Which girl do you think was most visible, or most popular, prior to being cast on The Facts of Life?

I would say Julie Pie. She was much more visible on the New Mickey Mouse Club than Lisa.

Probably Kim Fields. She had been a regular on Baby, I'm Back. Plus she had been in a couple of episodes of Good Times. I think that her Mork & Mindy appearance was pre-FOL too. Not to mention her Mrs. Butterworth commercials.

Some excellent answers so far.

I wondered if there wasn't a more objective way to look at this.

I checked IMDB and some theater sites. I disregarded commercials, as there don't appear to be sources for most of the girls' many commercials. I also disregarded the modeling, which wasn't entirely relevant.

IMDB says:

Mindy appeared in:
Nothing
...for a total of 0 roles/episodes

Felice appeared in:
Just Posing
...for a total of 1 role/episode

Nancy appeared in:
ABC Weekend Specials - 4 episodes before her first FOL episode
Thundarr the Barbarian - 1 episode before her first FOL
Alice - 1 episode before her first FOL episode
Stone - 3 episodes
The Love Boat - 1 episode
Scooby-Doo
Stone (TV movie)
A Question of Love
Fantasy Island - 1 episode
Starsky and Hutch - 1 episode
...for a total of 15 roles/episodes

Julie Anne appeared in:
Dirty Sally - 1 episode
The World Through the Eyes of Children
Mulligan's Stew - 7 episodes
Wonder Woman - 1 episode
Little House - 1 episode
Hello Larry - 1 episode
Like Normal People
Salvage 1 - 1 episode
The Great Santini
Scavenger Hunt
...for a total of 16 roles/episodes

Kim appeared in:
Have I Got a Christmas For You
Baby I'm Back! - 13 episodes
Roots: The Next Generation - 1 episode
Good Times - 2 episodes
...for a total of 17 roles/episodes

Molly appeared in:
The New Mickey Mouse Club - 1 episode
Annie in San Francisco - 112 appearances (14 weeks, 8 performances per week (https://www.abouttheartists.com/productions/119569-annie-second-national-tour-at-curran-theatre-and-others-1978-1982))
...for a total of 113 roles/appearances

Julie Pie appeared in:
The Magical World of Disney - 1 episode
The New Mickey Mouse Club - 130 episodes*
...for a total of 131 roles/episodes

Lisa Whelchel appeared in:
The Double McGuffin
The Magical World of Disney - 3 episodes
The New Mickey Mouse Club - 130 episodes*
...for a total of 134 roles/episodes

* IMBD doesn't list most of their episodes. This site (http://www.skooldays.com/categories/saturday/sa1704.htm) says 130 episodes of The New Mickey Mouse Club were produced circa 1977-1978. Lisa and Julie were regular performers. Molly made a guest appearance.

Probably Kim Fields. She had been a regular on Baby, I'm Back. Plus she had been in a couple of episodes of Good Times. I think that her Mork & Mindy appearance was pre-FOL too. Not to mention her Mrs. Butterworth commercials.

Lisa agreed with you, stating that Kim had more experience than all the rest of the girls combined.

I didn't include her Mork and Mindy appearance above, as it aired in November 1979, well after the first four episodes of FOL (August-September 1979) and the DS backdoor pilot (May 1979) aired. But Kim was definitely a hot commodity!

I would say Julie Pie. She was much more visible on the New Mickey Mouse Club than Lisa.

I wish there was a good source for who appeared on each episode of The New Mickey Mouse Club. IMDB's page is ridiculously incomplete.

Probably Kim Fields. She had been a regular on Baby, I'm Back. Plus she had been in a couple of episodes of Good Times. I think that her Mork & Mindy appearance was pre-FOL too. Not to mention her Mrs. Butterworth commercials.I did not know she was on Mork and Mindy, what episode?

It is an interesting question. For instance, America saw Kim in Mrs. Butterworth ads on TV, but only an extremely small percentage of America saw Molly in "Annie".

Nancy appeared in:
Stone - 3 episodes
The Love Boat - 1 episode
Scooby-Doo
Stone (TV movie)
A Question of Love
Fantasy Island - 1 episode
Starsky and Hutch - 1 episode
...for a total of 9 roles/episodes

Don't forget "Alice"! She was a Thanksgiving orphan before she was Jo from da Bronx.

