Didn't it seem like that many at the time, gave her a pass due to her "tough girl from the Bronx" background, even though she really should have been called out on her myopic point of views as much as Blair was?

Correct. She certainly was judgemental when Cliff became a male stripper and Cliff wasn't Jo's boyfriend.

Didn't it seem like that many at the time, gave her a pass due to her "tough girl from the Bronx" background, even though she really should have been called out on her myopic point of views as much as Blair was?

My god, yes. Jo often went overboard. How many times did she say, "Look, where I'm from..." followed by a narrow-minded point of view on the subject of the day. That narrow-mindedness got her into a lot of trouble. For example, when she decided that her teacher, Gail, just decided to go to another school. She didn't give Gail a chance to explain, and likely missed out on weeks where they could have talked before Gail had to leave. Not only did Jo hurt Gail with that narrow-mindedness, she hurt herself.

Season 2 Jo started out really well. She wasn't a bully or obnoxious. She was just a girl with an attitude that was likable. Season 3 - 5 Jo is the worst. I don't know why they changed her so much at the beginning of season 3. She went from the tough girl to a bulldog. The writers really wanted her butch. Look at Fear Strikes Back when she's in the self defense class. They didn't want viewers seeing a girl in Jo anymore; they wanted you to see her as a man. The level of arrogance the writers added to her at times turned you off of liking her. Season 5 in the episode All or Nothing was her worst moment ever. She staged a fight in Mrs. Garrett's shop to prove a point to the school board she is right and they were wrong over the scoreboard. If customers had been there and got hurt, they would have sued and put Mrs. Garrett out of business. Jo didn't care. I like when season 6 started they tamed her down. She started acting like the season 2 Jo where she has an attitude but she cares what goes on around her. She grew up a lot in season 6 and continued developing through season 8. Season 9, Jo was a completely different character. I think a lot of that is on Nancy because she didn't care about the show the last year. She had stopped rejecting stories for Jo and just went with the flow until she could say sayonara to everyone.

Yep Jo was a judgmental pain

Didn't it seem like that many at the time, gave her a pass due to her "tough girl from the Bronx" background, even though she really should have been called out on her myopic point of views as much as Blair was?
I wanted to smack Jo in the episode "Just My Bill." She was very judgmental in that one. The way she treated that guy and his wealthy parents was despicable.

I wanted to smack Jo in the episode "Just My Bill." She was very judgmental in that one. The way she treated that guy and his wealthy parents was despicable.

"Just My Bill" and "The Rich Aren't Different". Come on, Jo! Don't treat people poorly just because they have money!

"Just My Bill" and "The Rich Aren't Different". Come on, Jo! Don't treat people poorly just because they have money!

That is one of many things that turned me off about Jo.

My father worked as maintenance for a boys prep school. While he had a comfortable earmings because of a union and over time, he wasn't rich. That didn't stop me from playing basketball with some of the students at the school and getting invited events that had food that my family would never eat allowed me to learn about other cultures. I grew up most closely like Sue Ann on the show. My father was a farmer until he got tired of being tied down all the time.

That is one of many things that turned me off about Jo.

My father worked as maintenance for a boys prep school. While he had a comfortable earmings because of a union and over time, he wasn't rich. That didn't stop me from playing basketball with some of the students at the school and getting invited events that had food that my family would never eat allowed me to learn about other cultures. I grew up most closely like Sue Ann on the show. My father was a farmer until he got tired of being tied down all the time.

Wow! '80sSitcoms' father was also a farmer.

My father was not a farmer, but we were definitely farm-adjacent during most of my growing-up years (we did live for one year in the Los Angeles area: I lived for part of second grade in Garden Grove, and part of third grade in two places in Anaheim). We usually lived in very rural areas, so the change to LA was a very big culture shock. I grew up being raised very similar to Sue Ann's family's belief system. We certainly would have judged Blair's mother for staying out all night (strange that Justin Branch gets a pass, but those were very different times).

