I’ll go first...

From most favorite to least:

6
7
8
2
3
4
1
5
9

Well, I don't know if I can rank all 9 seasons, but I can definitely rank eras:

Eastland
Edna's Edibles
OOH

1
2
3
4
5
6
8
7
Reunion
9

Cafeteria seasons
dorm season
Edna's Edibles seasons
Over Our Heads seasons :rolleyes2:thumbsdow:barf:

1
2
3
8
4
5
6
7
9

6
8
7
Reunion

:confused:

8
4

:confused:

9/OOH is everybody’s last choice, I see.

9/OOH is everybody’s last choice, I see.

Not everybody's. I think Christopher's ranking will be different. And I know some other fans' are.

:confused:

6 had a lot of Mrs. Garrett.
8 had a Lost Girls reunion.
7 had a dwindling role for Mrs. Garrett.
The Reunion had Mrs. Garrett.
9 had neither Mrs. Garrett nor Lost Girls.

:confused:

Any season with the lost girls is first ;)

I think 6 was fun because the characters’ quirks and personalities had set in; 7 and 8 also had the type of humor I like. 9 could have been better, say, without Pippa; and a tenth season might have evened it out and felt less rushed. Mrs. Garrett should/would have been there for Jo’s wedding, for example.

6 had a lot of Mrs. Garrett.
8 had a Lost Girls reunion.
7 had a dwindling role for Mrs. Garrett.
The Reunion had Mrs. Garrett.
9 had neither Mrs. Garrett nor Lost Girls.

Oh I know why 9 is your least favorite for sure, lol. But yes, I was stumped why you ranked 8 before 7, and wasn't sure what you meant by "The Reunion"---that 2001 TV movie? I just personally wouldn't use that here since the question is for seasons of the TV series and nothing extraneous. But I won't "report" you. :lol: (all in good fun, lol ;) ) Besides, I assume you are also in a way wanting to show just how much you utterly dislike season 9, so showing you even prefer that 2001 TV movie over that entire season. :lol:

Any season with the lost girls is first ;)

Oh, haha. But they're just not the same. Vintage Lost Girls are the BEST Lost Girls. :clap:

Oh I know why 9 is your least favorite for sure, lol. But yes, I was stumped why you ranked 8 before 7, and wasn't sure what you meant by "The Reunion"---that 2001 TV movie?

Yes. It was called The Facts of Life Reunion. (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0294564/)


I just personally wouldn't use that here since the question is for seasons of the TV series and nothing extraneous. But I won't "report" you. :lol: (all in good fun, lol ;) ) Besides, I assume you are also in a way wanting to show just how much you utterly dislike season 9, so showing you even prefer that 2001 TV movie over that entire season. :lol:

Well, in the Reunion, we got to see Mrs. Garrett, we got a reference to Sue Ann and "Running", and we got to see the Cafeteria. So to me, the Reunion is more "FOL" than Season 9 of FOL, where we only briefly see the Dorm, we don't see Mrs. Garrett, and there's no reference to any of the early characters, hours of time instead wasted on Pippa, Beverly Ann, Andy, and other random Season Nine nonsense. :lol:

Seasons 7, 8, and 9 are tied as my favorites.

6
3
4
5
2
1

1
2
3
4
8
5
6
9
7

2
3
4
8
5
6
1
9
7

Movies:
Paris
Reunion
Dow Under

Season 2 - The true start of The Facts of Life and the beginning of a trend for other female cast shows.
Season 8 - This season proved after 7 years, the show can still have strong quality episodes. Beverly Ann wasn't a bad addition to the cast and the core four's friendship is strong this season.
Season 3 - Classic cafeteria season.
Season 4 - Same as season 4, it's a classic cafeteria season.
Season 6 - I like this Edna's Edibles season better than season 5 because it's more comical and we see the core four doing things together to show viewers why they're best friends.
Season 7 - Even though it's a very weak season, I like seeing the core four together. Some said the core four are like one main cast member and they're right. Without them, the show isn't good.
Season 5 - Hands down one of the most depressing seasons ever for the show. Nat's father dying, the girls screwing Mrs. Garrett over with the chain letter, Jo recognizing her parents will never get back together so they're not a family anymore, Eddie using Jo as the other woman, Nat and Toot facing racism views, and other episodes. They really take over the whole season.
Season 9 - Where do I start? We don't see the core four's friendship as much. They wasted Cloris's acting abilities by shifting her character into the background. She really should have been a one season character. They bring in Pippa only to show the core four shunning her so viewers know she's a waste. The core four don't act like themselves. It's truly the second worst season next to...
Season 1 - This will always be known to me as the season that almost got the show canceled before it gets to show how much better it is with the cast cut down. The only highlights of season 1 are Lisa's, Kim's, and Charlotte's scenes.

