From both Diff'rent Strokes and The Facts of Life

1. When she decided to leave Facts, the writers wanted Mrs. Garrett to marry a doctor while Charlotte asked if she could leave to join the Peace Corps. They compromised and Edna married a doctor who was going to Africa with the Peace Corps.

2. Dana Plato's parents had divorced and she seemed very hungry for a father. She was always trying to get attention from the men on the set.

3. Todd Bridges' parents had split because his father had an affair with his assistant.

4. Edna Garret was named after Edna Brubaker, a friend of Charlotte. Garret was the name of a housekeeper that DS director Herbert Kenwith had had.

5. Charlotte was very nervous during her last episodes on DS because she thought they were going to fire her. She called an old friend from AA who visited her on the set. As soon as Dana saw him, she jumped on his lap. Charlotte never got any support from him.

6. When the producers offered her her own show, they spoke to her <with no emotion, no sense of affection or camaraderie>.

7. Rowland Barber pitched an idea two years before the spin off and he got robbed. He was then hired to write an episode of the first season.

8. <<We wanted to make Mrs. Garrett a liberated woman, wise and courageous and I thought it was important that she not be from New York or some other big city>>.

9. Al Burton's daughter was a graduate of Westlake School.

10. <<John Bowab's background really impressed me and I wanted to do whatever I could to bring him on board>>.

11. She thinks that the first episodes were chaotic and nerve-racking but they did some good work that season. The first year was stressful but it was also very exciting.

12. The network thought there were too many girls. She had no idea how anyone decided which characters to cut from the show. She thinks they kept Mindy and Kim and Lisa because they stood out from the rest. She also thinks the Lost Girls were very professional because they came back after the Cast Purge

13. She hired a nutritionist between the first and second seasons. She insisted that the producers upgrade the food on the set and they were more than happy to accommodate.

14. She bought an apartment building during her second season.

15. Her sisters appeared during the opening scenes of Paris movie.

16. By season five, she dreaded going to work. She cried when it was time to start up another season. But she didn't want to leave the show until she was sure the girls could succeed without her.

17. If the girls saw her with a cigarette, they'd yank it out and crumple it into the trash.

18. Her assistant dumped her to work for Zsa Zsa Gabor

Thanks for the facts!

From both Diff'rent Strokes and The Facts of Life

1. When she decided to leave Facts, the writers wanted Mrs. Garrett to marry a doctor while Charlotte asked if she could leave to join the Peace Corps. They compromised and Edna married a doctor who was going to Africa with the Peace Corps.

:lol:


2. Dana Plato's parents had divorced and she seemed very hungry for a father. She was always trying to get attention from the men on the set.

This does not surprise me.


7. Rowland Barber pitched an idea two years before the spin off and he got robbed. He was then hired to write an episode of the first season.

Thanks for the name!


12. The network thought there were too many girls. She had no idea how anyone decided which characters to cut from the show. She thinks they kept Mindy and Kim and Lisa because they stood out from the rest. She also thinks the Lost Girls were very professional because they came back after the Cast Purge

I have always felt the same way, as well. Nice to know they were recognized by someone, for their efforts.


18. Her assistant dumped her to work for Zsa Zsa Gabor

I have heard nothing but bad things about this assistant. Geri also said Charlotte's assistant was terrible.

I didn't know! What did she say about this assistant?

I didn't know! What did she say about this assistant?

It's been a while since I read it, but Geri said something along the lines of the assistant came between Charlotte and her, was rude, and lied to Charlotte about Geri.

(Hope you are still doing well there in Italy. We've heard horror stories. 21,000 infected. Thousands dead. What a nightmare. :( )

Definitely a nightmare! Today died more than 300 people. The virus is everywhere, North and South Italy

Definitely a nightmare! Today died more than 300 people. The virus is everywhere, North and South Italy

So, so sorry to hear this.

Definitely a nightmare! Today died more than 300 people. The virus is everywhere, North and South Italy


You must be terrified living in Italy with the CORONA VIRUS lol!:eek:

Definitely a nightmare! Today died more than 300 people. The virus is everywhere, North and South Italy

Stay safe!

yes stay safe everyone the place i work at has been shut down to april 13th !

i've been wanting to purchase charlotte's book for some time but keep putting it off is it good ? im sure it is it's mrs. garrett after all lol i also want to purchase kim fields's book.