"The Rich Aren't Different". Come on, Jo! Don't treat people poorly just because they have money!

How about how Blair treats people when she damages someone's personal item? In The Way We Were, Blair broke Jo's carburetor and never apologized. Blair treated Jo like a charity case handing her a blank check and acting like all was fine. There are two sides to this story but you guys always seem to leave out how Blair acts towards others when mentioning this episode. I can see why Jo behaved the way she did to Blair in that episode, but at least Jo apologized to Blair. That's something Blair, a rich person, never does when she breaks something of other's. She hands out money and expects that to fix everything. I don't think this particular Jo was out of line with how she responded to Blair in this episode. I don't think season 6 Jo would have treated other rich people the way she treated Blair. The way Jo responded was based on previous actions between the two.

How about how Blair treats people when she damages someone's personal item? In The Way We Were, Blair broke Jo's carburetor and never apologized. Blair treated Jo like a charity case handing her a blank check and acting like all was fine.

Blair acted thoughtlessly, but we expect Blair to act thoughtlessly. We expect more of Jo. When she treats others poorly due to their class, we realize how she's just treating others poorly due to their social status.

How about how Blair treats people when she damages someone's personal item? In The Way We Were, Blair broke Jo's carburetor and never apologized. Blair treated Jo like a charity case handing her a blank check and acting like all was fine. There are two sides to this story but you guys always seem to leave out how Blair acts towards others when mentioning this episode. I can see why Jo behaved the way she did to Blair in that episode, but at least Jo apologized to Blair. That's something Blair, a rich person, never does when she breaks something of other's. She hands out money and expects that to fix everything. I don't think this particular Jo was out of line with how she responded to Blair in this episode. I don't think season 6 Jo would have treated other rich people the way she treated Blair. The way Jo responded was based on previous actions between the two.



I agree, those 2 had such dynamics/chemistry and opposites attracts at the same time: it's like JO was trying hard to get BLAIR to see her her point of view on how she should stop being flippant and materialistic! (in a way, she wanted so badly to show her the real world outside her bubble world)...
They really were soul sisters lol!

:candle::candle::candle::candle::candle::candle::candle::candle::candle:

Not in hindsight from me. I KNEW the minute she showed up wither her bike and chip on her shoulder the size of Manhattan. The show would never be the same or as good once Jo entered the picture.

Not in hindsight from me. I KNEW the minute she showed up wither her bike and chip on her shoulder the size of Manhattan. The show would never be the same or as good once Jo entered the picture.



The show was already good with BLAIR and SUE ANN on it lol!

:cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer:

Blair acted thoughtlessly, but we expect Blair to act thoughtlessly. We expect more of Jo. When she treats others poorly due to their class, we realize how she's just treating others poorly due to their social status.

That's not what Jo was doing in this episode. She was pointing out a way Blair acts and she has a point. Blair is very materialistic. Blair never has shown herself as a person. She's always shown herself as a rich girl from a proper family with connections. That goes back in season 1 with the way Blair has acted. Jo wasn't targeting rich people in this episode; just Blair and that's what we expect from Jo since she was introduced. I don't think saying sorry and having remorse is a lot to ask from Blair when she knows she's done something wrong. She was a hypocrite towards Jo in this episode. She expects others to show her respect when they damage her things but she doesn't need to do the same. Instead, she writes a check thinking money is all people care about or want. There's a lot to Rich Aren't Different but it's never discussed when pointing out Jo's behavior in the episode.


I agree, those 2 had such dynamics/chemistry and opposites attracts at the same time: it's like JO was trying hard to get BLAIR to see her her point of view on how she should stop being flippant and materialistic! (in a way, she wanted so badly to show her the real world outside her bubble world)...
They really were soul sisters lol!