Season 2 - The true start of The Facts of Life and the beginning of a trend for other female cast shows.

I agree with this and have always felt the same way. I think even after watching all the season 1 episodes i'll still feel that way. Season 2 was for some of us the real Facts of Life beginning....or the Beginning of the Beginning. :)


Season 5- Hands down one of the most depressing seasons ever for the show. Nat's father dying, the girls screwing Mrs. Garrett over with the chain letter, Jo recognizing her parents will never get back together so they're not a family anymore, Eddie using Jo as the other woman, Nat and Toot facing racism views, and other episodes. They really take over the whole season.

The heavy drama is exactly why I decided this is my favorite season. It gives the show a deeper depth and with a title like this show has, it was inevitable that these subjects were going to pop up and i'm glad the show did them before the later seasons when the character became PODS.
It's also the first season of Edna's Edibles and where we see a very happy Mrs. G embarking on her dream and being a success at it. (Until they burned it all down of course.)


Season 9 - Where do I start? We don't see the core four's friendship as much. They wasted Cloris's acting abilities by shifting her character into the background. She really should have been a one season character. They bring in Pippa only to show the core four shunning her so viewers know she's a waste. The core four don't act like themselves. It's truly the second worst season next to...

I've only finished 4 episodes of season 9 so can't really comment yet on it, but if they all shun Pippa then that will be a bright spot for me. But some here like here, so maybe that will upset me to see her being shunned if I wind up liking her too.


Season 1 - This will always be known to me as the season that almost got the show canceled before it gets to show how much better it is with the cast cut down. The only highlights of season 1 are Lisa's, Kim's, and Charlotte's scenes.


I have a feeling you're going to be one of the very few here to enjoy my season 1 reviews. :lol::wave:

I'll dig up this thread once i've finished the whole series viewing. There are even some season 2, 3, & 4 episodes i've apparently not seen or forgotten about. So i'll have to give those seasons a full watch before properly ranking them all.

I agree with this and have always felt the same way. I think even after watching all the season 1 episodes i'll still feel that way. Season 2 was for some of us the real Facts of Life beginning....or the Beginning of the Beginning. :)

If it wasn't for the cast trimming down, the show wouldn't have been the success it was. I know there's rumors going around ratings increased over the summer with reruns, but come on. It's summer time when nothing is on. People are desperate to watch something other than reruns. Once the fall season had started, they would have passed on the show to watch something better if they had kept that season 1 format.

The heavy drama is exactly why I decided this is my favorite season. It gives the show a deeper depth and with a title like this show has, it was inevitable that these subjects were going to pop up and i'm glad the show did them before the later seasons when the character became PODS.
It's also the first season of Edna's Edibles and where we see a very happy Mrs. G embarking on her dream and being a success at it. (Until they burned it all down of course.)

See, I used to love heavy drama shows in my teen years. My favorite season of Buffy was season 6 because the big bad was growing up and dealing with actual life issues everyone goes through. It was their most depressing, realistic season. Now though it's like jeez where's the happy fun times at? :lol: I think it would have been better if they had spread the heavy stories over the seasons instead of cramming them into one season.


I've only finished 4 episodes of season 9 so can't really comment yet on it, but if they all shun Pippa then that will be a bright spot for me. But some here like here, so maybe that will upset me to see her being shunned if I wind up liking her too.

I don't know how some like her. The times she tries to bond with the girls, they tell her to go away. The First Time and Something in Common are two great examples of this. Mrs. Garrett shared so much of her life with the girls. I don't understand why they didn't act like her with Pippa.


