At the end, when Blair told Carl "I'll be there for you", was that in the original FOL script, or just slipped in as Friends in-joke?

I don't recall that being a part of the original script. They slipped it in, which caught me off guard. Poor attempt at being clever.

I think Jon Stewart hamming it up as Carl worked incredibly poorly, but I'm glad FOL and DS were picked to be honored on ABC. The "fact" of the matter is that NBC made millions from The Facts of Life, and it's so strange that the show has really never been honored by the network which profited from the show's broadcast. It's odd that ABC aired this, but I suppose it's the Kimmel connection (DS did air on ABC for one season).

Fun fact.(las far as honoring the show). I went on an NBC studios tour years ago and it kicked off with a page showing the group a short film about the network. It ended with a montage of NBC’s shows including Facts (it was the clip of the girls at the bathroom sink). Then there was Jimmy Fallon and Tina Fey singing a bit of the themes song at a 75th anniversary special. That’s all I can think of. I think it’s worth mentioning that the short film did not include any Golden Girls clips, probably because that show is owned by Disney, and Facts is a true NBC product. But 30 Rock had added Golden Girls to a mural in their lobby.

My favorite part was LW singing the theme song. I think Ann Dowd was great. Allison Tolman was also good as Natalie. I feel like they were the only two that understood the assignment. I don’t think Jason Bateman and Will Arnett are funny, but they do. I did think Jon Stewart was funny, though.

I think Mindy Cohn and Kim Fields came across as stand-offish, but polite.

Fun fact.(las far as honoring the show). I went on an NBC studios tour years ago and it kicked off with a page showing the group a short film about the network. It ended with a montage of NBC’s shows including Facts (it was the clip of the girls at the bathroom sink). Then there was Jimmy Fallon and Tina Fey singing a bit of the themes song at a 75th anniversary special. That’s all I can think of. I think it’s worth mentioning that the short film did not include any Golden Girls clips, probably because that show is owned by Disney, and Facts is a true NBC product. But 30 Rock had added Golden Girls to a mural in their lobby.

Thanks for this info, SM. It's cool that NBC includes FOL in their promotional montage. It's funny that Nancy McKeon complained publicly that FOL's wrap party was little more than chips and beer, while Nancy herself distances herself from the same project that made her famous.

My favorite part was LW singing the theme song.

That truly was wonderful.

I think Ann Dowd was great. Allison Tolman was also good as Natalie. I feel like they were the only two that understood the assignment.

Something definitely went wrong with the "teacher's" instructions, then. :lol: Blair's character was too bland; Jo's character was too over the top. Carl was ridiculous... but when you watch the original episode, Carl wasn't pathetic, he was just treated poorly.


I think Mindy Cohn and Kim Fields came across as stand-offish, but polite.

They are always that way. Lisa is the only Core Four member who embraces the show completely. I certainly prefer Mindy and Kim's attitude over Nancy's.

It's funny because I feel like Mindy is more endeared to Velma Dinkley, a cartoon character, than the character who brought her fame.

LISA is indeed the best looking and youthful looking one out of the bunch, and in my eyes a star: forever BLAIR/LISA! (she was plastered all over the news how people were shocked to see her looking so great still!)

:birthday::birthday::birthday::birthday::birthday::birthday::birthday::birthday

She certainly still looks amazing!

I think Jon Stewart hamming it up as Carl worked incredibly poorly, but I'm glad FOL and DS were picked to be honored on ABC. The "fact" of the matter is that NBC made millions from The Facts of Life, and it's so strange that the show has really never been honored by the network which profited from the show's broadcast. It's odd that ABC aired this, but I suppose it's the Kimmel connection (DS did air on ABC for one season).

Well, in fairness, you can also say that it was odd that there were recreations of All in the Family, The Jeffersons, and Good Times despite originally airing on CBS, not ABC. I'm kind of surprised that ABC hasn't attempted to recreate shows that actually did air on their network for the majority of their runs like the Garry Marshall-produced sitcoms of the '70s like Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy, etc.

