We all have seen episodes where the girls never leave the dorm/cafeteria/shop, and where there were no guest stars. But we've also seen episodes where the producers spent money on additional sets, outdoor locations, guest stars, and unusual taping techniques.

Discounting the TV movies, what were the episodes with the highest production values, in your opinion?

The Interview Show.

The Interview Show.

That was cool. That was recorded at Universal Studios. They did a GREAT job of making it look like Eastland: Tootie stands in front of trees where the leaves are turning yellow. Eastland girls in uniforms walk behind Natalie in the distance. I wish Blair's scenes had been taped in front of Harwood Court at Pomona, but I suppose the Eastland/Langley classroom set is okay. Jo's scene at Langley is okay, but is the only scene where the set has no connection to anything we've seen. The scenes with Mrs. Garrett in Edna's Edibles are wonderful, but I wish they hadn't used a laugh track.

That episode was intended to air in the fall, but they thought it made a better season ending. I agree, but then the fall leaves behind Tootie, and in Natalie's hand, make less sense. And of course, Natalie graduated from Eastland the previous week, so what is she doing back in her Eastland uniform? Summer school? :lol:

These criticisms aside, it is a strong episode, and one of the earliest times we saw the "confessional" style interviews we've become used to seeing with "reality" TV.

And a most wonderful moment with Mrs. Garrett touching Blair's face at the end. Not one word is needed. The only similar scene I can think of is when Mrs. Garrett half-embraces Nancy back in Season 3.

That was cool. That was recorded at Universal Studios. They did a GREAT job of making it look like Eastland: Tootie stands in front of trees where the leaves are turning yellow. Eastland girls in uniforms walk behind Natalie in the distance. I wish Blair's scenes had been taped in front of Harwood Court at Pomona, but I suppose the Eastland/Langley classroom set is okay. Jo's scene at Langley is okay, but is the only scene where the set has no connection to anything we've seen. The scenes with Mrs. Garrett in Edna's Edibles are wonderful, but I wish they hadn't used a laugh track.

That episode was intended to air in the fall, but they thought it made a better season ending. I agree, but then the fall leaves behind Tootie, and in Natalie's hand, make less sense. And of course, Natalie graduated from Eastland the previous week, so what is she doing back in her Eastland uniform? Summer school? :lol:

These criticisms aside, it is a strong episode, and one of the earliest times we saw the "confessional" style interviews we've become used to seeing with "reality" TV.

And a most wonderful moment with Mrs. Garrett touching Blair's face at the end. Not one word is needed. The only similar scene I can think of is when Mrs. Garrett half-embraces Nancy back in Season 3.

I think the Interview Show was for Charlotte Rae, through Mrs. Garrett, telling the viewers that she was ready to move on from the show. At that time she was featured a lot less and missed several episodes in Season 6.

I think the Interview Show was for Charlotte Rae, through Mrs. Garrett, telling the viewers that she was ready to move on from the show. At that time she was featured a lot less and missed several episodes in Season 6.

I do believe that may have been the intention of Mrs. Garrett's "change" monologue. Charlotte was already asking for reduced appearances by Season 6, so changes were already afoot. Somewhat similar to how Nancy/Felice doesn't get into "The Group" in what turns out to be her final episode as a regular cast member.

That was cool. That was recorded at Universal Studios. They did a GREAT job of making it look like Eastland: Tootie stands in front of trees where the leaves are turning yellow. Eastland girls in uniforms walk behind Natalie in the distance. I wish Blair's scenes had been taped in front of Harwood Court at Pomona, but I suppose the Eastland/Langley classroom set is okay. Jo's scene at Langley is okay, but is the only scene where the set has no connection to anything we've seen. The scenes with Mrs. Garrett in Edna's Edibles are wonderful, but I wish they hadn't used a laugh track.

That episode was intended to air in the fall, but they thought it made a better season ending. I agree, but then the fall leaves behind Tootie, and in Natalie's hand, make less sense. And of course, Natalie graduated from Eastland the previous week, so what is she doing back in her Eastland uniform? Summer school? :lol:

These criticisms aside, it is a strong episode, and one of the earliest times we saw the "confessional" style interviews we've become used to seeing with "reality" TV.

And a most wonderful moment with Mrs. Garrett touching Blair's face at the end. Not one word is needed. The only similar scene I can think of is when Mrs. Garrett half-embraces Nancy back in Season 3.



'The Interview Show' is one of my favourite episode of season 6 (along with 'Working it out'): on both ones are feature MRS G special moments with her 4 girls, and for me the final scene when she touches BLAIR's cheek is heartwarming and sad as well, because it's the last time she will ever be herself and have a bond with those girls, who have been in her life for 7 years.

From season 7 on, our beloved 'feisty red head' turns into a POD of herself......

:crysoup::crysoup::crysoup::crysoup::crysoup::crysoup::crysoup::crysoup::crysoup:

'The Interview Show' is one of my favourite episode of season 6 (along with 'Working it out'): on both ones are feature MRS G special moments with her 4 girls, and for me the final scene when she touches BLAIR's cheek is heartwarming and sad as well, because it's the last time she will ever be herself and have a bond with those girls, who have been in her life for 7 years.

From season 7 on, our beloved 'feisty red head' turns into a POD of herself......



Yep, both a heartwarming and sad moment. Quite bittersweet. :):(

Natalie's driver's license episode has to be right up there.

Rented a hearse, shot on location, fabricated a NYS license plate.

To me this is one of the most infamous episodes because they tried to pass off LA as Peekskill,NY.

The hearse is driving around with the orange NYS plates while everyone else has a blue California plate of the era

and trust me...living in upstate New York I can assure you there are no PALM TREES in Peekskill!

Tootie's driver's license. :wave:

Also "Cruising", and the "Sha-La-La-Sha-La-La-Sha-La-La-Las (lol), and El de Barge.

And, of course, "Down and Out in Malibu".

Natalie's driver's license episode has to be right up there.

Rented a hearse, shot on location, fabricated a NYS license plate.

To me this is one of the most infamous episodes because they tried to pass off LA as Peekskill,NY.

The hearse is driving around with the orange NYS plates while everyone else has a blue California plate of the era

and trust me...living in upstate New York I can assure you there are no PALM TREES in Peekskill!

Yeah, I would not call that "high production". They didn't seem to bother to try making the area feel like New York. They could have shot on the Universal Studios backlot in the "New York" areas; instead, as you say, they just used streets in LA.

and trust me...living in upstate New York I can assure you there are no PALM TREES in Peekskill!

Oh really?

-

;)

Tootie's driver's license. :wave:

Also "Cruising", and the "Sha-La-La-Sha-La-La-Sha-La-La-Las (lol), and El de Barge.

And, of course, "Down and Out in Malibu".

I'm not a fan of "Cruisin'". That was a Paul Haggis episode, and it's not very good. True, at least it was shot at night, so it's not so obvious it's LA and not Peekskill, but the episode feels claustrophobic. I guess that's because they keep having to refer to adventures they're having, rather than showing the adventures: we see them being pulled over, but we never even see the ticketing. We see Blair running into her acquaintance, Cathy, but we don't ever even see or hear Cathy. They keep providing exposition rather than showing us anything interesting. The whole production feels cheap. Compare this to "The Interview Show", where we actually see Jo run into some frat guys, or where we see the reporter conducting the interview.

The "Down and Out in Malibu" Richard Moll beach house set is okay, but feels kind of cheap compared to modern standards.

I'm not a fan of "Cruisin'". That was a Paul Haggis episode, and it's not very good. True, at least it was shot at night, so it's not so obvious it's LA and not Peekskill, but the episode feels claustrophobic. I guess that's because they keep having to refer to adventures they're having, rather than showing the adventures: we see them being pulled over, but we never even see the ticketing. We see Blair running into her acquaintance, Cathy, but we don't ever even see or hear Cathy. They keep providing exposition rather than showing us anything interesting. The whole production feels cheap. Compare this to "The Interview Show", where we actually see Jo run into some frat guys, or where we see the reporter conducting the interview.

Just an entire episode set in real cars is so different.


The "Down and Out in Malibu" Richard Moll beach house set is okay, but feels kind of cheap compared to modern standards.

The montage of them out in Malibu is more what I think of. Plus a huge guest star (literally and figuratively, haha) and it being a two-parter. And all those umpteen dozens of gallons of water destroying a set. :eek:

For me, the highest production value is "Rough Housing." :loveya:

Just an entire episode set in real cars is so different.


It's more unique than a lot of their "bottle episodes" set in the cafeteria or bakery, true. But they would later do another episode set at least partially in two vehicles ("Tootie Drives": first the slug bug and then the hearse), so it wasn't as unique as, say "The Interview Show", where that format (confessional) was never used again.


The montage of them out in Malibu is more what I think of. Plus a huge guest star (literally and figuratively, haha) and it being a two-parter. And all those umpteen dozens of gallons of water destroying a set. :eek:

That montage is terrible. Blair goes to a jewelry store. Tootie sees "Eddie Murphy" at Grauman's Chinese Theater. Natalie shops for t-shirts while Jo sits outside the shop. They all go to the beach and try on hats(?) The only clever part is Blair in a Mickey visor... but it should have been a cap with Mouse Ears. Then, after the montage ends, we hear that Blair thinks she saw Meryl Steep.

Grauman's Chinese Theater could have been a simply amazing locale, with the right touch. But couldn't they have brought in any actual celebrities? Not-Eddie-Murphy and Not-Meryl-Streep don't count. Surely, John Astin and Patty Duke would have appeared, considering their son was on the show. Annette Funicello, Tsa Tsa Gabor, Ricky Schroder, and Michael J Fox all had connections to The Facts of Life. But their one TV star for their Hollywood episode was Bull. The whole episode was bull. :lol:

And you're right: they must have spent a lot of money destroying a set with a thousand gallons of water. :lol:

But, of course, I understand that people will have differences of opinion on what makes a production high-value!

For me, the highest production value is "Rough Housing." :loveya:

There's something so homey and comforting about that episode. But I wouldn't describe it as "high production value"!

That montage is terrible.

Beverly Ann looks fantastic when she strikes her flamingo-like pose in her tropical dress. :clap:

I think unseen Eddie Murphy is cute because it hearkens back to season 1 Tootie with her childlike wonderment and our "belief" that it's him.

-

There's something so homey and comforting about that episode. But I wouldn't describe it as "high production value"!

I was going on a different interpretation there. I meant, for me, the highest production value of the show was hiring the immensely talented Julie Anne Haddock and putting her front and center in the first episode. ;)

[QUOTE=RetroGuy2000;5988895]It's more unique than a lot of their "bottle episodes" set in the cafeteria or bakery, true. But they would later do another episode set at least partially in two vehicles ("Tootie Drives": first the slug bug and then the hearse), so it wasn't as unique as, say "The Interview Show", where that format (confessional) was never used again.



That montage is terrible. Blair goes to a jewelry store. Tootie sees "Eddie Murphy" at Grauman's Chinese Theater. Natalie shops for t-shirts while Jo sits outside the shop. They all go to the beach and try on hats(?) The only clever part is Blair in a Mickey visor... but it should have been a cap with Mouse Ears. Then, after the montage ends, we hear that Blair thinks she saw Meryl Steep.

Grauman's Chinese Theater could have been a simply amazing locale, with the right touch. But couldn't they have brought in any actual celebrities? Not-Eddie-Murphy and Not-Meryl-Streep don't count. Surely, John Astin and Patty Duke would have appeared, considering their son was on the show. Annette Funicello, Tsa Tsa Gabor, Ricky Schroder, and Michael J Fox all had connections to The Facts of Life. But their one TV star for their Hollywood episode was Bull. The whole episode was bull. :lol:

And you're right: they must have spent a lot of money destroying a set with a thousand gallons of water. :lol:

But, of course, I understand that people will have differences of opinion on what makes a production high-value![/QUOTE
]


What's wrong with MERYL STREET???? (she's a fantastic actress who's done so many wonderful movies, Retro!

:nonono::nonono::nonono::nonono::nonono::nonono::nonono::nonono::nonono:

[QUOTE=RetroGuy2000;5988895]It's more unique than a lot of their "bottle episodes" set in the cafeteria or bakery, true. But they would later do another episode set at least partially in two vehicles ("Tootie Drives": first the slug bug and then the hearse), so it wasn't as unique as, say "The Interview Show", where that format (confessional) was never used again.



That montage is terrible. Blair goes to a jewelry store. Tootie sees "Eddie Murphy" at Grauman's Chinese Theater. Natalie shops for t-shirts while Jo sits outside the shop. They all go to the beach and try on hats(?) The only clever part is Blair in a Mickey visor... but it should have been a cap with Mouse Ears. Then, after the montage ends, we hear that Blair thinks she saw Meryl Steep.

Grauman's Chinese Theater could have been a simply amazing locale, with the right touch. But couldn't they have brought in any actual celebrities? Not-Eddie-Murphy and Not-Meryl-Streep don't count. Surely, John Astin and Patty Duke would have appeared, considering their son was on the show. Annette Funicello, Tsa Tsa Gabor, Ricky Schroder, and Michael J Fox all had connections to The Facts of Life. But their one TV star for their Hollywood episode was Bull. The whole episode was bull. :lol:

And you're right: they must have spent a lot of money destroying a set with a thousand gallons of water. :lol:

But, of course, I understand that people will have differences of opinion on what makes a production high-value![/QUOTE
]


What's wrong with MERYL STREET???? (she's a fantastic actress who's done so many wonderful movies, Retro!

:nonono::nonono::nonono::nonono::nonono::nonono::nonono::nonono::nonono:


OOPs! I meant MERYL STREEP (not street lol!)

:crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy:

[QUOTE=valentina warner;5988992]


OOPs! I meant MERYL STREEP (not street lol!)

:crazy::crazy::crazy::crazy:

There's nothing wrong with Meryl Streep or Eddie Murphy. However, the girls didn't see either one of them. What's the point of doing a two-part Hollywood episode if the only celebrity you meet is Bull from Night Court? It's like going insane over Jermaine Jackson! :lol:

I was going on a different interpretation there. I meant, for me, the highest production value of the show was hiring the immensely talented Julie Anne Haddock and putting her front and center in the first episode. ;)

Gotta admit: you've got a point about Julie Anne Haddock being immensely talented!

There's nothing wrong with Meryl Streep or Eddie Murphy. However, the girls didn't see either one of them.

They were like Michael Jackson: Too big to stoop down to appear on a television show like The Facts of Life. :snob: They were waaaaaay A List.

They might as well have tried to get Molly Ringwald. ;)


hat's the point of doing a two-part Hollywood episode if the only celebrity you meet is Bull from Night Court? It's like going insane over Jermaine Jackson! :lol:

:lol: I feel like Bull from Night Court in 1987 had more wide-ranging appeal and stardom than Jermaine Jackson in 1982. Granted, part of my waning on Jermaine is because he was so grotesquely overshadowed and outsold by MEGA STAR brother Michael.

They were like Michael Jackson: Too big to stoop down to appear on a television show like The Facts of Life. :snob: They were waaaaaay A List.

They might as well have tried to get Molly Ringwald. ;)

That would have been way cool! Of course, Molly was never going to return to her "worst job ever".


:lol: I feel like Bull from Night Court in 1987 had more wide-ranging appeal and stardom than Jermaine Jackson in 1982. Granted, part of my waning on Jermaine is because he was so grotesquely overshadowed and outsold by MEGA STAR brother Michael.

I actually didn't know this, but Jermaine's album Let's Get Serious sold nearly 1,000,000 copies in the US, reaching #6 on Billboard, and the title track reaching #9. I'm a little surprised because I don't remember him being a big name, but it feels like he was bigger than how history has remembered him. Of course, he was not only overshadowed by Michael, he was overshadowed by Janet as well.

That would have been way cool! Of course, Molly was never going to return to her "worst job ever".

It would have been great if they done an "Easter egg" for viewers and had one of the stars on the Walk of Fame be Molly's. I mean, she didn't have one, but that would've been fun, lol.


I actually didn't know this, but Jermaine's album Let's Get Serious sold nearly 1,000,000 copies in the US, reaching #6 on Billboard, and the title track reaching #9. I'm a little surprised because I don't remember him being a big name, but it feels like he was bigger than how history has remembered him. Of course, he was not only overshadowed by Michael, he was overshadowed by Janet as well.

Wow, I just skimmed his discography as well, and yeah, he was definitely more successful than our collective conscious remembers. I used to think it was a sad joke they just lowered the bar and got Jermaine instead of Michael (but, well, most anyone is gonna seem "bar-lowered" compared to 1982 Michael Jackson).

It would have been great if they done an "Easter egg" for viewers and had one of the stars on the Walk of Fame be Molly's. I mean, she didn't have one, but that would've been fun, lol.


Kinda weird that Molly doesn't have a star on the Walk of Fame. But I agree: that would have been cool.


Wow, I just skimmed his discography as well, and yeah, he was definitely more successful than our collective conscious remembers. I used to think it was a sad joke they just lowered the bar and got Jermaine instead of Michael (but, well, most anyone is gonna seem "bar-lowered" compared to 1982 Michael Jackson).

Yeah, good point. I mean, no one was bigger than MJ at that time.

JERMAINE JACKSON was definitely big (although not as famous and popular as his brother MICHAEL) and i remember listening to all his songs on the radio, and especially: 'And when the rain begins to fall around 1985 or something....

Whereas i have never heard or seeing before that millionaire guy who put JO in jail in the episode 'Down in Malibu' lol!

So i'd say JERMAINE JACKSON music was definitely a hit too at the time!

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

JERMAINE JACKSON was definitely big (although not as famous and popular as his brother MICHAEL) and i remember listening to all his songs on the radio, and especially: 'And when the rain begins to fall around 1985 or something....

Whereas i have never heard or seeing before that millionaire guy who put JO in jail in the episode 'Down in Malibu' lol!

So i'd say JERMAINE JACKSON music was definitely a hit too at the time!

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

Oh, Richard Moll wasn't a millionaire; he was a TV star who played Bull on Night Court.

Oh, Richard Moll wasn't a millionaire; he was a TV star who played Bull on Night Court.

By 1988, Richard Moll was probably a millionaire.

By 1988, Richard Moll was probably a millionaire.

Yeah, but his claim to fame wasn't "millionaire" any more than Lisa Whelchel or Mindy Cohn were known for their money. They were all sitcom stars.

Whereas i have never heard or seeing before that millionaire guy who put JO in jail in the episode 'Down in Malibu' lol!

:lol: FOL never did all that impressively in prime time ratings, whereas Night Court was #11 in season 3 and #7 for seasons 4 and 5.

But I have a feeling FOL did more impressive numbers in daytime syndication.

Facts of Life is like Star Trek and the Brady Bunch. Did better in syndication than when it was on in prime time.

Facts of Life is like Star Trek and the Brady Bunch. Did better in syndication than when it was on in prime time.

Thanks to all of us kids who grew up with it.

But I have a feeling FOL did more impressive numbers in daytime syndication.

I don't think its syndicated numbers ever beat the primetime numbers, but I do believe the show was clearly a hit in syndication.

I don't think its syndicated numbers ever beat the primetime numbers, but I do believe the show was clearly a hit in syndication.

Oh, I see I wasn't clear. As the kids say, "My bad." :lol:

I meant that I think FOL got higher numbers in daytime syndication than NC did.

("Night Court," not "North Carolina" :lol: )

Oh, I see I wasn't clear. As the kids say, "My bad." :lol:

I meant that I think FOL got higher numbers in daytime syndication than NC did.

("Night Court," not "North Carolina" :lol: )

Understood now! Yeah, I don't remember seeing NC in syndication as much as FOL.

Those two episodes set in Florida, in season 6

Those two episodes set in Florida, in season 6

They clearly spent some money on the "Natalie's grandmother's condo", "Spring Break bar", and "Blair's father's private plane" sets, but I wish they had shot on location. The only scenes of Florida were stock footage.

And these two episodes really set the stage for the big changes that were to come: the change from Edna's homey Edibles to the weird "pastel and neon" era of the show, which is not my favorite. No Mrs. Garrett, only one brief scene in EE, and a focus on the odd "slice of life" stuff they thought was so important to tell: throwing a party with extras in Ft. Lauderdale and superficial relationships with guys we'd never see or hear from again. These episodes were a product of their time, but feel flat in retrospect. They captured the essence of the 1980s, but felt pretty soulless. I do have to say, though, that "She is in a Different World", the song Flyman performs, is a pretty cool slice of the 1980s.

They clearly spent some money on the "Natalie's grandmother's condo", "Spring Break bar", and "Blair's father's private plane" sets, but I wish they had shot on location. The only scenes of Florida were stock footage.

And these two episodes really set the stage for the big changes that were to come: the change from Edna's homey Edibles to the weird "pastel and neon" era of the show, which is not my favorite. No Mrs. Garrett, only one brief scene in EE, and a focus on the odd "slice of life" stuff they thought was so important to tell: throwing a party with extras in Ft. Lauderdale and superficial relationships with guys we'd never see or hear from again. These episodes were a product of their time, but feel flat in retrospect. They captured the essence of the 1980s, but felt pretty soulless. I do have to say, though, that "She is in a Different World", the song Flyman performs, is a pretty cool slice of the 1980s.


I'm not a huge fan of that episode but, as you say, it set the stage for the next evolution of the show. The girls, for the first time in their lives, were alone, Mrs. Garrett wasn't there. In retrospect, it showed that the girls were adults at that point and were ready for a new life without their longtime friend and mentor

I'm not a huge fan of that episode but, as you say, it set the stage for the next evolution of the show. The girls, for the first time in their lives, were alone, Mrs. Garrett wasn't there. In retrospect, it showed that the girls were adults at that point and were ready for a new life without their longtime friend and mentor

Yeah, no more getting sage advice from their wise mentor. No more late-night trips to Mrs. Garrett's room for her pearls of wisdom. I wish they had delayed those changes longer, until maybe Season 9, so that Charlotte might have felt as though she was still needed on the show.

Yeah, no more getting sage advice from their wise mentor. No more late-night trips to Mrs. Garrett's room for her pearls of wisdom. I wish they had delayed those changes longer, until maybe Season 9, so that Charlotte might have felt as though she was still needed on the show.

It must not have been easy for Charlotte. What the writers did to her character during the seventh year was unforgivable, they treated Mrs. Garrett like a clown, and that was a huge mistake. At least we have seven seasons with her, a season and a half on another show, two guest appearences and two movies :lol:

It must not have been easy for Charlotte. What the writers did to her character during the seventh year was unforgivable, they treated Mrs. Garrett like a clown, and that was a huge mistake. At least we have seven seasons with her, a season and a half on another show, two guest appearences and two movies :lol:

I guess it will always be one of those chicken/egg debates: Charlotte felt like she wasn't needed anymore, so they reduced her role. But it seems like she felt like she wasn't needed anymore... because they reduced her role.

This was at a very strange time in TV history: the Facts of Life was busy embracing every possible young, hip '80s fad, relegating its older star to brief cameos. Meanwhile, the Golden Girls, at the same studio and same network, was collecting awards and big Nielsen Ratings for its depiction of four older women.

It must not have been easy for Charlotte. What the writers did to her character during the seventh year was unforgivable, they treated Mrs. Garrett like a clown, and that was a huge mistake. At least we have seven seasons with her, a season and a half on another show, two guest appearences and two movies :lol:


Very well said FOL FAN ITA!:wave:

The new writers did really treat MRS G like a complete clown, which is the main reason why season 7 is the only one i don't own....

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