Probably Kim Fields. She had been a regular on Baby, I'm Back. Plus she had been in a couple of episodes of Good Times. I think that her Mork & Mindy appearance was pre-FOL too. Not to mention her Mrs. Butterworth commercials.

Plus, her mom, Chip Fields was already an established actress.

Don't forget "Alice"! She was a Thanksgiving orphan before she was Jo from da Bronx.

Thanks; I fixed the entry, adding in her first Alice appearance, four Weekend Specials, and an appearance on Thundarr the Barbarian, all which aired before her first FOL episode aired (but which I didn't spot because of how IMDB lists episodes: by an actor's most recent appearance: she had later appearances on all of those shows).

It is an interesting question. For instance, America saw Kim in Mrs. Butterworth ads on TV, but only an extremely small percentage of America saw Molly in "Annie".

Right. Unless someone was in San Francisco and saw a specific play, they never would have recognized Molly as Kate in Annie, and probably not even then. BUT it's likely that someone people would have recognized Kim as the Mrs. Butterworth girl from the commercial.

Thanks; I fixed the entry, adding in her first Alice appearance, four Weekend Specials, and an appearance on Thundarr the Barbarian, all which aired before her first FOL episode aired (but which I didn't spot because of how IMDB lists episodes: by an actor's most recent appearance: she had later appearances on all of those shows).

She also was voiced the girl in "The Trouble With Miss Switch" although that was just her voice of course, lol (or maybe that's one of the Weekend Specials you're counting?)

Plus, her mom, Chip Fields was already an established actress.

Yeah, I imagine having an experienced mother was a huge help for Kim, not to mention likely opening a few doors.

She also was voiced the girl in "The Trouble With Miss Switch" although that was just her voice of course, lol (or maybe that's one of the Weekend Specials you're counting?)

Yep. I added her Weekend Specials... at least the four that aired before "The New Girl".

I did not know she was on Mork and Mindy, what episode?

"Mork's Health Hints" She played a hospital patient named Pattie. Apparently this was a second season episode. I didn't realize it was after FOL had already premiered.

I never knew that KIM was on 'ROOTS', and i watched it on DVD before: what part was she in? (i remember seeing TODD BRIDGES on a small part though)....

PS: i know that JULIE PIE was a hit on the 'Mickey Mouse Club' and a lot more outspoken than the shy LISA then, but once LISA was introduced on the PILOT of FOL as BLAIR WARNER, she broke out of her shell and became an instant hit!

I never knew that KIM was on 'ROOTS', and i watched it on DVD before: what part was she in? (i remember seeing TODD BRIDGES on a small part though)....

she wasn't on Roots. She was on Roots: The Next Generation. I imagine she was the girl with the bio-electronic engineered visor over her eyes. :lol:

I wish there was a good source for who appeared on each episode of The New Mickey Mouse Club. IMDB's page is ridiculously incomplete.

Based on the few New Mickey Mouse Club shows I've seen (on YouTube). Julie Pie was one of the main leaders of the kids while Lisa got Nancied in many of them. Perhaps at the time, Julie Pie was the tallest kid. But as we know, she didn't end up very tall as an adult (Lisa wasn't tall either).

Based on the few New Mickey Mouse Club shows I've seen (on YouTube). Julie Pie was one of the main leaders of the kids while Lisa got Nancied in many of them.

That was sort of my impression as well, but I'd like a larger sample to compare. I watched the NMMC when I was a small child, but I remember very little.

That was sort of my impression as well, but I'd like a larger sample to compare. I watched the NMMC when I was a small child, but I remember very little.

You can find some full episodes on YouTube.

I would say Lisa, Julie and Kim were the most famous. Molly, Julie Anne and Nancy also had notable roles but not as famous as The New Mickey Mouse Club or Good Times.

You can find some full episodes on YouTube.

I have watched a few, but there don't appear to be very many.

I would say Lisa, Julie and Kim were the most famous. Molly, Julie Anne and Nancy also had notable roles but not as famous as The New Mickey Mouse Club or Good Times.

Yeah, Good Times was a major CBS hit, reaching #7 during the 1974-1975 season. By the time Kim was on the show, Good Times had dropped to #91, but still millions of viewers had seen her in her two appearances.

The New Mickey Mouse Club was a syndicated series, not seen in many areas of the US, so it was definitely less visible than Good Times.

Were any of these series shown in Italy, ITA?

What about in the UK, Valentina?

Based on the few New Mickey Mouse Club shows I've seen (on YouTube). Julie Pie was one of the main leaders of the kids while Lisa got Nancied in many of them. Perhaps at the time, Julie Pie was the tallest kid. But as we know, she didn't end up very tall as an adult (Lisa wasn't tall either).



LISA may have been the NANCY FELICE SCHACHTER was on FOL in 'The Mickey Mouse Club'(while SUE ANN was the star instead) but once she was introduced in the Pilot 'Girls school' as a back pilot for FOL, she became a star overnight!!!!

:drummer::drummer::drummer::drummer::drummer::drummer::drummer:

Were any of these series shown in Italy, ITA?

Only Good Times aired here in Italy during the 80s, it was often said to be Maude's spin off. I remember I was really confused, Florida's husband was named Henry on Maude but became James on Good Times so I don't consider it a proper spin off like DS/FOL

Only Good Times aired here in Italy during the 80s, it was often said to be Maude's spin off. I remember I was really confused, Florida's husband was named Henry on Maude but became James on Good Times so I don't consider it a proper spin off like DS/FOL

Yeah, there were continuity issues. I honestly wonder why the need for those alterations.

LISA may have been the NANCY FELICE SCHACHTER was on FOL in 'The Mickey Mouse Club'(while SUE ANN was the star instead) but once she was introduced in the Pilot 'Girls school' as a back pilot for FOL, she became a star overnight!!!!



Imagine if Lisa hadn't read the line about Julie Piekarski's posterior condescendingly!

In other words, Julie Piekarski's posterior had a major impact on The Facts of Life! :lol:

Imagine if Lisa hadn't read the line about Julie Piekarski's posterior condescendingly!

In other words, Julie Piekarski's posterior had a major impact on The Facts of Life! :lol:

:rofl:

Yeah, there were continuity issues. I honestly wonder why the need for those alterations.

I really don't understand. It's so confusing :lol::wave:

Imagine if Lisa hadn't read the line about Julie Piekarski's posterior condescendingly!

In other words, Julie Piekarski's posterior had a major impact on The Facts of Life! :lol:


You are so damn right Retro!:wave:

If LISA hadn't read those lines so condescendingly, her dynamic with MRS G wouldn't have worked: she used exactly that same attitude towards 'our feisty red head', when she ignored her handshake and told her that in her home Housekeepers knew their place ha ha!

:guitar::guitar::guitar::guitar::guitar::guitar::guitar::guitar::guitar::guitar:

You are so damn right Retro!:wave:

If LISA hadn't read those lines so condescendingly, her dynamic with MRS G wouldn't have worked: she used exactly that same attitude towards 'our feisty red head', when she ignored her handshake and told her that in her home Housekeepers knew their place ha ha!


Yes; Lisa's delivery was brilliant, and changed the producers' idea for her character.

But... without Julie Pie's butt, there would be nothing for Lisa to look condescendingly at.

"Lisa, explain us the origins of Blair"
"Ask Julie Piekarski's butt" :lol::lol:

A bigger question is why was Lisa so interested in Julie Pie's butt?

A bigger question is why was Lisa so interested in Julie Pie's butt?

Boy, is she "strange"! :lol:

"Lisa, explain us the origins of Blair"
"Ask Julie Piekarski's butt" :lol::lol:

You just made me spit my coffee, ITA!

:spit:

Boy, is she "strange"! :lol:


Are you turning the tables on LISA, Retro!!! (it should have been CINDY's job to get back at her lol!)

:bouncers:bouncers:bouncers:bouncers:bouncers:bouncers:bouncers:bouncers

OOPs! I meant JULIE ANN (CINDY vs BLAIR)

You just made me spit my coffee, ITA!

:spit:

Haha!

You just made me spit my coffee, ITA!

:spit:

I'm sorry, Retro :angel:

You just made me spit my coffee, ITA!

:spit:

Haha! It's so hard to picture you doing that! :lol:

Haha! It's so hard to picture you doing that! :lol:

What about tea? :lol: