I remember the character of Tootie, that it was actually her nickname. Does anybody remember what the explanation was of how she got it? And what was Tootie's real name? I'm sure it was talked about on the show but I've forgotten. Thanks!

Ed.

Her real name was Dorothy. That's all I remember about it.

How did she get the nickname Tootie?

How did she get the nickname Tootie?

Because ever since she was a little kid she "talked too much". She says this in the season 6 episode "The Interview Show" where a former student is writing a book on Eastland and she interviews Mrs. Garrett and the girls individually.

And I believe "Dorothy" is mentioned only once during seasons 2-4 (the "cafeteria years"--it's interesting that didn't come up any more than that back then), though later in the series there's an episode where she wants to go by "Dorothy" but no one goes along with it, lol.

It's so hard to believe though that we know "Tootie" for 6 entire seasons (this episode was the season 6 finale), but we are never told why she's called "Tootie" until so late in the series. You'd think this would be revealed in season 1 or 2, particularly when Mrs. Garrett first meets the girls (which technically would be in the backdoor pilot episode of Diff'rent Strokes), or when Jo meets them.

But at least we know! lol :)

Well a common nickname for Dorothy is Dottie, so Tootie isn't too far off.

Well a common nickname for Dorothy is Dottie, so Tootie isn't too far off.


Yeah, I had an Aunt Dorothy. But her nickname (that only her brothers and sisters would use) was Dolly.

Ed.

My grandmother had a friend name Tootie. Her actual name was Edna. My mom in later years look would back and say Tootie lived there etc..

Because ever since she was a little kid she "talked too much". She says this in the season 6 episode "The Interview Show" where a former student is writing a book on Eastland and she interviews Mrs. Garrett and the girls individually.

I must say, I'm impressed, '80s! Well done!


And I believe "Dorothy" is mentioned only once during seasons 2-4 (the "cafeteria years"--it's interesting that didn't come up any more than that back then), though later in the series there's an episode where she wants to go by "Dorothy" but no one goes along with it, lol.

It's so hard to believe though that we know "Tootie" for 6 entire seasons (this episode was the season 6 finale), but we are never told why she's called "Tootie" until so late in the series. You'd think this would be revealed in season 1 or 2, particularly when Mrs. Garrett first meets the girls

Good point. It's just weird that it would take six seasons, 129 episodes, to tell this story. Odd that Mrs Garrett didn't ask when she was first hired, and odd that no one else ever seemingly asked, over the next six years, despite Tootie being introduced to countless people.

I must say, I'm impressed, '80s! Well done!

Thanks, but I admit I wouldn't have known this had I not seen "The Interview Show" on YouTube when I watched the entire series of FOL a couple of years ago (all 5 of my DVD seasons, then seasons 6-9 on YouTube). But this is how dedicated I am to my sitcom thoroughness. :) I know if people like you and me wrote these series we would keep "character bibles" and have barely any inconsistencies


Good point. It's just weird that it would take six seasons, 129 episodes, to tell this story. Odd that Mrs Garrett didn't ask when she was first hired, and odd that no one else ever seemingly asked, over the next six years, despite Tootie being introduced to countless people.

I know! That is so, as the kids say these days, "cray-cray", lol. I remember being a kid watching syndicated re-runs of this show at my grandparents', and being fascinated whenever I heard her real name "Dorothy" because it was so very rare. 129 episodes with no explanation of "Tootie", that really is "too" much...I wonder if Kim or the other actresses ever wondered, why the heck did they name her "Tootie"? lol

I remember being a kid watching syndicated re-runs of this show at my grandparents'

This is eerie. That's also where I first started watching the re-runs. Well, not *your* grandparents' house, but mine. I'm pretty sure. Unless you are my sister, and then it would have been your grandparents' house.


and being fascinated whenever I heard her real name "Dorothy" because it was so very rare. 129 episodes with no explanation of "Tootie", that really is "too" much...I wonder if Kim or the other actresses ever wondered, why the heck did they name her "Tootie"? lol

She must have asked, and the explanation just never happened on camera until Season Six. I mean, if you are playing a character, you need to know the character. What his/her motivations are. They would have prepared a bio for the character, including important details. Like who her parents are, where she's from, and likely why she has an unusual name.