Exactly. Rich Aren't Different is about a situation between Blair and Jo, not how Jo thinks rich people are. Blair has always displayed herself in a certain way. Jo was pointing that out. I love Blair but she should know if she wants respect for her property, she needs to also respect other people's property. Treating people like money will solve the issue is insulting. People deserve a sincere apology and that's something Blair hasn't done prior to this episode. Remember her response to the van in The New Girl? She arrogantly says, "my mother will cover the cost". No remorse, just throw money at it and treat it like a problem that will go away. Jo's seen this kind of behavior for 4 years from Blair so that's why I don't look at her actions in a negative view in RAD.

That's not what Jo was doing in this episode. She was pointing out a way Blair acts and she has a point. Blair is very materialistic. Blair never has shown herself as a person.

Oh, I must disagree, there. Blair opens herself up on many occasions. And it was Jo, not Blair, who was acting thoughtlessly in "The Rich Aren't Different". The fact that Blair had to take Jo to court says it all.

Oh, I must disagree, there. Blair opens herself up on many occasions. And it was Jo, not Blair, who was acting thoughtlessly in "The Rich Aren't Different". The fact that Blair had to take Jo to court says it all.

And you don't think it's hypocritical Blair expects people to apologize to her for damaging her things but she doesn't feel the need to do the same?

And you don't think it's hypocritical Blair expects people to apologize to her for damaging her things but she doesn't feel the need to do the same?

No, I feel as though Blair was taking the '80s approach to life: pay for things you've broken.

Jo wasn't apologetic, AND she wasn't going to pay for Blair's broken watch.

Jo wasn't apologetic, AND she wasn't going to pay for Blair's broken watch.

Anyone who saw this episode knows Jo did apologize and did offer to buy Blair a new one. Blair said no and that's when Jo started pointing out how Blair is. Why Blair took Jo to court is stupid because once Tootie and Natalie testified Jo offered to buy Blair a new one and Blair said no, Jo automatically wins her case. The lawsuit would have been seen as retaliation from Blair because she didn't feel respected. It's hypocritical since Blair never apologizes to anyone she breaks things from and instead throws money at it thinking it's all better.

Anyone who saw this episode knows Jo did apologize and did offer to buy Blair a new one.

Jo saying sorry and then immediately cracking a joke is not a real apology. Jo says it's no great loss, and claims Blair won't miss it because Blair has other watches. She's so out of line, there. She didn't even ask to borrow it. She got an attitude: "oh, no, she's down to eleven watches!" Jo's reaction to Jo breaking Blair's watch is so rude.

Jo saying sorry and then immediately cracking a joke is not a real apology.

She said "I'm sorry, I'll get you a new one." Blair replied, "nah, it's alright." I agree Jo should have stopped there but Blair was getting upset when she shouldn't. She doesn't show remorse when she breaks people's things. Why is she expecting people to show her remorse? Blair was playing victim big time here and if she really wanted Jo to show her respect, she would have accepted Jo's offer to buy her a new watch or come to a compromise. Blair taking Jo to court was petty given prior interactions between them over similar situations.

She said "I'm sorry, I'll get you a new one." Blair replied, "nah, it's alright." I agree Jo should have stopped there

Yeah, that should have been the end of it. But then Jo turns around... and turns into a complete jerk. Throwing around the number of watches Blair has, as if borrowing a watch and breaking it has anything to do with the number of Blair's watches. Jo comes across as jealous.


but Blair was getting upset when she shouldn't. She doesn't show remorse when she breaks people's things. Why is she expecting people to show her remorse?

Because if Jo had broken Tootie's watch, Jo would have acted completely differently. Heck, if Jo had broken a stranger's watch, she would have been apologetic.

I think Retro has a point there: if JO had broken anybody else's watch, she wouldn't have been so defensive (her rivalry with BLAIR always comes in between them, and they cannot help clashing!)

I have seen the rivalry between 2 main characters so many times (one of them with Johnny Lawrence and Daniel Larusso from COBRA KAI for instance) and even though there is normally a deep friendship between them, they will always try to compete with one another: it's inevitable lol!

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

I think Retro has a point there

Yes, Jo just does not come off good to many of us in this episode.

