View Full Version : Did Irma Kalish do more harm than good to the series?


TMC
08-17-2020, 04:57 AM
Irma Kalish (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0435890/) was if I'm not mistaken, the showrunner for The Facts of Life during its final two seasons. So she was pretty much there during the Cloris Leachman/post-Charlotte Rae seasons. I recently started a thread (https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=393742) asking about so-called "bad" TV showrunners throughout history. I have brought up Irma Kalish before (https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/archive/index.php/t-327069.html) in here, but I didn't really go far in detail.

The main knocks that I've heard elsewhere about The Facts of Life during Irma Kalish's tenure as showrunner/executive producer is that the show began focusing on one character at a time per episode, instead of the whole gang. There would rarely if ever, even be a B-plot. She also expanded Mackenzie Astin's role by having Beverly Ann adopt Andy. And she introduced the decidedly unnecessary Pippa (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Facts_of_Life_characters#Pippa_McKenna). The point is that both Andy and Pippa naturally felt like the resident Cousin Olivers (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CousinOliver) of TFOL (https://web.archive.org/web/20070110061023/http://www.jumptheshark.com/f/factsoflife.htm).

Come Season 9 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Facts_of_Life_episodes#Season_9_(1987%E2%80%9388)), it seemed like the writers began recycling plots they had just written. For instance, Rick and Jo's dad meet and don't get along at first. A couple of episodes later, Snake and Jeff meet and don't get along at first. And a couple of episodes later, Tootie and Jeff's grandma meet and don't get along at first.

FOL-FAN-ITA
08-17-2020, 05:53 AM
Irma Kalish also wrote episodes for the last couple of seasons of Good Times and did a terrible job too

TV Guy
08-17-2020, 06:07 AM
I thought she was a terrible showrunner. I don’t understand all the love for season 8 around here. I’ll take season 7 over 8, any day, when the longtime writers and producers were still around. Season 8 and 9 are written and produced by pretty much a completely different team. But people pretty much agree that season 9 was awful. She also did such a poor job setting up the finale and follow up series that NBC declined to pick it up.

80s Dude
08-17-2020, 08:16 AM
The girls were all grown up or close to growing up as the show ended. They needed some new kids to build more plot lines around. Pippa was suppose to be in Coed Easton spinoff.

Christopher
08-17-2020, 09:35 AM
I don’t understand all the love for season 8 around here.

Season 8 is just like any other previous season. Unlike season 9, we see the girls in season 8 care about not only each other but those that come into their lives. Season 9 they're giving each other the F.U whenever someone has a problem. Most noticeable is A House Divided. Whenever two of the girls are fighting, the others get involved to help them stay friends. In A House Divided, they could care less about Natalie and Tootie fighting. Jo even said one of em could move. It was very different compared to the previous season where Jo got in the middle to offer advice to mend the fight between Natalie and Tootie. Season 8 showcases the girls strong friendship with each other.

Season 8 also shows the girls helping those around them. They were helping Beverly Ann recover from her divorce in season 8 by setting her up with a date and taking her on trips. They were also supportive when she wanted to adopt Andy. In season 9 they do a complete 180 with Pippa. Here's a foreign exchange student who they treat as a pest than a person. They were constantly pushing her out of their lives. This isn't how they acted in season 8 and years prior to someone and it surely wasn't how Mrs. Garrett taught them to treat another regardless of age difference.

Season 8 also had the girls in clothing that matched the type of character they were. Jo was always in jeans or pants. In season 9 they made Jo a girlie girl with red nail polish and skirts. They also loaded her face up with tons of makeup. That wasn't the Jo we saw the previous 7 years.

Season 9 was a whole new experience for not only the characters but viewers to see. It's like they knew going into season 8 they needed to keep things the same. When season 9 came around, they tried something different and it failed.

RetroGuy2000
08-17-2020, 10:47 AM
I thought she was a terrible showrunner. I don’t understand all the love for season 8 around here.

