TMC
12-17-2021, 07:03 AM
http://comforttv.blogspot.com/2021/11/comfort-tv-court-three-more-cases.html
In “The Rich Aren’t Different,” (https://www.televisionofyore.com/recaps-of-the-facts-of-life/the-facts-of-life-season-6-episode-12) Jo borrows Blair’s watch (without asking) and breaks it during a basketball game. “At least it’s no great loss,” she tells her. “How many watches do you have? 20? 30?” That cavalier attitude toward the matter angers Blair enough to take her to small claims court.
Usually if there’s a lesson to be learned from their clashes, it’s Blair whose spoiled outlook needs adjusting. But here it’s Jo who comes to the realization that her actions were insensitive, regardless of how easily Blair could afford to replace the broken watch: “Okay, I’m rich. But my things still deserve respect.”
As with so many Facts of Life episodes (https://www.facethefactspod.com/podblog/2021/2/3/120-s6-e12-the-rich-arent-different-with-james-bondy), the story unfolds with crisp, quippy dialogue and punch lines every 20-30 seconds, and then slows down for one scene in which the writers dig deeper for a more substantive conversation that brings characters out of their simple stereotypes and reminds us of why we care about them in the first place.
Unfortunately, to get to that scene you’ll have to endure several silly grandiose courtroom outbursts from Tootie. “One more word out of you and I’ll send you to traffic school!” the judge cautions, much to the relief of the audience.
Who’s That Judge?
Elliot Reid was a veteran character actor who once starred opposite Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and also wrote episodes of The Love Boat and Lou Grant. Not sure what’s he’s doing slumming here.
In “The Rich Aren’t Different,” (https://www.televisionofyore.com/recaps-of-the-facts-of-life/the-facts-of-life-season-6-episode-12) Jo borrows Blair’s watch (without asking) and breaks it during a basketball game. “At least it’s no great loss,” she tells her. “How many watches do you have? 20? 30?” That cavalier attitude toward the matter angers Blair enough to take her to small claims court.
Usually if there’s a lesson to be learned from their clashes, it’s Blair whose spoiled outlook needs adjusting. But here it’s Jo who comes to the realization that her actions were insensitive, regardless of how easily Blair could afford to replace the broken watch: “Okay, I’m rich. But my things still deserve respect.”
As with so many Facts of Life episodes (https://www.facethefactspod.com/podblog/2021/2/3/120-s6-e12-the-rich-arent-different-with-james-bondy), the story unfolds with crisp, quippy dialogue and punch lines every 20-30 seconds, and then slows down for one scene in which the writers dig deeper for a more substantive conversation that brings characters out of their simple stereotypes and reminds us of why we care about them in the first place.
Unfortunately, to get to that scene you’ll have to endure several silly grandiose courtroom outbursts from Tootie. “One more word out of you and I’ll send you to traffic school!” the judge cautions, much to the relief of the audience.
Who’s That Judge?
Elliot Reid was a veteran character actor who once starred opposite Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and also wrote episodes of The Love Boat and Lou Grant. Not sure what’s he’s doing slumming here.