So, in Season One of The Facts of Life, Felice Schachter got the short end of the stick, and her character, Nancy, had very few lines after "IQ". Often, she would be in a scene, just standing in the background, without any lines. Nancy's only major storylines in the series were in the backdoor pilot ("The Girls' School"), "IQ", "Gossip", and "The Little Chill". Her big scene in "Flash Flood" was her umbrella not opening. Her big scene in "Dieting" was trying to put on tight jeans. Her big scene in "Overachieving" was left on the cutting room floor.

I watched the first four episode of "Head of the Class" last night/this morning, and it's very clear to me that Jawaharlal was the "Nancy" of that series: he never got his own episode, and often, during the first season, he just... stands/sits in the background with no lines. Joher Coleman, who played Jawaharlal, has mentioned the lack of his character development, and the fact that Jawaharlal never got his own main storyline, in the HotC threads here on SitcomsOnline. He left the show after Season Three, with no farewell episode.

Who were the "Nancys" of other series? Here are some I can think of:

The Conners: DJ - has he had more than 15 lines this entire season?

Family Matters - Judy Winslow, clearly.

Her big scene in "Flash Flood" was her umbrella not opening.

Oh, but what a scene that was! As a child I thought that was the most hilarious thing ever in the history of time! ":rotflmao:"


Her big scene in "Dieting" was trying to put on tight jeans.

And it was at the very start of the episode. Nancy's in, Nancy's OUT.

Great points about Jawaharlal. I agree he was clearly "the Nancy" of HotC.


The Conners: DJ - has he had more than 15 lines this entire season?

Well, he was also so little at first. But, yeah, then again, just because you're a kid doesn't mean you automatically don't get a meaty amount of lines. Just look at Wesley or Arnold or Webster! (not Cindy :lol:)

I don't know other Nancys. I'd have to sit down and think about when I'm not busy. Thankfully TV has largely stayed away from "Nancy-ing" many characters!

Oh, but what a scene that was! As a child I thought that was the most hilarious thing ever in the history of time! ":rotflmao:"

It was a funny scene, and Felice did a great job.


And it was at the very start of the episode. Nancy's in, Nancy's OUT.

:lol:

Well, at least it wasn't "you didn't get in The Group. Let's put a flower in your hair."


Great points about Jawaharlal. I agree he was clearly "the Nancy" of HotC.

Totally.


Well, he was also so little at first. But, yeah, then again, just because you're a kid doesn't mean you automatically don't get a meaty amount of lines. Just look at Wesley or Arnold or Webster! (not Cindy :lol:)

But I mean grown-up DJ, on the current reboot. He almost never says anything.


I don't know other Nancys. I'd have to sit down and think about when I'm not busy. Thankfully TV has largely stayed away from "Nancy-ing" many characters!

I look forward to your answers, once you've had a chance to think about it!

But I mean grown-up DJ, on the current reboot. He almost never says anything.

Ooohh, gotcha. I've never watched it, so I can't comment.


I look forward to your answers, once you've had a chance to think about it!

Well, thanks, we'll see if I have any answers. :lol:

I would say Jonathan on Who's the Boss? "became Nancied" on that show. He was actually a pretty heavily featured player for the first few seasons, but after that, his screen time and lines began to wane. He wound up getting the short end of the stick while Tony and Angela were the star players for eight seasons, and Samantha and Mona were constantly featured all through the show's run. Jonathan, meanwhile, was lucky in the later seasons to get 2 episodes centered around his character in a single season, and in many of those later episodes he would only appear in one scene to say a few lines, and that was it.

I would say Jonathan on Who's the Boss? "became Nancied" on that show. He was actually a pretty heavily featured player for the first few seasons, but after that, his screen time and lines began to wane. He wound up getting the short end of the stick while Tony and Angela were the star players for eight seasons, and Samantha and Mona were constantly featured all through the show's run. Jonathan, meanwhile, was lucky in the later seasons to get 2 episodes centered around his character in a single season, and in many of those later episodes he would only appear in one scene to say a few lines, and that was it.

Good point about Jonathan. He definitely got "Nancied" in later years.

I thought of another one: Carrie Ingalls. She went from being a central character in the first four seasons, to being living wallpaper during the next four. She got one episode in Season Five, and a partial episode in Season 8. She was lucky to get three lines per episode... then three lines per season! :lol:

Jake Hart on Reba. Gracie Sheffield on The Nanny later on. Brendan Lambert on SBS. Anyone else noticing that it’s the youngest child typically Nancied on shows?

Good point about Jonathan. He definitely got "Nancied" in later years.

He sure did. And it's so easy for me to notice, because every couple of years or so I binge WTB---so it's blatant as the series goes on!


Gracie Sheffield on The Nanny later on.

Really? Gracie? Actually, I would say all three kids on that show eventually "got Nancied". Most notably Brighton, I thought.

C.C. once called him "Burton" :lol:

He sure did. And it's so easy for me to notice, because every couple of years or so I binge WTB---so it's blatant as the series goes on!




Really? Gracie? Actually, I would say all three kids on that show eventually "got Nancied". Most notably Brighton, I thought.

C.C. once called him "Burton" :lol:

Haha CC didn’t know any of their names. And yes the kids were reduced after awhile but I would say Gracie felt the most. Her character went from a neurotic, old soul, in therapy with many storylines, to a normal girl just kinda there.

Jake Hart on Reba. Gracie Sheffield on The Nanny later on. Brendan Lambert on SBS. Anyone else noticing that it’s the youngest child typically Nancied on shows?

Good picks! I really hated to see Brendan so completely Nancied.

I never regularly watched Reba, but I can see what you mean about Gracie on The Nanny.

...

Seeing as how this thread is pretty popular, I wonder if you guys might participate in this similar (but upended) thread, in the HotC forum (https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=388052).

Going back a few years earlier, Chuck on Happy Days got Nancied too.

I would consider Nancy's situation more than just getting faded into the background. In the pilot, it was appearing she was going to be the main girl of the others. When the show started, she was replaced by Lisa as the star of the girls. This is not including Charlotte; just the child performers. This has happened in a lot of shows. I started rewatching California Dreams recently. The show started with the Garrison family being a huge part of the show. Once second season started, they were faded out until they were completely gone because the addition of Jake became the main star.

Mama's Family started off with Vint having two kids. They weren't main stars like Mama, Vint, and Naomi, but they were part of those first two seasons. Once the show came back from being retooled, they never existed.

On Alice, Belle started off as a main part of the show replacing Flo. I noticed in the last few episodes she did, she didn't have many lines and then was replaced by Jolene.

Sabrina The Teenage Witch started off with Jenny as the best friend. She got faded out until she was replaced by Valerie. Dreama in season 4 felt like a waste since she started off big and then by the end of the season you forgot she existed.

"Pick four. Forget everybody else!"

Those were the words of NBC executive Warren Littlefield,

Wait, wait, whoa whoa whoa...did he actually SAY that???


Mama's Family started off with Vint having two kids. They weren't main stars like Mama, Vint, and Naomi, but they were part of those first two seasons. Once the show came back from being retooled, they never existed.

Actually they still did exist, at least as far as the 2nd episode filmed for syndication; they're mentioned in that episode. Yet after that, yes, it's like one can assume they never existed.


Sabrina The Teenage Witch started off with Jenny as the best friend. She got faded out until she was replaced by Valerie. Dreama in season 4 felt like a waste since she started off big and then by the end of the season you forgot she existed.

The actress who played Jenny was kind of annoyed that the reason they cut her was to get more "ethnic" friends for Sabrina, and she says Valerie was anything but "ethnic" (she says this in an interview I read online several years ago). I liked them both though. I don't know if I'd agree Jenny was faded out. I mean throughout those first 3 seasons the best friend and the boyfriend and the mean girl all come and go depending on the episode's story.

And yes, Dream was an epic witch fail. Like, why even bother?

Wait, wait, whoa whoa whoa...did he actually SAY that???

He said it in the documentary, for sure.

Going back a few years earlier, Chuck on Happy Days got Nancied too.

The thing about Chuck Cunningham and Judy Winslow is that they simply... cease to exist. It's terrible continuity. The Cunninghams went from having three kids... to only having two. Howard even says he has two kids.

Nancy, on the other hand, continues to exist, but with very few lines, standing in the background, mostly not speaking. For seasons.

I would consider Nancy's situation more than just getting faded into the background. In the pilot, it was appearing she was going to be the main girl of the others. When the show started, she was replaced by Lisa as the star of the girls. This is not including Charlotte; just the child performers. This has happened in a lot of shows. I started rewatching California Dreams recently. The show started with the Garrison family being a huge part of the show. Once second season started, they were faded out until they were completely gone because the addition of Jake became the main star.

Mama's Family started off with Vint having two kids. They weren't main stars like Mama, Vint, and Naomi, but they were part of those first two seasons. Once the show came back from being retooled, they never existed.

On Alice, Belle started off as a main part of the show replacing Flo. I noticed in the last few episodes she did, she didn't have many lines and then was replaced by Jolene.

Sabrina The Teenage Witch started off with Jenny as the best friend. She got faded out until she was replaced by Valerie. Dreama in season 4 felt like a waste since she started off big and then by the end of the season you forgot she existed.

These are some good examples, Christopher. I barely remember Sabrina, but I remember all of the backstage drama on Alice.

I remembered another one: Crystal on Roseanne. During Seasons 3 and 4, she was even in the opening credits. By Season Six, she was barely getting lines. It was like they were phasing her out. I believe she last appeared (in the original show) in Season 8, but her final scene is cut in many syndication prints.

Her big scene in "Overachieving" was left on the cutting room floor.



What was her big scene supposed to be about? I rewatched this episode a few days ago. She has quite a bit of scenes and lines in the episode. I thought it was cool they established she wanted to be a psychiatrist because it was mentioned in the reunion episode in season 8.

Nancy, on the other hand, continues to exist, but with very few lines, standing in the background, mostly not speaking. For seasons.

Well, for one season, lol.

Oo, good point about Crystal. I liked her.


What was her big scene supposed to be about?

Well, he's kind of "reaching" when he says that, lol. It's not a big Nancy scene, it's just that we learn an actual facet about her character (oh, well, considering how Nancy was "Nancied", I suppose then this was a "big scene" for her!). Tootie's skating back and forth bringing clothes from her chest of drawers to her suitcase, and Nancy keeps folding and packing them in for her. Tootie notices and criticizes Nancy for the insinuation she's hurrying Tootie out of Eastland, and Nancy awkwardly apologizes and says she straightens things when she's nervous.

Retro created a thread about this very scene (https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=324162&highlight=suitcase) years ago, but it has since been YANKED off of YouTube (by Mr. Parker, no doubt!).


I rewatched this episode a few days ago. She has quite a bit of scenes and lines in the episode.

Funny, because the only things that stand out in memory about Nancy in "O" for me are her psychiatry goals, and her eavesdropping (which we learn here she is susceptible to, lol).


I thought it was cool they established she wanted to be a psychiatrist because it was mentioned in the reunion episode in season 8.

Yeah, that fact was pretty cool. It's too bad they didn't jump on this in season 1 and have her psychoanalyze her friends or Mrs. Garrett or Mr. Bradley.

Well, he's kind of "reaching" when he says that, lol. It's not a big Nancy scene, it's just that we learn an actual facet about her character (oh, well, considering how Nancy was "Nancied", I suppose then this was a "big scene" for her!). Tootie's skating back and forth bringing clothes from her chest of drawers to her suitcase, and Nancy keeps folding and packing them in for her. Tootie notices and criticizes Nancy for the insinuation she's hurrying Tootie out of Eastland, and Nancy awkwardly apologizes and says she straightens things when she's nervous.


That scene is on the DVD release. As you know I have the episodes ripped on my computer from the DVD set and it's there. Sony must have cut it when they released their copy in the beginning releases. Another reason why you guys should buy the complete series set from Shout because it is worth the money to have these episodes. Thanks for letting me know.

That scene is on the DVD release. As you know I have the episodes ripped on my computer from the DVD set and it's there. Sony must have cut it when they released their copy in the beginning releases.

Yes. It's in some versions, not others. It's not on the first season DVD I bought.

Another reason why you guys should buy the complete series set from Shout because it is worth the money to have these episodes. Thanks for letting me know.

'80s answered for me so well, that I have little to add, other than that the scene is still available here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo4UhEW2EO8&feature=youtu.be). It's unlisted, so it doesn't get a lot of views. (I only mention this for forum-members who still are wondering what scene I'm talking about).

Well, for one season, lol.

Really? Outside of "Gossip", it seemed to me that her roles in S2 and 3 were pretty small. I would consider that seasons.


Oo, good point about Crystal. I liked her.

Crystal was a good character, and I hated to see her storyline dwindle and die. Roseanne was always so good at realistically depicting the plight of women; here we had a woman struggling under the burden of three kids (two of them very young), while her salesman husband was mostly out on the road. I feel like they could have explored that far more than they did.


It's not a big Nancy scene, it's just that we learn an actual facet about her character (oh, well, considering how Nancy was "Nancied", I suppose then this was a "big scene" for her!).

Exactly! :lol:


Funny, because the only things that stand out in memory about Nancy in "O" for me are her psychiatry goals, and her eavesdropping (which we learn here she is susceptible to, lol).


That was my take, too, but I know others have their own opinions, just as valid.


Yeah, that fact was pretty cool. It's too bad they didn't jump on this in season 1 and have her psychoanalyze her friends or Mrs. Garrett or Mr. Bradley.

There could have even been a Nancy psychoanalysis of Mrs. Garrett at the same time we watched Molly's body language analysis! :lol:

Crystal on “Roseanne” was phased out in favor of Sandra Berhard’s Nancy. The actress, Natalie West, might have some sort of falling out with the producers. In a retrospective special, her face was blurred out, meaning that she didn’t give permission to use her clips. She has appeared in the revival, however.

Chris and Tracy were definitely “Nancied” on “The Partridge Family”.

Crystal on “Roseanne” was phased out in favor of Sandra Berhard’s Nancy.

Crystal's storyline, to me, was much more compelling. Not that Nancy didn't have some hilarious lines.


The actress, Natalie West, might have some sort of falling out with the producers. In a retrospective special, her face was blurred out, meaning that she didn’t give permission to use her clips.

I did see that blurred-out image of her. That was crazy.


She has appeared in the revival, however.

Yes, briefly. But even there, she's still "The Nancy". I've heard, though, rumors that that might change, if we're getting a character that news reports say is coming...


Chris and Tracy were definitely “Nancied” on “The Partridge Family”.

Yep! Good mention, there.

Seeing as how this thread is pretty popular, I wonder if you guys might participate in this similar (but upended) thread, in the HotC forum (https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=388052).

*Le sigh*
No one bothered to respond to that thread... :(

Really? Outside of "Gossip", it seemed to me that her roles in S2 and 3 were pretty small. I would consider that seasons.

Sure those are seasons, lol, I was just looking at things from "regular cast member" status for seasons.

*Le sigh*
No one bothered to respond to that thread... :(

Well, if you don't two cents from a fellow poster, it seems hard to come up with a HotC ratio equal or pretty equal to FOL. FOL kept 3, cut 4. So they cut just slightly over half of the whole cast. For HotC with 10 students, it seems like to be fair you should keep more than 4, but that would be more in line with keeping 4 but cutting 5, which equals 9. But they had 10. But you can't keep 5 and cut 6, 'cause that's 11. And you can't keep 5 and cut 5, 'cause that's evenly split.

Math never was my best subject! :lol:

(but also the HotC board gets nowhere near the activity this one does, as I'm sure you've probably seen)

Well, if you don't two cents from a fellow poster, it seems hard to come up with a HotC ratio equal or pretty equal to FOL. FOL kept 3, cut 4. So they cut just slightly over half of the whole cast. For HotC with 10 students, it seems like to be fair you should keep more than 4, but that would be more in line with keeping 4 but cutting 5, which equals 9. But they had 10. But you can't keep 5 and cut 6, 'cause that's 11. And you can't keep 5 and cut 5, 'cause that's evenly split.

Good point; maybe more than four could be kept. Warren Littlefield won't like it, but what can you do? :lol:

Let's not forget that FOL producers also cut Bradley, and Mahoney earlier that season, so faculty on HOtC would have to be cut as well.


(but also the HotC board gets nowhere near the activity this one does, as I'm sure you've probably seen)

That's true, but it picked up the pace a little when Joher (Jawaharlal from the show) started posting. I thought maybe it was reviving that forum.

That scene is on the DVD release. As you know I have the episodes ripped on my computer from the DVD set and it's there. Sony must have cut it when they released their copy in the beginning releases. Another reason why you guys should buy the complete series set from Shout because it is worth the money to have these episodes. Thanks for letting me know.

Ah, I'd forgotten someone said it was reinstated into the box set release. But it was not on the "Seasons 1 & 2" release, which is quite odd. Why would they reinstate it? I doubt someone behind the scenes noticed "a Nancy moment" was missing and "sewed it back in", lol. I guess for the box set they used different "masters" as sources.

And I do have the complete series, in the individual sets. Well, "The Facts of Life: The Complete Series Minus One Nancy Character Moment from S01E04". :lol:

Ah, I'd forgotten someone said it was reinstated into the box set release. But it was not on the "Seasons 1 & 2" release, which is quite odd. Why would they reinstate it? I doubt someone behind the scenes noticed "a Nancy moment" was missing and "sewed it back in", lol. I guess for the box set they used different "masters" as sources.

And I do have the complete series, in the individual sets. Well, "The Facts of Life: The Complete Series Minus One Nancy Character Moment from S01E04". :lol:


You also don't have The Facts of Life Down Under, which IMO is a lot better than the Paris movie. I love seeing the movies uncut and in the format they were originally intended to be. Syndication cut SOOOOOOOOO much out. Criminal I tell ya. Just plain criminal :mumble:

Shout's release would have been perfect if they had gotten Bus Stop uncut. I know they claim the only edit is from The Graduate, but Bus Stop is missing scenes. It's definitely a syndication cut. I'm not a fan of the episode so it doesn't bother me as much. I would still like to have seen the whole episode as it was filmed though.

You also don't have The Facts of Life Down Under, which IMO is a lot better than the Paris movie.

Ah, true. But, I totally disagree with you. lol. I know we've realized this before. I don't care about having the Aussie movie at all. "Paris" though is so intimate that it feels like a warm hug from the show to the viewers. :grouphug: It's so special to see that, and I love how it was from that early '80s period. :) But I know it's not your cup of Eastland tea at all.


I love seeing the movies uncut and in the format they were originally intended to be. Syndication cut SOOOOOOOOO much out. Criminal I tell ya. Just plain criminal :mumble:

Hmm, well I would think the Paris movie was uncut? But I'm not 100% sure.


Shout's release would have been perfect if they had gotten Bus Stop uncut. I know they claim the only edit is from The Graduate, but Bus Stop is missing scenes. It's definitely a syndication cut. I'm not a fan of the episode so it doesn't bother me as much. I would still like to have seen the whole episode as it was filmed though.

Yeah, it's always nice to have "complete."

Speaking of Crystal, she appears in a few eps of The Conners.

"Speaking of"?? She hasn't been spoken of in 5 days! :rofl:

"Speaking of"?? She hasn't been spoken of in 5 days! :rofl:

Hey i catching up here! :lol:

Speaking of Crystal, she appears in a few eps of The Conners.

Yeah, but she has definitely not had a large role. She's still being Nancied, even 25 years later!

I wonder, though, if that will change. I heard Little Ed will make an appearance on the show, in an upcoming episode.