She had something interesting to say about the role of Kimberly as well as going from have a lead role to being wallpaper of Facts of Life.
Interesting what she said about the role of Kimberly of Different Strokes.
https://gojimmygo.net/2012/06/26/making-a-difference-a-conversation-with-felice-schachter/?fbclid=IwAR3vAzhHXdeMo-VvsFRXcwGBmG-IpdKJyRg9xeghipgYPvcIFMz8O4OuPes

Yes, I remember reading this article when it was fairly new. She had the role of Kimberly Drummond, but an NBC executive insisted on Dana Plato.

How different might the Diff'rent Strokes "curse" have been, if Felice had stayed in the role of Kimberly? Would we even be talking about a Diff'rent Strokes Curse?

Yes, I remember reading this article when it was fairly new. She had the role of Kimberly Drummond, but an NBC executive insisted on Dana Plato.

How different might the Diff'rent Strokes "curse" have been, if Felice had stayed in the role of Kimberly? Would we even be talking about a Diff'rent Strokes Curse?

And they considered Dana Plato more "wholesome" as Felice stated.

She had something interesting to say about the role of Kimberly as well as going from have a lead role to being wallpaper of Facts of Life.
2012 interview with Felice Schachter. Interesting what she said about the role of Kimberly of Different Strokes.
https://gojimmygo.net/2012/06/26/making-a-difference-a-conversation-with-felice-schachter/

The link doesn't work for me.

The link doesn't work for me.

I fixed it.

And they considered Dana Plato more "wholesome" as Felice stated.

:lol:

It's funny because Kim relates in her book how, when she did her DS appearances, Gary and Dana were already acting out, and causing problems for the cast and crew. This would have been between 1979 and 1981, as all of Kim's appearances were during those years. Her last DS appearance was in November 1981.

I think Charlotte made sure that there was limited association between the DS kids and the FOL kids in the way of crossovers. She knew the kids from DS were train wrecks and didn't want the kids from FOL to have bad influences around them. Years later, she proclaimed on national TV about how she was proud of how straight her girls were. Of course the media took her meaning of the word "straight" as something different and ran with it.

That’s definitely crazy to think Felice could’ve been Kimberly

The producers probably told Felice that since she was so close to becoming Kimberly, she would be reserved for a lead role in an upcoming series. She was promised to be the major lead, but would soon be major wallpaper.

I think Charlotte made sure that there was limited association between the DS kids and the FOL kids in the way of crossovers. She knew the kids from DS were train wrecks and didn't want the kids from FOL to have bad influences around them. Years later, she proclaimed on national TV about how she was proud of how straight her girls were. Of course the media took her meaning of the word "straight" as something different and ran with it.


I'm not at all surprised to hear that: from what i could gather, CHARLOTTE RAE (MRS G) was a mother figure to the 4 girls on and off set, and probably knew how bad the DS kids were doing compared to the FOL ones, (whom she spent 7 years with) and wanted to keep them out of trouble.:cool:
It's a shame the DS kids never had a MRS G around them to keep them straight....

I'm not at all surprised to hear that: from what i could gather, CHARLOTTE RAE (MRS G) was a mother figure to the 4 girls on and off set

Actually, she wasn't. The girls will tell you in interviews that you might picture Charlotte as this warm, maternal figure, but she really wasn't. She wasn't mean or bad, of course, she was just more of a professional businesswoman, not maternal warmth.

And Charlotte smoked. :lol:

^---I will NOT believe that.

(just because I don't want to, LOL)

^---I will NOT believe that.

(just because I don't want to, LOL)

:lol::lol::lol::lol:

There's an interview somewhere where Charlotte said the girls would pull the cigarettes out of her mouth.

And Charlotte drank too, at least in the early seasons she had trouble with alcohol after her divorce.

:lol::lol::lol::lol:

There's an interview somewhere where Charlotte said the girls would pull the cigarettes out of her mouth.

Whaaat :eek:

Whaaat :eek:

Here's (https://www.closerweekly.com/posts/charlotte-rae-the-facts-of-life-164170/) the interview. Definitely worth a read.

And Charlotte drank too, at least in the early seasons she had trouble with alcohol after her divorce.

So sad. :(

Actually, she wasn't. The girls will tell you in interviews that you might picture Charlotte as this warm, maternal figure, but she really wasn't. She wasn't mean or bad, of course, she was just more of a professional businesswoman, not maternal warmth.


But i said that she was very close to the girls: especially LISA WHELCHEL and NANCY MCKEON!:eek:

Actually, she wasn't. The girls will tell you in interviews that you might picture Charlotte as this warm, maternal figure, but she really wasn't. She wasn't mean or bad, of course, she was just more of a professional businesswoman, not maternal warmth.

PS: oops! i meant i 'read' (no said) that CHARLOTTE RAE was close to the girls and especially LISA WHELCHEL and NANCY MCKEON:crazy:

After the show ended, yes. And she was of course "pleasant" to them, but not a warm, maternal figure. They've said that.

After the show ended, yes. And she was of course "pleasant" to them, but not a warm, maternal figure. They've said that.

Maybe that's even why Geri felt rejected. If the impression she got, and the one the public got, was that it was "Charlotte and her girls", Geri might have been very disappointed.

It's funny because Dorothy Loudon briefly had her own very similar show, and she was reputed to hate children.

After the show ended, yes. And she was of course "pleasant" to them, but not a warm, maternal figure. They've said that.


I don't believe for a minute that CHARLOTTE RAE was just 'pleasant' to her girls (you can be pleasant to your boss): she had heart to heart talk to LISA WHELCHEL while going on lunches, and even went to meet NANCY MKEON kids back at her ranch. Besides, they all had lots of love for her, and each of them speak about what a wonderful friend CHARLOTTE RAE was to them.:talk:

You can think what you want, but it's fact. There are interviews where the girls detail how Charlotte was not this "warm, maternal" figure when the cameras weren't rolling. She was very business-like. It's not bad, it's just a "fact". They all felt a little distant from her because they thought she was in a management position with the show, which she was not. They never knew this until Nancy McKeon and Charlotte were talking years after the show was over, and Charlotte was surprised.

You can think what you want, but it's fact. There are interviews where the girls detail how Charlotte was not this "warm, maternal" figure when the cameras weren't rolling. She was very business-like. It's not bad, it's just a "fact". They all felt a little distant from her because they thought she was in a management position with the show, which she was not. They never knew this until Nancy McKeon and Charlotte were talking years after the show was over, and Charlotte was surprised.


Wow! I found it hard to believe it: i mean, CHARLOTTE RAE had so much chemistry with the girls on the set (normally if you don't get on off screen it doesn't work on screen) and okay, even if she wasn't 'maternal', she seemed to be the kind of person you would have as a best friend lol! I was always under the impression that he was one of the girls hee hee!:happyface