I've been reading comments on YouTube regarding the final episode in which Blair buys Eastland, which was in danger of being closed down. Apparently, this was a meant to be a back-door pilot in which Blair would become the Mrs. Garrett-type figure to a new generation of Eastland students (among them Seth Green, Mayim Bialik, and Juliette Lewis). I guess, my point is that did NBC kind of screw TFOL over by not given it a proper farewell episode? Natalie isn't even in the final shot and of course, if they were actually going to do a farewell episode, it would've been logical to bring Charlotte Rae back.

I brought this particular issue over on IMDb and I was told that the then impending 1988 writers strike really hampered the writing quality. This was mainly because they were rushing to end the season. In the process, several spin-offs were being considered such as one about Natalie moving to Manhattan and living with a bunch of bohemian types.

I don't think the finale was a good one. I think it should have just been about the 4 girls saying goodbye with maybe a good final shot. I think it was way too rushed. I don't mind that Blair bought Eastland but I think the finale should have included more of the other characters, especially Natalie. Of course the reunion movie didn't even tell us what Blair did with Eastland which I thought they should have touched up on. She talked about Eastland like she hadn't seen it in years.

it bothered me so much! that guy in a chicken suit or something in the final shot? really? and no natalie? they should have all said goodbye at least. I recently saw it for the first time and was very disappointed.:mad:

The reunion movie did have Blair stating that she had sold Eastland.
The last season was a sort of...ok, let's keep up the hilarity and then....wait, Nancy's (Jo) not coming back next year so let' get her quickly married off (to a guy she barely knew--couldn't they have least brought back a previous flame such as the college teacher or her Paris' amour?) and then, wait, let's spin off the others--uhm let's set up Natalie in ANOTHER roommate situation and let's make Blair the star of Facts of Life: The Next Generation, where it is convenient to have Pippa tag along since she was already at Eastland.

The last episode is a huge letdown. I like to pretend like it didn't even happen.

it would have been great if they had brought back Mrs. Garrett because it was almost her time to come back from the Peace Corps anyway (2 years), if maybe just to be in the final scene. Oh well, what could have been:rolleyes:

I don't think, I ever got to see the last one.I have read up on it though and, There was supposed to be a spin off ,With Blaire that didn't happen which sucks and ,I think had they known. There wasn't going to be a spin off. They would of done things differently.

I have mixed feelings about it.

I definitely think that they dropped the bomb on this. When i first found FOL (wow... almost 12 years ago!) and saw the finale, i was incredibly disappointed. So, i wrote a fanfic. It would have been extremely easy with this series to end it because obviously all of the girls cannot stay living in this house in Peekskill, NY. They should all leave the town... natalie pursuing the writing thing in NYC, Tootie heading to Hollywood to pursue acting. Jo, being married, can leave to follow her husband and blair, if she wanted to buy eastland, fine... but mrs. garrett should come back, maybe she adopted a kid while over there, beverly ann and andy (haha... sounds like ragedy ann and andy) could move somewhere else too... just, everybody could have said goodbye and had one last hurrah before parting ways, maybe Tootie's wedding to Jeff or something, but if only what could have been :)

I think the show got screwed because they were trying to spin off the show. The finale was basically one of the many spin off attempts on this show. They tried to end things with Jo getting married, Tootie going to acting school in London, Natalie moving to New York to pursue her writing career and Blair buying Eastland. But they kind of just left us hanging. I think they depended on Blair's spin off to be picked up but when it wasnt loyal FOL fans were just screwed out of a proper goodbye.

In many ways I think the entire last season was a diappointment. Especially considering that in season 8 the show was as good as ever. There were a couple of good episodes in season 9 but it really did feel like they had gone back to the well one time too many. The series finale was simply a disappointing conclusion to a pretty unmemorable season. With the exception of Blair, none of the other characters really had anything to do in that episode.

You'd think they would have brought back Mrs. Garrett for one final appearance. The show was really built around her and the girls and it wasn't the same show once she left.

Actually, I think once they left Eastland as the locale for the show, it was over.

You'd think they would have brought back Mrs. Garrett for one final appearance. The show was really built around her and the girls and it wasn't the same show once she left.

Actually, I think once they left Eastland as the locale for the show, it was over.
Well that's the thing. I think if they knew that it was going to be the final episode then maybe Mrs. Garrett wouldve returned. But no one was sure what was going to happen with the show after season 9. Then poof it was gone.