I can definitely recommend Kim's book, as well as Geri's. There are plenty of FOL facts in both of them.

I haven't read Charlotte's book yet.

thanks so much !

I can definitely recommend Kim's book, as well as Geri's. There are plenty of FOL facts in both of them.

I haven't read Charlotte's book yet.

I had no idea Kim wrote a book. Just went to it's Amazon page and now I want to read it. My library website says all locations closed until further notice. Ugh...when they reopen i'm definitely picking it up.

I had no idea Kim wrote a book. Just went to it's Amazon page and now I want to read it. My library website says all locations closed until further notice. Ugh...when they reopen i'm definitely picking it up.

It is excellent. I learned many things.

Yeah, sadly my libraries here are closed, as well. Stupid Coronavirus! :(

It is excellent. I learned many things.

Yeah, sadly my libraries here are closed, as well. Stupid Coronavirus! :(

It's only $5 bucks used for the hardcover at Amazon. I may just buy it next week. It's the perfect time to catch up on lots of reading. :lol:

I enjoyed all their books!!

I can definitely recommend Kim's book, as well as Geri's. There are plenty of FOL facts in both of them.

I haven't read Charlotte's book yet.

Wow, what do they say about Fol and DS?
I have the book. If you want the parts where Charlotte talks about DS and FOL, I can send you an email with these pages

Wow, what do they say about Fol and DS?
I have the book. If you want the parts where Charlotte talks about DS and FOL, I can send you an email with these pages


Can you send some to the rest of us, please?:wave:(i'm a big fan of CHARLOTTE RAE)

Wow, what do they say about Fol and DS?
I have the book. If you want the parts where Charlotte talks about DS and FOL, I can send you an email with these pages

Geri has so many things to say about FOL. It's likely impossible to do what she says justice, but here are a few "fun facts":

Geri felt as though because she was disabled, it held her back both physically and socially, so she always felt inferior to everyone around her. Because she was also a lesbian, she felt inferior, and didn't want anyone to know her secret. She had built up some complexes about feeling so different. Nothing about her was "normal", and she felt ashamed.

Getting cast on FOL was a huge break for her, but it also opened new insecurities for her. She had never acted, and she couldn't sing and dance at the same time, like they wanted her to, in her first episode. Lisa helped her rehearse that scene.

Despite all of Geri's hang-ups, Lisa was a genuine friend to her, and they even became roommates. Once Geri was no longer on the show, Geri felt terrible about not being on the show anymore, and having to go back on Disability, as she couldn't even pay her rent anymore. At one point, her manager stole most of her money, and she had to get a new manager.

Geri talked to Lisa about it, and Lisa brought Geri to the show, to sit in the audience. Lisa thought that if the producers saw Geri again, they would write her into an episode or two, but... it never happened.

Geri was terrified that if Lisa, a devout Christian, found out that Geri was a lesbian, she would abandon her. Later, Geri's ex-girlfriend told Lisa, in spite, but Lisa never abandoned Geri.


Kim talked a lot about Season One, and her relationships to Lisa, Kim, Mindy, Julie Pie, and later Nancy. She says she was very close to Julie, "Like sisters". She says that coming back after season one was very hard, because Lisa had graduated, Mindy went to Westlake, and so it was just her and Nancy at the studio school. To go from a school with six girls to a school with just one other person was tough.

She tells the Baryshnikov story.

She also talked about her time on DS, where she witnessed Gary demanding hamburgers before he would work. She witnessed Dana being difficult and dying her hair pink before showing up on set. She said she realized they were not acting like professional children. She idolized Todd Bridges.

There's a lot more, but there are some juicy details for you! :wave:

Geri has so many things to say about FOL. It's likely impossible to do what she says justice, but here are a few "fun facts":

Geri felt as though because she was disabled, it held her back both physically and socially, so she always felt inferior to everyone around her. Because she was also a lesbian, she felt inferior, and didn't want anyone to know her secret. She had built up some complexes about feeling so different. Nothing about her was "normal", and she felt ashamed.