I think Mindy Cohn and Kim Fields came across as stand-offish, but polite.

Kim's demeanor surprised me because I've seen her in recent years interviewed on Wendy Williams, and she seemed so cheerful and bubbly and chatty, and on the special she looked like she wasn't enjoying herself at all, and barely cracked a smile. She seemed happier after she plugged her movie, though. Plus her hat covered up one side of her head.

Well, in fairness, you can also say that it was odd that there were recreations of All in the Family, The Jeffersons, and Good Times despite originally airing on CBS, not ABC. I'm kind of surprised that ABC hasn't attempted to recreate shows that actually did air on their network for the majority of their runs like the Garry Marshall-produced sitcoms of the '70s like Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy, etc.

After they do One Day At a Time they have my permission to drift away from Norman Lear.

After they do One Day At a Time they have my permission to drift away from Norman Lear.

With the reboot so fresh in people's minds, do you think they would even attempt ODAAT?

https://extratv.com/2021/12/08/lisa-whelchel-reveals-why-nancy-mckeon-missed-facts-of-life-live-show/

Lisa did an interview with Extra TV on Wednesday, and she revealed why Nancy couldn't be at the live show.

Kim's demeanor surprised me because I've seen her in recent years interviewed on Wendy Williams, and she seemed so cheerful and bubbly and chatty, and on the special she looked like she wasn't enjoying herself at all, and barely cracked a smile. She seemed happier after she plugged her movie, though. Plus her hat covered up one side of her head.

Kim has a video on her instagram page where she is talking about how much she enjoyed the live in front of a studio audience. She also clarified for all the people that thought she wasn’t really into it that yes she sure was.

Hahaha!

No, no time for rearranging my furniture (and if I did, it would be the dorm common room, not the cafeteria!) :lol:

But that's out of theme! :lol:

I don't know why they moved the ice cream machine, put the pay phone in the entryway, and turned the lounge sideways, but these felt like minor details.

I told Lorsie you would be typing about this! :lol: ;) (all in good fun, lol) I suspect it was a studio spacing issue. [shrug]

Jon Stewart as Carl was terrible.

I liked him fine. :) I loved when he ad libbed and threw Will off: "That's not an insult." :lol:

"Natalie" was better than "Jo" or "Tootie".

Jo was BUTCH to the MAX. Seeing the characters through a "fresh lens", it was like, jeez, no wonder people thought Jo was gay back then. I've been so used to Jo, but seeing someone overplay the tough butchness, it's just, like wow...along with the fact that she would rather have eaten dirt than eaten with a BOY. She was so anti-male she wouldn't let one bid on her dinner! lol (how it looked anyway, lol)

So... 80s Sitcoms was correct with his prediction that the episode would be a Season 2-4 episode, so he wins one Edna's Edibles donut:
🍩
TJ was first with the correct name of the DS episode: "Willis' Privacy". He also receives one EE donut:
🍩


And I was first with the correct name of the FOL episode: "Kids Can Be Cruel". I'm giving myself an EE donut:
🍩

And now here are donuts for everyone else:
🍩🍩 🍩 🍩🍩 🍩 🍩

Haha, nice. :lol:

But wait, should I get half of your doughnut? I remember you saying the image of Blair was from KCBC, but you said just because they used that image didn't mean they were doing the episode, that it's an easily found image to use. ;)

But perhaps I shouldn't deny you a whole doughnut. :lol:

DS's set looked closer to the original than FOL's set, which was still very well done.

Still pretty dang close. And DS's wasn't perfect either; they had no room for Mrs. Garrett--the hallway behind the kitchen was blocked off by a wall! :lol:

The wallpaper looked different too.

But it was AMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAZING seeing Eastland in high def!!!!! :notworthy

And I believe we got an angle we never got before on the show?? An exterior shot looking at Blair through a cafeteria window! :eek: As far as I recall they did that on their own for this because they never (again, as far as I recall) ever did that on the show.