I watched "The Christmas Show" last week and forgot what a jerk Jo was there. It's like "Ain't Miss Beholden". Yeah, we get it, you have pride and you refuse to take money from Blair. But AMB was help to continue her education so she wouldn't have to drop out of high school, and TCS was a gift so she could see her mother in Florida for Christmas. I find it annoying when Jo gets so strongly on her pride horse.

So the point you all are making is it's ok for Blair to break people's things, never apologize for it, throw money at it even when the person says no, and act very callous over the situation. It's not ok for Jo to break Blair's watch, say she's sorry and offers to buy her a new one when Blair starts to get hypocritical over it demanding an apology, and then gets sued by Blair even though Blair made a verbal agreement in front of witnesses that Jo doesn't have to buy her a new one. I can see why Jo did go off on Blair because when Blair broke her carburetor, Blair didn't listen to Jo when she said money will not fix the problem. Even Natalie said it was a bad move what Blair did handing Jo a blank check. If Blair was more compassionate about other people's belongings, Jo wouldn't have responded the way she did. She would have treated Blair the same as anyone else. But because Blair is "we'll buy a new one" when she breaks something, Jo automatically assumed it was no big deal with the watch and didn't understand why Blair was behaving that way. I get season 1 fans hate and are jealous of Jo's success in the show, but at least look back on previous situations when judging Jo for something she does.

So the point you all are making is it's ok for Blair to break people's things, never apologize for it, throw money at it even when the person says no, and act very callous over the situation.

I don't believe anyone here said anything about it being okay for Blair to do the things she does; we certainly expect her to throw money at her problems: she certainly does that through the years, and problems surrounding her money start during the backdoor pilot, when she uses her wealth as a cudgel against Sue Ann: "blue blood would never mix with yours." When she breaks an engine ("The Way We Were"), contacts a judge ("Adoption"), or tells Mrs. Garrett she can stay with her ("Give and Take"), she's using her money to try to solve problems: it's still problematic, for the reasons you discuss, but we expect this type of problem-solving from Blair.

We do not, however, expect Jo to taunt Blair about the number of watches she has. Why was Jo doing that? It feels out of character for Jo, this late in the series, to treat a friend so shabbily. Yes, season 2 Jo would have said, "Oh, hey, Gloria Vanderbilt, sorry I broke your watch. Maybe you can have your butler repair it on his night off." But Season 6 Jo has come a long way from all that. Why is she acting so jealous about the number of watches Blair has?

Yes, Jo just does not come off good to many of us in this episode.

I watched "The Christmas Show" last week and forgot what a jerk Jo was there. It's like "Ain't Miss Beholden". Yeah, we get it, you have pride and you refuse to take money from Blair. But AMB was help to continue her education so she wouldn't have to drop out of high school, and TCS was a gift so she could see her mother in Florida for Christmas. I find it annoying when Jo gets so strongly on her pride horse.

Thanks. Yeah, I can see where Jo can be annoying in other episodes, as well. But for me, "The Rich Aren't Different" feels so OTT. It feels like Jo forgot everything she learned at Eastland, and, later, Langley. This is the Rude Jo who is totally jealous of Blair... and threatened by her. Why?

I don't believe anyone here said anything about it being okay for Blair to do the things she does; we certainly expect her to throw money at her problems: she certainly does that through the years, and problems surrounding her money start during the backdoor pilot, when she uses her wealth as a cudgel against Sue Ann: "blue blood would never mix with yours." When she breaks an engine ("The Way We Were"), contacts a judge ("Adoption"), or tells Mrs. Garrett she can stay with her ("Give and Take"), she's using her money to try to solve problems: it's still problematic, for the reasons you discuss, but we expect this type of problem-solving from Blair.

We do not, however, expect Jo to taunt Blair about the number of watches she has. Why was Jo doing that? It feels out of character for Jo, this late in the series, to treat a friend so shabbily. Yes, season 2 Jo would have said, "Oh, hey, Gloria Vanderbilt, sorry I broke your watch. Maybe you can have your butler repair it on his night off." But Season 6 Jo has come a long way from all that. Why is she acting so jealous about the number of watches Blair has?

:yeahthat

And I don't think any person at this board hates Jo or is jealous of the character. I've always enjoyed her as "one of the girls". She was one of my Eastland sisters I grew up with. :) When she comes onto the show it does bring a whole new dynamic. I love all the girls. :grouphug: I just felt overwhelmed when 20 years ago that it was mostly Jo here most of the time, culminating in the poll "Besides Jo, who's your favorite?" Don't assume the whole board has the same favorite character. :lol:

:yeahthat

And I don't think any person at this board hates Jo or is jealous of the character. I've always enjoyed her as "one of the girls". She was one of my Eastland sisters I grew up with. When she comes onto the show it does bring a whole new dynamic. I love all the girls. :grouphug:

Yeah, Jo has some really fine moments. Broken watch isn't one of them.

I don't believe anyone here said anything about it being okay for Blair to do the things she does

When I first pointed out how Blair was, you said we expect Blair to act thoughtlessly. You're making excuses for how Blair acts even though it can be seen as rude and disrespectful to her friends. I would expect more from Blair because she's older and she's learned by college how to treat others.

Ya know I thought of another situation Blair does that is similar to what Jo did with the watch. In season 8 Another Room, Blair takes Jo's shirt without asking. When Jo tries to get it back, it gets damaged. Jo didn't demand Blair buy her a new one or get upset demanding an apology. I think Jo has the attitude why get upset when someone breaks something of hers. She didn't go postal on Miko with the bike in season 3. Although she was a bulldog that season that I'm surprise she didn't. She didn't get upset over the carburetor getting broken by Blair. She didn't get upset with the shirt. She's very laid back in those situations. That could be another reason why she wasn't expecting Blair to make a big deal out of the watch.

When I first pointed out how Blair was, you said we expect Blair to act thoughtlessly. You're making excuses for how Blair acts

I'm not making excuses: I'm saying we come to expect it.

I don’t think it was out of character necessarily, it was like Jo to snark at Blair being rich. She usually takes responsibility for her actions like she did and then tried to make light

I hated Jo when she punched Blair for questioning the existence of god.

I hated Jo when she punched Blair for questioning the existence of god.

Jo punching Blair was bad.

Especially because that punch was so lame. Jo couldn't throw a punch to save her life. My cat threw better punches.

Jo punching Blair was bad.

Especially because that punch was so lame. Jo couldn't throw a punch to save her life. My cat threw better punches.

Yes, that punch was beyond lame. She didn't throw a good punch like Sue Ann. Sue Ann could have kicked Jo's butt if they ever got in a street fight. :lol:

Yes, that punch was beyond lame. She didn't throw a good punch like Sue Ann. Sue Ann could have kicked Jo's butt if they ever got in a street fight. :lol:

Jo talked the talk, but Sue Ann could have knocked the Crock. :lol:

I imagine a brawl between Jo and Sue Ann would have started with them making comments about where each other lived:

SUE ANN: Back where I'm from, in Kansas City, Kansas, we'd have hayrides and carnivals.

JO: Where I'm from, hay isn't entertainment.

SUE ANN: At least our entertainment isn't just stealing people's hubcabs.

GIRLS: MmmmmMMMmmm...

In addition to the Blair and Jo conflict, there could have been a Sue Ann and Blair conflict.

Jo talked the talk, but Sue Ann could have knocked the Crock. :lol:

I imagine a brawl between Jo and Sue Ann would have started with them making comments about where each other lived:

SUE ANN: Back where I'm from, in Kansas City, Kansas, we'd have hayrides and carnivals.

JO: Where I'm from, hay isn't entertainment.

SUE ANN: At least our entertainment isn't just stealing people's hubcabs.

GIRLS: MmmmmMMMmmm...

Hahaha!!!