In reading the script for Molly's Holiday in the group, I saw a line about Natalie asking Dr. Parker (while showing her braces) if it was OK if she could hit her brother for calling her metal mouth and Buick face.

While Kim Fields openly acknowledged her braces in Seasons 3 to 5 and was not shy about having Tootie written in as having them as well, we never see Natalie acknowledging having braces, though we can see them. We also never hear anything about Natalie having a brother at all in the series.

In reading the script for Molly's Holiday in the group, I saw a line about Natalie asking Dr. Parker (while showing her braces) if it was OK if she could hit her brother for calling her metal mouth and Buick face.

While Kim Fields openly acknowledged her braces in Seasons 3 to 5 and was not shy about having Tootie written in as having them as well, we never see Natalie acknowledging having braces, though we can see them. We also never hear anything about Natalie having a brother at all in the series.

Ah, yes! Natalie's disappearing siblings! It's interesting that Nat's brother is written out before he even makes it into show canon, and her sister only exists, briefly, in Season One. I really wonder why the decision was made to turn Natalie into an only child, especially when show canon had already established she had a sister.

I guess when there was no longer a reason to stall Dr. Parker, there was no need for Natalie to talk to him about her braces. I think this script might be the Season One script with the most changes between the original script and the final taping.

Ah, yes! Natalie's disappearing siblings! It's interesting that Nat's brother is written out before he even makes it into show canon, and her sister only exists, briefly, in Season One. I really wonder why the decision was made to turn Natalie into an only child, especially when show canon had already established she had a sister.

I guess when there was no longer a reason to stall Dr. Parker, there was no need for Natalie to talk to him about her braces. I think this script might be the Season One script with the most changes between the original script and the final taping.

Mindy may have been sensitive about wearing braces and her parents may have objected them being referenced to.

I would have loved to have seen Mindy's real sister play Natalie's sister. After all she appeared in the graduation episode.

I think this is Mindy's sister. She does resemble Mindy's face.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNdcltBqUqU

I think this is Mindy's sister. She does resemble Mindy's face.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNdcltBqUqU

Yep, that's her! She really does resemble her more famous sister.

Mindy may have been sensitive about wearing braces and her parents may have objected them being referenced to.

I would have loved to have seen Mindy's real sister play Natalie's sister. After all she appeared in the graduation episode.

I would have loved that. after all, if Chip Fields could play Tootie's mom, why couldn't Mindy's real sister have played Natalie's sister?

Ah, yes! Natalie's disappearing siblings! It's interesting that Nat's brother is written out before he even makes it into show canon, and her sister only exists, briefly, in Season One. I really wonder why the decision was made to turn Natalie into an only child, especially when show canon had already established she had a sister.

I guess when there was no longer a reason to stall Dr. Parker, there was no need for Natalie to talk to him about her braces. I think this script might be the Season One script with the most changes between the original script and the final taping.



After the revamp, the writers seem to have forgotten the girls true personality: BLAIR went from rebellious/adventurous to snobbish/fashion crazy, and there was hardly any mention of her artistic talents; TOOTIE went from being a sassy/cheeky to being a whiny/dramatic kid who was 12 years old forever!
And finally, NAT went from being a introvert/shy girl with tons of siblings, to suddenly develop writing/journalism abilities....

The inconsistency was pretty obvious after season 2 began....

:typing::typing::typing::typing::typing::typing::typing::typing::typing::typing:

Ah, yes! Natalie's disappearing siblings! It's interesting that Nat's brother is written out before he even makes it into show canon, and her sister only exists, briefly, in Season One. I really wonder why the decision was made to turn Natalie into an only child, especially when show canon had already established she had a sister.

I guess when there was no longer a reason to stall Dr. Parker, there was no need for Natalie to talk to him about her braces. I think this script might be the Season One script with the most changes between the original script and the final taping.

I think they actually show Natalie’s sister in Overachieving. Mr. Bradley tells the girls not to ask embarrassing questions like they did to Natalie’s sister, and they cut to some speakers sitting on the sofa. One has a scarf around her neck like a flight attendant would wear. Right? I haven’t watched that one in a while. She also mentions the sister in Americanization of Miko. Then they forgot about her.

When did Natalie/Mindy have braces? I never noticed them.

I think they actually show Natalie’s sister in Overachieving. Mr. Bradley tells the girls not to ask embarrassing questions like they did to Natalie’s sister, and they cut to some speakers sitting on the sofa. One has a scarf around her neck like a flight attendant would wear. Right? I haven’t watched that one in a while.

Yes, her sister is seen in "Overachieving" (no lines, though, weirdly). [SIZE=2]That's why I mentioned her sister only exists, briefly, in Season One.


She also mentions the sister in Americanization of Miko. Then they forgot about her.

Wait... there's a mention of Natalie's sister in TAoM?! Nice find! Weird, then, that she becomes an only child later on.

When did Natalie/Mindy have braces? I never noticed them.

You can see them in several episodes of Season 1. Pretty sure they've visible in "Overachieving".

I thought Nat wore a wire retainer for a few episodes. I think writers always want to have at least one teen character needing orthodontic treatment so they can write in the metal mouth jokes.

I thought Nat wore a wire retainer for a few episodes.

I'm pretty sure we see this for both Nat and Toot.

Yes, her sister is seen in "Overachieving" (no lines, though, weirdly). [SIZE=2]That's why I mentioned her sister only exists, briefly, in Season One.



Wait... there's a mention of Natalie's sister in TAoM?! Nice find! Weird, then, that she becomes an only child later on.

Yep, I think she says something about her sister getting an infection after Getty her ears pierced. Something like that.

I am glad that they left out the part of Molly not wanting to eat meat and worried about mercury. This episode focused on her personal life and was not the time for her sociopolitical rants.

Ironically Molly Ringwald's 11 year old twins seem to be taking after their mother's TV character when she was 11/12.

and her sister only exists, briefly, in Season One. I really wonder why the decision was made to turn Natalie into an only child, especially when show canon had already established she had a sister.

Hmm, but is she explicitly referred to later as an only child? I'm running "Dearest Mommie" in my head and I can't recall any lines stating that as a flat out fact. It can be inferred, of course, but I just can't think of a definite reference.

They made 3 of the 4 Core Four only childs. Blair had no siblings (The Eve Plumb character was a step sister), Jo didn't. Natalie's sister got Judy Winslowed. Tootie's brother ended being Chuck Cunninghamed. I don't recall Tootie ever being referred to as a lonely child.

The ironic thing is that Mindy's real sister appeared in the graduation episode. Since she is older than Mindy, why not have her play Natalie's sister?

Hmm, but is she explicitly referred to later as an only child? I'm running "Dearest Mommie" in my head and I can't recall any lines stating that as a flat out fact. It can be inferred, of course, but I just can't think of a definite reference.

I don't think there is definite reference, either. But if a character spends more than 100 episodes not mentioning a sibling, I think it's safe to say they've been "Chuck Cunninghammed". :lol:

Tootie's brother ended being Chuck Cunninghamed. I don't recall Tootie ever being referred to as a lonely child.

No, Tootie has at least 2 brothers. She says so in "Who Am I?" She mentions her "brothers" at home. Actually I think she does say 2 brothers.


The ironic thing is that Mindy's real sister appeared in the graduation episode. Since she is older than Mindy, why not have her play Natalie's sister?

I don't think there is definite reference, either.

I mentioned this elsewhere last year, but I'm almost sure Natalie does mention her sister in a cafeteria season. It's when there's a visitor in the cafeteria and the girls are standing near the lounge entrance.

It would have been interesting if one of more of the girls had sisters who went to Eastland.

It would have been interesting if one of more of the girls had sisters who went to Eastland.

That would have been cool... but NBC execs already thought there were "too many girls" and told producers to "pick four. Forget everybody else".