I have a feeling you're going to be one of the very few here to enjoy my season 1 reviews. :lol::wave:

I'll dig up this thread once i've finished the whole series viewing. There are even some season 2, 3, & 4 episodes i've apparently not seen or forgotten about. So i'll have to give those seasons a full watch before properly ranking them all.

Season 1 is a trainwreck. They retooled the show so many times that one season to try to get people to watch. They also tried hard getting Sue Ann to be a favorite with fans by changing her character around and giving her stories that didn't fit. It's their desperate season. I'm glad we only had to endure 14 episodes of that. I count the pilot as one of the first season episodes regardless of it being a Diff'rent Strokes episode.

I have a feeling you're going to be one of the very few here to enjoy my season 1 reviews. :lol::wave:

Oh I doubt that, cfr. Christopher loathes season 1. If it wasn't for Blair, Tootie, and Mrs. Garrett, he probably would never watch it. He's the only one around here who has this view (I'm not saying he's the only fan with this view, just the only one currently posting here). I think you will enjoy it and find some very enjoyable things while also having fun riffing on some "wtf??" things, lol. We'll see!


If it wasn't for the cast trimming down, the show wouldn't have been the success it was. I know there's rumors going around ratings increased over the summer with reruns, but come on. It's summer time when nothing is on. People are desperate to watch something other than reruns. Once the fall season had started, they would have passed on the show to watch something better if they had kept that season 1 format.

Retro provided the stats, so they weren't rumors. And there's still as much to choose to watch on TV in the summer as during the regular season. It just depends what you wanna tune into. Look at "Who's the Boss?": Judith says in her Television Academy website interview that it didn't do well in its first season but it became a ratings smash over the summer, "and we were a hit until almost the very end."


Season 1 is a trainwreck. They retooled the show so many times that one season to try to get people to watch.

Don't form any opinions yet, cfr. ;) Go in with an open mind and decide what you decide. There was just one hiatus and that wasn't even a purposeful retool---Jenny O'Hara decided to leave the show, so we lost Miss Mahoney. That's all there is.


They also tried hard getting Sue Ann to be a favorite with fans by changing her character around and giving her stories that didn't fit.

Yes, even though she could be a track star, I still prefer if she weren't. I remember being a kid and even thinking, "What's Sue Ann doing being the big runner? Cindy's the athlete of the group, not her." It didn't feel right. I may have actually preferred it the other way around: Have Cindy be the track star since she excels at sports, and training Sue Ann to take it up.

Oh I doubt that, cfr. Christopher loathes season 1. If it wasn't for Blair, Tootie, and Mrs. Garrett, he probably would never watch it. He's the only one around here who has this view (I'm not saying he's the only fan with this view, just the only one currently posting here). I think you will enjoy it and find some very enjoyable things while also having fun riffing on some "wtf??" things, lol. We'll see!

Yep, I'm still from the days when the Nancy fanatics took over the board 20 years ago with a similar view about season 1. I don't think Nancy saved the show, but her seasons are the show IMO. Season 1 is just a crapfest.




Retro provided the stats, so they weren't rumors. And there's still as much to choose to watch on TV in the summer as during the regular season. It just depends what you wanna tune into. Look at "Who's the Boss?": Judith says in her Television Academy website interview that it didn't do well in its first season but it became a ratings smash over the summer, "and we were a hit until almost the very end."

The Facts of Life was a silly show in season 1. It wouldn't have become a hit if it continued with that format.




Don't form any opinions yet, cfr. ;) Go in with an open mind and decide what you decide. There was just one hiatus and that wasn't even a purposeful retool---Jenny O'Hara decided to leave the show, so we lost Miss Mahoney. That's all there is.

They retooled the show after the pilot, after the first four episodes, and retooled characters. That's a lot of adjustments for one season. It was desperate and needed to be with what was produced.


Yes, even though she could be a track star, I still prefer if she weren't. I remember being a kid and even thinking, "What's Sue Ann doing being the big runner? Cindy's the athlete of the group, not her." It didn't feel right. I may have actually preferred it the other way around: Have Cindy be the track star since she excels at sports, and training Sue Ann to take it up.


Exactly! Cindy should have been the one training Sue Ann. Cindy was the athletic one of the girls. With all the sports she plays, how is it she's not the fastest runner? Sue Ann's character is a joke in the show. I'm glad she was cut.

