen once at Eastland/lake. Still, it was cool that they did do crossovers, bringing Arnold and Willis over to Eastland a few times, Kimberly and Mr. Drummond once, and Blair, Natalie, Tootie, Cindy, and Molly over to Diff'rent Strokes once or twice each.

It was uncommon on sitcoms back then for there to be any real continuity. This was a real attempt at continuity (and I'm sure the network believed these crossovers would help with ratings).


Mr. Drummond and Arnold never appeared on FOL, that was a Different Strokes episode

Only Willis appeared on FOL

Mr. Drummond and Arnold never appeared on FOL, that was a Different Strokes episode

Only Willis appeared on FOL


Everybody appeared. This was my show! I loved it!

Solomon, did you watch the show on the regular basis? :eek:

Episode 1 "Rough Housing"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWp_BaLGduI

Episode 14 "The New Girl": Part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbSZtcLz51U

Everybody appeared. This was my show! I loved it!

Solomon, did you watch the show on the regular basis? :eek:

Episode 1 "Rough Housing"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWp_BaLGduI

Episode 14 "The New Girl": Part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbSZtcLz51U


for some reason I thought Rough Housing was a pilot ep for FOL and a DS episode

for some reason I thought Rough Housing was a pilot ep for FOL and a DS episode


No, "Garrett's Girls" (The Girls' School) was the DS episode that was a pilot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peft-kp55TQ

Tootie came to visit the Drummonds before the new at Eastland and when the new year started at Eastland, school was closed for some reason in New York and Arnold came to visit Mrs. Garrett in the 1980 season openers of these two shows.

Mr. Drummond and Arnold never appeared on FOL, that was a Different Strokes episode

Only Willis appeared on FOL

Actually Arnold did appear the second season opener of FOL. He was hanging around Tootie.

Exactly! I posted the video clips for Sol to see.

Exactly! I posted the video clips for Sol to see.


I will watch it tomorrow because I never knew Arnold appeared on FOL alone. I thought his only appearance was with the Family.

I thought only Wills appeared alone

Didn't you say that Mr D and Arnold never appeared on the series?

Didn't you say that Mr D and Arnold never appeared on the series?


Yeah that was error, lol


But I do thank you for bringing to my attention that arnold appeared alone.

I never seen that ep of FOL before

Yeah that was error, lol


But I do thank you for bringing to my attention that arnold appeared alone.

I never seen that ep of FOL before


Check it out, man. Tootie visits the Drummonds before school starts in the city and I think she said that she was in summer camp before her visit. Then on FOL, Arnold visits a few weeks later in TV time while school is out in the city. She tells Natalie that she was at summer camp and went on a panty raid at the boys' camp. LOL.

Check it out, man. Tootie visits the Drummonds before school starts in the city and I think she said that she was in summer camp before her visit. Then on FOL, Arnold visits a few weeks later in TV time while school is out in the city. She tells Natalie that she was at summer camp and went on a panty raid at the boys' camp. LOL.


Wait, the only visit I know of with tootie visiting the drummonds while arnold is Bank Job and the one when they have the pillow fight

Wait, the only visit I know of with tootie visiting the drummonds while arnold is Bank Job and the one when they have the pillow fight

She appeared on the episode when Kimberly had the sleepover with the girls from the school.

She appeared in the season opener where Willis and Arnold got held up at the bank.

She appeared in the episode where Willis smokes pot

She then appeared in another episode that aired before or after that pot episode. She appeared in these two eps for the 1981-1982 season when Gary did not appear.

She appeared on the episode when Kimberly had the sleepover with the girls from the school.

She appeared in the season opener where Willis and Arnold got held up at the bank.

She appeared in the episode where Willis smokes pot

She then appeared in another episode that aired before or after that pot episode. She appeared in these two eps for the 1981-1982 season when Gary did not appear.


So are you saying she visited the drummonds on FOL ep?

So are you saying she visited the drummonds on FOL ep?


No. She only appeared on DS visiting Kim's family. During the 1981-1982 season, she appeared twice staying with the family. While the school year started in the city, she spent her last few weeks of summer vacation with them and she and Kimberly were discussing how the school year at Eastland starts a few weeks later than schools here in the city.