Getting cast on FOL was a huge break for her, but it also opened new insecurities for her. She had never acted, and she couldn't sing and dance at the same time, like they wanted her to, in her first episode. Lisa helped her rehearse that scene.

Despite all of Geri's hang-ups, Lisa was a genuine friend to her, and they even became roommates. Once Geri was no longer on the show, Geri felt terrible about not being on the show anymore, and having to go back on Disability, as she couldn't even pay her rent anymore. At one point, her manager stole most of her money, and she had to get a new manager.

Geri talked to Lisa about it, and Lisa brought Geri to the show, to sit in the audience. Lisa thought that if the producers saw Geri again, they would write her into an episode or two, but... it never happened.

Geri was terrified that if Lisa, a devout Christian, found out that Geri was a lesbian, she would abandon her. Later, Geri's ex-girlfriend told Lisa, in spite, but Lisa never abandoned Geri.


Kim talked a lot about Season One, and her relationships to Lisa, Kim, Mindy, Julie Pie, and later Nancy. She says she was very close to Julie, "Like sisters". She says that coming back after season one was very hard, because Lisa had graduated, Mindy went to Westlake, and so it was just her and Nancy at the studio school. To go from a school with six girls to a school with just one other person was tough.

She tells the Baryshnikov story.

She also talked about her time on DS, where she witnessed Gary demanding hamburgers before he would work. She witnessed Dana being difficult and dying her hair pink before showing up on set. She said she realized they were not acting like professional children. She idolized Todd Bridges.

There's a lot more, but there are some juicy details for you! :wave:


We want more PLEASE????:happyface:happyface:happyface

We want more PLEASE????:happyface:happyface:happyface

Geri has so many things to say about FOL. It's likely impossible to do what she says justice, but here are a few "fun facts":

Geri felt as though because she was disabled, it held her back both physically and socially, so she always felt inferior to everyone around her. Because she was also a lesbian, she felt inferior, and didn't want anyone to know her secret. She had built up some complexes about feeling so different. Nothing about her was "normal", and she felt ashamed.

Getting cast on FOL was a huge break for her, but it also opened new insecurities for her. She had never acted, and she couldn't sing and dance at the same time, like they wanted her to, in her first episode. Lisa helped her rehearse that scene.

Despite all of Geri's hang-ups, Lisa was a genuine friend to her, and they even became roommates. Once Geri was no longer on the show, Geri felt terrible about not being on the show anymore, and having to go back on Disability, as she couldn't even pay her rent anymore. At one point, her manager stole most of her money, and she had to get a new manager.

Geri talked to Lisa about it, and Lisa brought Geri to the show, to sit in the audience. Lisa thought that if the producers saw Geri again, they would write her into an episode or two, but... it never happened.

Geri was terrified that if Lisa, a devout Christian, found out that Geri was a lesbian, she would abandon her. Later, Geri's ex-girlfriend told Lisa, in spite, but Lisa never abandoned Geri.


Kim talked a lot about Season One, and her relationships to Lisa, Kim, Mindy, Julie Pie, and later Nancy. She says she was very close to Julie, "Like sisters". She says that coming back after season one was very hard, because Lisa had graduated, Mindy went to Westlake, and so it was just her and Nancy at the studio school. To go from a school with six girls to a school with just one other person was tough.

She tells the Baryshnikov story.

She also talked about her time on DS, where she witnessed Gary demanding hamburgers before he would work. She witnessed Dana being difficult and dying her hair pink before showing up on set. She said she realized they were not acting like professional children. She idolized Todd Bridges.

There's a lot more, but there are some juicy details for you! :wave:

Thanks a lot Retro! Interesting stories

Can you send some to the rest of us, please?:wave:(i'm a big fan of CHARLOTTE RAE)

Sure! Today I will send you the material

Wow thanks Retro! Love her and Julie's friendship!

Wow thanks Retro! Love her and Julie's friendship!

Yep! 40 years later and they are still fast friends. That is some friendship! It makes me love them even more. :D

Geri has so many things to say about FOL. It's likely impossible to do what she says justice, but here are a few "fun facts":

Geri felt as though because she was disabled, it held her back both physically and socially, so she always felt inferior to everyone around her. Because she was also a lesbian, she felt inferior, and didn't want anyone to know her secret. She had built up some complexes about feeling so different. Nothing about her was "normal", and she felt ashamed.

Getting cast on FOL was a huge break for her, but it also opened new insecurities for her. She had never acted, and she couldn't sing and dance at the same time, like they wanted her to, in her first episode. Lisa helped her rehearse that scene.

Despite all of Geri's hang-ups, Lisa was a genuine friend to her, and they even became roommates. Once Geri was no longer on the show, Geri felt terrible about not being on the show anymore, and having to go back on Disability, as she couldn't even pay her rent anymore. At one point, her manager stole most of her money, and she had to get a new manager.

Geri talked to Lisa about it, and Lisa brought Geri to the show, to sit in the audience. Lisa thought that if the producers saw Geri again, they would write her into an episode or two, but... it never happened.

Geri was terrified that if Lisa, a devout Christian, found out that Geri was a lesbian, she would abandon her. Later, Geri's ex-girlfriend told Lisa, in spite, but Lisa never abandoned Geri.


Kim talked a lot about Season One, and her relationships to Lisa, Kim, Mindy, Julie Pie, and later Nancy. She says she was very close to Julie, "Like sisters". She says that coming back after season one was very hard, because Lisa had graduated, Mindy went to Westlake, and so it was just her and Nancy at the studio school. To go from a school with six girls to a school with just one other person was tough.

She tells the Baryshnikov story.

She also talked about her time on DS, where she witnessed Gary demanding hamburgers before he would work. She witnessed Dana being difficult and dying her hair pink before showing up on set. She said she realized they were not acting like professional children. She idolized Todd Bridges.

There's a lot more, but there are some juicy details for you! :wave:

I want to buy Kim's book (Geri's one is not available on Amazon IT). Do you recommend it? How many chapters and pages talk about FOL?

I want to buy Kim's book (Geri's one is not available on Amazon IT). Do you recommend it? How many chapters and pages talk about FOL?

Yes, I highly recommend Kim's book. There are approximately five chapters where she discusses her FOL days.

Yes, I highly recommend Kim's book. There are approximately five chapters where she discusses her FOL days.

Great! Today I will order my copy

Kim also talked about fearing being part of the Great Purge of Season 1 because she was black.

Kim also talked about fearing being part of the Great Purge of Season 1 because she was black.

Yes, she did. At that time, in US film and television, the black person was always the first person to die in horror films.

But she had nothing to worry about. Tootie always had plenty of lines, and this was a show from Norman Lear's production company. Norman Lear was famous for his shows featuring racial issues. And Tootie was a hit.

But Kim's statement also proves something Lisa said is not true. Kim said she feared to be cut from the show. but Lisa says that nobody knew they were going to make a big cut in the cast. How could no-one know there would be a Cast Purge, if Kim feared she'd be one of the girls in the Cast Purge?

Yes, she did. At that time, in US film and television, the black person was always the first person to die in horror films.

But she had nothing to worry about. Tootie always had plenty of lines, and this was a show from Norman Lear's production company. Norman Lear was famous for his shows featuring racial issues. And Tootie was a hit.

But Kim's statement also proves something Lisa said is not true. Kim said she feared to be cut from the show. but Lisa says that nobody knew they were going to make a big cut in the cast. How could no-one know there would be a Cast Purge, if Kim feared she'd be one of the girls in the Cast Purge?

One of the producers in an older documentary said that it came down to the two preteens (Molly and Kim) to see who was going to be the kid of the revamped show. In season 2 and 3, there was plenty of plots where Tootie felt left out because she was younger than all the other girls. Of course aging slower than the others (as being 12 years old for two seasons and the backdoor pilot), I guess Natalie grew up faster in time than what Tootie did.

One of the producers in an older documentary said that it came down to the two preteens (Molly and Kim) to see who was going to be the kid of the revamped show. In season 2 and 3, there was plenty of plots where Tootie felt left out because she was younger than all the other girls. Of course aging slower than the others (as being 12 years old for two seasons and the backdoor pilot), I guess Natalie grew up faster in time than what Tootie did.



That's exactly my point: the producers got the girl's age so mixed up, and in my understanding:

On season 1 (regardless of any revamp) TOOTIE should have been 11, NAT 12 and BLAIR 15.
Season 2: TOOTIE then 12, NAT 13 and JO/BLAIR 16 and so on...

Get it?:crazy:

That's exactly my point: the producers got the girl's age so mixed up, and in my understanding:

On season 1 (regardless of any revamp) TOOTIE should have been 11, NAT 12 and BLAIR 15.
Season 2: TOOTIE then 12, NAT 13 and JO/BLAIR 16 and so on...

Get it?:crazy:

Both Natalie and Mindy were 13 in the 1979-80 season. They even mentioned Natalie's specific birthdate in Adoption (though they had it a different day than Mindy), so she was 13.

One of the producers in an older documentary said that it came down to the two preteens (Molly and Kim) to see who was going to be the kid of the revamped show.

Which documentary is that? I'm curious because I've never seen nor heard that it was down to Molly and Kim to see who would be "the kid".

Indeed, one documentary says for a "fact" that it was Julie Anne Haddock who was the last one of the Lost Girls let go, not Molly.

Which documentary is that? I'm curious because I've never seen nor heard that it was down to Molly and Kim to see who would be "the kid".

Indeed, one documentary says for a "fact" that it was Julie Anne Haddock who was the last one of the Lost Girls let go, not Molly.

It was in the transcript that I think Retro posted a few weeks ago. I think it was called Behind the Sitcoms. It's not available on video anywhere.

It was in the transcript that I think Retro posted a few weeks ago. I think it was called Behind the Sitcoms. It's not available on video anywhere.

You mean Truth behind the sitcom? I found the transcript on a FOL site.

Here's the link: http://www.televisionhits.com/factsoflife/

Truth Behind the Sitcoms did indeed mention the choice between Molly and Tootie as the youngest, and I believe they put Molly and Tootie up on the screen to illustrate it.

I think they would have gotten a lot of flack if they dismissed Kim Fields in favor of a white girl.

Truth Behind the Sitcoms did indeed mention the choice between Molly and Tootie as the youngest, and I believe they put Molly and Tootie up on the screen to illustrate it.

Wait, so are there 2 sources for this??

Wait, so are there 2 sources for this??

Truth Behind the Sitcoms said this. What's the other source?

I'm not sure, lol. Maybe I wasn't thinking straight...maybe just the Molly Ringwald hearsay comment that Nancy McKeon replaced her?

I'm not sure, lol. Maybe I wasn't thinking straight...maybe just the Molly Ringwald hearsay comment that Nancy McKeon replaced her?

But that's the opposite. In TBTS, they say the choice (during the Cast Purge) came down between Molly and Tootie, as the youngest, and Tootie was picked to stay. In WWHL, Molly says she was told she could stay, and then they replaced her with Nancy McKeon. None of that matches, except the name "Molly".

This is why I say it's clear things were pretty chaotic behind the scenes, few knew what was going on (certainly not the girls themselves), and we've got contradictory statements from everyone.

But that's the opposite. In TBTS, they say the choice came down between Molly and Tootie, as the youngest, and Tootie was picked. In WWHL, Molly says she was told she could stay, and then they replaced her with Nancy McKeon. None of that matches, except the name "Molly".

This is why I say it's clear things were pretty chaotic behind the scenes, few knew what was going on (certainly not the girls themselves), and we've got contradictory statements from everyone.

Well, what I meant was the "fact" (though untrue!) that it looked like Molly was was maybe going to get to remain on (it being either her or Tootie, or her "staying on" until Nancy M. came along).

I wasn't thinking of WWHL though. There was some older "bitter" interview where she says she was "replaced" by Nancy M. Maybe that was an Internet article?

:lol:

Oh! This reminds me, I re-watched the pilot episode of "Alice" this weekend (the one with Alfred as Tommy, not Philip McKeon). And in a later scene at Alice's apartment at night, Alice's date gives Tommy 2 bucks to go to the movies---and she just lets him go! At night! He's 12 years old!! :eek: She just jokes to him not to go bar-hopping afterward but come straight home, and he says something like, "Mom, how much could I get to drink on 2 bucks?"

Wow, Alice!

I mean, I know that's how it was, but yeah...so jarring to see now! lol

:jar:

^---"jar" :lol: :crazy:

Well, what I meant was the "fact" (though untrue!) that it looked like Molly was was maybe going to get to remain on (it being either her or Tootie, or her "staying on" until Nancy M. came along).

I wasn't thinking of WWHL though. There was some older "bitter" interview where she says she was "replaced" by Nancy M. Maybe that was an Internet article?

In TBTS, they're talking about winnowing down the cast; the choice (in that documentary) is between "the pretty girls" and they choose Blair. The choice between the youngest is Tootie or Molly, and they choose Tootie. Molly wasn't going to remain, in that documentary.

This is the opposite of what Molly has stated: that she was going to be kept on, until they "replaced" her with Nancy McKeon.

(I make no claims of what was the "correct" order, or who was jettisoned at the last minute, just stating that Molly's statements and The Truth Behind the Sitcoms statement don't match).

:lol:

Oh! This reminds me, I re-watched the pilot episode of "Alice" this weekend (the one with Alfred as Tommy, not Philip McKeon). And in a later scene at Alice's apartment at night, Alice's date gives Tommy 2 bucks to go to the movies---and she just lets him go! At night! He's 12 years old!! :eek: She just jokes to him not to go bar-hopping afterward but come straight home, and he says something like, "Mom, how much could I get to drink on 2 bucks?"

Wow, Alice!

I mean, I know that's how it was, but yeah...so jarring to see now! lol

:jar:

^---"jar" :lol: :crazy:

YES! And in Tucson, no less! :lol:

Now I know Tucson is no Bronx or Manhattan, but in 1975, it had 300,000 people, and the metro area was 450,000. You shouldn't be sending your 12-year-old alone to the movies in a city that size. :lol:

While I can appreciate your statistical analysis, I'm afraid you didn't "F.A.C.T."---it's not Tucson, it's Phoenix!

But I won't tell Mr. Gideon if you won't. ;)

While I can appreciate your statistical analysis, I'm afraid you didn't "F.A.C.T."---it's not Tucson, it's Phoenix!

But I won't tell Mr. Gideon if you won't. ;)

Oh, well then all the more so. Phoenix had 680,000 people in 1975, and the metro area was well over a million.

Don't know why I thought it was Tucson.

I think they would have gotten a lot of flack if they dismissed Kim Fields in favor of a white girl.

That's part of it. Tootie was genuinely a way more funnier and charismatic character than Molly was though.

That's part of it. Tootie was genuinely a way more funnier and charismatic character than Molly was though.




I agree: TOOTIE was adorable (especially on season 1) and had more charisma than MOLLY (although i liked her too).

It's weird, but i felt that MOLLY was more adorable on the pilot 'The girls school', than on season 1 (i know they changed her character a bit).

:hello:hello:hello:hello:hello:hello:hello:hello:hello:hello:hello:hello:hello:hello:hello

I agree: TOOTIE was adorable (especially on season 1) and had more charisma than MOLLY (although i liked her too).

It's weird, but i felt that MOLLY was more adorable on the pilot 'The girls school', than on season 1 (i know they changed her character a bit).

:hello:hello:hello:hello:hello:hello:hello:hello:hello:hello:hello:hello:hello:hello:hello

People generally get turned off from activist kids. Just take a look at Greta Thunburg.

People generally get turned off from activist kids. Just take a look at Greta Thunburg.

Despite them being activists for good things!

Despite them being activists for good things!




I never said that was the reason i preferred TOOTIE over MOLLY: i liked them both, but TOOTIE was so cheeky and adorable in season 1!!!!!:baby::baby::baby::baby::baby::baby::baby::baby::baby::baby::baby::baby::baby: