Do you consider the Slumber Party the honorary 14th episode of Season 1, even though it's a Different Strokes episode?

The honorary 14th, yes.

Interesting, I guess technically. I'd consider Girls School the first ep more so though since it takes place at East(lake)

Interesting, I guess technically. I'd consider Girls School the first ep more so though since it takes place at East(lake)

Interesting. I always consider that "episode zero".

Interesting. I always consider that "episode zero".

Haha well yes zero works I guess

The Girls School is like a totally different universe. The name of the school is different, 5 of the characters are there, but they are nothing like what they became in the series.

I consider TGS something like The Facts of Life Demo :lol:

As 80s said, things were different. The name of the school, the characters, Mrs. Garrett was still a housekeeper, Natalie was absent...

The Girls School is like a totally different universe. The name of the school is different, 5 of the characters are there, but they are nothing like what they became in the series.

They are somewhat how they are in the series. Molly Parker has the first of her "speed monologues" she has written for her in season 1. And Blair's snobbishness is there. And Tootie is, well, the baby, lol. And Nancy actually was a character here, until she was "de-characterized" for season 1, sadly (until invisible Roger "shows up" to help, lol).


As 80s said, things were different. The name of the school, the characters, Mrs. Garrett was still a housekeeper, Natalie was absent...

More notably*, Cindy was absent!

*(since she's my favorite ;) )

They are somewhat how they are in the series. Molly Parker has the first of her "speed monologues" she has written for her in season 1. And Blair's snobbishness is there. And Tootie is, well, the baby, lol. And Nancy actually was a character here, until she was "de-characterized" for season 1, sadly (until invisible Roger "shows up" to help, lol).




More notably*, Cindy was absent!

*(since she's my favorite ;) )

From the Reelz documentary, it sounded like Julie Anne tried for for Sue Ann (a country bumpkin) and then they decided to make a character based on Julie Anne's athleticism and tomboy tendencies.

They are somewhat how they are in the series. Molly Parker has the first of her "speed monologues" she has written for her in season 1. And Blair's snobbishness is there. And Tootie is, well, the baby, lol. And Nancy actually was a character here, until she was "de-characterized" for season 1, sadly (until invisible Roger "shows up" to help, lol).

Nice list, '80s! I agree and would only add the following:

5. There are still clashes between Blair and Sue Ann; they kept that.
6. Nancy is still interested in acting; we see her involved in the school play as late as Season Three.
7. Tootie is the one constantly getting into trouble, a theme throughout Season One.
8. Sue Ann's insecurity seems to be there from the very beginning.
9. They kept yellow as the primary color for the athletic uniforms.
10. They kept the set.

...So it wasn't really a different universe, but several important tweaks (slight name change of the school, slight change to the uniforms, fleshing out some of the characters, "letting go" of Jennifer and Laura and replacing them with Natalie and Cindy, replacing the crazy headmaster and adding a teacher, and reducing the number of girls from dozens to "ten, twelve" ;) ).

We actually can see the evolution between the pilot and the series just by looking at the script, with the addition, and apparent hasty removal, of Miss Bruner. The "seeds" of Miss Mahoney were already there, although we never saw her on camera. She hadn't yet blossomed into camera-hood. :lol:

Nice list, '80s! I agree and would only add the following:

5. There are still clashes between Blair and Sue Ann; they kept that.
6. Nancy is still interested in acting; we see her involved in the school play as late as Season Three.
7. Tootie is the one constantly getting into trouble, a theme throughout Season One.
8. Sue Ann's insecurity seems to be there from the very beginning.
9. They kept yellow as the primary color for the athletic uniforms.
10. They kept the set.

...So it wasn't really a different universe, but several important tweaks (slight name change of the school, slight change to the uniforms, fleshing out some of the characters, "letting go" of Jennifer and Laura and replacing them with Natalie and Cindy, replacing the crazy headmaster and adding a teacher, and reducing the number of girls from dozens to "ten, twelve" ;) ).

We actually can see the evolution between the pilot and the series just by looking at the script, with the addition, and apparent hasty removal, of Miss Bruner. The "seeds" of Miss Mahoney were already there, although we never saw her on camera. She hadn't yet blossomed into camera-hood. :lol:

Good analysis!

But I feel we can't say they "replaced" Jennifer and Laura with Cindy and Natalie. According to Eve Brandstein, there were only 5 core girls: Nancy, Blair, Sue Ann, Molly, and Tootie. So going by that, maybe they just thought they'd give a couple of other girls in this ridiculously over-crowded dorm a few lines for more "realism"? (after all, they didn't even bother to create character names for these two "extra girls").

We also can't say "dozens", as there are 23 girls. But that is minus 1 away from 2 dozen, so you're VERRRRRRRRRRRY close. :D

Miss Mahoney would appreciate your seed analogy as we know she teaches science as part of her curriculum. :lol:

Good analysis!

But I feel we can't say they "replaced" Jennifer and Laura with Cindy and Natalie. According to Eve Brandstein, there were only 5 core girls: Nancy, Blair, Sue Ann, Molly, and Tootie. So going by that, maybe they just thought they'd give a couple of other girls in this ridiculously over-crowded dorm a few lines for more "realism"? (after all, they didn't even bother to create character names for these two "extra girls").

I absolutely see what you're saying, but we do actually see these "lost-est girls" credited in the GS script; they're more than just extras. They're incorporated into the credits of both the script and the closing credits. So whether or not they were intended to stay, they did get removed and in some ways replaced by two other, much more complex characters.

It's the same conversation we could have about Jo "replacing" the Lost Girls: you can take the position that Jo replaced all four of them, or she only replaced Cindy and Sue Ann, because she didn't really have the attributes of Molly or Nancy. Or you can take the position that no-one could replace the Lost Girls, because they have a special place in the Golden Years of Eastland. All of these can be argued, but there's no 100% right or wrong answer: it's personal interpretation.


We also can't say "dozens", as there are 23 girls. But that is minus 1 away from 2 dozen, so you're VERRRRRRRRRRRY close. :D

:lol::lol::lol::lol:


Miss Mahoney would appreciate your seed analogy as we know she teaches science as part of her curriculum. :lol:

I almost used the term "burgeoning", but at the last minute thought of Cindy's father's flower analogy. :lol:

I thought of two more important things they kept:

11. The basic premise that Mrs. Garrett would have to fight an always-wrong headmaster for supervision of her charges
12. Crossovers between DS and FOL

I absolutely see what you're saying, but we do actually see these "lost-est girls" credited in the GS script; they're more than just extras. They're incorporated into the credits of both the script and the closing credits. So whether or not they were intended to stay, they did get removed and in some ways replaced by two other, much more complex characters.

I didn't say they were actual "extras" (since they speak), I said they were "extra girls". I know they're in the closing credits because that's where we see the "unbelievable coincidence" that their characters' names are their actual real life names, lol. My point was just that I don't think we can say Cindy and Natalie "replaced" them in the sense of main characters, as there were only 5 to begin with; Cin and Nat were added on. But I do see the "romance" in wanting to do think of it that way, lol, since it's "2 girls" and "2 girls".


It's the same conversation we could have about Jo "replacing" the Lost Girls: you can take the position that Jo replaced all four of them, or she only replaced Cindy and Sue Ann, because she didn't really have the attributes of Molly or Nancy.

Though Jo did have strong divorce/daddy issues like Molly.

And she spoke on a phone, like Nancy. ;)


I almost used the term "burgeoning", but at the last minute thought of Cindy's father's flower analogy. :lol:

I love Cindy's dad! I wish we could have met him! :lol:

I didn't say they were actual "extras" (since they speak), I said they were "extra girls". I know they're in the closing credits because that's where we see the "unbelievable coincidence" that their characters' names are their actual real life names, lol. My point was just that I don't think we can say Cindy and Natalie "replaced" them in the sense of main characters, as there were only 5 to begin with; Cin and Nat were added on. But I do see the "romance" in wanting to do think of it that way, lol, since it's "2 girls" and "2 girls".

I totally see what you are saying, as well.


Though Jo did have strong divorce/daddy issues like Molly.

And she spoke on a phone, like Nancy. ;)

:lol::lol::lol::lol: That last one feels like a stretch. Might as well say she had a boyfriend, like Nancy.


I love Cindy's dad! I wish we could have met him! :lol:

Yeah, it's really a shame they didn't explore that. Maybe if NBC hadn't wasted its efforts on doomed series between September and March, we would have gotten a full 22-24-episode order of FOL for Season One, and then we could have met Cindy's dad and step-mom; Sue Ann's mom, dad, and Tiger; Molly's mom and brother; Nancy's mom and dad; and Natalie's sister (with actual lines!) and brother.

:lol::lol::lol::lol: That last one feels like a stretch. Might as well say she had a boyfriend, like Nancy.

My gosh, you're right--and Jo went to a private girls' school--like Nancy! And had long brown hair--like Nancy! And she had clashes with Blair--like Nancy! It's uncanny! They're practically the same character! Jo is really "Nancy II"! ;) :lol:


Molly's mom and brother; Nancy's mom and dad; and Natalie's sister (with actual lines!) and brother.

If Molly had a brother on FOL. That's a very interesting question. Because he was written of on DS, but never on FOL (I personally maintain Molly is an only child, as I feel sure if she'd had a brother in the FOL universe that her dad would've said something like "Your mother and I still love you and your brother just as much as we always did" or Molly would have whined, "What about me and (brother's name)? You don't care about us!", something like that).

My gosh, you're right--and Jo went to a private girls' school--like Nancy! And had long brown hair--like Nancy! And she had clashes with Blair--like Nancy! It's uncanny! They're practically the same character! Jo is really "Nancy II"! ;) :lol:




If Molly had a brother on FOL. That's a very interesting question. Because he was written of on DS, but never on FOL (I personally maintain Molly is an only child, as I feel sure if she'd had a brother in the FOL universe that her dad would've said something like "Your mother and I still love you and your brother just as much as we always did" or Molly would have whined, "What about me and (brother's name)? You don't care about us!", something like that).

Molly's brother could have been grown up like Natalie's sister or away at college.

I didn't say they were actual "extras" (since they speak), I said they were "extra girls". I know they're in the closing credits because that's where we see the "unbelievable coincidence" that their characters' names are their actual real life names, lol. My point was just that I don't think we can say Cindy and Natalie "replaced" them in the sense of main characters, as there were only 5 to begin with; Cin and Nat were added on. But I do see the "romance" in wanting to do think of it that way, lol, since it's "2 girls" and "2 girls".




Though Jo did have strong divorce/daddy issues like Molly.

And she spoke on a phone, like Nancy. ;)




I love Cindy's dad! I wish we could have met him! :lol:

Molly's traits got split between Tootie and Natalie. Tootie got Molly's wardrobe and hair cut.

Hahahaha. Thank god she didn’t get Molly’s ukulele.

Hahahaha. Thank god she didn’t get Molly’s ukulele.

Molly took that home with her.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDsV3hIDP1e/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

It's funny how some people think that Molly's guitar was a ukulele, but it was actually a small guitar.

It's funny how some people think that Molly's guitar was a ukulele, but it was actually a small guitar.

It's a four string instrument that she used on both the show and is at her house 40 years later (probably not the same one, but a replacement). Not sure what an ukulele is defined as. Nice to see she has something in her home that she used on the show 40 years earlier.

It's funny how some people think that Molly's guitar was a ukulele, but it was actually a small guitar.

I think it's justified that people think that, whether true or not. This Yahoo article (https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/blogs/stop-the-presses/molly-ringwald-talks-jazz-album-simple-minds-cover-235100696.html) refers to Molly Parker's instrument as a ukulele:


To countless admirers in the '80s, she was Claire, the popular princess with the infamous hands-free lipstick-application technique. Or Sam, the birthday-girl-next-door who won the heart of the ultimate BMOC, Jake Ryan. Or Andie, the original Etsy girl who made it cool to wear a deconstructed DIY dress to the prom. Or even little Molly Parker, the plucky boarding-school student who plucked a ukulele on "The Facts Of Life." But to most, she was just Molly Ringwald. She was that special girl who captured the hearts of America's Blanes and Duckies alike--"your former teenage crush," according to the bio on her own Twitter page (https://twitter.com/mollyringwald).

Inquisitr, too, referred to Molly Parker's instrument as a ukulele:


Ringwald’s acting career began with the hit series The Facts of Life in 1979 as the red-headed, ukulele playing character Molly. The series was a spin-off of Diff’rent Strokes and featured Charlotte Rae as the wise house mother at the fictional boarding school, Eastland School for Girls, where teenage girls addressed real life problems from dating to dieting. Sadly for Ringwald, after the first season, the show was re-vamped and the cast was whittled down to four main girls and our favorite red-head didn’t make the cut.

In 2016, Molly brought a ukulele to an interview with Slate, and said this:


Interviewer: I noticed you have with you today—is that a banjo?
Molly: It’s a ukulele.
Interviewer: What is that for?
Molly: I just like to play it. It’s sort of relaxing to play. I just like to have it, I don’t know, backstage. I mean, I don’t play it that well, but I like to have it. Just a few chords—basically songs that have chords that I can play.


Now, I take no position on whether it was a small guitar or a ukulele, but I think there may be valid arguments on both sides.

Interesting. I see it referred to as a guitar elsewhere in search results, and they call it a guitar in "Overachieving". She asks Mrs. Garrett to tune her guitar, not her ukulele. In my "Facts"-iverse I maintain it's a child-sized guitar until we hear official word declaring otherwise. To me, a ukulele sounds much higher and pluckier, and is noticeably smaller.

I have never watched the episode 'Slumber party',but 'The girl's school' was definitely a cross over from FOL, and absolutely the same universe, or as far as i would say: the first episode from season 1 lol!
The Pilothas all the ingredients foreseen for FOL:
A new housemother needed to rule an all girl's school
A very rebellious and bully BLAIR WARNER
A gullible and kind hearted SUE ANN
A popular and talented actress NANCY
A gossipy TOOTIE
A smart and curious MOLLY
And an eccentric headmaster!

I have never watched the episode 'Slumber party',but 'The girl's school' was definitely a cross over from FOL, and absolutely the same universe, or as far as i would say: the first episode from season 1 lol!
The Pilothas all the ingredients foreseen for FOL:
A new housemother needed to rule an all girl's school
A very rebellious and bully BLAIR WARNER
A gullible and kind hearted SUE ANN
A popular and talented actress NANCY
A gossipy TOOTIE
A smart and curious MOLLY
And an eccentric headmaster!

I don't think Tootie took on her gossip persona in "Girls School". Molly definitely didn't have her social justice warrior persona Nancy O. went from wanting to be an actress to wanting to be a psychiatrist.

My gosh, you're right--and Jo went to a private girls' school--like Nancy! And had long brown hair--like Nancy! And she had clashes with Blair--like Nancy! It's uncanny! They're practically the same character! Jo is really "Nancy II"! ;) :lol:

:lol::lol::lol::lol:


If Molly had a brother on FOL. That's a very interesting question. Because he was written of on DS, but never on FOL (I personally maintain Molly is an only child, as I feel sure if she'd had a brother in the FOL universe that her dad would've said something like "Your mother and I still love you and your brother just as much as we always did" or Molly would have whined, "What about me and (brother's name)? You don't care about us!", something like that).

Good points, but in the same episode, they refer to "staying together for the sake of the kids".

And if Molly Parker is based on Molly Ringwald (and we know she is, with her interest in playing music, singing, social justice, and even her name), then why wouldn't Molly P have the same number of siblings as Molly R? A brother and a sister.

Just food for thought...

I have never watched the episode 'Slumber party'

Whhhhaaaat? It's on Daily Motion. You could be watching it right now!

Interesting. I see it referred to as a guitar elsewhere in search results, and they call it a guitar in "Overachieving". She asks Mrs. Garrett to tune her guitar, not her ukulele. In my "Facts"-iverse I maintain it's a child-sized guitar until we hear official word declaring otherwise. To me, a ukulele sounds much higher and pluckier, and is noticeably smaller.

You are right that they refer to it as a guitar in "O", and of course it's there in the script as well. I take no position in the "guitar vs. ukulele" debate. I always believed it was a guitar, but there are arguments for uke as well. Just mentioning some of those reasons.

Also, if it's truly a ukulele, I will have to reword a bunch of poems, songs, and limericks, and I don't want to do that, because 'ukulele' is a hard to word to rhyme! :lol::lol::lol::lol:

Whhhhaaaat? It's on Daily Motion. You could be watching it right now!



:yeahthat:yeahthat:yeahthat:yeahthat:yeahthat:yeahthat:yeahthat:yeahthat

Good points, but in the same episode, they refer to "staying together for the sake of the kids".

Mrs. Garrett says that, but in general context of the act itself, not specifically about Molly: "Oh, no. That's that terrible game called 'Staying together for the kids'. You pretend nothing's wrong, then everybody's miserable!"


And if Molly Parker is based on Molly Ringwald (and we know she is, with her interest in playing music, singing, social justice, and even her name), then why wouldn't Molly P have the same number of siblings as Molly R? A brother and a sister.

Why would she? Basing personality characteristics on an actor is different than copying their family.

And looking at the writing, Molly was not given a brother by the FOL writers. "The Slumber Party" was written by Fred S. Fox and Seaman Jacobs, who never wrote for FOL.


Just food for thought...

Yes, yet another fan-interpreted detail of this malleable series. If you want her to have a brother, you can, but in my "Facts"-iverse she's an only child except for this one May 1980 DS episode.

Maybe Molly's brother was in college and not home much. He just happened to be home when the 4 younger Eastland girls and Kimberly were going to have the slumber party at Molly's place so they switched it to the Drummond place.

Maybe Molly's brother was in college and not home much. He just happened to be home when the 4 younger Eastland girls and Kimberly were going to have the slumber party at Molly's place so they switched it to the Drummond place.

Yes, if Molly were established to have a brother in the FOL universe, that's the way I would most be welcome to the idea.

Mrs. Garrett says that, but in general context of the act itself, not specifically about Molly: "Oh, no. That's that terrible game called 'Staying together for the kids'. You pretend nothing's wrong, then everybody's miserable!"

Why would she? Basing personality characteristics on an actor is different than copying their family.

And looking at the writing, Molly was not given a brother by the FOL writers. "The Slumber Party" was written by Fred S. Fox and Seaman Jacobs, who never wrote for FOL.

All completely valid, and succinct, points. I don't disagree with any of them.

And yet, we know episodes of "Hello Larry" were repackaged as "Diff'rent Strokes". "The Girls' School" now appears on FOL DVDs. Some of the edges of different series have blended together, in the case of DS and its spin-offs.

I guess we all have what we consider as canonical.


Yes, yet another fan-interpreted detail of this malleable series. If you want her to have a brother, you can, but in my "Facts"-iverse she's an only child except for this one May 1980 DS episode.

Unless it's flat-out contradicted by something in another episode, I can consider it canon. That's why I cannot consider episodes like "Write or Wrong" canon: what it establishes is ignored just a half a dozen episodes later.

GS has five FOL regulars: Nancy, Sue Ann, Molly, Blair and Tootie. Slumber party only has four mains with Molly and Tootie reappearing plus Natalie and Cindy making their DS debuts.