I've watched it 3 times so far!

I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it. I was not surprised that the episode was "Kid's Can Be Cruel." I'm not sure why they chose this episode. It was not memorable or noteworthy, but I'm glad they did an Eastland years episode.

I think it's memorable and noteworthy for its message, but that goes for a lot of their episodes. :)

Ann Dowd hit it out of the park. She was as close as you could get to Mrs. Garrett.

I've seen several people say this (the original girls themselves, on camera) but I wasn't on board as much. I think she did fine, but her voice was a little too "false" for me: It just felt a little too soft and a little too high. And I didn't think she got upset enough at the times she was supposed to be upset. She needed more "oomph" during those times. I thought she seemed more like how you'd picture Sue Ann's Kansas City grandma than New York Mrs. Garrett.


I watched the original episode prior to this airing, and they were a lot that they got wrong, some of which you all already pointed out. The big thing is Carl wearing a mouth guard instead of having zits all over his face.

I wouldn't say for that part that they "got it wrong" necessarily, but they wanted to change it for the script.


I liked how the original cast was brought in for an interview in the kitchen again, but there were a few things that irked me.

Same here!


It seemed like Kim was shamelessly promoting her movie

Yeah that did feel a little reaching.


and Jimmy Kimmel said something along the lines of Kim being the only one from the cast who was on Diff'rent Strokes, which wasn't true.

For me it was the way he said it: "And Kim, you were on FOL and DS both." He made it sound like she starred on both shows. She only appeared on DS a handful of times.

And she was never on the Drummond staircase in roller skates! So she wasn't speaking from experience. ;)


There were quite a few episodes where Lisa and Natalie appeared, noteworthy should be "The Girls' School."

Lisa was on twice, and Mindy thrice.

Also, I didn't like how when Jimmy asked the girls ("Women!") their thoughts, none of them said anything about the actresses who played their parts. Mindy just mentioned Ann, and Lisa and Kim agreed. They didn't mention anyone else at all, not even any of the guys.

That felt kinda cold to me, like in that one on-camera interview of Nancy, Lisa, and Mindy when the interviewer asked if they still keep in touch, and after a beat, Mindy said, "I keep in touch with Kim"--and not mentioning her other two sisters right beside her.


I enjoyed it, and I watched the Diff'rent Stokes episode too and loved that Todd Bridges and Snoop Dog appeared. I heard a lot of people say they liked this episode way better.

I've heard the same. Snoop was too funny in that 'fro.

And the best thing of the night was Kevin Hart. He KILLED IT (which I have also heard many other people say).

He killed it so much I didn't even care about Willis at all; Willis was just "in the way". That's how much Kevin stole the show as 45-year-old bearded 8-year-old Arnold. :rofl:

It was SO MUCH FUN watching it live and messaging with a Facts bud during the commercial breaks. And I discovered I love doing an impression of Will Arnett's chowderhead Dink Lockwood! :lol:

OMG John Lithgow was carrying Kevin Hart around (which was hilarious the first time seeing it, as a complete surprise) and he's 76!!

:eek2:

That and Kevin on his lap were hilarious! :rofl:

Yeah, I have no idea why they even changed that. Jon Stewart looked just as ridiculous with a metal mouth

My hunch is they were afraid to ask an actor if they could make up their face like that, so just wear a piece of headgear instead. [shrug]

Yeah, I have no idea why they picked the episode they did

I do -- guest stars! That's my theory, so they would have three roles to feature guys on such a female-centric show.


Tootie's part was incredibly small, and it makes no sense to get a big-name actress only to award her no lines.

She actually had more lines than you think when you watch it on your second or third showing (lol), but yeah, because everyone remembers "Tootie" it is unfortunate that the one they (presumably) picked to showcase the most male characters in a FOL episode (with such big parts) with all the female characters (7, 9 girls ;) ) just happened to be the one where Tootie had the smallest part of the Facts cast.

