Do you like the original direction of "Facts of Life" in Season 1? Would the show had been successful with the way it was in season 1, or would it had been cancelled?

I personally prefer season 2 over season 1.

It was good, but the Molly character got on my nerves and Natalie seemed too wishy-washy that season. Also, Blair, Sue Ann and Nancy were too similar (attractive, boy-crazy types). I agree that S2 things really improved with the introduction of Jo as a perpetual foil for Blair and edgy contrast to the other "innocent" girls. The producers made a wise move in retooling the show and obviously it paid off. My favorites Seasons are 3, 5, 4, 2.

I liked season 1. Sue Ann was my favorite character. This was the only season where I liked Tootie. After S1, Tootie got on my nerves. Nancy was too "one-note" to last though. The Roger jokes probably wouldn't have held out much longer. I agree that Molly was annoying. Cindy was boring. I liked Blair and Natalie. Natalie was a cute little girl.

Jo was a good addition though since she was good for a lot of different story lines. Some of the S1 characters were too flat for a 20+ episode a year show. But S1 was good enough for a summer replacement.

So far it's okay. I just started watching it this afternoon. I was surprised that the theme song was so different and honesty I don't really care for it. The pilot "Rough Housing" was disappointing because I don't think they did a good job of introducing everyone. I'm picky about things like that. Good pilots are ones that introduce the characters in a unique way, like Frasier did with "The Good Son". I have about six more episodes left of Season one.

OMG, don't get me started on Tootie. I liked her when I used to watch the show all the time but even the few episodes I watched made me crazy watching her. Ugh... I'm sorry but she is just completely annoying. I hope she gets better in later seasons.

“Rough Housing” isn’t the pilot. “The Girls School”, an episode of “Diff’rent Strokes”, is the pilot.

“Rough Housing” isn’t the pilot. “The Girls School”, an episode of “Different Strokes”, is the pilot.
Oh okay. Hmmm.. Maybe I need to watch that one as well. Thanks for the info! I honestly didn't realize that the two shows were "related"; or at least I had forgotten about it.

I just found it on Youtube so I'm watching it now!

I liked all of the seasons, but S1’s not my fav.

It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great either. It was definitely my least favorite season of the show. Even the last season of Diff’rent Strokes was better than the first season of FOL. This shows got a whole lot better once they added Jo. She was a much better character than any of the four that left.

S1 is my fav because I love the lost girls

S1 is my fav because I love the lost girls

Same here. For me, the show lost the feeling of a girls' school when it jettisoned most of the girls at the school.

Same here. For me, the show lost the feeling of a girls' school when it jettisoned most of the girls at the school.

Definitely!

It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great either. It was definitely my least favorite season of the show. Even the last season of Diff’rent Strokes was better than the first season of FOL. This shows got a whole lot better once they added Jo. She was a much better character than any of the four that left.
I totally agree with this. Season 2 is much better with Jo. Honestly I think she's the best character because she's more down to earth. Dare I say that Nancy McKeon delivered her lines better than the others as well? The other lines felt like they were "canned" at times but Jo's always had emotion and heart. I'm in the middle of Season 2 right now and I'm enjoying it so much more than Season 1. But all sitcoms have to have a first season.

Tootie brought life into season 1. I liked her and Natalie's scenes. To me it would be so boring and vanilla without it.

I watched Ep 3 (The Return of Mr. Garrett) last night even though I'm on Season 6. I guess LOGO had skipped that one so now that it's on Me-TV, I was able to see it. I'm starting to see a repeating pattern of storylines. Not surprising though. But Ms. Garrett has been proposed to at least twice in six seasons.

I like some season 1 episodes like I.Q., The Return of Mr. Garrett, Dieting. I don't think that the problem was too many characters (The Brady Bunch or The Jeffersons had the same number of characters) but the storylines and the plot, it isn't believable that Mrs. Garrett, the headmaster and one teacher were ALWAYS in the dorm with seven girls. I agree that the show lost the girls school side after the retooling but season 2 is a great season

It has some pretty bad acting and horrific, cheesy, corny writing.

It has some pretty bad acting and horrific, cheesy, corny writing.

The writing didn't seem much cheesier than other seasons

I watched Ep 3 (The Return of Mr. Garrett) last night even though I'm on Season 6. I'm starting to see a repeating pattern of storylines. Not surprising though. But Ms. Garrett has been proposed to at least twice in six seasons.

Well, I wouldn't call twice in 6 seasons a pattern. :)

Her most interesting proposal was actually on "Diff'rent Strokes"---by a man young enough to be her son!