Charlotte looks much younger during the second season than first one of DS and FOL. It seems that she returned 10 years younger, another person. Do you agree?

P.S: I apologize, I dont' speak English very well

You speak English very well! :)

I kind of agree---I mean, she did lose 25 pounds and got a "toned down" hairstyle, but her face looks kind of "deflated" in most of season 2 because of suddenly losing so much weight from her cherubic countenance ("pudgy face", lol).

You speak English very well! :)

I kind of agree---I mean, she did lose 25 pounds and got a "toned down" hairstyle, but her face looks kind of "deflated" in most of season 2 because of suddenly losing so much weight from her cherubic countenance ("pudgy face", lol).

Yeah, plus she starts wearing skirts. Its like she got a make over and lost her matronly vibe.

Yeah, plus she starts wearing skirts. Its like she got a make over and lost her matronly vibe.

What do you mean "starts wearing skirts"? :confused: She starts wearing SLACKS! :eek: VERY briefly...do you mean skirts as opposed to dresses? But still, the same principle, lol.

What do you mean "starts wearing skirts"? :confused: She starts wearing SLACKS! :eek: VERY briefly...do you mean skirts as opposed to dresses? But still, the same principle, lol.

Haha slacks, sorry! :lol:

Charlotte looks much younger during the second season than first one of DS and FOL. It seems that she returned 10 years younger, another person. Do you agree?

P.S: I apologize, I dont' speak English very well

Yes. Mrs. Garrett was also more of a kooky personality during her time on DS and the first year of FOL. I think the producers decided to make her a little less kooky, a little less matronly, and asked her to lose some weight. With a new wardrobe and a new hairdo, her transformation from a somewhat kooky housemother to a responsible, caring, dietician was complete.

And your English is just fine!

Yes. Mrs. Garrett was also more of a kooky personality during her time on DS and the first year of FOL. I think the producers decided to make her a little less kooky, a little less matronly, and asked her to lose some weight. With a new wardrobe and a new hairdo, her transformation from a somewhat kooky housemother to a responsible, caring, dietician was complete.

And your English is just fine!

Yeah its too bad, I liked her season 1 kookiness.

Thank you all for your answers!

'80sSitcom: Yeah, she lost 25 pounds and that's why her face was deflated but her body was super! I like her style during the second season. When I see her on DS it doesn't look like the same person on FOL's second season.

RetroGuy2000: Yeah, Mrs. Garrett changed a lot after the first season, besides her appearence. I miss her kookiness but I like her transformation from housemother to dietitian, she seems to be more responsible and "professional". Plus, this new Mrs. Garrett is the real Mrs. Garrett who gives advice and was a surrogate mother to her girls, but she still has her funny moments

Lorimar Television: I like her season 1 kookiness too but when I think of Mrs. Garrett I think about a caring person who gives advice, a surrogate mother

Lorimar Television: I like her season 1 kookiness too but when I think of Mrs. Garrett I think about a caring person who gives advice, a surrogate mother

I do too :) I feel like she was that way in season one though.

I feel like the change in her character was pretty subtle, and that she continued to exhibit streaks of kookiness (like when she talked about emptying wine bottles in "Gossip"), and even in season one and in DS, was still a caring motherly figure. She never completely changed, but she was honed into a more responsible motherly figure.

This is in stark contrast to her physical change, which was pretty drastic.

FOF Podcast said she "Benjamin Buttoned" during the series, and I'd say that's fairly accurate. She definitely looks younger in Season 7/8 than in DS/S1.

I feel like the change in her character was pretty subtle, and that she continued to exhibit streaks of kookiness (like when she talked about emptying wine bottles in "Gossip"), and even in season one and in DS, was still a caring motherly figure. She never completely changed, but she was honed into a more responsible motherly figure.

This is in stark contrast to her physical change, which was pretty drastic.

FOF Podcast said she "Benjamin Buttoned" during the series, and I'd say that's fairly accurate. She definitely looks younger in Season 7/8 than in DS/S1.

I will agree with that

I think the producers asked her to lose some weight.

You do????? :eek:

I always assumed she just took charge and did it on her own. I thought it was what she wanted.

I doubt the producers would have the gall to ask an over-50-woman to lose weight, BUT, if we find out they did, I'll fully admit it, lol. As a matter of fact, I'll check Charlotte's book passages about FOL I kept, tonight, and will post my findings. If you're right, I'll set up a luncheon with you and Julie Pie, and if I'm right, you have to set up a luncheon with me and Julie Anne. :lol:

You do????? :eek:

I always assumed she just took charge and did it on her own. I thought it was what she wanted.

I doubt the producers would have the gall to ask an over-50-woman to lose weight, BUT, if we find out they did, I'll fully admit it, lol. As a matter of fact, I'll check Charlotte's book passages about FOL I kept, tonight, and will post my findings. If you're right, I'll set up a luncheon with you and Julie Pie, and if I'm right, you have to set up a luncheon with me and Julie Anne. :lol:

:lol:

The producers weren't shy about asking women to lose weight on the show. After all, they even brought in a scale and made the women weigh themselves on set. They even changed the craft services to prevent the actresses from gaining weight. And according to NBC, it was the producers who changed Mrs. Garrett from housemother to school dietician (https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/tv/charlotte-rae-mrs-garrett-facts-life-dies-92-n897841), not Charlotte.

And I don't think Charlotte had much say over what happened on set: she had nothing to do with who was to stay and who was to go, during the Cast Purge*; she had nothing to do with Geri Jewell only getting offered one episode; she couldn't control what night the show would be on; she even started getting a smaller and smaller role on the show, as the producers began to focus on the girls.

*Except for hiring Nancy McKeon, that is.

The producers weren't shy about asking women to lose weight on the show. After all, they even brought in a scale and made the women weigh themselves on set.

Not "women", "girls" (an opposite Molly comment :lol:) ; only the four teenage girls were weighed, not Charlotte. I don't think they ever would have asked nearly-senior citizen, respected Broadway actress Charlotte Rae to lose weight.


They even changed the craft services to prevent the actresses from gaining weight. And according to NBC, it was the producers who changed Mrs. Garrett from housemother to school dietician (https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/tv/charlotte-rae-mrs-garrett-facts-life-dies-92-n897841), not Charlotte.

And I don't think Charlotte had much say over what happened on set: she had nothing to do with who was to stay and who was to go, during the Cast Purge*; she had nothing to do with Geri Jewell only getting offered one episode; she couldn't control what night the show would be on; she even started getting a smaller and smaller role on the show, as the producers began to focus on the girls.

Yes, we know all these details, but none of this has anything to do with Charlotte's weight loss. :confused:

And I totally forgot to check the copies of the FOL pages from Charlotte's book last night. :lol: I'll try to remember to do so tonight!

I think Charlotte lost the weight on her own for health reasons---we shall see! :read:

Not "women", "girls" (an opposite Molly comment :lol:) ; only the four teenage girls were weighed, not Charlotte. I don't think they ever would have asked nearly-senior citizen, respected Broadway actress Charlotte Rae to lose weight.

Stars were told to lose weight all the time (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/11059785/How-Judy-Garland-was-forced-to-starve-herself-for-the-screen.html); it was a different era, and producers controlled everything. They still do, and even big names like Carrie Fisher were told to lose weight for roles (https://people.com/health/celebrities-told-to-lose-weight/#carrie-fisher), as recently as a couple of years ago. Producers don't care if a woman is a respected Broadway actress, or a big Hollywood star.


Yes, we know all these details, but none of this has anything to do with Charlotte's weight loss. :confused:

As I said, those are examples of how Charlotte had no control on the set of the show.


And I totally forgot to check the copies of the FOL pages from Charlotte's book last night. :lol: I'll try to remember to do so tonight!

I think Charlotte lost the weight on her own for health reasons---we shall see! :read:

I don't doubt Charlotte hired her own nutritionist. That doesn't mean the producers didn't ask her to lose weight.

Stars were told to lose weight all the time (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/11059785/How-Judy-Garland-was-forced-to-starve-herself-for-the-screen.html); it was a different era, and producers controlled everything. They still do, and even big names like Carrie Fisher were told to lose weight for roles (https://people.com/health/celebrities-told-to-lose-weight/#carrie-fisher), as recently as a couple of years ago. Producers don't care if a woman is a respected Broadway actress, or a big Hollywood star.


Thats so sad. FOL did an episode about dieting with Sue Ann but still did that crap?

Stars were told to lose weight all the time (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/11059785/How-Judy-Garland-was-forced-to-starve-herself-for-the-screen.html); it was a different era, and producers controlled everything. They still do, and even big names like Carrie Fisher were told to lose weight for roles (https://people.com/health/celebrities-told-to-lose-weight/#carrie-fisher), as recently as a couple of years ago. Producers don't care if a woman is a respected Broadway actress, or a big Hollywood star.

This doesn't fit with "Facts," outside the core four. As far as we know, only the four teenage girls were the targets of weight loss, and I believe that's all it was. No one would ever tell Charlotte Rae to lose weight---she was known for being plump and pudgy. Carrie Fisher was never physically the maternal grandmothery earth mother figure that Charlotte was, hence, Charlotte got a "pass" for being plump and pudgy, which she always had been.


As I said, those are examples of how Charlotte had no control on the set of the show.

I can see that coming into play if she were told to lose weight and had no choice, but I don't think that's the case on this show. I don't think they would have had the gall to ask Charlotte Rae that.


I don't doubt Charlotte hired her own nutritionist. That doesn't mean the producers didn't ask her to lose weight.

I really doubt they asked her to. I would bet $ they didn't, and wouldn't have dared to even think about asking her to. It seems naturally acceptable to let a respected actress over 50 and known for her pudginess, to "just be" in 1980, especially if she is known for being plump. To me, it feels like creating drama where (I believe) there was none, with this question. Maybe tonight I will FINALLY remember to check the copies of those passages I have from her book! :lol: :read:

Then we may finally see who's right! :cheers:

Yup, looks like I'm right (but not gloating, lol). On pages 211 and 212, in the chapter entitled "Onward and Upward", Charlotte discusses her weight loss at her own behest, not the show's. In a nutshell, her family history on both sides was hanging over her head and that is what had her on alert to do something about her weight and her health. And once she had "Facts", that's when she decided to take the bull by the horns. She was afraid to let "nervous eating" on a set happen to her, and being on a hit show finally gave her the opportunity to focus on health and weight control. After season 1 she hired her own nutritionist to improve her diet and lose weight, who came to the set 3 times a week to assist her in diet and exercise.

She does mention the network execs pressuring the girls to lose weight a season or two later, and "It was ugly." She even asserted some control on the set, insisting the producers upgrade the food selection on set, and so they added fresh fruits and veggies.

Yup, looks like I'm right (but not gloating, lol). On pages 211 and 212, in the chapter entitled "Onward and Upward", Charlotte discusses her weight loss at her own behest, not the show's. In a nutshell, her family history on both sides was hanging over her head and that is what had her on alert to do something about her weight and her health. And once she had "Facts", that's when she decided to take the bull by the horns. She was afraid to let "nervous eating" on a set happen to her, and being on a hit show finally gave her the opportunity to focus on health and weight control. After season 1 she hired her own nutritionist to improve her diet and lose weight, who came to the set 3 times a week to assist her in diet and exercise.

She does mention the network execs pressuring the girls to lose weight a season or two later, and "It was ugly." She even asserted some control on the set, insisting the producers upgrade the food selection on set, and so they added fresh fruits and veggies.

That’s good info Eights. Glad they didn’t do that to Charlotte.