I think Jon Stewart hamming it up as Carl worked incredibly poorly

Jon Stewart was a clown.

I didn't see any Jon ham or clowning. I thought he underplayed it so much. I found him very sympathetic as the dejected "dork" (albeit several decades older, lol). Now, if you want some big ham and Bozo wigs, go over to Kathryn's table. She's got more ham than Mrs. Garrett can fit in her oven! :lol: I don't think she could have "hammed Jo up" any more than she did! She was chewing up the set right and left with her 'roided up Bronx bomber act.


but I'm glad FOL and DS were picked to be honored on ABC.

Me too! I didn't watch the previous "Live"s, so I'm really glad I tuned in for this one!

Viewing #4 tonight! lol popcorn: :so

I honestly don't know why they made those set alterations, as the studio audience would have seen the lounge better if it had been facing the original way. Then the payphone could have been placed in its original position. Still, this is a minor criticism, and I did get a thrill from seeing the Cafeteria and Kitchen set.

I mentioned that I'm thinking this may be due to studio space? Because they obviously know how these sets looked.


"Blair" was under-performed. I have no idea what was happening with Jennifer's lines: Blair is the one character who hams things up.

For me, Jen's most hilarious moment as Blair was in the kitchen when she went: "I....am appalled." :rofl:

Julie Anne! WAY cool! So glad she was there!

I know, when I saw that on social media, my heart was incredibly warm. :loveya: "Cindy"! Back at Eastland!!

I wish they had done something to pay her a "charter girl" honor. Maybe change Jason's line to "I'd love to bid on your dinner box, but I'm dating Cindy" or have her at the very least as a silent extra in the cafeteria during the auction scene. Or one of the three-fourths Core Four point her out at the end! (oh, that is, if they knew ahead of time she was there, lol).

'Facts of Life' star Lisa Whelchel shocks viewers more than 30 years later: 'Has not aged at all' (https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/facts-of-life-star-lisa-whelchel-shocks-viewers-more-than-30-years-later-has-not-aged-at-all-140455325.html)

Well, she did spend her school years eating Mrs. Garrett's healthful, nutritious meals and using Countess Calvet skincare products! :lol:

If they'll ever do a reboot of FOL, Ann Dowd should play Edna.

I don't quite agree (although perhaps she would be the best choice over anyone else? Charlotte was so unique) but I definitely feel that way about Kevin Hart as Arnold! :rofl:

I never really bought that business in THE LITTLE CHILL. Just seemed against character...they should have made her an Olympian.

Oh man, that would've been great!!

I don't recall that being a part of the original script. They slipped it in, which caught me off guard. Poor attempt at being clever.

I don't think they slipped it in. I think Jen did that as an ad lib.

The first moment I caught they were ad libbing was when she said "g*n*rm**s" (a "word" which I have never said and never plan to, lol). I was like, wait, what? That wasn't a thing until the 2000s, lol.

I don’t think Jason Bateman and Will Arnett are funny, but they do. I did think Jon Stewart was funny, though.

The more I watch it, the more Will cracks me up as playing Dink as such a chowderhead, lol...he's really fun to impersonate! :lol:


I think Mindy Cohn and Kim Fields came across as stand-offish, but polite.

Kim mentioning that Xmas movie...oy.... :lookaroun

With the reboot so fresh in people's minds, do you think they would even attempt ODAAT?

It's not Lear, but I'd love to see them do "Alice"! :lol:

I do wonder where they got the line "Tell him he drives ya outta yer tree!" I asked someone on social media older than me if they ever heard anyone say that back then, and they said, "No one has ever said that."

:lol:

Lisa said something very bewildering at the end.

When she talked about that feeling of "standing behind the door at the top of those steps to the kitchen waiting to come down a million times", she wasn't gesturing up the kitchen stairs as to where the girls would go up to their room. She was gesturing to her left, toward the cafeteria and back to the kitchen windows.

When watching the show you just assume they're waiting in that cafeteria entryway to come in, but maybe their dressing rooms were upstairs backstage and they had to come downstairs to enter the set? (at least the girls anyway?) I know it's common for there to be upstairs dressing rooms at studios. Very thought-provoking!

Ya know, if they had really wanted to capitalize on current politics and get the highest ratings they could, they would have done the abortion episode.

And cast Molly Ringwald as Annie!

Talk about media attention! lol

Speaking of, Retro, feel free to do one of your PhotoShop works where all 5 of the other "10, 12 girls" are standing with Lisa, Mindy, and Kim in the kitchen! ;)

Ya know, if they had really wanted to capitalize on current politics and get the highest ratings they could, they would have done the abortion episode.

And cast Molly Ringwald as Annie!

Talk about media attention! lol

Speaking of, Retro, feel free to do one of your PhotoShop works where all 5 of the other "10, 12 girls" are standing with Lisa, Mindy, and Kim in the kitchen! ;)

Kim...also clarified for all the people that thought she wasn’t really into it that yes she sure was.

She shared several photos on social media from the night which were really nice to see.

Kim has an active TV series, was promoting her recent TV movie, has minor kids. Does it occur to anyone that she may be tired?

With the reboot so fresh in people's minds, do you think they would even attempt ODAAT?

Yes, ODAAT has had the most recent success, but I don’t see that as a dealbreaker or major hurdle. In fact, for name brand recognition, it could even help.

Kim has an active TV series, was promoting her recent TV movie, has minor kids. Does it occur to anyone that she may be tired?

Agreed

Kim has an active TV series, was promoting her recent TV movie, has minor kids. Does it occur to anyone that she may be tired?

Nope! She's a celebrity! America won't let her get tired! :lol:

Kim has a video on her instagram page where she is talking about how much she enjoyed the live in front of a studio audience. She also clarified for all the people that thought she wasn’t really into it that yes she sure was.

Good to know! Thanks, JoPol!

Still pretty dang close. And DS's wasn't perfect either; they had no room for Mrs. Garrett--the hallway behind the kitchen was blocked off by a wall! :lol:

The wallpaper looked different too.

But it was AMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAZING seeing Eastland in high def!!!!! :notworthy

And I believe we got an angle we never got before on the show?? An exterior shot looking at Blair through a cafeteria window! :eek: As far as I recall they did that on their own for this because they never (again, as far as I recall) ever did that on the show.

I've watched it 3 times so far!

Yeah, the shot from outside the Eastland cafeteria window was VERY cool. GREAT point, '80s!

I didn't see any Jon ham or clowning. I thought he underplayed it so much. I found him very sympathetic as the dejected "dork" (albeit several decades older, lol). Now, if you want some big ham and Bozo wigs, go over to Kathryn's table. She's got more ham than Mrs. Garrett can fit in her oven! :lol: I don't think she could have "hammed Jo up" any more than she did! She was chewing up the set right and left with her 'roided up Bronx bomber act.


It was like the director had told Kathryn to play Jo as a parody, and then told Jennifer to downplay Blair. I don't understand why else their characters would be so far off.

Haha, nice. :lol:

But wait, should I get half of your doughnut? I remember you saying the image of Blair was from KCBC, but you said just because they used that image didn't mean they were doing the episode, that it's an easily found image to use. ;)

I identified the episode, and argued that they weren't necessarily doing the episode, because Jo's outfit did not come from that episode. But I'm also happy to split a donut with you at any time! Buns forever! Pastries to the end! :lol:

I know, when I saw that on social media, my heart was incredibly warm. :loveya: "Cindy"! Back at Eastland!!

I wish they had done something to pay her a "charter girl" honor. Maybe change Jason's line to "I'd love to bid on your dinner box, but I'm dating Cindy" or have her at the very least as a silent extra in the cafeteria during the auction scene. Or one of the three-fourths Core Four point her out at the end! (oh, that is, if they knew ahead of time she was there, lol).

I thought of the line ("I'm dating ____") being altered, as well!