I feel like the first half of Season 8 was a return to classic form, in some sense. We got a strong two-parter with Mrs. Garrett, albeit the end of her character. We got the return of the Lost Girls, which never would have happened on a lesser show. The girls finally got a second bedroom in "Another Room" (that should have happened years earlier). So for me, Season 8 starts off strong, and sort of devolves near the end, but I can totally see where fans might like it.


I’ll take season 7 over 8, any day, when the longtime writers and producers were still around.

Most of the long-time writers, including Jerry Meyer, Linda Marsh, Margie Peters, and Kimberly Hill, all left after Season 6.

Jack Elinson was only around for a single Season 7 episode: "The Agent". Of the major writers, only Deidre Fay and Stuart Wolpert were left, and they hadn't started writing until Season 3.


Season 8 and 9 are written and produced by pretty much a completely different team.

No, the changes actually took place a year earlier, with the departure of Meyer, Marsh, Peters, and Hill. Season 7 saw the addition of major writers Michael Maurer, Martha Williamson, and Jane Anderson, along with several new one-off writers.

TV Guy
08-17-2020, 12:18 PM
Jack Elinson was only around for a single Season 7 episode: "The Agent". Of the major writers, only Deidre Fay and Stuart Wolpert were left, and they hadn't started writing until Season 3.

No, the changes actually took place a year earlier, with the departure of Meyer, Marsh, Peters, and Hill. Season 7 saw the addition of major writers Michael Maurer, Martha Williamson, and Jane Anderson, along with several new one-off writers.

Jack Elinson was around for more than one episode; he was the showrunner for the second half of the season, after Fay and Wolpert stepped down. Yep - there were a lot of new writers, but I should clarify - this is the last time that series vets were in charge. Season 8 is when an outsider came in to be showrunner and feels like it. I do agree that 7 feels more like 8 than 6 does. But 7 still has the girls acting like an ensemble and has some good banter. That felt like it was declining in season 8. You also had this outsider as the elder figure, and that felt contrived - she never fit in to me.

I agree that Mrs. G’s farewell was good. But Irma Kalish had not been brought in yet. Paul Haggis (a later Oscar winning writer and producer!), who started as a writer in season 6, was the showrunner for those two episodes. Then he was fired, and Richard Gurman and Katherine Green were showrunners for a few episodes. Then they were let go, and Irma Kalish was brought in. I like Haggis’ episodes in seasons 6 and 7; I wonder how the series would have felt if he had stayed.

valentina warner
08-17-2020, 07:23 PM
Jack Elinson was around for more than one episode; he was the showrunner for the second half of the season, after Fay and Wolpert stepped down. Yep - there were a lot of new writers, but I should clarify - this is the last time that series vets were in charge. Season 8 is when an outsider came in to be showrunner and feels like it. I do agree that 7 feels more like 8 than 6 does. But 7 still has the girls acting like an ensemble and has some good banter. That felt like it was declining in season 8. You also had this outsider as the elder figure, and that felt contrived - she never fit in to me.

I agree that Mrs. G’s farewell was good. But Irma Kalish had not been brought in yet. Paul Haggis (a later Oscar winning writer and producer!), who started as a writer in season 6, was the showrunner for those two episodes. Then he was fired, and Richard Gurman and Katherine Green were showrunners for a few episodes. Then they were let go, and Irma Kalish was brought in. I like Haggis’ episodes in seasons 6 and 7; I wonder how the series would have felt if he had stayed.



