I had on Antenna TV this morning and saw the episode with Blair's mother having cancer?:confused: Never knew this show had such a serious episode as much as I watched it. Maybe because other stations didnt show it in syndication??


Not a fun episode to watch at all

I think the Cynthia suicide episode is even darker.

I think the Cynthia suicide episode is even darker.

Oh wow:eek: And here I thought this show was all happy and fun like

silver spoons

Oh wow:eek: And here I thought this show was all happy and fun like

silver spoons

I think most episodes were happy and fun, but there were serious episodes mixed in.

The Halloween episode is pretty creepy. But I think Cynthia's death might be the heaviest episode (other post-ers here may have a different opinion).

Funnily enough, during the last season or so, Facts of Life and Silver Spoons used the same interstitial music to close out/open scenes. I'm pretty sure by that season, it was the same production company. It was an odd way, I guess, to cut costs, and it freaks me out every time I hear it: "Am I watching the right show?!" :lol:

I think most episodes were happy and fun, but there were serious episodes mixed in.

The Halloween episode is pretty creepy. But I think Cynthia's death might be the heaviest episode (other post-ers here may have a different opinion).

Funnily enough, during the last season or so, Facts of Life and Silver Spoons used the same interstitial music to close out/open scenes. I'm pretty sure by that season, it was the same production company. It was an odd way, I guess, to cut costs, and it freaks me out every time I hear it: "Am I watching the right show?!" :lol:

88-89 season?

88-89 season?

I'm not sure if it's FOL S8 or S9. They kind of blend together for me.

I don't see why this particular show would not be shown in syndication. It's an issue that lots of people have dealt with directly or indirectly. Mindy Cohn has dealt with breast cancer.

There are lots more episodes I think that have been polled in syndication such as Facts of Love, Dope, the suicide episode, the show where the word "********" is used a lot.

I don't see why this particular show would not be shown in syndication. It's an issue that lots of people have dealt with directly or indirectly. Mindy Cohn has dealt with breast cancer.

There are lots more episodes I think that have been polled in syndication such as Facts of Love, Dope, the suicide episode, the show where the word "********" is used a lot.

Sitcoms are supposed to be an escape from reality

Sitcoms are supposed to be an escape from reality

Who said they were? They are suppose to make reality funny, but have serious issues. Facts of Life had shows about divorces, suicide, sexual assault, family death. So did many other shows.

Oh wow:eek: And here I thought this show was all happy and fun like

silver spoons

Silver Spoons covered some serious topics too such as child abuse, teenage drinking and homelessness.

88-89 season?

The Facts Of Life ended the previous season and Silver Spoons ended in 1987.

The Facts Of Life ended the previous season and Silver Spoons ended in 1987.

Facts of Life ended in 1988.

Sitcoms are supposed to be an escape from reality


Norman Lear didn't think this with his TV shows. One of the reasons All in The Family or The Jeffersons were classics is because they broke the mold of being silly slaptick sitcoms and took a more realistic approach to them. The Facts of Life took this angle once they got rid of the aspects of the show that wasn't working in season 1. Season 2 began and felt more like a Norman Lear show for all ages to watch than a children's show that first year.

Norman Lear didn't think this with his TV shows. One of the reasons All in The Family or The Jeffersons were classics is because they broke the mold of being silly slaptick sitcoms and took a more realistic approach to them. The Facts of Life took this angle once they got rid of the aspects of the show that wasn't working in season 1. Season 2 began and felt more like a Norman Lear show for all ages to watch than a children's show that first year.

The only show by him that didnt have serious topics was the jeffersons

Facts of Life ended in 1988.

That's what I implied.

Norman Lear didn't think this with his TV shows. One of the reasons All in The Family or The Jeffersons were classics is because they broke the mold of being silly slaptick sitcoms and took a more realistic approach to them. The Facts of Life took this angle once they got rid of the aspects of the show that wasn't working in season 1. Season 2 began and felt more like a Norman Lear show for all ages to watch than a children's show that first year.

1. The Facts of Life never had Norman Lear's name on it. It was an Al Burton show even if he worked for Norman Lear.

2. I would not call the first season a children's show. It's dialogue made lots of parents cringed. It covered lesbianism, sex education, drugs, eating disorders. Not stuff for children to watch for many parents.

1. The Facts of Life never had Norman Lear's name on it. It was an Al Burton show even if he worked for Norman Lear.

If you read what I wrote, I never said Norman Lear had anything to do with The Facts of Life. I said The Facts of Life felt like a Norman Lear show after the retooling in season 2. That's different than saying Norman Lear had something to do with the show like you're trying to insinuate.


2. I would not call the first season a children's show. It's dialogue made lots of parents cringed. It covered lesbianism, sex education, drugs, eating disorders. Not stuff for children to watch for many parents.

I feel season 1 is very much a children's show. It was about young girls running around in short shorts and the youngest one on roller skates. There was no depth at all that season. A lot of the writing was very tacky. We all have our own opinions though.

If you read what I wrote, I never said Norman Lear had anything to do with The Facts of Life. I said The Facts of Life felt like a Norman Lear show after the retooling in season 2. That's different than saying Norman Lear had something to do with the show like you're trying to insinuate.




I feel season 1 is very much a children's show. It was about young girls running around in short shorts and the youngest one on roller skates. There was no depth at all that season. A lot of the writing was very tacky. We all have our own opinions though.


I don't agree at all: Season 1 might have been for a younger audition, but i don't see is as tacky. If anything, season 8 and 9 were very tacky (especially 9 with PIPPA and the last attempt to create a 'girl's school').
The original 'Girl's school' from the pilot of DIFFERENT STROKES had so much potential, unfortunately something went wrong when they started changing writers and we lost all of it!
On the other hand, the retool of 'the girl's school' almost 10 years later (it was 1988 by then) was awful and the new young cast of actresses had no chemistry at all and were very weak actresses compared to NANCY, SUE ANN, MOLLY, TOOTIE, KIMBERLY and BLAIR on the very original 'girl's school' from 1979.....:talk:

If anything, season 8 and 9 were very tacky (especially 9 with PIPPA and the last attempt to create a 'girl's school').



True seasons 8 and 9 are fluff, but by that point the series was no longer about the girls learning life lessons. Once the show was able to still be a hit with the transition in season 5, it was proven people would keep watching for the main 4 no matter what type of show it was anymore. Seasons 2 - 5 are very much the dramatic seasons of the series learning life lessons with lots of humor. Seasons 6 - 9 are the fun years of the show where fans can enjoy their friendship without something major happening to make it a serious situation.

True seasons 8 and 9 are fluff, but by that point the series was no longer about the girls learning life lessons. Once the show was able to still be a hit with the transition in season 5, it was proven people would keep watching for the main 4 no matter what type of show it was anymore. Seasons 2 - 5 are very much the dramatic seasons of the series learning life lessons with lots of humor. Seasons 6 - 9 are the fun years of the show where fans can enjoy their friendship without something major happening to make it a serious situation.


Yes, i suppose you're right: from season 6 onward, the best thing about FOL is the relationship between BLAIR and JO, and as they get older, their friendship become stronger....:wave:

The only show by him that didnt have serious topics was the jeffersons

Cough, cough... George once saved the life of KKK member, and the pos jerk said he would have rather died. George also sent presents to the occupants of his childhood home because he knew how it felt to grow up poor. The Jeffersons also addressed the death of MLK, mixed-race marriage, and many other issues. It wasn't as heavy-handed as other Lear shows, but it certainly had depth beyond the laughter.

True seasons 8 and 9 are fluff, but by that point the series was no longer about the girls learning life lessons. Once the show was able to still be a hit with the transition in season 5, it was proven people would keep watching for the main 4 no matter what type of show it was anymore. Seasons 2 - 5 are very much the dramatic seasons of the series learning life lessons with lots of humor. Seasons 6 - 9 are the fun years of the show where fans can enjoy their friendship without something major happening to make it a serious situation.

With childhoods as serious as those 4 (or even 8) had, they deserved a break, right?:crazy:;)

Cough, cough... George once saved the life of KKK member, and the pos jerk said he would have rather died. George also sent presents to the occupants of his childhood home because he knew how it felt to grow up poor. The Jeffersons also addressed the death of MLK, mixed-race marriage, and many other issues. It wasn't as heavy-handed as other Lear shows, but it certainly had depth beyond the laughter.

I guess because they was so spread out throughout the series that I tend to forget. Shows like Maude and All in the family had them in the same season

Solomon, if you want to talk about episodes that can never be shown in syndication, how about "The Lady Who Came to Dinner"? It's for one simple reason...

NO NATALIE!!!!!!!!!!:lol::angryfire:crying:

Solomon, if you want to talk about episodes that can never be shown in syndication, how about "The Lady Who Came to Dinner"? It's for one simple reason...

NO NATALIE!!!!!!!!!!:lol::angryfire:crying:

Why was she missing?

Why was she missing?

She was off filming a movie called "The Boy Who Could Fly".

Also, it doesn't help matters that the person who played the performer who got hired as the entertainment for Blair's birthday on that episode (Betty Kean) died the following autumn.

Just another reason I will avoid "The Lady Who Came to Dinner" in syndication completely, and even on the DVDs, streaming, and digital downloads.:(:crying:

True seasons 8 and 9 are fluff, but by that point the series was no longer about the girls learning life lessons. Once the show was able to still be a hit with the transition in season 5, it was proven people would keep watching for the main 4 no matter what type of show it was anymore. Seasons 2 - 5 are very much the dramatic seasons of the series learning life lessons with lots of humor. Seasons 6 - 9 are the fun years of the show where fans can enjoy their friendship without something major happening to make it a serious situation.


Hey, Christopher. I agree with you. :wave:

I love all the seasons (season 1 is my least favorite, though), but the later seasons (the fun years 6-9) are my favorite.