And "three-fourths Core Four" is a hilarious way to phrase the Jo-less Trio. It's unfortunate that no one jumped in there to grab Julie Anne and have a fourth Eastland girl in that shot, or at least bring her in as an extra in the Cafeteria scenes, but I'm so glad she's still supporting FOL and her fellow former castmates.

It looked to me like Kim was a VERY last-minute addition to the production. She wasn't in the opening credits with Lisa and Mindy.

I told Lorsie you would be typing about this! :lol: ;) (all in good fun, lol)

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


I suspect it was a studio spacing issue. [shrug]


The lounge, maybe. But the ice cream machine?!

Yeah, the shot from outside the Eastland cafeteria window was VERY cool. GREAT point, '80s!

'Twas so neat to see!!

It was like the director had told Kathryn to play Jo as a parody, and then told Jennifer to downplay Blair. I don't understand why else their characters would be so far off.

Yeah, I was thinking of that after I made all those postings. I was like, wait a minute, why didn't the director tell them to do their best to match the characters and bring that out of them?? lol

I identified the episode, and argued that they weren't necessarily doing the episode, because Jo's outfit did not come from that episode.

Fair point! :wave:


But I'm also happy to split a donut with you at any time! Buns forever! Pastries to the end! :lol:

:lol: Touche! :cheers: (substitute doughnuts for beer :lol:)

The lounge, maybe. But the ice cream machine?!

I noticed that the little wall where the ice cream machine would've been looked narrower than the original. It looks a little wider to me in the show:

-

They’re ice cream machines? I thought they were coffee urns.

Also, Norman Lear was sporting a little ponytail, I like to think in honor of Jo. :lol:

So two of "America's treasures," Norman Lear and Betty White, are 99. My Great Aunt Holly is almost 102, but most of America doesn't know about her. :lol:

I noticed that the little wall where the ice cream machine would've been looked narrower than the original. It looks a little wider to me in the show:

-

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

I think the small wall is indeed more narrow... but it's not as though they had to get through the doorway, and the machine wouldn't have blocked most of the window alcove, either, so I think they need to move the ice cream machine back. :lol:

They’re ice cream machines? I thought they were coffee urns.

I don't know of any coffee urns like that... and why would teenage girls need that volume of coffee? Plus, when Mrs. Garrett gets coffee for Gail (the teacher), I don't remember them going to that machine.

When I was a kid, working food service, we had a soft serve machine which basically looked like this (https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-5dd8b0dab5953f0543c3bec3080c1095): two openings at the top to collect the ingredients, and then some levers on the front to dispense the delicious, tasty soft serve. So I've long believed it was an ice cream machine, but I suppose it's up to each fan to decide. Maybe a Twitter query would gather better ideas.

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

:lol:

I never even thought about what that machine might be until you referred to it as the ice cream machine! :lol:

Here is something similar, that I suppose would be used in a commercial kitchen like Eastland.

https://www.katom.com/965-RU30020.html?gclid=CjwKCAiAtdGNBhAmEiwAWxGcUrwTbzosa2VBjOh-4TpeUZjsHyV_qFQBOkcAXmRV4mD4MBW9oY-HIhoCpTcQAvD_BwE

Do agree that the girls wouldn’t need such a heavy duty coffee maker.

:lol:

I never even thought about what that machine might be until you referred to it as the ice cream machine! :lol:

I do believe it is, but it could be something else. There are two openings at the top: one for vanilla and one for chocolate. On the front, there are three levers: one for chocolate, one for vanilla, and one (in the middle) for vanilla and chocolate twist. If the machine dispenses coffee, why are there two openings at the top, but three levers on the front? One for regular, one for decaf, and then one... for half-regular, half-decaf? That seems odd.

Here is something similar, that I suppose would be used in a commercial kitchen like Eastland.

https://www.katom.com/965-RU30020.html?gclid=CjwKCAiAtdGNBhAmEiwAWxGcUrwTbzosa2VBjOh-4TpeUZjsHyV_qFQBOkcAXmRV4mD4MBW9oY-HIhoCpTcQAvD_BwE

Do agree that the girls wouldn’t need such a heavy duty coffee maker.