I strongly disagree with you on that one!!!!:bash::bash::bash:

season 7 is definitely the WORST of them all: for one, MRS G behaves like a POD all through it, and gone is the warm and bubbly 'feisty red haired' who was always the voice of the reason for the girls; the stories are completely absurd, the URCHIN ANDY character gets annoying and they ad the unnecessary character GEORGE!:livid::livid::livid:

Season 8 on the other hand has great stories and the writing is strong: i particularly like the last episode where we see the WARNERS get together (only if for a brief moment) to see their daughter graduate, and the speech she delivers instead of JO is very heartwarming.....:bighug::bighug::bighug:

But i agree: the early years (or EDNA years) are DEFINITELY the best!
The girls and MRS G become a real family, and i can understand why you would think BEVERLY ANN never fit in it: to be honest i kind of feel a bit like you in that way. I do like BEVERLY ANN, but i have always felt that the girls never quite bonded with her the way they did with MRS G; i guess it's partly because she was so different, but also maybe because they were already young adults, and didn't need any more supervision....:baby::baby::baby:

popcorn:popcorn:popcorn:

FOL-FAN-ITA
08-18-2020, 12:17 AM
Season 8 is just like any other previous season. Unlike season 9, we see the girls in season 8 care about not only each other but those that come into their lives. Season 9 they're giving each other the F.U whenever someone has a problem. Most noticeable is A House Divided. Whenever two of the girls are fighting, the others get involved to help them stay friends. In A House Divided, they could care less about Natalie and Tootie fighting. Jo even said one of em could move. It was very different compared to the previous season where Jo got in the middle to offer advice to mend the fight between Natalie and Tootie. Season 8 showcases the girls strong friendship with each other.

Season 8 also shows the girls helping those around them. They were helping Beverly Ann recover from her divorce in season 8 by setting her up with a date and taking her on trips. They were also supportive when she wanted to adopt Andy. In season 9 they do a complete 180 with Pippa. Here's a foreign exchange student who they treat as a pest than a person. They were constantly pushing her out of their lives. This isn't how they acted in season 8 and years prior to someone and it surely wasn't how Mrs. Garrett taught them to treat another regardless of age difference.

Season 8 also had the girls in clothing that matched the type of character they were. Jo was always in jeans or pants. In season 9 they made Jo a girlie girl with red nail polish and skirts. They also loaded her face up with tons of makeup. That wasn't the Jo we saw the previous 7 years.

Season 9 was a whole new experience for not only the characters but viewers to see. It's like they knew going into season 8 they needed to keep things the same. When season 9 came around, they tried something different and it failed.


I agree on everything! Season 8 is one of the best seasons, even without Mrs. Garrett

Impressions
08-19-2020, 10:43 PM
Season 9 was so bland. I felt like the chemistry was sucked out of the show at this point. The girls were cold and callous. Blair and Jo weren't themselves. Pippa and Andy didn't need to be there. Natalie, Blair, and Jo looked like they had a clown apply their make-up, and their hair looked like they had been electrocuted by the tanning bed that they had been sitting in all day.

TV Guy
08-20-2020, 12:55 PM
At least we can all agree on season 9!

valentina warner
08-20-2020, 05:02 PM
I agree that season 9 was bland (as impressionsput it), with the exception of the episode 'Rumour has it': as i was watching it today (i have now started with season 9) i liked how mature and responsible BLAIR presented herself, and the interaction between JO and her was very sweet!
I also wished the young handsome law teacher hadn't left in the end: he had a great chemistry with BLAIR, and i would have loved to see him as a possible suitor for her! (He'd be the perfect one to share his wisdom in law with her!) Nevertheless, it wasn't meant to be.....
The other thing that i also noticed, and is different from the earlier seasons is that the 4 are no longer together really: we see TOOTIE hang out with NAT, and BLAIR hang out with JO, but to me it feels as if the '4 Musketeers' have split.....

RetroGuy2000
08-24-2020, 02:42 PM
Season 9 was so bland. I felt like the chemistry was sucked out of the show at this point. The girls were cold and callous. Blair and Jo weren't themselves. Pippa and Andy didn't need to be there. Natalie, Blair, and Jo looked like they had a clown apply their make-up, and their hair looked like they had been electrocuted by the tanning bed that they had been sitting in all day.

This made me laugh, so thanks for the comments.

I recently re-watched "Something in Common" (9-13) and "Peekskill Law" (9-14). It had been many years since I had seen either of them. There were some funny scenes in "Peekskill Law" (I like the scene at dinner), and I appreciate the continuity of bringing back Blair's law professor.