-

;)

-

See, I used to love heavy drama shows in my teen years. My favorite season of Buffy was season 6 because the big bad was growing up and dealing with actual life issues everyone goes through. It was their most depressing, realistic season. Now though it's like jeez where's the happy fun times at? :lol: I think it would have been better if they had spread the heavy stories over the seasons instead of cramming them into one season.


I agree spreading the drama over the seasons would've been much easier to swallow than all in one season. I love drama so I don't mind it all being together and it gives all the characters and actors to show their depth and range.
It's also when I began to really like Mindy/Natalie because she finally stopped being so goofy all the time. It was a nice change to see her get serious...and for two whole episodes too! :lol:

I don't know how some like her. The times she tries to bond with the girls, they tell her to go away. The First Time and Something in Common are two great examples of this. Mrs. Garrett shared so much of her life with the girls. I don't understand why they didn't act like her with Pippa.


I really can't wait to see this girl now. I have one episode to watch before she comes on so i'll most likely see it tomorrow. I don't understand why bring in a new character only to show her being shunned by the main characters.
No one shunned Andy and he deserved it because here's this little boy off the streets hanging around all these women. It was weird. At least Pippa is more like one of them so you'd think they'd have embraced her existence rather than shun her.
Anyway, now that I have the dvd's, I watch one episode in the evenings instead of the Antenna TV 3pm hour. So tonight is "Sweet Charity" and tomorrow will be "Up From Down Under".

1 per evening?? C'mon, crank 'em out! Start back over from the beginning! :lol:

Don't form any opinions yet, cfr. ;) Go in with an open mind and decide what you decide. There was just one hiatus and that wasn't even a purposeful retool---Jenny O'Hara decided to leave the show, so we lost Miss Mahoney. That's all there is.

That's what i'll do. If I like it, I like it and if I think it's a train wreck then i'll eviscerate it accordingly. :lol: I do recall seeing Flash Flood and liking it, so I don't think i'll go as far as calling it a "train wreck".

And it doesn't really matter what I think anyway. Part of the fun is reading all the different opinions here on all the seasons and some like this and some hate that...And I think it's good that way instead of all of us having a lovefest over everything with zero criticism. :)

I'd rather have the lovefest. :lol:

1 per evening?? C'mon, crank 'em out! Start back over from the beginning! :lol:

I have other things that need to get done lol. And it takes some time to write out those reviews too. It can get exhausting! :lol:

Besides, do you really want valentina to be 10 pages behind?

:bash::bash::bash:

:lol:

Okay, here it goes:

1. The pilot: first interaction between a very rebellious BLAIR and MRS G. (i love the great dynamic those two had right away!)
I know everyone thinks NANCY was the main girl here, but to my belief BLAIR is the one who made an impact on this episode, by getting caught smoking by MRS G and almost THE CROCK lol!

2. Season 1: i loved MRS G as the housekeeper of the 7 girls! She was so ALWAYS watching her girls, hanging around them, guiding them and giving her apiece of advise when necessary.
I also loved how homey the school felt, with the big stairs, the family living room and the girl's room where everyone was always hanging around....
I also felt that was the season where MRS G and BLAIR bonded most: (right after the ending of the 'Rough housing' episode when they break the ice) they had so many episodes together, and many 'heart to heart' talks.

3. Season 4: that year for me the year the girls REALLY bonded (JO and BLAIR's friendship was put a test in a few episodes) and i also felt it was the season where MRS G bonded mostly with BOTH (contrary to cfr1970's belief) BLAIR and JO as the two eldest girls graduating to leave for college.

4. Season 5: MRS G finally leaves to get her own place, moving with her girls and we get to see them living like a real family!
I also love this season, because it has a whole episode featuring MRS G and BLAIR's first fight: that scene where MRS G is in the living room all upset over BLAIR's firing her and TOOTIE walking in trying to ease the situation is fantastic! And those lines,
Tootie: "i know Blair is pushy, but look at how she was raised!"
Mrs G: "i helped raise her!"
in that episode you see the motherly chemistry between MRS G and BLAIR, and the ending is very sweet when BLAIR decides to move in with her 'Peekskills' family.....
I also like the fact that the girls almost get fired by their own guardian: you get to see a whole different perspective. At 'Eastland' there were just school girls, whereas at 'Edna's Edibles' they leave under the rules of the 'feisty red haired'!

5. Season 6:i only like this season because it's got again a whole BLAIR/MRS G episode where they fight ('Working it out') and this is the one time you can really see the motherly chemistry between those two, when BLAIR starts acting like an irresponsible teenager (cutting classes and bringing different kind of boyfriends home) leaving MRS G with no option but 'ground' her!
I know lots of people say it was ridiculous to punish a 20 year old, but to me it shows how MRS G cares for BLAIR.
And the fact that we get to see a bit of the old rebellious BLAIR from the pilot was a bonus to me.
'The interview show' was the other favourite episode from this season: we get to see how JO and BLAIR value their friendship, and how attached MRS G has become to the girls, whom she really sees as her own children....

That's it everyone! I can't really say much about the later seasons cos i'm not even finished with season 7!

I have other things that need to get done lol. And it takes some time to write out those reviews too. It can get exhausting! :lol:

Besides, do you really want valentina to be 10 pages behind?

:bash::bash::bash:

:lol:



I've already posted my review from favourite to least favourite season cfr1970 so you better read it! :wave::wave::wave:

That's what i'll do. If I like it, I like it and if I think it's a train wreck then i'll eviscerate it accordingly. :lol: I do recall seeing Flash Flood and liking it, so I don't think i'll go as far as calling it a "train wreck".

And it doesn't really matter what I think anyway. Part of the fun is reading all the different opinions here on all the seasons and some like this and some hate that...And I think it's good that way instead of all of us having a lovefest over everything with zero criticism. :)

Just go easy on Sue Ann my heart can only take so much! ;):lol:

PS: i completely forgot to mention season 2 and season 3 oops!

Okay, here it goes!

From season 2: i like all episodes, but my favourite would be 'The new girl' (i loved how the 4 girls got in trouble and MRS G had to get them out of jail!)

From season 3: i also like most episodes, but my favourite is definitely 'The 4 musketeers' (the 'Core of 4' realize they have become like a family, when they almost lose their friendship over a fight).
And the 'painting scene' is the best: when MRS G catches them [I]destroying the floor with the painting fight,the expression on her face is hilarious! (it's the typical 'when the cat's away, the mice play' ha ha!)

PS: i completely forgot to mention season 2 and season 3 oops!

Okay, here it goes!

From season 2: i like all episodes, but my favourite would be 'The new girl' (i loved how the 4 girls got in trouble and MRS G had to get them out of jail!)

From season 3: i also like most episodes, but my favourite is definitely 'The 4 musketeers' (the 'Core of 4' realize they have become like a family, when they almost lose their friendship over a fight).
And the 'painting scene' is the best: when MRS G catches them [I]destroying the floor with the painting fight,the expression on her face is hilarious! (it's the typical 'when the cat's away, the mice play' ha ha!)

I've already posted my review from favourite to least favourite season cfr1970 so you better read it! :wave::wave::wave:

I read them valentina! Season 5 is my favorite but I can't rank them yet myself. I somehow knew you'd pick season 1 as your favorite! :lol::wave:

BTW the DS pilot wasn't a season so you can't put it at #1. :confused:

I read them valentina! Season 5 is my favorite but I can't rank them yet myself. I somehow knew you'd pick season 1 as your favorite! :lol::wave:

BTW the DS pilot wasn't a season so you can't put it at #1. :confused:


I couldn't help myself: BLAIR from the 'pilot' is the original, and there could have been so much potential with her rebellious character that you only witness in season 1! (Unfortunately after the retooled, the writers turned her into the snobbish rich kid!) And gone are the cigarettes.... :crybaby::crybaby::crybaby:

I couldn't help myself: BLAIR from the 'pilot' is the original, and there could have been so much potential with her rebellious character that you only witness in season 1! (Unfortunately after the retooled, the writers turned her into the snobbish rich kid!) And gone are the cigarettes.... :crybaby::crybaby::crybaby:

But you hate when people call Blair a snob and mean :lol:

I think you will enjoy it and find some very enjoyable things while also having fun riffing on some "wtf??" things, lol. We'll see!

I feel the same way: yes, we riff on the WTF Season 1 moments (some bad hairstyle and wardrobe decisions, some bad writing, some badly delivered lines, and some props -- like globes -- that were curiously overused :lol: ), but to me, that is enjoyable. Sharing with fans what you liked and even didn't like, has been a lot of fun.

I am looking forward to CFR's Season 1 reviews because, like any other season, he's going to rip into it, it's going to be hilarious, and it doesn't matter if he ends up liking it or not: for me, that first year was so, so special. We saw the origins of characters who would last for nearly a decade. Characters who were invited into our living rooms, week after week, and who became our virtual friends. Characters who influenced how we thought, how we spoke, or even (in my sister's case) what we'd wear. The first season is where the magic all began.


Retro provided the stats, so they weren't rumors.

Thanks, '80s. I specifically provided screenshots. Whenever possible, I give a link or provide photographic evidence.

And there's still as much to choose to watch on TV in the summer as during the regular season. It just depends what you wanna tune into. Look at "Who's the Boss?": Judith says in her Television Academy website interview that it didn't do well in its first season but it became a ratings smash over the summer, "and we were a hit until almost the very end."

Indeed. Who's the Boss wasn't in the top 20... not even in the top 30. And yet, the network had faith in it: they didn't retool the show, but instead, they merely moved it from Thursdays to Tuesdays, and then to an earlier time slot. They knew with just a few small scheduling tweaks, they would have a hit. And then they did: in the second season, the show hit #10. That's better than FOL ever did, season-wise.

I feel the same way: yes, we riff on the WTF Season 1 moments (some bad hairstyle and wardrobe decisions, some bad writing, some badly delivered lines, and some props -- like globes -- that were curiously overused :lol: ), but to me, that is enjoyable. Sharing with fans what you liked and even didn't like, has been a lot of fun.

I am looking forward to CFR's Season 1 reviews because, like any other season, he's going to rip into it, it's going to be hilarious, and it doesn't matter if he ends up liking it or not: for me, that first year was so, so special. We saw the origins of characters who would last for nearly a decade. Characters who were invited into our living rooms, week after week, and who became our virtual friends. Characters who influenced how we thought, how we spoke, or even (in my sister's case) what we'd wear. The first season is where the magic all began.








Thanks, '80s. I specifically provided screenshots. Whenever possible, I give a link or provide photographic evidence.



Indeed. Who's the Boss wasn't in the top 20... not even in the top 30. And yet, the network had faith in it: they didn't retool the show, but instead, they merely moved it from Thursdays to Tuesdays, and then to an earlier time slot. They knew with just a few small scheduling tweaks, they would have a hi. And then they did: in the second season, the show hit #10. That's better than FOL ever did, season-wise.




If we're talking about wardrobe and hairstyle: the late 1970 s were the greatest fashion! (you only need to watch 'Charlie's Angels'):p:p:p

On the other hand: the 'Over our head' era was HORRIBLE!!!! (i know the music is fantastic in the 80 s , but the clothes yikes!!!!):eek::eek::eek:

:bash::bash::bash:

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;)

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:p

If we're talking about wardrobe and hairstyle: the late 1970 s were the greatest fashion! (you only need to watch 'Charlie's Angels'):p:p:p

On the other hand: the 'Over our head' era was HORRIBLE!!!! (i know the music is fantastic in the 80 s , but the clothes yikes!!!!):eek::eek::eek:

:bash::bash::bash:
Haha! Yes, the music was incredible. And the fashions were often very silly. FOL's later seasons were sort of a walk down Memory Hell. :lol:

If we're talking about wardrobe and hairstyle: the late 1970 s were the greatest fashion! (you only need to watch 'Charlie's Angels'):p:p:p

On the other hand: the 'Over our head' era was HORRIBLE!!!! (i know the music is fantastic in the 80 s , but the clothes yikes!!!!):eek::eek::eek:

:bash::bash::bash:

I like 80 s clothes in the "Over our Head" era. Charlie's Angels had great fashion, but Charlie's Angels was from 1976-1981. The Angels also had great fashion in the 80s episodes as well. Shows like "Dynasty," "Dallas," and "Knots Landing" also had great 80s fashions.