After watching season 1 again, i began to pay more attention to the dialogues, and it came to my conclusion that out of the 4 'lost girls', SUE ANN had more lines than any of them, therefore she should have been the chosen the one to be kept on!
CINDY, on the contrary had less lines than anyone of them (even NANCY had more, on the few occasions she was seen on the phone talking to the 'invisible' ROGER).
As for MOLLY: she did have a few important lines, and i would have loved to see her kept on, but it wasn't meant to be....

Another thing that got my attention, was the fact that everyone seem to think SUE ANN and CINDY were 'best buddies', when to be honest the only episode they were seen together was 'RUNNING'.
On the other hand, in almost every episodes you can see BLAIR and SUE ANN hanging together (on the episode 'DOPE', BLAIR even refers SUE ANN as her best friend) so to me that's another plus for SUE ANN to have been kept on as the 'chosen girl', along with JO to be a foil/rival to BLAIR.

Comments?:D

Yep, Sue Ann had four episodes devoted to her as well, while Cindy had two, Natalie and Molly had only one, and Nancy only had one shared with Sue Ann.

After watching season 1 again, i began to pay more attention to the dialogues, and it came to my conclusion that out of the 4 'lost girls', SUE ANN had more lines than any of them, therefore she should have been the chosen the one to be kept on!

Sue Ann definitely had more lines than Natalie, that first season; she likely had more lines than Natalie, Molly, and Nancy combined.


CINDY, on the contrary had less lines than anyone of them (even NANCY had more, on the few occasions she was seen on the phone talking to the 'invisible' ROGER).

I don't know: between "Running and "Rough Housing", Cindy seemed to have more lines than Nancy, who only had "IQ" in which to shine.


Another thing that got my attention, was the fact that everyone seem to think SUE ANN and CINDY were 'best buddies', when to be honest the only episode they were seen together was 'RUNNING'.

And "Gossip", "Sex Symbol", "Front Page", and "The Little Chill".


On the other hand, in almost every episodes you can see BLAIR and SUE ANN hanging together (on the episode 'DOPE', BLAIR even refers SUE ANN as her best friend) so to me that's another plus for SUE ANN to have been kept on as the 'chosen girl', along with JO to be a foil/rival to BLAIR.

Comments?:D

I think both Sue Ann and Cindy worked well as foils for Blair. But Margie thought hotpants and bolero shirts were "pornographic", catchphrases and rollerskates were "stereotypical", and she wanted to change as much about the show as possible, so nearly the entire premise of the show was changed. C'est la vie!

I think both Sue Ann and Cindy worked well as foils for Blair. But Margie thought hotpants and bolero shirts were "pornographic", catchphrases and rollerskates were "stereotypical", and she wanted to change as much about the show as possible, so nearly the entire premise of the show was changed. C'est la vie!

Regardless of the actresses, though, don't you think that the short shorts were a little extreme for underage girls on TV? I didn't like them, but I'm a female and I have a daughter that right now is high school age.

Regardless of the actresses, though, don't you think that the short shorts were a little extreme for underage girls on TV? I didn't like them, but I'm a female and I have a daughter that right now is high school age.

Those shorts shorts were common at that time. Another photo of Julie Piekarski and two other non-FOL girls wearing short shorts.
https://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/data/1017/julie108.jpg

After watching season 1 again, i began to pay more attention to the dialogues, and it came to my conclusion that out of the 4 'lost girls', SUE ANN had more lines than any of them

Yup, that's pretty obvious when watching. She's really at the forefront close to Blair.


she likely had more lines than Natalie, Molly, and Nancy combined.

More than 3 girls combined? I dunno. I'd definitely call for some line-counting to determine that (something which I'M SURE the lesser-featured girls did, despite Lisa's lofty cloud denial, lol)


CINDY, on the contrary had less lines than anyone of them (even NANCY had more, on the few occasions she was seen on the phone talking to the 'invisible' ROGER).

Now, I really disagree with that. Nancy was the wallpaper, not Cindy. Cindy had 2 episodes (one starring her, one co-starring she and Sue Ann). Nancy only had "I.Q.", and even there she had to share it with Sue Ann. She never got her own episode.


As for MOLLY: she did have a few important lines, and i would have loved to see her kept on, but it wasn't meant to be....

Molly was such a unique position as the only feminist, activist, musician, and techy in the group. Lots of great Molly moments.


Another thing that got my attention, was the fact that everyone seem to think SUE ANN and CINDY were 'best buddies', when to be honest the only episode they were seen together was 'RUNNING'.

Yes, I've pointed this out before on the board that it's odd they're considered such "best friends all year", when they're rarely shown depicting that. Many episodes they don't even interact! But I'm still glad that writer chose that angle.


And "Gossip", "Sex Symbol", "Front Page", and "The Little Chill".

To be fair though, she's just talking about season 1.


On the other hand, in almost every episodes you can see BLAIR and SUE ANN hanging together (on the episode 'DOPE', BLAIR even refers SUE ANN as her best friend) so to me that's another plus for SUE ANN to have been kept on as the 'chosen girl', along with JO to be a foil/rival to BLAIR.

Yes, "our group", as Mrs. Garrett states, at the end of the final scene of season 1, is Blair, Natalie, Tootie, and Sue Ann. You'd think that was a sign of things to come, but boy, viewers must have been surprised at the first episode of season 2...


I think both Sue Ann and Cindy worked well as foils for Blair.

Maybe Cindy could have eventually, but she's not believable at all in "Rough Housing" as a match for Blair. She's much too young and small to be pitted believably against Blair (at least to me, anyway).


Margie thought hotpants and bolero shirts were "pornographic", catchphrases and rollerskates were "stereotypical"

Well, I can definitely see that. Regarding the short shorts, Margie was probably thinking of that appealing to some creepy grown men too much.

Well, I can definitely see that. Regarding the short shorts, Margie was probably thinking of that appealing to some creepy grown men too much.

This is what Mary Lou Retton wore to win gold at the 1984 Olympics, in front of an audience of a half a billion. She was 16 at the time. Is it "kiddie porn"?

If not, then the shorts Julie Anne wore to do a backflip on the show are also not "kiddie porn".

You can't base wardrobe decisions on imagined creepy men. A boy is going to find a girl attractive whether or not she is wearing a tight gymnast's outfit, a pair of short shorts, or a full burqa. Write a funny, polished script and don't worry about what is going on in people's heads. If you're trying to police people's thoughts, you've already shown what's going on in your own head.

This is what Mary Lou Retton wore to win gold at the 1984 Olympics, in front of an audience of a half a billion. She was 16 at the time. Is it "kiddie porn"?

No, but that's accepted as gymnast attire. Girls can wear pants in school.


You can't base wardrobe decisions on imagined creepy men. A boy is going to find a girl attractive whether or not she is wearing a tight gymnast's outfit, a pair of short shorts, or a full burqa. Write a funny, polished script and don't worry about what is going on in people's heads. If you're trying to police people's thoughts, you've already shown what's going on in your own head.

But also, know I'm not really actively defending Margie, I'm just playing devil's advocate and saying I can see where an adult, especially a woman, would look at "showing off" these young girls in short shorts and finding a problem with it.

Regardless of the actresses, though, don't you think that the short shorts were a little extreme for underage girls on TV? I didn't like them, but I'm a female and I have a daughter that right now is high school age.

80s dude has pointed this out, above: they were the fashion at the time. I have no problem with getting rid of the hotpants and bolero shirts, but don't call them "kiddie porn". :rolleyes:

80s dude has pointed this out, above: they were the fashion at the time. I have no problem with getting rid of the hotpants and bolero shirts, but don't call them "kiddie porn". :rolleyes:

And that's something Margie could have said in that one documentary: That though it was the fashion at the time, she or they (if Linda agreed) found that inappropriate for young teenage girls on a sitcom at a boarding school. At least then she would have acknowledged they were indeed contemporary clothes.

Maybe Cindy could have eventually, but she's not believable at all in "Rough Housing" as a match for Blair. She's much too young and small to be pitted believably against Blair (at least to me, anyway).

She's not a match for Blair: I agree. She's smaller, more gentle, more quiet. There's a sensitive side to her. She's the opposite of Blair: kind, considerate, maybe even a bit naïve.

And that is why I think she made a good foil for Blair.

And that's something Margie could have said in that one documentary: That though it was the fashion at the time, she or they (if Linda agreed) found that inappropriate for young teenage girls on a sitcom at a boarding school. At least then she would have acknowledged they were indeed contemporary clothes.

Yes. But...

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

She says it again, in the new Reelz documentary.

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

She's not a match for Blair: I agree. She's smaller, more gentle, more quiet. There's a sensitive side to her. She's the opposite of Blair: kind, considerate, maybe even a bit naïve.

And that is why I think she made a good foil for Blair.

Ahh, I see what you mean. I took your meaning of "foil" in the Jo Polniaczek bullying "I'm gonna POUND YOU!" way, lol.

Yes. But...

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

She says it again, in the new Reelz documentary.

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

:rofl:

Well, um, thank you for the SPOILER alerts, but responding to me but telling me it's a spoiler??? You can't do that to me!! :lol:

BUT, I do thank you for it being such a complete general statement you made! :) Something that doesn't "ruin" anything for not having yet seen it (I was going to this weekend at my folks', but you know this thing in all the news headlines, keeping folks apart, so I didn't "go home" and didn't do much of anything, [sigh]...)

Ahh, I see what you mean. I took your meaning of "foil" in the Jo Polniaczek bullying "I'm gonna POUND YOU!" way, lol.

Foiling characters is simply a way of contrasting them: you get really defined characters that way, and it's a great writing technique to get your audience to understand the characters' differences. It isn't necessary to get the characters to clash with one another (although that certainly was the case with Blair and Jo!). I think what they did in "Rough Housing" was really effective, and we even see a mirror of it in the cotillion episode, with Blair and Jo.

The actresses own personalities seem to fit into the roles. Julie Ann seems to be a lot like Cindy if you saw her in documentaries. Nancy McKeon seems rough around the edges like Jo. She was not afraid to hold out and was said to be called "Angry Jo" by some of the producers and writers.

The actresses own personalities seem to fit into the roles.

With the exception of Lisa and Kim, I agree. Blair was a snooty rich girl, and I don't think Lisa was: Lisa was so focused on her Bible to be a snob. Tootie was a gossipy troublemaker, and I think that was the opposite of Kim.

She's not a match for Blair: I agree. She's smaller, more gentle, more quiet. There's a sensitive side to her. She's the opposite of Blair: kind, considerate, maybe even a bit naïve.

And that is why I think she made a good foil for Blair.


Oops! I think you're being a bit too harsh on BLAIR, when you say CINDY is the opposite of her: kind, considerate, naive (you make it sound like BLAIR is evil lol!). :eek:
You forget that in the end of 'Rough housing', BLAIR apologizes to CINDY and even gives her a warm hug! So you see, there is a warm and sensitive part on the normally 'snobby' BLAIR lol!:happyface

Regardless of the actresses, though, don't you think that the short shorts were a little extreme for underage girls on TV? I didn't like them, but I'm a female and I have a daughter that right now is high school age.


You seem to forget those were the late 1970 s: the disco studio 54 decade, when tight clothes was the fashion and especially for teenage girls lol!:lol:

Oops! I think you're being a bit too harsh on BLAIR, when you say CINDY is the opposite of her: kind, considerate, naive (you make it sound like BLAIR is evil lol!). :eek:
You forget that in the end of 'Rough housing', BLAIR apologizes to CINDY and even gives her a warm hug! So you see, there is a warm and sensitive part on the normally 'snobby' BLAIR lol!:happyface

Nah, Blair's not evil: she's just the "snobby rich girl with a heart of gold". Lisa's got a heart of gold, too, so that part matches up. :wave:

Another photo of what teenage girls wore at the time. It was what was popular at the time.
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b4xvHtwMXOU/XObHWszLOQI/AAAAAAAB7ng/wuZpyUFCtNwYIPlxKe3-qLubVYEYj4ZnwCLcBGAs/s1600/1980s%2BDolphin%2Bshorts%2Bteenager%2Bgirls%2B%25281%2529.jpg

Another photo of what teenage girls wore at the time. It was what was popular at the time.

Although those are older teenage girls.


Oops! I think you're being a bit too harsh on BLAIR, when you say CINDY is the opposite of her: kind, considerate, naive (you make it sound like BLAIR is evil lol!). :eek:
You forget that in the end of 'Rough housing', BLAIR apologizes to CINDY and even gives her a warm hug! So you see, there is a warm and sensitive part on the normally 'snobby' BLAIR lol!

Lol, he meant how was Blair was before the end of "Rough Housing". Up until that point in her life, she was the opposite of Cindy: rude (kind), inconsiderate (considerate), and sophisticated (naive).

Nah, Blair's not evil: she's just the "snobby rich girl with a heart of gold". Lisa's got a heart of gold, too, so that part matches up. :wave:


Very well said Retro! Thank you!:wave:

Although those are older teenage girls.




Lol, he meant how was Blair was before the end of "Rough Housing". Up until that point in her life, she was the opposite of Cindy: rude (kind), inconsiderate (considerate), and sophisticated (naive).


Yes, you're actually right: BLAIR starts to change after MRS G humbles her (when she lectures her on how badly she treats CINDY).
'Rough housing' is one of my favourite episodes on season 1, cos it's the ice breaker between the housemother and the spoiled rich girl!:lol:

It's one of my favorites because it stars my favorite Eastland student, Cindy. :)

She was adorable in that episode. So fragile, so willow-like.

Not to me (that sounds breakable.) To me she was a spunky tomboy with a sensitive side. :)