I don't know if she improved in later seasons, but in the early ones her acting is atrocious. She can't do a scene without stifling a laugh or a smile and it looks ridiculous when she's supposed to be doing a scene of anger or sadness.

She definitely could've benefited from an acting coach during those early seasons. Makes me wonder if the director was aware of this but just didn't bother to do anything.

I don't know if she improved in later seasons, but in the early ones her acting is atrocious. She can't do a scene without stifling a laugh or a smile and it looks ridiculous when she's supposed to be doing a scene of anger or sadness.

She definitely could've benefited from an acting coach during those early seasons. Makes me wonder if the director was aware of this but just didn't bother to do anything.

Obviously you don't know the history behind Natalie. She was not a professional actress. She was a boarding school student.

Obviously you don't know the history behind Natalie. She was not a professional actress. She was a boarding school student.

Well I guess that explains her atrocious acting then. Thanks.

Well I guess that explains her atrocious acting then. Thanks.

And to think they fired the future 80s teen queen and kept Natalie.

And to think they fired the future 80s teen queen and kept Natalie.

It does seem strange they would choose to keep the weakest actress when they did their cast cutting. Even the other 2 girls that were let go along with Molly Ringwald were better than Mindy Cohn.

I don't mean to be insensitive, but perhaps they just wanted to keep the "fat girl" to keep the characters different?

I mean, you had the tomboy, the glamour girl, the black girl, and the fat girl. All pretty distinctive characters from each other. I guess in comparison the other 3 were too similar to each other to keep?

I don't think Mindy was "atrocious." Julie Piekarski, "Sue Ann", was the one who needed more acting lessons. And I always see Mindy's smiling through her jokes as part of the character of Natalie---she was the "class clown" of the girls.

I don't think Mindy was "atrocious." Julie Piekarski, "Sue Ann", was the one who needed more acting lessons. And I always see Mindy's smiling through her jokes as part of the character of Natalie---she was the "class clown" of the girls.

The thing is, it's not the jokes she's smiling through. In scenes where she's supposed to be angry or upset with one of the other girls or a situation, she'll blurt out the angry or sad line but have that grin on her face like she's trying her best to stifle a laugh or smile.

It is atrocious especially since this goes on well into the 3rd season where the actress should've known how to correctly emote for a particular scene by then.

Maybe she gets better as the seasons progress, but I can see why she did nothing substantial acting wise after the show ended.

The thing is, it's not the jokes she's smiling through. In scenes where she's supposed to be angry or upset with one of the other girls or a situation, she'll blurt out the angry or sad line but have that grin on her face like she's trying her best to stifle a laugh or smile.

It is atrocious especially since this goes on well into the 3rd season where the actress should've known how to correctly emote for a particular scene by then.

Maybe she gets better as the seasons progress, but I can see why she did nothing substantial acting wise after the show ended.

I have to say i strongly disagree with you: MINDY COHN was one of the best actresses (at least the best on season 1 along with LISA WHELCHEL) despite the fact that she didn't even have any acting experience!
In fact, i couldn't imagine FOL without NATALIE in it: she is the one who cracked of us all with her sharp answers and funny jokes! I'd say she was a barrel of laughs and always managed to keep the 'gang' together.
NAT & MRS G were always the positive ones, who knew as well how to be emotional when the right moment was there...
Love FOL!::happyface

IMO, Nancy McKeon was the best actress out of the four. Then Lisa, Kim and Mindy last. JMO

I have to say i strongly disagree with you: MINDY COHN was one of the best actresses (at least the best on season 1 along with LISA WHELCHEL) despite the fact that she didn't even have any acting experience!
In fact, i couldn't imagine FOL without NATALIE in it: she is the one who cracked of us all with her sharp answers and funny jokes! I'd say she was a barrel of laughs and always managed to keep the 'gang' together.
NAT & MRS G were always the positive ones, who knew as well how to be emotional when the right moment was there...
Love FOL!::happyface

I completely agree on Lisa Whelchel, who's acting from the start was great and throughout the series displayed a wide range of emotions flawlessly. Mindy Cohn as one of the best in season 1? I can't see how on earth you came to that conclusion unless you're solely basing it on her lack of professional experience.

The last time I watched the series through to the end was in it's original run, and from that long ago memory, I do think Mindy got better in later seasons and was able to do serious scenes without stifling that grin or laugh. But in the first few seasons it's quite apparent how bad she was at the serious parts of the show.

They should've forced her to work with a personal acting coach during those early seasons.

IMO, Nancy McKeon was the best actress out of the four. Then Lisa, Kim and Mindy last. JMO

Totally agree on that order. Nancy McKeon was really good with the dramatic scenes and stood out from the rest. But Lisa & Kim are a close second & third.

I don't think Mindy was "atrocious." Julie Piekarski, "Sue Ann", was the one who needed more acting lessons. And I always see Mindy's smiling through her jokes as part of the character of Natalie---she was the "class clown" of the girls.

How could you Eights???? :mad:








:lol: but seriously I think Mindy improved by the end of s1, and Julie was a good actress by her return in s2.

Id say the best actress order in s1 was: Lisa, Kim, Julie Anne, Julie, Felice, Molly, Mindy

The thing is, it's not the jokes she's smiling through. In scenes where she's supposed to be angry or upset with one of the other girls or a situation, she'll blurt out the angry or sad line but have that grin on her face like she's trying her best to stifle a laugh or smile.

I've never gotten that impression.


Nancy McKeon was really good with the dramatic scenes and stood out from the rest.

She did a really bad job with one line in the Miko episode. It's when Miko has returned to Eastland and is telling Jo about wrecking her bike, and Jo is walking toward one side and says "I don't wanna hear anymore" but then she spins around and yells "THEN WHAT HAPPENED?!?"---that moment is way too over the top, IMO.

Id say the best actress order in s1 was: Lisa, Kim, Julie Anne, Julie, Felice, Molly, Mindy

They all had a clunker moment here and there, but Lisa was definitely the best. About the only moment off the mark I can think of is in "Flash Flood" where she looks out the stable window and then turns back to Tootie with, "Oh no!"---she just hits a false acting note there.

I think Kim nailed her stuff

I think Kim nailed her stuff

Uh-uh. Almost all her stuff. ;) Example:

"Uhh, n-not that we were listening!"

It's akin to Lisa's "Oh no!" I mentioned earlier.

I don't think Mindy was "atrocious." Julie Piekarski, "Sue Ann", was the one who needed more acting lessons. And I always see Mindy's smiling through her jokes as part of the character of Natalie---she was the "class clown" of the girls.

Uh-uh. Almost all her stuff. ;) Example:

"Uhh, n-not that we were listening!"

Hmm I forget what that was from

Hmm I forget what that was from

Picture her "wheelin' and dealin' ", lol ;)

(but don't take the "wheelin' " part literally---this has nothing to do with roller skating :lol:)

Picture her "wheelin' and dealin' ", lol ;)

(but don't take the "wheelin' " part literally---this has nothing to do with roller skating :lol:)

Ah TROMG

In the first season, you would often see both Felice and Molly laughing in the background. Like in the scene where Blair's father's company ships the adult bedroom gowns, you could see Felice laughing at some of the lines in the background and then she would try to put on her serious background face and would break out laughing again. You would also see her laughing at some of the comments the other girls make in the classroom of the Facts of Love.

Id say the best actress order in s1 was: Lisa, Kim, Julie Anne, Julie, Felice, Molly, Mindy

I agree with this.

I don't think anyone was "terrible", but they all had weak moments. '80s pointed out Lisa's "oh no!" during FF, which was bad, Nancy's "Then what happened?!" and Kim's "N-N-Not that we were listening!" moments.

They all had off moments. It's okay; they were kids. But if you want to see "bad acting", check out "Dorothy", a very similar show set at a girls' school with a red-haired teacher, which debuted during the same month as FOL. It only lasted four episodes. In comparison, "our girls" are Oscar-worthy.

I've never gotten that impression.

I've seen it a lot especially in early episodes. For specific examples (out of so many), the 2 episodes that aired yesterday shows it clearly.

In "Kids Can Be Cruel" which played yesterday on Antenna TV, when Natalie finds out Blair told a guy she had a crush on him, Natalie is supposed to act angry at Blair and says "This is war!" and is supposed to turn and leave the room angry.

But when she says the line, you can clearly see she's stifling a grin and her face looks like she'll break out laughing at any moment. I can understand she wasn't a professional actress, but this is well into the 3rd season, and she should've been able to lose the "ready to burst out laughing" face by then.

The very next episode it's even more noticeable since she's the main story line. In "Mind Your Own Business", Natalie is supposed to be pissed off that Blair read her diary, and while being angry, there's that grin on her face as she's spouting her angry lines.

Sometimes she even goes as far as turning her head from the camera so the audience can't see that she's ready to burst out laughing. It's just terrible acting and this was in March of '82---almost 3 years since the show began!

I do vaguely remember during the mid to late 80's she managed to lose the stifling grin so i'm looking forward to seeing the later episodes and her possible improvement.
But I guess i'm the only one that sees it in the early episodes....but it is there people lol. Mindy must have been having the time of her life in those early seasons because she smiles and grins her way through many of her scenes where she really shouldn't be doing so!

Natalie brought a lot to the show. She showed her real life personality on the show.

Natalie brought a lot to the show. She showed her real life personality on the show.


While that's all well and good, it's detrimental when you're supposed to be playing a character different from yourself. That's what acting is all about...having the ability to portray someone else...not yourself. :crazy:

I've seen it a lot especially in early episodes. For specific examples (out of so many), the 2 episodes that aired yesterday shows it clearly.

In "Kids Can Be Cruel" which played yesterday on Antenna TV, when Natalie finds out Blair told a guy she had a crush on him, Natalie is supposed to act angry at Blair and says "This is war!" and is supposed to turn and leave the room angry.

But when she says the line, you can clearly see she's stifling a grin and her face looks like she'll break out laughing at any moment. I can understand she wasn't a professional actress, but this is well into the 3rd season, and she should've been able to lose the "ready to burst out laughing" face by then.

The very next episode it's even more noticeable since she's the main story line. In "Mind Your Own Business", Natalie is supposed to be pissed off that Blair read her diary, and while being angry, there's that grin on her face as she's spouting her angry lines.

Sometimes she even goes as far as turning her head from the camera so the audience can't see that she's ready to burst out laughing. It's just terrible acting and this was in March of '82---almost 3 years since the show began!

I do vaguely remember during the mid to late 80's she managed to lose the stifling grin so i'm looking forward to seeing the later episodes and her possible improvement.
But I guess i'm the only one that sees it in the early episodes....but it is there people lol. Mindy must have been having the time of her life in those early seasons because she smiles and grins her way through many of her scenes where she really shouldn't be doing so!

I never got that impression in those episodes. I've never looked for it, and it's never seemed that way to me.

While that's all well and good, it's detrimental when you're supposed to be playing a character different from yourself. That's what acting is all about...having the ability to portray someone else...not yourself. :crazy:

Lots of the girls characters had characteristics of their real life selves. Sue Ann was from the Midwest/Julie Pie was from St. Louis. Nancy was boy crazy, was obsessed with Baryshnikov, and studied psychology at university/ as did Felice. Molly Parker was a feminist and liberal activist, loved cameras and ham radios/ as was Molly Ringwald. Mrs. Garrett was from Appleton Wisconsin, was divorced, referred to the girls as "her girls"/just like Charlotte Rae.

Ok, this is my point of view from FOL:

On season 1: LISA WHELCHEL and CHARLOTTE RAE did the best acting
And
from season 2 onwards: both NANCY MCKEON and LISA WHELCHEL did the best acting, along with MINDY COHN and CHARLOTTE.
To be honest KIM FIELDS was a better actress on season 1, as a little kid!
Any complaints?

Lots of the girls characters had characteristics of their real life selves. Sue Ann was from the Midwest/Julie Pie was from St. Louis. Nancy was boy crazy, was obsessed with Baryshnikov, and studied psychology at university/ as did Felice. Molly Parker was a feminist and liberal activist, loved cameras and ham radios/ as was Molly Ringwald. Mrs. Garrett was from Appleton Wisconsin, was divorced, referred to the girls as "her girls"/just like Charlotte Rae.

And probably why none of them won Emmys. For a 9 season show you'd think at least one of them would have snagged a win.

On that note, the only one who ever got close was Charlotte Rae being Emmy nominated in 1982 for Best Actress.

And probably why none of them won Emmys. For a 9 season show you'd think at least one of them would have snagged a win.

On that note, the only one who ever got close was Charlotte Rae being Emmy nominated in 1982 for Best Actress.

The show never gotten an Emmy nomination. One of the Elite 8 did get a Golden Globe nomination.

On that note, the only one who ever got close was Charlotte Rae being Emmy nominated in 1982 for Best Actress.

Well the girls were so young I wouldn't have expected any of them to even be nominated.

The show never gotten an Emmy nomination.


Which is shocking when you stop and think about all the heavy handed and serious dramatic stories they tackled over the seasons. Off the top of my head, the episode where Tootie gets mixed up with the pimp and teen hooker in Manhattan was Emmy worthy. So was the one where the school mate committed suicide.

Maybe Natalie's bad acting just stood out so much that it ruined it for the rest of the them. :lol:

Well the girls were so young I wouldn't have expected any of them to even be nominated.

I highly disagree.

Patty Duke
Sara Gilbert
Malcom Jamal Warner
Melissa Sue Anderson
Claire Danes
Kristy McNichol
Fred Savage
....And the youngest----Keshia Knight Pulliam at 6 years old!

All nominated for Emmys.

When I think of Emmy nominees and wins I think of all the women in their 30s and beyond, like "The Golden Girls", "227", "Cheers", "Night Court", "Murphy Brown", "Designing Women", "Friends", "Seinfeld", etc. Younger people have much slimmer chances.

When I think of Emmy nominees and wins I think of all the women in their 30s and beyond, like "The Golden Girls", "227", "Cheers", "Night Court", "Murphy Brown", "Designing Women", "Friends", "Seinfeld", etc. Younger people have much slimmer chances.

I completely disagree and think that's a load of BS. If the acting is good and noteworthy, it will garner nominations no matter how young the age. It really doesn't go by "chances", but rather how good the acting is whether you're 6 or 60.

I completely disagree and think that's a load of BS. If the acting is good and noteworthy, it will garner nominations no matter how young the age. It really doesn't go by "chances", but rather how good the acting is whether you're 6 or 60.

It's just the statistics. Women over 30 by far get the majority of the nominations and wins. I just looked up the lists of past Emmy nominees earlier out of curiosity.