No. She only appeared on DS visiting Kim's family. During the 1981-1982 season, she appeared twice staying with the family. While the school year started in the city, she spent her last few weeks of summer vacation with them and she and Kimberly were discussing how the school year at Eastland starts a few weeks later than schools here in the city.


It was hard to believe gary coleman was older than kim fields lol

No, she wasn't needed, IMO.

I think Willis appeared on FOL a couple of times. You know I think Kimberly should have been added just because the whole premise of the FOL was based on Kimberly at Eastland. Thats how FOL started with the DS episode of Kimberly at Eastland.

I think Willis appeared on FOL a couple of times. You know I think Kimberly should have been added just because the whole premise of the FOL was based on Kimberly at Eastland. Thats how FOL started with the DS episode of Kimberly at Eastland.


ALways so weird Kimberly never appeared on FOL and they were her classmates:crazy:

No, she wasn't needed, IMO.

It wasn't that she was "needed" . It would have forged a stronger connection between Different Strokes and The Facts of Life . It would've also been fun to see Kimberly be friends with Blair, Tootie, Jo, and Natalie .

^---Yes, she should have made occasional guest star appearances. It makes too much sense, and not to have her appear at all made no sense. What were the writers thinking?

^---Yes, she should have made occasional guest star appearances. It makes too much sense, and not to have her appear at all made no sense. What were the writers thinking?


What made it more weird was Blair, natalie, and tootie appeared on Different strokes to visit Kimberly but never the other way around

What made it more weird was Blair, natalie, and tootie appeared on Different strokes to visit Kimberly but never the other way around

Yes, and Kimberly was at Eastland five days a week. lol

I was always confused as to why Kimberly wasn't in FOL but attended the school in Diff'rent Strokes. And was there like a "backdoor pilot" to Facts of Life in Diff'rent Strokes?

I was always confused as to why Kimberly wasn't in FOL but attended the school in Diff'rent Strokes. And was there like a "backdoor pilot" to Facts of Life in Diff'rent Strokes?


Yes the ep was called rough housing

^---Incorrect, "Rough Housing" was the first episode of FOL. The backdoor pilot for the series is a season 1 episode of Diff'rent Strokes, entitled "The Girls' School"; it's included as a bonus feature on the season 1 FOL set.

^---Incorrect, "Rough Housing" was the first episode of FOL. The backdoor pilot for the series is a season 1 episode of Diff'rent Strokes, entitled "The Girls' School"; it's included as a bonus feature on the season 1 FOL set.


That's right, I was thinking rough housing was a DS ep

"Rough Housing" was the first episode with Natalie and with Cindy, the latter of whom was the focus of the episode. "The Girls School" instead had original girls Jennifer and Laura.

There definitely would have been better continuity if Kimberly had been regularly, or even occasionally, seen at Eastland. However, given the network executives' freakouts about there being "too many girls" on the show ("ten, twelve girls"), I think we know why Dana Plato wasn't asked to appear on the FOL set: network executives were already worried about the number of girls. So only Willis and Arnold appeared.

There definitely would have been better continuity if Kimberly had been regularly, or even occasionally, seen at Eastland. However, given the network executives' freakouts about there being "too many girls" on the show ("ten, twelve girls"), I think we know why Dana Plato wasn't asked to appear on the FOL set: network executives were already worried about the number of girls. So only Willis and Arnold appeared.

But having Kimberly appear as a guest would have only made it 5 girls lol

But having Kimberly appear as a guest would have only made it 5 girls lol

That could have worked. But Willis and Arnold only appeared each one time in two different episodes of Season 2 then no one from Diff'rent Strokes was ever seen on the Facts of Life again.

That could have worked. But Willis and Arnold only appeared each one time in two different episodes of Season 2 then no one from Diff'rent Strokes was ever seen on the Facts of Life again.


Arnold only appeared in season 1

Arnold only appeared in season 1

And season 2
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0575449/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_48

And season 2
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0575449/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_48


I forgot about that ep because he was only seen once

But having Kimberly appear as a guest would have only made it 5 girls lol

Yes, but they originally had seven girls, and even to this day, NBC executive Warren Littlefield insists it was "ten, twelve girls". They axed four girls for this reason. No way did they want any more girls on the show.