In "Something in Common", Jo's hair and clothes were so fancy it looked like she had become Blair. But even worse than the clothes was the writing. The storyline was weird... Charlie and Rick were fighting, but the reason they weren't getting along from the beginning wasn't exactly clear. Rick was in a dress and Charlie didn't like that. But it should have been clear, as it was explained, that it was just for a costume party. Charlie got upset about Rick playing a joke on him, but Jo's dad, in any other episode, wouldn't have minded. They just needed him to become angry, and it just felt... false.

"Peekskill Law" started off decently enough, but ended up not good. The courtroom scene was so awkward and cheesy. Blair was trying to trick the prosecution's witness into confessing, by dressing Tootie in a widow's costume. :lol: The witness stupidly confesses his crimes, and then the big reveal is... it's actually Beverly Ann.

I feel like these two scripts were rough drafts that needed revision. With some work, they could have been really good. But they both feel rushed, and the comedy just feels forced.

Neither episode felt cohesive. I didn't feel the love between the characters. Pippa annoys the Core Four by just existing. I really wondered why they were still living together (or at least why they were living with Pippa). These characters felt so far removed from the original characters that it didn't feel believable. The courtroom scene in PL felt like something from Charles in Charge.

valentina warner
08-24-2020, 06:13 PM
This made me laugh, so thanks for the comments.

I recently re-watched "Something in Common" (9-13) and "Peekskill Law" (9-14). It had been many years since I had seen either of them. There were some funny scenes in "Peekskill Law" (I like the scene at dinner), and I appreciate the continuity of bringing back Blair's law professor.

In "Something in Common", Jo's hair and clothes were so fancy it looked like she had become Blair. But even worse than the clothes was the writing. The storyline was weird... Charlie and Rick were fighting, but the reason they weren't getting along from the beginning wasn't exactly clear. Rick was in a dress and Charlie didn't like that. But it should have been clear, as it was explained, that it was just for a costume party. Charlie got upset about Rick playing a joke on him, but Jo's dad, in any other episode, wouldn't have minded. They just needed him to become angry, and it just felt... false.

"Peekskill Law" started off decently enough, but ended up not good. The courtroom scene was so awkward and cheesy. Blair was trying to trick the prosecution's witness into confessing, by dressing Tootie in a widow's costume. The witness stupidly confesses his crimes, and then the big reveal is... it's actually Beverly Ann.

I feel like these two scripts were rough drafts that needed revision. With some work, they could have been really good. But they both feel rushed, and the comedy just feels forced.

Neither episode felt cohesive. I didn't feel the love between the characters. Pippa annoys the Core Four by just existing. I really wondered why they were still living together (or at least why they were living with Pippa). These characters felt so far removed from the original characters that it didn't feel believable. The courtroom scene in PL felt like something from Charles in Charge.




I absolutely agree with what you're saying Retro!!!!:wave:

In season 9 the chemistry between the 'Core of 4' is not the same as in the previous ones: for one, JO & BLAIR are constantlycatty and bitchy towards each other; TOOTIE & NATALIE only care about their boyfriends, and only BEVERLY ANN, PIPPA + ANDY behave warm & caring towards one another.
What's missing mostly, is the togetherness the 'Core of 4' once had: during the earlier years, they were the '4 Musketeers', always arguing and fighting, but also sharing and enjoying each other's company.....:grouphug::grouphug::grouphug:

I'm not that far on season 9 yet (i'v only started with the disc 1) so i haven't watched any of the episodes you've mentioned, nor have i seen the infamous RICK yet, but i can already tell you, that the one thing i approve of, is BLAIR's new boyfriend: CASEY is such a handsome guy wow!!! (she always get the hottest guys man!) and i now their dynamic is there ha ha! It amazes me, how BLAIR always says she's going to marry money, but she always ends of dating the paupers lol! (your basic 'poor rich girl' tale)!:love::love::love:

And yes Retro, you're also right about the 'Core of 4': they have ABSOLUTELY no consideration with PIPPA (especially JO, who was suspicious and cold towards her from the very beginning).
BEVERLY ANN on the other hand took the Australian teenage girl right under her wings (you can tell she's related to MRS G).:bighug::bighug::bighug:

TOOTIE was the kindest one (out of the 4) towards PIPPA: to my surprise, JO quite the opposite (it's like she's forgotten she was once a very rebellious teenager, just like our 'Australian chick' lol!) JO is the biggest POD ha ha!

PS: i quite like PIPPA i have to say! She's kind of cool,and i like her air of independence!

party:party:party:party:party

RetroGuy2000
08-24-2020, 06:32 PM
I absolutely agree with what you're saying Retro!!!!:wave:

In season 9 the chemistry between the 'Core of 4' is not the same as in the previous ones: for one, JO & BLAIR are constantlycatty and bitchy towards each other; TOOTIE & NATALIE only care about their boyfriends, and only BEVERLY ANN, PIPPA + ANDY behave warm & caring towards one another.

I do feel as though Beverly Ann, Andy, and Pippa make a good family unit. But the rationale of having Beverly Ann there in Peekskill was that she was there to help the girls run the store. Beverly Ann then convinces the girls, in "Something in Common", that the store... should close! What, then, is she still doing there?! She's just talked herself out of a job, and now she and her adopted son and exchange student are living in a house where she can no longer make a living. :lol:


I'm not that far on season 9 yet (i'v only started with the disc 1) so i haven't watched any of the episodes you've mentioned, nor have i seen the infamous RICK yet

When you get to that point, let us know what you think!


And yes Retro, you're also right about the 'Core of 4': they have ABSOLUTELY no consideration with PIPPA (especially JO, who was suspicious and cold towards her from the very beginning).

Yeah, Jo definitely was cold to Pippa.

Another thing I don't understand. Pippa goes upstairs to sleep on Jo's bed, irritating Jo. But Pippa knew Tootie was out of town. Why didn't she sleep in Tootie's bed?!

TMC
04-09-2021, 05:25 AM
Depending on who you ask (https://www.datalounge.com/thread/25697298-behind-closed-doors-the-facts-of-life), not only were the worst seasons of TFOL under Irma Kalish's watch, but also the two worst (http://138.197.76.185/tt0078610/The-Facts-of-Life/58c734c05ec57f0478f99f49/Worst-Episode) episodes (https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/5046-least-favorite-episodes-you-take-the-bad/) in the entire series (https://www.televisionofyore.com/the-facts-of-life.html), the introduction of Pippa and the series finale.

Christopher
04-09-2021, 06:23 AM
Depending on who you ask (https://www.datalounge.com/thread/25697298-behind-closed-doors-the-facts-of-life), not only were the worst seasons of TFOL under Irma Kalish's watch, but also the two worst (http://138.197.76.185/tt0078610/The-Facts-of-Life/58c734c05ec57f0478f99f49/Worst-Episode) episodes (https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/5046-least-favorite-episodes-you-take-the-bad/) in the entire series (https://www.televisionofyore.com/the-facts-of-life.html), the introduction of Pippa and the series finale.

That's a harsh forum of criticism for this show. For example the one fan who is sad that they own season 4. I'm not ashamed nor sad I own the series. It's the best series about friendships IMO. No other series has the chemistry like the core four in this show.

I think it's interesting a fan compared the final episode to season 4 of Glee. I always compare season 4 of Glee to Saved By The Bell The New Class because they followed the format of having new students replace the original. I guess that is what the final episode of FOL was doing. FOL really did start a lot that we see in other shows. FOL started the trend for female shows, shows with friends living together, and school shows going on with new students. Instead of criticizing the show, I'm going to stay on the side of appreciation. Just like any other show, not everyone is going to like it or accept the changes it does. Still though a lot of others do and enjoy the show for what it is.

RetroGuy2000
04-09-2021, 07:08 AM
Depending on who you ask (https://www.datalounge.com/thread/25697298-behind-closed-doors-the-facts-of-life), not only were the worst seasons of TFOL under Irma Kalish's watch, but also the two worst (http://138.197.76.185/tt0078610/The-Facts-of-Life/58c734c05ec57f0478f99f49/Worst-Episode) episodes (https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/5046-least-favorite-episodes-you-take-the-bad/) in the entire series (https://www.televisionofyore.com/the-facts-of-life.html), the introduction of Pippa and the series finale.

Yeah, as Christopher mentions, Datalounge isn't meant to be a fan site. They pride themselves in their bitchery.

80s Dude
04-09-2021, 08:47 PM
Yeah, as Christopher mentions, Datalounge isn't meant to be a fan site. They pride themselves in their bitchery.

They did post the link to your YouTube review of The Reelz Behind Closed Doors Facts of Life documentary.

RetroGuy2000
04-09-2021, 10:58 PM
They did post the link to your YouTube review of The Reelz Behind Closed Doors Facts of Life documentary.
I did see that. It's approaching 1 million views now!

Sitcommania
04-11-2021, 11:34 AM
FYI you can spot Irma Kalisz and her husband(?) as overacting extras at Senor Tacos in “Fast Food”. They’re hard to miss, expressing faux impatience as Blair runs back and forth.

FOL-FAN-ITA
04-11-2021, 02:24 PM
FYI you can spot Irma Kalisz and her husband(?) as overacting extras at Senor Tacos in “Fast Food”. They’re hard to miss, expressing faux impatience as Blair runs back and forth.

Thanks! Never knew that

RetroGuy2000
04-11-2021, 02:30 PM
FYI you can spot Irma Kalisz and her husband(?) as overacting extras at Senor Tacos in “Fast Food”. They’re hard to miss, expressing faux impatience as Blair runs back and forth.

Like ITA, I never knew that, either, and will look for them the next time that episode is in rotation.

Sitcommania
04-13-2021, 08:53 AM
Like ITA, I never knew that, either, and will look for them the next time that episode is in rotation.

I recognized her from Cast Confessions.

RetroGuy2000
04-13-2021, 12:09 PM
I recognized her from Cast Confessions.

Good eye!

TMC
08-07-2021, 07:24 PM
While I'm not here to argue or debate in regards to whether or not Season 9 (1987-88) was the worst, but it was in no small part, still a mess, don't you agree? They introduced Pippa almost midway through the season, and then gave her nothing to do. They also had Jo get engaged and married in the same episode. And the last two episodes were backdoor spinoff pilots.

RetroGuy2000
08-11-2021, 02:33 AM
While I'm not here to argue or debate in regards to whether or not Season 9 (1987-88) was the worst, but it was in no small part, still a mess, don't you agree? They introduced Pippa almost midway through the season, and then gave her nothing to do. They also had Jo get engaged and married in the same episode. And the last two episodes were backdoor spinoff pilots.

I don't mind the last two episodes being a spin-off pilot. I wish it would have been picked up.

I do mind the mess that is the rest of that season. It feels like things fell apart, with Tootie and Jo marrying men within episodes of each other (and Jo so abruptly), and Natalie leaving with not much explanation. Pippa was pretty worthless, but could have been a fun character, given competent writing. But the writing was weird, the characterizations were off, and Jo and Blair are replaced by Pod People.

On the 'pro' side: Natalie is the only character who still feels true to herself (and Mindy has excellent hair that season, and lost weight, so she looks terrific).

80s Dude
08-11-2021, 06:33 AM
I don't mind the last two episodes being a spin-off pilot. I wish it would have been picked up.

I do mind the mess that is the rest of that season. It feels like things fell apart, with Tootie and Jo marrying men within episodes of each other (and Jo so abruptly), and Natalie leaving with not much explanation. Pippa was pretty worthless, but could have been a fun character, given competent writing. But the writing was weird, the characterizations were off, and Jo and Blair are replaced by Pod People.

On the 'pro' side: Natalie is the only character who still feels true to herself (and Mindy has excellent hair that season, and lost weight, so she looks terrific).

Tootie got married on the Facts of Life?

'80sSitcoms
08-11-2021, 10:44 AM
Tootie got married on the Facts of Life?

No, he flubbed. But we cut him some slack because he rarely watches the later years. :wave:

Still: F.A.C.T. ;) :p

'80sSitcoms
08-11-2021, 10:45 AM
Pippa was pretty worthless, but could have been a fun character, given competent writing.

And given re-casting. Sherrie is like a shrinking violet and her voice is so soft and quiet and breathy, she would get lost so easily.

RetroGuy2000
08-13-2021, 01:07 AM
Tootie got married on the Facts of Life?

Nah, just engaged, although it's clear from the Reunion film that she married Jeff off-camera.

RetroGuy2000
08-13-2021, 01:10 AM
And given re-casting. Sherrie is like a shrinking violet and her voice is so soft and quiet and breathy, she would get lost so easily.

I don't have a problem with Sherrie's casting. I do wish she'd been in the Australia film, though, to provide better continuity, and an actual connection between this girl traveling halfway across the world to meet with people she'd never even met.

Lorimar Television
08-13-2021, 01:26 AM
I don't have a problem with Sherrie's casting. I do wish she'd been in the Australia film, though, to provide better continuity, and an actual connection between this girl traveling halfway across the world to meet with people she'd never even met.

Yeah I agree

RetroGuy2000
08-13-2021, 01:39 AM
Yeah I agree

Like, it just would have felt more cohesive, right? "Remember me from when you had that crazy jewel heist going on? Well, surprise, I've come to stay!"

Instead, we get a random girl no-one's seen or mentioned before, and the lame excuse that Mrs. Garrett forgot for over a year to tell anyone a girl was coming to stay with them... as if Mrs. Garrett was that irresponsible.

RetroGuy2000
09-09-2021, 08:49 AM
I note Irma Kalish has just passed on (https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/irma-kalish-dead-96-comedy-writer-maude-1235057465/). RIP.

Lorimar Television
09-12-2021, 12:59 AM
I note Irma Kalish has just passed on (https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/irma-kalish-dead-96-comedy-writer-maude-1235057465/). RIP.

Oh no :rip:

TMC
12-23-2021, 12:56 AM
I don't mind the last two episodes being a spin-off pilot. I wish it would have been picked up.

I do mind the mess that is the rest of that season. It feels like things fell apart, with Tootie and Jo marrying men within episodes of each other (and Jo so abruptly), and Natalie leaving with not much explanation. Pippa was pretty worthless, but could have been a fun character, given competent writing. But the writing was weird, the characterizations were off, and Jo and Blair are replaced by Pod People.

On the 'pro' side: Natalie is the only character who still feels true to herself (and Mindy has excellent hair that season, and lost weight, so she looks terrific).

Did the producers (Irma Kalish and company) who ran and oversaw the show towards the end, just didn't know how to write (http://www.tellytalk.net/threads/the-facts-of-life.11580/post-304573) authentic younger characters? I don't know how this exactly applies to late in the series additions like Andy and Pippa. But it can also be argued that the kids that we saw at Eastland in the last few episodes were really poorly conceived and cast - even worse than the first season girls.

valentina warner
12-23-2021, 04:46 PM
Did the producers (Irma Kalish and company) who ran and oversaw the show towards the end, just didn't know how to write (http://www.tellytalk.net/threads/the-facts-of-life.11580/post-304573) authentic younger characters? I don't know how this exactly applies to late in the series additions like Andy and Pippa. But it can also be argued that the kids that we saw at Eastland in the last few episodes were really poorly conceived and cast - even worse than the first season girls.


Oh my god i cannot believe what i'm hearing: how can you compare the weak/poor younger cast from the later seasons with the talented/dedicated LOST GIRLS??? (that URCHIN ANDY was the worst of them all, and the kids from the new Eastland generation left much to be desired!)

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