Why Charlotte continued to appear on DS during the second season? Facts was renewed with nine additional episodes and Charlotte was working on both DS and FOL. I think Charlotte and the producers of DS had to respect her contract, let her finish the first year (78-79) and then move her on FOL. What do you think about it?

I believe FOL had been put on hiatus for three months, while the show was retooled (Nancy was Nancied, Miss Mahoney was expelled, and the original grandfather clock was grandfathered out). This gave Charlotte a chance to continue on the show where she'd originally become a break-out star. Once FOL started back again, however, Charlotte had to call it quits on DS.

I believe FOL had been put on hiatus for three months, while the show was retooled (Nancy was Nancied, Miss Mahoney was expelled, and the original grandfather clock was grandfathered out). This gave Charlotte a chance to continue on the show where she'd originally become a break-out star. Once FOL started back again, however, Charlotte had to call it quits on DS.

But what's interesting is Charlotte didn't continue on DS during the full hiatus! (not yelling at you, I'm being dramatic for effect :lol: ).

The final FOL '79 show was Sept. 14, 1979. Charlotte's last DS episode was "The Rivals", which aired on---get this---December 5, 1979!

Looking at the DS episode guide dates, Charlotte could have ostensibly been in 10 more episodes of DS---over 2 months' worth of shows!---but she wasn't.

Interestingly, Nedra Volz came on board as the next housekeeper on the January 9, 1980 episode. So with the holidays and all, there were actually only 2 episodes with no housekeeper between Mrs. Garrett and Adelaide.

(all dates courtesy Wikipedia's episode guide info)

Also, thanks to Wikipedia, I am SHOCKED that DS didn't score higher than it did in the annual Nielsen ratings. I mean, it was ingrained into pop culture, EVERYBODY knew Arnold's catchphrase, it was always touted as a show that shot to the top and saved NBC---but it was only 27th place for season 1! And 26th for season 2! It's highest ranking was the 17th top show in TV ratings in its 3rd season, and there's NO INFO AVAILABLE for seasons 4 through 8 (!).

Wow.

I believe FOL had been put on hiatus for three months, while the show was retooled (Nancy was Nancied, Miss Mahoney was expelled, and the original grandfather clock was grandfathered out). This gave Charlotte a chance to continue on the show where she'd originally become a break-out star. Once FOL started back again, however, Charlotte had to call it quits on DS.

Thanks for the answer! But she didn't stayed for the full hiatus, this is what confuses us :lol:. Her last episode aired during December 1979 while Facts returned to the regular schedule during March 1980

But what's interesting is Charlotte didn't continue on DS during the full hiatus! (not yelling at you, I'm being dramatic for effect :lol: ).

The final FOL '79 show was Sept. 14, 1979. Charlotte's last DS episode was "The Rivals", which aired on---get this---December 5, 1979!

Looking at the DS episode guide dates, Charlotte could have ostensibly been in 10 more episodes of DS---over 2 months' worth of shows!---but she wasn't.

Interestingly, Nedra Volz came on board as the next housekeeper on the January 9, 1980 episode. So with the holidays and all, there were actually only 2 episodes with no housekeeper between Mrs. Garrett and Adelaide.

(all dates courtesy Wikipedia's episode guide info)

Also, thanks to Wikipedia, I am SHOCKED that DS didn't score higher than it did in the annual Nielsen ratings. I mean, it was ingrained into pop culture, EVERYBODY knew Arnold's catchphrase, it was always touted as a show that shot to the top and saved NBC---but it was only 27th place for season 1! And 26th for season 2! It's highest ranking was the 17th top show in TV ratings in its 3rd season, and there's NO INFO AVAILABLE for seasons 4 through 8 (!).

Wow.

Thanks for the answer! I said the same thing, she didn't stayed for the full hiatus. Her last episode was the 13th episode of the season (The Rivals) and it was taped on October 12, 1979 (thanks TV.COM), the next episode taped, Father and Son Day (aired before The Rivals) was videotaped on November 9, 1979, a few days after the first "anniversary" of the show was celebrated. This makes me think that Charlotte was allowed to come back temporarily on DS to let her finish the first year. So, after the 3rd of November, Charlotte wasn't needed anymore on DS, and probably her contract wasn't renewed.

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I found Nielsen ratings

1978–1979 (First Season): 27
1979–1980 (Second Season): 26
1980–1981 (Third Season): 17
1981–1982 (Fourth Season): 36
1982–1983 (Fifth Season): 32
1983-1984 (Sixth Season): 40
1984–1985 (Seventh Season): 43
1985–1986 (Eighth Season): 75

It's interesting that DS was always beaten by FOL after the third season

This makes me think that Charlotte was allowed to come back temporarily on DS to let her finish the first year.

This is the 2nd time you've said this, and I don't understand what you mean by "the first year". The first year of DS went from Nov. 3, 1978 to May 4, 1979.

My theory for why she appeared at all in season 2 is because they wanted maybe they wanted to keep her on just in case FOL didn't work out (which it almost didn't!), and also, maybe they were searching for the next housekeeper and didn't want a lot of episodes in between with no housekeeper.

Great find on the Nielsen ratings!

This show never rose above #17.

WOW.

:eek:

This is the 2nd time you've said this, and I don't understand what you mean by "the first year". The first year of DS went from Nov. 3, 1978 to May 4, 1979.

My theory for why she appeared at all in season 2 is because they wanted maybe they wanted to keep her on just in case FOL didn't work out (which it almost didn't!), and also, maybe they were searching for the next housekeeper and didn't want a lot of episodes in between with no housekeeper.

Great find on the Nielsen ratings!

This show never rose above #17.

WOW.

:eek:

I'm sorry! I try to explain it better. When I said the first year (not the first season), I mean the time between November 3rd, 1978 and November 3rd, 1979. Probably Charlotte's contract covered this period. Her last episode was videotaped on October, the next episode after her "departure" was videotaped after November 3rd, 1979. I think that after the first year was completed, her contract expired so she wasn't needed anymore, because she appeared in only 8 episodes. But I like your theory and maybe things went as you say.

Hmm, you have an interesting theory as well. I have never heard of sitcom actors having full-year contracts. Maybe some do (or did), but I always assumed a "year" for an actor was the television season year, fall to spring.

Thanks for the answer! I said the same thing, she didn't stayed for the full hiatus. Her last episode was the 13th episode of the season (The Rivals) and it was taped on October 12, 1979 (thanks TV.COM)

Yep. Since Charlotte was taping DS as late as mid-October 1979, we'd just look at the taping dates for FOL (https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=287307). "Overachieving", episode 1-05, was taped the first week of December, 1979.

DS was on taping hiatus during late October, early November. "Hot Watch", episode 2-14 of DS, was taped November 30, 1979 (http://www.tv.com/shows/diffrent-strokes/hot-watch-27139/trivia/). This would have been less than a week before Charlotte was scheduled to be taping FOL.

There's no way Charlotte could have been in 10 more episodes of DS with the taping schedule as we know it.


--
I found Nielsen ratings

1978–1979 (First Season): 27
1979–1980 (Second Season): 26
1980–1981 (Third Season): 17
1981–1982 (Fourth Season): 36
1982–1983 (Fifth Season): 32
1983-1984 (Sixth Season): 40
1984–1985 (Seventh Season): 43
1985–1986 (Eighth Season): 75


Thanks for these. Like '80s, I'm surprised that DS didn't rank higher (because everybody knew Arnold's catch phrase in that era), but as we know, NBC was incredibly weak in the Neilsen Ratings at that time. #27 would have been considered a genuine hit on a network that had almost no hit shows.

There's no way Charlotte could have been in 10 more episodes of DS with the taping schedule as we know it.

But that's just it, we didn't know the schedule, until you researched it, lol. ;) Just looking at the air dates is it looks like she could have been, but, I had no idea March '80 FOL had started taping as early as December of '79, wow! :eek:

But that's just it, we didn't know the schedule, until you researched it, lol. ;)

Oh, well then I'm glad to have cleared up the mystery! :lol:


Just looking at the air dates is it looks like she could have been, but, I had no idea March '80 FOL had started taping as early as December of '79, wow! :eek:

Yeah, NBC had scheduled a TV show called Shirley (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirley_(TV_series)) from October to January. Not sure what aired in February (might have just been Shirley reruns), but by March, FOL was back on the air, sans Miss Mahoney, with a newly-Nancied Nancy, Roger getting name-dropped, and a new grandfather clock. :lol:

I still would have liked to have seen Mrs. Garrett appear once in a while on DS, after the second season and before her final guest appearance at the wedding. Would it have killed Charlotte to make a once or twice a year appearance on DS? Both shows were taping in the same building at Metromedia Square, so it would have been pretty easy to pull Charlotte in for a cameo or even a full-episode appearance. It's not like Peekskill and Manhattan are far apart, and in that studio, they were even closer together!

I still would have liked to have seen Mrs. Garrett appear once in a while on DS, after the second season and before her final guest appearance at the wedding. Would it have killed Charlotte to make a once or twice a year appearance on DS? Both shows were taping in the same building at Metromedia Square, so it would have been pretty easy to pull Charlotte in for a cameo or even a full-episode appearance. It's not like Peekskill and Manhattan are far apart, and in that studio, they were even closer together!

I agree. I love her on FOL but on DS she was the best housekeeper. It's strange she never appeared after her departure, because the girls appeared in some episodes. The Drummonds loved Mrs. Garrett, they never showed affection for the other housekeepers as they did with her. If I remember correctly, on the Oral History, Fred Silverman said that Charlotte could still make guest appearances after her departure...he was wrong! Like Warren Littlefield who said that during the first season Eastland had 10-12 girls

Did Charlotte mention her appearances on season 2 in her book?

I still would have liked to have seen Mrs. Garrett appear once in a while on DS, after the second season and before her final guest appearance at the wedding. Would it have killed Charlotte to make a once or twice a year appearance on DS? Both shows were taping in the same building at Metromedia Square, so it would have been pretty easy to pull Charlotte in for a cameo or even a full-episode appearance.

I know, it would have been so nice---and to have more DS on FOL too, like the Drummonds coming to see Edna's Edibles! And maybe Willis and Arnold checking out OOH.


It's not like Peekskill and Manhattan are far apart, and in that studio, they were even closer together!

As a kid, I always thought of it like at least an hour away. I mean, Mrs. Garrett even says in "Read No Evil" to Blair, "Your mother's coming all the way from Manhattan??" So no wonder I grew up thinking it was an hour or more away.

I know, it would have been so nice---and to have more DS on FOL too, like the Drummonds coming to see Edna's Edibles! And maybe Willis and Arnold checking out OOH.

Aww, that would have been so cool. After all, Mr. Drummond would have needed the services of a caterer on several occasions. Or maybe just some delicious quiche! Mmmm!


As a kid, I always thought of it like at least an hour away. I mean, Mrs. Garrett even says in "Read No Evil" to Blair, "Your mother's coming all the way from Manhattan??" So no wonder I grew up thinking it was an hour or more away.

I suppose in heavy traffic, it would have been more than an hour away. But MapQuest says it's just 43 miles.

Aww, that would have been so cool. After all, Mr. Drummond would have needed the services of a caterer on several occasions. Or maybe just some delicious quiche! Mmmm!

Oh, man! Why didn't Mr. Drummond get married While EE was still open?? Then THE WHOLE CAST could have crossed over! :D


I suppose in heavy traffic, it would have been more than an hour away. But MapQuest says it's just 43 miles.

I looked it up too, lol. Ah, the Internet...if you went back in time and said that to them about "Mapquest says it's just 43 miles", they be lookin' at you like:

-

But still, even 43 miles, to me, is a good while away.

Oh, man! Why didn't Mr. Drummond get married While EE was still open?? Then THE WHOLE CAST could have crossed over! :D




I looked it up too, lol. Ah, the Internet...if you went back in time and said that to them about "Mapquest says it's just 43 miles", they be lookin' at you like:

-

Hahaha, I love Miss Mahoney faces. 80's, Mr. Drummond got married in 1984, during the sixth season, when Facts was finishing its fifth season, so Edna's Edibles was still open

Hahaha, I love Miss Mahoney faces. 80's, Mr. Drummond got married in 1984, during the sixth season, when Facts was finishing its fifth season, so Edna's Edibles was still open

Oh wow, you're right! It took place between "Dream Marriage" and "Mother and Daughter". Man, if only the writers had thought of that.

Oh wow, you're right! It took place between "Dream Marriage" and "Mother and Daughter". Man, if only the writers had thought of that.


Yeah, they could have done a beautiful final crossover episode. Mr. Drummond (or the kids) asks Mrs. Garrett and the girls to organize the catering for his wedding.

Yeah, they could have done a beautiful final crossover episode. Mr. Drummond (or the kids) asks Mrs. Garrett and the girls to organize the catering for his wedding.

I would have absolutely LOVED that. We could have seen the entire cast, maybe in a two-part episode, the first half focused on FOL, where Edna's Edibles is catering the food, and then the second half the wedding itself on DS.

Kimberly, Willis, and Arnold could have visited Edna's Edibles (Blair, Natalie, and Tootie making much of their old roommate Kimberly), maybe just popping in because they were in the area for Kimberly to revisit her alma mater, when she mentions the wedding, and how their caterer fell through. Of course, the girls mention that they could cater the whole thing.

We could still have the scene with the Three Housekeepers.

But still, even 43 miles, to me, is a good while away.

I had to drive 45 miles once a week to my secondary office location at work, for ten and a half years. If I need to drive to the Big City for something, it's 80 miles one way. So for me, 43 miles (69 km) is definitely not a long drive.

In fact, I just recently (last week) took a vacation to the Midwest, visiting a few states and driving across one about 350 miles, and it was very doable.

I looked it up too, lol. Ah, the Internet...if you went back in time and said that to them about "Mapquest says it's just 43 miles", they be lookin' at you like:

-

:schmack::brent

I had to drive 45 miles once a week to my secondary office location at work, for ten and a half years. If I need to drive to the Big City for something, it's 80 miles one way. So for me, 43 miles (69 km) is definitely not a long drive.

Ugh, I prefer shorter drives, lol. So to me, I agree with Mrs. Garrett re: "all the way??" lol

I think the finale episode should of been Tootie and Jeffs wedding. I mean Blair could still buy Eastland but that would of been the 2nd to last episode instead. So Tootie could of had the girls be her bridesmsids and Pippa and Andy could of been part of the wedding party. Mrs Garrett could of came back for it. They could of done the wedding and have the reception at the house and could show the girls setting together for a little while reminiscing about there lives togther and having them help Tootie gather her things from there bedroom since she is married and moving out to live with Jeff. Also that same night have Jo get a call saying the house she looked at approved of her loan and was her’s, well Her’s and Rick’s. So then they would all be going in separate directions and it would feel more like an end of an era and be more of a series finale.

Charlotte Rae continued on DS during season 2 to keep Mrs. Garrett in the viewers minds while FOL was on hiatus. And it gave the producers a way to pay Charlotte Rae for the whole 1979-80 season, rather than just pay her for 13 episodes of FOL.

What was odd to me was that her departure really was never explained on DS. In the “Garrett’s Girls” episode of DS (the final episode of season 1) in the spring of 1979, Mrs. Garrett is offered the housemother job at Eastlake/Eastland, and declines it. But in the first FOL episode in the summer of 1979, Mrs. Garrett IS at Eastland, and she tells Drummond that the job is temporary and she’ll be back with the Drummonds soon. Then, FOL goes on hiatus, and Mrs. Garrett is back with the Drummonds in the fall of 1979. Then by midseason (early 1980), she has left the Drummonds permanently and is back at Eastland.

Of course, it was easier to just ignore it from a creative standpoint rather than say, “Mrs. Garrett came back and then decided she liked Eastland better, so she left again”. But it’s still odd.

What was odd to me was that her departure really was never explained on DS. In the “Garrett’s Girls” episode of DS (the final episode of season 1) in the spring of 1979, Mrs. Garrett is offered the housemother job at Eastlake/Eastland, and declines it. But in the first FOL episode in the summer of 1979, Mrs. Garrett IS at Eastland, and she tells Drummond that the job is temporary and she’ll be back with the Drummonds soon. Then, FOL goes on hiatus, and Mrs. Garrett is back with the Drummonds in the fall of 1979. Then by midseason (early 1980), she has left the Drummonds permanently and is back at Eastland.

Of course, it was easier to just ignore it from a creative standpoint rather than say, “Mrs. Garrett came back and then decided she liked Eastland better, so she left again”. But it’s still odd.

It was kind of explained in a fall 1979 episode of DS where Mr. Drummond's on the phone with Mrs. Garrett, and he tells her, "Sure, stay at Kimberly's school to help as long as they need you."

So with that, we have her declining the job offer in TGS, but coming to Eastland to help out in some of her free time while she's still with the Drummonds, perhaps as sort of a "temporary 'on call' live-in" housemother (staying there longer by the time of FOL's "Rough Housing"), and then she decided to stay.

Thanks - didn’t know they had referred to it on DS.

Thanks - didn’t know they had referred to it on DS.

I didn't realize it either until I was binging "the Mrs. Garrett years" of DS this summer.