I forgot about that ep because he was only seen once

"once"? He was seen in at least three scenes.


But having Kimberly appear as a guest would have only made it 5 girls lol

Yes, but they originally had seven girls, and even to this day, NBC executive Warren Littlefield insists it was "ten, twelve girls". They axed four girls for this reason. No way did they want any more girls on the show.

As a cast member, yes. But you would think they would have had Kimberly cross over to at least a couple of guest star appearances in season 2 or later since that would show continuity of the tie-in between these two series, and the stigma of "ten, twelve girls" would have been history by then.

Heck, even placing Kimberly in place of another girl in an existing episode would have been interesting; can you imagine if she had been the student who had an abortion, instead of Annie?---!

And we will always be amused at Warren Littlefield's grotesque exaggeration. :lol:

As a cast member, yes. But you would think they would have had Kimberly cross over to at least a couple of guest star appearances in season 2 or later since that would show continuity of the tie-in between these two series,

It's weird. Continuity is really important on TV these days. But in the 80s, it was obviously much less important (though it was clearly more important than it was in the 1950s). So there were attempts at continuity, but these attempts were just not at the level that we're accustomed to today.

I agree that it would have been ideal to have Kimberly at least make guest appearances at the school she was supposedly attending. But since it didn't happen, we, as fans, are left to fanwank a reason why we never saw Kimberly: "Oh, she was over in Dorm B" or "Oh, she was only attending as a day student, so she didn't participate much in student life" or "Oh, she never went to the cafeteria because she saw the 'food' the cafeteria was serving in Season One, and couldn't bring herself to ever go back, and developed an eating disorder because of it". ;)

(I only joke because I love these shows)

If we're talking occasional guest appearances, that would have been cool. But I was specifically responding to the original question: "Do You Think 'The Facts Of Life' Should Have Added Dana Plato to the Original Cast?" There's no way that would have happened, with NBC network executives already frantic about the number of girls. And if Kimberly had been added to the cast in Season Two, we either would have had no Natalie or no Jo, because no way would they have kept more girls.


and the stigma of "ten, twelve girls" would have been history by then.

Would it? In early Season Two? According to Warren Littlefield, 7 equals, on average, 11, so wouldn't 5 equal 8?


Heck, even placing Kimberly in place of another girl in an existing episode would have been interesting; can you imagine if she had been the student who had an abortion, instead of Annie?---!

Haha! That would have been some show. But I can't imagine that really happening. Heck, the producers of DS wouldn't even write Dana Plato's pregnancy into the show, let alone an abortion storyline from a major DS/FOL character.


And we will always be amused at Warren Littlefield's grotesque exaggeration. :lol:

Yes. Yes we will! :lol:

But I was specifically responding to the original question: "Do You Think 'The Facts Of Life' Should Have Added Dana Plato to the Original Cast?" There's no way that would have happened, with NBC network executives already frantic about the number of girls.

Ah, true.


And if Kimberly had been added to the cast in Season Two, we either would have had no Natalie or no Jo, because no way would they have kept more girls.

Or no Tootie or Jo, or no Blair or Jo. Okay, I really doubt "no Blair", but I don't believe we have ever been told in what order the "Kept Girls" (lol) were decided in being kept on the show? One would assume they would rank them this way: Blair, Tootie, Natalie, we don't know 100% for sure.


Would it? In early Season Two? According to Warren Littlefield, 7 equals, on average, 11, so wouldn't 5 equal 8?

Haha, yes, but I meant later in season 2 as a guest appearance, not early on.

Or no Tootie or Jo, or no Blair or Jo. Okay, I really doubt "no Blair", but I don't believe we have ever been told in what order the "Kept Girls" (lol) were decided in being kept on the show? One would assume they would rank them this way: Blair, Tootie, Natalie, we don't know 100% for sure.

No, we don't know 100% for sure, but I strongly suspect it would have been Blair and Tootie, just based on the newspaper and TV advertising campaign, where Blair and Tootie were shown constantly. No way would they have given up their two budding new stars.

Also: "Kept Girls"... heh.

Also: "Kept Girls"... heh.

lol

Yeah it's funny how Blair and Tootie were the breakout stars of the first season (with Natalie rising during the year), but other than season 1's "Emily Dickinson" and "Flash Flood", we never really see a Blair/Tootie story again. There is that lovely deep scene in "A Friend in Deed" between them in the kitchen (with Mrs. Garrett there), but that's about the last real Blair/Tootie time that's just shared between the two of them that I can think of; other than that they're "ensemble" with each other.

Yeah, I think the writers got too fixated on Blair/Jo and (to a lesser extent) Tootie/Natalie storylines.

Yes, which made the fact that there were a few Blair/Natalie storylines quite interesting; I still find it so interesting that two major Blair/Natalie episodes were two consecutive episodes (season 3's "Kids Can Be Cruel", and "Mind Your Own Business"). That was a two-week block of Blair/Natalie fights! lol

Come to think of it, I'll have to pay attention to the Jo/Tootie dynamic in those episodes to see if they play off of each other more than usual since Blair and Natalie are taken up interacting with each other so much.

One thing I noticed was that none of the girls in Rough Housing came over to hug Kimberly or even acknowledged her. Not even her friend Nancy O. Perhaps Nancy O. wasn't All American enough.

One thing I noticed was that none of the girls in Rough Housing came over to hug Kimberly or even acknowledged her. Not even her friend Nancy O. Perhaps Nancy O. wasn't All American enough.

:lol:

Good point, 80s Dude. Kimberly in TGS is integral to the plot: it's she who introduces Mrs. G to five of the girls we'd see again the following season. Kimberly in RH is so tacked on. What was going on there? This was her school! :lol:

Hey, on DS season 6, Dana got moved to after Mary Jo in the credits, and she got the infamous "and" credit!

Hey, on DS season 6, Dana got moved to after Mary Jo in the credits, and she got the infamous "and" credit!

Too bad that would be her last time getting an opening scene credit! :(

:lol:

Good point, 80s Dude. Kimberly in TGS is integral to the plot: it's she who introduces Mrs. G to five of the girls we'd see again the following season. Kimberly in RH is so tacked on. What was going on there? This was her school! :lol:


I guess by season 1 on FOL, KIMBERLY was just a guest star (unlike the 'pilot', where she was the focus along MRS G, BLAIR and NANCY):wave::wave::wave:

Mr. Drummond and Arnold never appeared on FOL, that was a Different Strokes episode

Only Willis appeared on FOL
Season 1 episode 1 rough housing had Kimberly and mr D.

Season 1 episode 1 rough housing had Kimberly and mr D.

Correct. it was on Antenna TV today at 3pm. I always thought it was a FOL pilot episode that was still DS.

And it had Arnold and Willis.

I think it would have been nice if Kimberly was on Facts. Because I never got the impression she was integral on Strokes, the show was more focused on Arnold and, later, Sam. Even Mr. Drummmond was Nancied :lol:.

Even Mr. Drummmond was Nancied :lol:.

:lol:

:lol:

Poor Drummond :lol:

I think it would have been nice if Kimberly was on Facts. Because I never got the impression she was integral on Strokes, the show was more focused on Arnold and, later, Sam. Even Mr. Drummmond was Nancied :lol:.


That's a very interesting point of view FOL FAN ITA: KIMBERLY certainly had more interaction of the pilot episode 'The girls school', than on the actual DS, and would have made a great foil for BLAIR!!!! (They totally clashed on that famous scene, when she introduces MRS G to her, "i almost forgot, that's Blair!" in a very grudgingly voice):rofl::rofl::rofl:

She definitely should have appeared as a guest on FOL since the girls was on DS more than once

That's a very interesting point of view FOL FAN ITA: KIMBERLY certainly had more interaction of the pilot episode 'The girls school', than on the actual DS

That's not really true, because there were several Kimberly episodes of DS.

That's not really true, because there were several Kimberly episodes of DS.


Oops! I guess i'm not the best one to judge: i'v only watched season 1 DS (i only got it cos of the pilot 'The girls school') apologies!!!!!:violin::violin::violin:

Oops! I guess i'm not the best one to judge: i'v only watched season 1 DS (i only got it cos of the pilot 'The girls school') apologies!!!!!:violin::violin::violin:

I got the last ep of season 1 for DS and the 1st ep of FOL confused and always thought it was a DS episode. Not realizing the drummonds made a guest appearance in 1st ep of FOL

Oops! I guess i'm not the best one to judge: i'v only watched season 1 DS (i only got it cos of the pilot 'The girls school') apologies!!!!!:violin::violin::violin:

Yup, she's in 5 more seasons. :lol: ;)

Oh, don't get me wrong Eighty, amico mio! Kimberly had her own episodes like the other cast members but Arnold was the breakout star and the other characters paid for this. Probably, if she was sent on Fol with Mrs. Garrett, she would have had more space and, as Valentina was saying, she could have been a foil for Blair instead of Jo

I think there were behind the scene reasons why Kimberly was not on more episodes of the Facts of Life, most likely Dana Platos behavior. If she was on more, she probably would have tried to sit on the laps of John Lawlor, Hugh Gillam (Howard the Cook), and any other older male on the show.

Ask yourself, would you want someone like that around your daughter or being an influence on any young girl?

I think there were behind the scene reasons why Kimberly was not on more episodes of the Facts of Life, most likely Dana Platos behavior. If she was on more, she probably would have tried to sit on the laps of John Lawlor, Hugh Gillam (Howard the Cook), and any other older male on the show.

Ask yourself, would you want someone like that around your daughter or being an influence on any young girl?

I like your theory. I wonder if Charlotte Rae herself asked the "retirement" of Kimberly from Eastland.

I like your theory. I wonder if Charlotte Rae herself asked the "retirement" of Kimberly from Eastland.

Both Charlotte and Kim had issues with Dana's behavior on the set of Different Strokes in their respective books.

Both Charlotte and Kim had issues with Dana's behavior on the set of Different Strokes in their respective books.

Yeah, I have both books.

I like your theory. I wonder if Charlotte Rae herself asked the "retirement" of Kimberly from Eastland.

What do you think, guys? Other theories?

What do you think, guys? Other theories?

I think the producers may have realized, early on, that Dana was going through some difficult times. And I think that NBC was already worried about having "too many girls". Thus, they kept Dana on DS.

Oh, don't get me wrong Eighty, amico mio! Kimberly had her own episodes like the other cast members but Arnold was the breakout star and the other characters paid for this. Probably, if she was sent on Fol with Mrs. Garrett, she would have had more space and, as Valentina was saying, she could have been a foil for Blair instead of Jo




It is really a shame they never kept KIMBERLY on FOL to be BLAIR's foil indeed, but as 80s says: KIMBERLY did have behaviours issues, and as Retro ads, the producers probably thought they had enough girls to bring one more......:cheer::cheer::cheer:

PS: i bet dirty MR BRADLEY would have loved her to seat on his lap!!!!:rofl::rofl::rofl:

:brent:brent:brent

It is really a shame they never kept KIMBERLY on FOL to be BLAIR's foil indeed, but as 80s says: KIMBERLY did have behaviours issues, and as Retro ads, the producers probably thought they had enough girls to bring one more......:cheer::cheer::cheer:

PS: i bet dirty MR BRADLEY would have loved her to seat on his lap!!!!:rofl::rofl::rofl:

:brent:brent:brent

If Kimberly was around during Flash Flood she and Blair woould have a Cindy-Sue Ann cat-fight over Mr. Bradley. Kimberly would shove Blair out of his way and tell Blair that "Don't you make a move on my man. Mr. Bradley is mine."

If Kimberly was around during Flash Flood she and Blair woould have a Cindy-Sue Ann cat-fight over Mr. Bradley. Kimberly would shove Blair out of his way and tell Blair that "Don't you make a move on my man. Mr. Bradley is mine."


I would have LOVED to see that!!!!:bouncers:bouncers:bouncers

:cheers::cheers::cheers: