I vote for Natalie. She's the most intellectual.

I vote for Natalie. She's the most intellectual.

Jo had street sense, tottie was the youngest and I think she looked to the rest for knowledge, Blair what can I say..:blush: she was always was the smartest IMO.

Blair was my favorite, but when it comes to who's smartest, then probably Jo.

In the 1st year, there was an episode about Nancy having the highest IQ.

As far as I know Jo was the only one who was at Eastland on a scholarship so I would have to say she was the smartest.

I hope I don't get this off-topic here, but:
Sue Ann was also mentioned being "a scholarship student". The point there wasn't that she was smarter, but that she didn't pay her own way, and she wanted to know if that rich boy still wanted to date her.

Jo, she was the smart-mouth after all!! Seriously though, she survived on scholarships, her grades had to be good, plus hse had good instincts.

I vote for Natalie. She's the most intellectual.
I agree, they did have an episode where Natalie while she was a senior at Eastland got picked to take a course at Langley .

I agree, they did have an episode where Natalie while she was a senior at Eastland got picked to take a course at Langley .

Natalie also was accepted at Princeton (but turned down the offer).

It was revealed to be that it was based on their performance back in fifth grade, lol!

But yeah, Sue Ann was the smartest in the 1st season. She was the only one who knew who Margaret Thatcher was.

Old topic...but wasn't Jo valedictorian at both Eastland and Langley?

The shpw made hints every now and then at her intelligence.

Old topic...but wasn't Jo valedictorian at both Eastland and Langley?

The shpw made hints every now and then at her intelligence.
I'm going with Jo.

I'd say each girl was smart in their own way:
BLAIR had good grades but she spent too much time dreaming of 'Prince charming'
JO was at the top of the whole school and always eager to learn more
NAT was definitely the intellectual of the group
TOOTIE had good grades but was rather focus on the acting department
MRS G was a natural learner and the smartest of them all :lol:

Blair. Because she always had another one of her brilliant ideas. :idea:

Blair. Because she always had another one of her brilliant ideas. :idea:

That was the correct answer ha ha ha!:lol:

The response here could depend on whether you mean book smarts or street smarts.Naturally in the case of the latter,Jo all the way.From a more classroom perspective,Blair and Natalie are neck and neck.Kim Fields' character is average.

The response here could depend on whether you mean book smarts or street smarts.Naturally in the case of the latter,Jo all the way.From a more classroom perspective,Blair and Natalie are neck and neck.Kim Fields' character is average.

I agree 100 % with your answer: TOOTIE was definitely the less brilliant of the girls and she had lack of concentration (all she could think of was the 'theater' lol):wave:

Jo and Blair were the only ones that graduated college. Blair went onto law school. She would probably be the smartest. However, I felt like Blair had so many dumb blonde moments, I would probably say Jo.

Jo and Blair were the only ones that graduated college. Blair went onto law school. She would probably be the smartest. However, I felt like Blair had so many dumb blonde moments, I would probably say Jo.

BLAIR only liked to pretend she was 'dumb' whenever she was nervous or if there was a cute guy around, but in reality she was a thinker and so was JO which is why they complimented each other so well......:talk:

I agree 100 % with your answer: TOOTIE was definitely the less brilliant of the girls and she had lack of concentration (all she could think of was the 'theater' lol):wave:

Yeah, all she talked about was becoming an actor, when her acting was the most questionable of the group. She was melodramatic, emotional, and annoying. I could not stand her! I didn't care about her either because she was always getting into other people's business, too. I think she peaked too soon, because I liked her only in season 1, and then cuteness factor faded away quickly especially after the infamous Jermaine Jackson episode.

Yeah, all she talked about was becoming an actor, when her acting was the most questionable of the group. She was melodramatic, emotional, and annoying. I could not stand her! I didn't care about her either because she was always getting into other people's business, too. I think she peaked too soon, because I liked her only in season 1, and then cuteness factor faded away quickly especially after the infamous Jermaine Jackson episode.


TOOTIE was only good in season 1 & 2 (she was just a kid then) but BLAIR, MRS G + JO are definitely the ones that made the show afterwards!:D

Jo.

I would say Tootie. She might of been the youngest, but she had an old soul about her, and was often the voice of reason.

I would say Tootie. She might of been the youngest, but she had an old soul about her, and was often the voice of reason.

I see your point of view up to a point: TOOTIE was the voice of reason for ANDY (she loved to play the big sister to him) but then, NAT was the voice of reason to her, MRS G was the one to BLAIR and JO kind of looked after herself.;)

Jo was probably the best at math and the best all around. This was implied since she was amazing with mechanical things, was the valedictorian, and always winning scholarships. Of course they made contrived episodes where Jo liked journalism and English, but we know she had a very logical mind. Blair was brilliant but lazy. She displayed a great mind on many episodes (her "brilliant ideas" notwithstanding). Natalie was supposed to be intellectual, but honestly it never came off that way. Her poetry was awful, and so was her cheesy writing. Her making up a fake story for the school paper about someone having an abortion at Eastland wasn't a particularly bright idea. She was cute as a button and witty, so I love Natalie's character. But I never saw her do anything smart. Tootie was clearly sharp, but she was both naive and not overly interested in academics. She wanted to be a performer/actress. On some episodes you could see that Tootie really had an adult's level of smartness-- like when she would deal with problems, like the latch key kid next to Edna's Edibles.

I am trying to think of an episode when Natalie did something smart. She tended to be impressionable, emotional, and not that swift. Still, again, I loved some of her cheesy jokes, and Mindy Cohn is a natural charmer. She had the best sense of humor but not the smartest character.

Didn't Natalie & Tootie have the same IQ?

Mrs. Garrett was the smartest.

I forgot I already replied, nevermind.

Didn't Natalie & Tootie have the same IQ?

They did, but the results were from their previous schools, so they would have been very young. IQ tests administered when someone is very young probably aren't representative of very much.


Mrs. Garrett was the smartest.

She was. But of the girls, Sue Ann might have been the smartest. She was the one other girls went to when they needed tutoring. Jo became valedictorian, so she's in the running, too, but I like to think that was because of all her hard work, and the fact that she didn't want to let her hard-working mother down.

Sue Ann is the smart one

Jo was probably the best at math and the best all around. This was implied since she was amazing with mechanical things, was the valedictorian, and always winning scholarships. Of course they made contrived episodes where Jo liked journalism and English, but we know she had a very logical mind. Blair was brilliant but lazy. She displayed a great mind on many episodes (her "brilliant ideas" notwithstanding). Natalie was supposed to be intellectual, but honestly it never came off that way. Her poetry was awful, and so was her cheesy writing. Her making up a fake story for the school paper about someone having an abortion at Eastland wasn't a particularly bright idea. She was cute as a button and witty, so I love Natalie's character. But I never saw her do anything smart. Tootie was clearly sharp, but she was both naive and not overly interested in academics. She wanted to be a performer/actress. On some episodes you could see that Tootie really had an adult's level of smartness-- like when she would deal with problems, like the latch key kid next to Edna's Edibles.

I am trying to think of an episode when Natalie did something smart. She tended to be impressionable, emotional, and not that swift. Still, again, I loved some of her cheesy jokes, and Mindy Cohn is a natural charmer. She had the best sense of humor but not the smartest character.

Yea, and both of her parents are lawyers. I'm glad that they would emphasize that point, especially her being the African American character.

Was Tootie the precurser to the Cosby Show where both of the black parents were both intellectuals living in an upper middle class neighborhood?

On the show, I would say Sue Ann and Molly were the smartest. Molly clearly appeared the smartest among the younger girls. In real life, I would say Felice since she went to Brown University and got a degree there.

Tumpy was pretty smart. She always had a high IQ.

Tumpy was pretty smart. She always had a high IQ.


But TUMPY got expelled because of getting caught with marijuana and she wasn't one of the girls anyway!:confused:

I think Tumpy is still going to Eastland, She is still getting high while drawing social security.

Excluding Mrs. Garrett from this list and only deciding off the younger girls, Jo is definitely the smartest. It was established in her very first episode when they stated she got a high on her tests but chose to make bad choices with Eddie that got in the way of her schooling. She continued to getting both book smart and street smart as the series went on.

I would pick Natalie as the second smartest and then Blair. Tootie was never interested in schooling as her passion to be an actress took over everything.

Excluding Mrs. Garrett from this list and only deciding off the younger girls, Jo is definitely the smartest. It was established in her very first episode when they stated she got a high on her tests but chose to make bad choices with Eddie that got in the way of her schooling. She continued to getting both book smart and street smart as the series went on.

I would pick Natalie as the second smartest and then Blair. Tootie was never interested in schooling as her passion to be an actress took over everything.


The 4 of them were smart, but BLAIR was almost as smart as JO (even when she had her 'blond moments'). Remember when she had that talk with MRS G about how she got a 96, whereas JO a 98? And i remember she always had good grades. Okay so she was a snob, but she was dedicated to her studies too. JO on the other hand was more worldly than all of them. And yes, MRS G was definitely the wisest of them all lol!;)

Neither Blair or Lisa ever stuck me as the brightest bulbs around. The most intelligent were Molly, Sue Ann, Nancy O.

Neither Blair or Lisa ever stuck me as the brightest bulbs around. The most intelligent were Molly, Sue Ann, Nancy O.


Who's LISA?:confused:

Who's LISA?:confused:

Lisa played Blair.

Lisa played Blair.


I thought so!:talk:

The most intelligent were Molly, Sue Ann, Nancy O.

In real life, Felice's Brown University credentials are definitely impressive. Not too many people, even celebrities, can say they were accepted into an Ivy League school. Their acceptance rate is only 6.6%, according to Wiki. But Nancy Olson never attended Brown University, that we know of.

Julie Pie was accepted to Stanford, but attended UCLA, a "public ivy". But I don't think we know what university Sue Ann attended.

On the show, we definitely see examples of intelligence from Nancy, Sue Ann, Molly, and Jo. Jo is the class valedictorian. Sue Ann helps the girls with their homework. Nancy has the highest IQ. Molly demonstrates her nerd intelligence on nearly every episode she's in.

In real life, Felice's Brown University credentials are definitely impressive. Not too many people, even celebrities, can say they were accepted into an Ivy League school. Their acceptance rate is only 6.6%, according to Wiki. But Nancy Olson never attended Brown University, that we know of.

Julie Pie was accepted to Stanford, but attended UCLA, a "public ivy". But I don't think we know what university Sue Ann attended.

On the show, we definitely see examples of intelligence from Nancy, Sue Ann, Molly, and Jo. Jo is the class valedictorian. Sue Ann helps the girls with their homework. Nancy has the highest IQ. Molly demonstrates her nerd intelligence on nearly every episode she's in.

I think Molly Parker was the most intelligent of the younger girls. She was the Greta Thunberg of her time with her interest in political issues and social issues as well as being the tech nerd. Sue Ann was the brightest of the older in the first season, but they never explain why she and Nancy O. were not there when Jo and Blair graduated.

In real life Mindy graduated in 1983 too so she graduated a year ahead of the timeline of what would be expected of her peers who were born in 1966. She would have just turned 17 when she graduated from Westlake.

I think Molly Parker was the most intelligent of the younger girls. She was the Greta Thunberg of her time with her interest in political issues and social issues as well as being the tech nerd. Sue Ann was the brightest of the older in the first season, but they never explain why she and Nancy O. were not there when Jo and Blair graduated.

In real life Mindy graduated in 1983 too so she graduated a year ahead of the timeline of what would be expected of her peers who were born in 1966. She would have just turned 17 when she graduated from Westlake.


That is very true: MOLLY PARKER is definitely the GRETA THUNBERG ahead of her time hee hee!:lol:

I think Molly Parker was the most intelligent of the younger girls. She was the Greta Thunberg of her time with her interest in political issues and social issues as well as being the tech nerd.

I definitely see some shades of Greta Thunberg in Molly, for sure.


Sue Ann was the brightest of the older in the first season, but they never explain why she and Nancy O. were not there when Jo and Blair graduated.

Why, whatever do you mean? They were there, and we have the photos to prove it. :lol:


In real life Mindy graduated in 1983 too so she graduated a year ahead of the timeline of what would be expected of her peers who were born in 1966. She would have just turned 17 when she graduated from Westlake.

That's a good point. I believe that Lisa also graduated a year early.

I think both Blair and Lisa were both led sheltered lives and were naive in different ways. Lisa said she had no idea what "Rough Housing" was about when she called Cindy "strange". She also ended up in an arranged marriage with a man she didn't love and almost ended up broke. Part of the reason she went on Survivor was to replenish her bank account. Her divorce definitely was a wake up call.

I think both Blair and Lisa were both led sheltered lives and were naive in different ways. Lisa said she had no idea what "Rough Housing" was about when she called Cindy "strange".

Yes. I always thought it was odd that Lisa grew up a show-business kid, and yet at 16 knew nothing about lesbianism, or at least it never occurred to her what Blair was saying. Then again, she also lived in Texas, and her idea of summer fun was going to the Dairy Queen, so... :lol:

As we all know, "Blair" started out as a fast-talking naïve girl from Texas, and I can maybe see where the producers might have come up with the "naïve" part, drawing from Lisa's background as a girl from Texas, who read from her Bible between taping scenes.


She also ended up in an arranged marriage with a man she didn't love and almost ended up broke. Part of the reason she went on Survivor was to replenish her bank account. Her divorce definitely was a wake up call.

I still find it so hard to believe that anyone can blow through such a huge amount of money. From what I recall, estimates in the early 1980s indicated that the Diff'rent Strokes kids were making $30,000 per episode. Lisa must have been making a similar amount, working for the same production company, at the same studio, for the same network. $30,000 x 209 episodes is $6,270,000. This does not count money made from her other acting roles, her personal appearances on talk shows and interviews, her book sales, etc. For her to lose that much over 24 years means she was losing, on average, $261,000 per year. Which is crazy. :eek:

Yes. I always thought it was odd that Lisa grew up a show-business kid, and yet at 16 knew nothing about lesbianism, or at least it never occurred to her what Blair was saying. Then again, she also lived in Texas, and her idea of summer fun was going to the Dairy Queen, so... :lol:

As we all know, "Blair" started out as a fast-talking naïve girl from Texas, and I can maybe see where the producers might have come up with the "naïve" part, drawing from Lisa's background as a girl from Texas, who read from her Bible between taping scenes.



I still find it so hard to believe that anyone can blow through such a huge amount of money. From what I recall, estimates in the early 1980s indicated that the Diff'rent Strokes kids were making $30,000 per episode. Lisa must have been making a similar amount, working for the same production company, at the same studio, for the same network. $30,000 x 209 episodes is $6,270,000. This does not count money made from her other acting roles, her personal appearances on talk shows and interviews, her book sales, etc. For her to lose that much over 24 years means she was losing, on average, $261,000 per year. Which is crazy. :eek:

I wonder how much money did give to church related stuff because God told them to and that they are taught that God will provide. I've know many people who have done that. It was probably the same God who told her that this guy she didn't love is the one that she should marry after Lisa's father and their church pastor arranged it.

I don't think many of the actresses made that much money when the show went on reruns and I read they made no money on the DVD sales. Movie actors generally make more money off royalties and residuals than TV actors.

I think both Blair and Lisa were both led sheltered lives and were naive in different ways. Lisa said she had no idea what "Rough Housing" was about when she called Cindy "strange". She also ended up in an arranged marriage with a man she didn't love and almost ended up broke. Part of the reason she went on Survivor was to replenish her bank account. Her divorce definitely was a wake up call.


What a shame! I didn't know that, but i don't think it naive at all for LISA/BLAIR no knowing what 'Rough Housing' was about when using the word 'strange': after all she was only a teenager, and in the late seventies you couldn't really use the word 'lesbian'.
As for her arranged marriage: it is a shame she gave up her acting career to marry a guy old enough to be her father and to end up broke!
I really feel for her, because BLAIR was always my favourite of the girls, and LISA had so much potential as an actress...:talk:

What a shame! I didn't know that, but i don't think it naive at all for LISA/BLAIR no knowing what 'Rough Housing' was about when using the word 'strange': after all she was only a teenager, and in the late seventies you couldn't really use the word 'lesbian'.
As for her arranged marriage: it is a shame she gave up her acting career to marry a guy old enough to be her father and to end up broke!
I really feel for her, because BLAIR was always my favourite of the girls, and LISA had so much potential as an actress...:talk:

Lisa is still visible, got engaged to a new guy, and has a successful TV show. She came back.

On the show, we definitely see examples of intelligence from Nancy, Sue Ann, Molly, and Jo. Jo is the class valedictorian. Sue Ann helps the girls with their homework. Nancy has the highest IQ. Molly demonstrates her nerd intelligence on nearly every episode she's in.

And Cindy, don't forget Cindy! She is delighted with her IQ score, plus she's at Eastland, and Mr. Bradley says she and Sue Ann are "bright girls" when he isn't worried about their falling asleep doing their homework while in training for the big race.


She also ended up in an arranged marriage with a man she didn't love and almost ended up broke.

Wait, what---:eek:


i don't think it naive at all for LISA/BLAIR no knowing what 'Rough Housing' was about when using the word 'strange': after all she was only a teenager, and in the late seventies you couldn't really use the word 'lesbian'.

Yeah, but Blair was acting appalled by "all this hugging and touching girls", (:grouphug:) and "you'd better just watch what you mean," so it seems most anyone would get the idea of what it was about.

And Cindy, don't forget Cindy! She is delighted with her IQ score, plus she's at Eastland, and Mr. Bradley says she and Sue Ann are "bright girls" when he isn't worried about their falling asleep doing their homework while in training for the big race.




Wait, what---:eek:




Yeah, but Blair was acting appalled by "all this hugging and touching girls", (:grouphug:) and "you'd better just watch what you mean," so it seems most anyone would get the idea of what it was about.

Story of Lisa's arranged marriage. This is weird. https://charismania.wordpress.com/2012/09/23/lisa-whelchels-arranged-marriage-and-gods-voice/

Story of Lisa's arranged marriage. This is weird. https://charismania.wordpress.com/2012/09/23/lisa-whelchels-arranged-marriage-and-gods-voice/

Thanks, 80s Dude. I had read about Lisa's arranged marriage before, but never straight from Lisa's own mouth.

The Foursquare Church is a branch of the Pentecostals; they believe in speaking in tongues and faith healing. I know several Pentecostal Christians, and it doesn't surprise me at all that Lisa would put the will of God, or a pastor of her church, above her own needs, or thoughts. That is totally Foursquare.

We were invited to a Foursquare Church in the 1980s, and did briefly attend at the insistence of friends, but it wasn't our thing. The faith healing and speaking in tongues seemed... too much, IMO.

Thanks, 80s Dude. I had read about Lisa's arranged marriage before, but never straight from Lisa's own mouth.

The Foursquare Church is a branch of the Pentecostals; they believe in speaking in tongues and faith healing. I know several Pentecostal Christians, and it doesn't surprise me at all that Lisa would put the will of God, or a pastor of her church, above her own needs, or thoughts. That is totally Foursquare.

We were invited to a Foursquare Church in the 1980s, and did briefly attend at the insistence of friends, but it wasn't our thing. The faith healing and speaking in tongues seemed... too much, IMO.

Since Lisa got a divorce from her husband, she quit that church and went to another. Not sure of what denomination that she goes to now.

Story of Lisa's arranged marriage. This is weird.

Yeah, that kind of thing is for "Sleeping Beauty", not one of our girls from "The Facts of Life"! lol

All the girls seemed smart.

All the girls seemed smart.


Yep, i agree: the 4 of them were smart in their own way!:wave::wave::wave:

Yep, i agree: the 4 of them were smart in their own way!:wave::wave::wave:

All EIGHT ;)

All EIGHT ;)


Oops! Sorry i didn't mean to forget the 'lost girls': the 8 of them were smart indeed!:cool::cool::cool:

All EIGHT ;)

YEP! :)