Excellent research, SM! Sure does look similar!

Thanks, I think it was just put there without any consideration on f the setting being a high school cafeteria. I think it would have gone over well in my high school thought. Almost everyone stopped at Dunkin’ Donuts in the morning.

So it really might be for coffee, wow! Someone should do some really detailed research into late '70s cafeteria coffee urns and ice cream machines (no later than 1980).

Thanks, I think it was just put there without any consideration on f the setting being a high school cafeteria. I think it would have gone over well in my high school thought. Almost everyone stopped at Dunkin’ Donuts in the morning.

At Eastland, many stopped over at Denny's.

They are always that way. Lisa is the only Core Four member who embraces the show completely. I certainly prefer Mindy and Kim's attitude over Nancy's.



With all due respect to the other actresses...the largely unspoken truth is that Lisa W. as Blair Warner was the STAR of the show. It's no wonder...just watching her in the backdoor pilot THE GIRL'S SCHOOL you could tell she was a standout. Blair...I dare say...stole every scene she was in from that back door pilot right up until making the last episode another back door pilot by having Blair buy Eastland...if that series had been picked up it would have cemented the fact that FOL largely revolved around Lisa and her character.

With all due respect to the other actresses...the largely unspoken truth is that Lisa W. as Blair Warner was the STAR of the show. It's no wonder...just watching her in the backdoor pilot THE GIRL'S SCHOOL you could tell she was a standout. Blair...I dare say...stole every scene she was in from that back door pilot right up until making the last episode another back door pilot by having Blair buy Eastland...if that series had been picked up it would have cemented the fact that FOL largely revolved around Lisa and her character.

Blair certainly became a star... but I have a feeling the writers were always pushing Jo: Jo was the only character who "fascinated" other characters (both Miko and Kelly openly stated this).

With all due respect to the other actresses...the largely unspoken truth is that Lisa W. as Blair Warner was the STAR of the show. It's no wonder...just watching her in the backdoor pilot THE GIRL'S SCHOOL you could tell she was a standout. Blair...I dare say...stole every scene she was in from that back door pilot right up until making the last episode another back door pilot by having Blair buy Eastland...if that series had been picked up it would have cemented the fact that FOL largely revolved around Lisa and her character.


Finally someone who agrees with me 100%: LISA as BLAIR stole the backdoor Pilot 'The girls school' (and not FELICE as NANCY as everyone else thinks) when she first interacted with MRS G, and right until the end of the show....
Well said A.C!!!!party:party:party:party:party:party:party:party:party:

I think even Blair would be the first to admit she was the star.

Yeah, I have no idea why they picked the episode they did; Tootie's part was incredibly small, and it makes no sense to get a big-name actress only to award her no lines. But it was what it was. But as you say, they did choose an episode which had a good moral.

Here’s something people on here won’t admit, though Blair and Jo have a lot of memorable episodes so does Natalie , some of the most remembered episodes are about Tootie.
‘The Runaway’, ‘Starstruck’, and ‘Green Eyed Monster’ were some of the better episodes!

Here’s something people on here won’t admit, though Blair and Jo have a lot of memorable episodes so does Natalie , some of the most remembered episodes are about Tootie.
‘The Runaway’, ‘Starstruck’, and ‘Green Eyed Monster’ were some of the better episodes!

"Runaway" and "Green-eyed Monster" are some of my faves. I also love "Gossip". Not a huge fan of "Starstruck".

It was an ensemble show at its core. Some girls had more storylines or lines but they all had their share of iconic moments, storylines, and quotes.

Not a huge fan of "Starstruck".

You may have to turn in your fan card. ;)

:lol:

You may have to turn in your fan card. ;)

:lol:

I don't think I ever had a Jermaine Jackson fan card. :lol:

I don't think I ever had a Jermaine Jackson fan card. :lol:

But we've found out more people did than we know! :lol:

(though I meant your Facts of Life fan card, lol :p)

There is one TOOTIE episode from the later seasons that no one has mentioned yet: 'Seven Little Indians' (i just remembered, how the 'Twilight Zone' guy kept repeating in each single sentence TOOTIE!)

:groucho:groucho:groucho:groucho:groucho:groucho:groucho:groucho:groucho

A look at Nancy McKeon's Instagram account gives clues why she was not there. She seems depressed and is still mourning the lost of her brother two years ago. The Live in Front of a Studio Audience was around the 2 year anniversary of Phillip's passing.

But we've found out more people did than we know! :lol:


Very true. He was way more popular than I had imagined.


(though I meant your Facts of Life fan card, lol :p)

My Facts of Life fan card is gold-level. I can eat at any Taco Bell free, for life. ;):lol:

My Facts of Life fan card is gold-level. I can eat at any Taco Bell free, for life. ;):lol:

Two demerit points for not making that a Denny’s.

Two demerit points for not making that a Denny’s.

I would go to the Denny's, but I'd be recognized! :lol:

Better to go to Taco Bell, swipe my Gold Card, and get the nachos bellgrande (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0K4sXqiOSY)!

I would go to the Denny's, but I'd be recognized! :lol:

Better to go to Taco Bell, swipe my Gold Card, and get the nachos bellgrande (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0K4sXqiOSY)!

Yeah, had a feeling there might have been an inside joke going on I wasn’t getting. Oh well.

Yeah, had a feeling there might have been an inside joke going on I wasn’t getting. Oh well.
I definitely wold like to visit THE Denny's where the girls hung out early on.

But Julie Pie has a Taco Bell gold card; she can eat there for free, for life, due to her status as the Taco Bell Girl after her Facts run ended. The commercials were a hit and made Taco Bell many millions.

My Facts of Life fan card is gold-level. I can eat at any Taco Bell free, for life. ;):lol:

:lol:

My Facts of Life fan card is uber platinum!! :D

"Green-eyed Monster" is possibly the best single episode of the whole run and I cannot figure out why.

It's mostly Natalie/Tootie, if this was the first episode you ever saw, you'd think they were the main characters and everybody else was just supporting cast. Which is fine, that's how the show worked.

A lot of times, the girls who weren't the main characters of an episode just had generic dialogue that any of them could have played, but this episode does have Jo/Blair, both as a pair and as individuals doing their own thing.

The ending is the only thing I can point to that's genuinely good. A lot of episodes had the characters just stop what they're doing and then applause/closing credits. This ending was genuinely funny.

Other episodes could have done this, have two girls who weren't the main characters argue about something the entire show, then make up after the main story is finished but then find a reason to start bickering again. That would have worked. Too bad they didn't have more episodes that ended like that.

"Green-eyed Monster" is possibly the best single episode of the whole run and I cannot figure out why.

It's mostly Natalie/Tootie, if this was the first episode you ever saw, you'd think they were the main characters and everybody else was just supporting cast. Which is fine, that's how the show worked.

A lot of times, the girls who weren't the main characters of an episode just had generic dialogue that any of them could have played, but this episode does have Jo/Blair, both as a pair and as individuals doing their own thing.

The ending is the only thing I can point to that's genuinely good. A lot of episodes had the characters just stop what they're doing and then applause/closing credits. This ending was genuinely funny.

Other episodes could have done this, have two girls who weren't the main characters argue about something the entire show, then make up after the main story is finished but then find a reason to start bickering again. That would have worked. Too bad they didn't have more episodes that ended like that.

I can see the love for "Green-Eyed Monster", and why. And it gets a lit of the Lost Girls love from me, due to Nancy's presence.

For me, the best episode is another episode from that era: "Front Page".

ABC’s replaying it tonight, if such a thing interests you.

Wow, that's awesome! :woohoo: