At least, in your personal and humble opinion. To give you a better idea:

Wishing that the show kept some of the girls from the first season despite otherwise liking the addition of Jo.

Genuinely liking the first season period, which had some really good storylines like when Helen Hunt's character was busted for smoking weed.

Unironically enjoying the later seasons (the "Over Our Heads" years from Season 7-9) that contained the more energetic and upbeat intro/credits and had Beverly Ann (who replaced her sister, Mrs. Garrett as the principle "adult figure"), Andy, Pippa, and George Clooney's handyman character. The girls by this point were grown-up and the episodes were more fun and lighthearted.

Blair was more likeable than Jo, who could be quite judgmental, in-between scowling and giving insults.

Tootie and to a lesser extent, Natalie were borderline extras until they went away to college and started giving Tootie meaty parts.

My unpopular opinion:

Season 8 is one of the best seasons. Many people don't like it because Mrs. Garrett is no longer on the show but there are several episodes in seasons 5,6 and 7 that are boring or depressing. Season 8 is really a breath of fresh air, we see the girls as adults without their longtime mentor, the stories are funny and enjoyable and Beverly Ann isn't a Mrs. Garrett clone. It's my favorite season right after the cafeteria years.

Wishing that the show kept some of the girls from the first season despite otherwise liking the addition of Jo.
Genuinely liking the first season period, which had some really good storylines like when Helen Hunt's character was busted for smoking weed.



Both of these, although I'm not certain either one is that much of an unpopular opinion. This video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y72fTKZTWk4) has thousands of comments which are variations of, "the show wasn't as good when we lost half of the Eastland students/staff".

I'm in with Retro on both of his point, and yes: i am one of the many fans that will forever cherish the early seasons! (sorry FOL FAN ITA, but to me season 5 and 6 are far better than 8 or 9 lol!)

:rockon::rockon::rockon::rockon::rockon::rockon::rockon::rockon::rockon:

I wouldn't call Natalie and Tootie "borderline extras". They may have been such in a few season 1 shows, but when it got down to a core four, they were half of the core. They always had plenty of lines.

I wouldn't call Natalie and Tootie "borderline extras". They may have been such in a few season 1 shows, but when it got down to a core four, they were half of the core. They always had plenty of lines.


TOOTIE was never a 'borderline extra': in season 1 she was the star of the show (along with BLAIR and SUE ANN lol!)

NAT on the other hand was definitely a 'borderline extra' in season 1 (she got lesser lines then)

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

TOOTIE was never a 'borderline extra': in season 1 she was the star of the show (along with BLAIR and SUE ANN lol!)

NAT on the other hand was definitely a 'borderline extra' in season 1 (she got lesser lines then)

Tootie was probably at her most borderline extra in Rough Housing.

Nat had her fair share of screen time and lines too, so you couldn't say she was B.E. all through season 1. All the season 1 girls had their turns except Blair, lol.

Tootie was probably at her most borderline extra in Rough Housing.

Nat had her fair share of screen time and lines too, so you couldn't say she was B.E. all through season 1. All the season 1 girls had their turns except Blair, lol.


BLAIR was the number 1 then!

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

I wish they'd given more storylines to Tootie as the main focus instead of her merely reacting to the others!

Well I’m sure everyone knows mine being they should’ve kept Sue Ann and that I enjoyed season 1. I also prefer season 8 more than s6-7 and 9 as well.

Tootie was probably at her most borderline extra in Rough Housing.

Nat had her fair share of screen time and lines too, so you couldn't say she was B.E. all through season 1. All the season 1 girls had their turns except Blair, lol.

That’s true. Even though Blair was only in the first half of IQ she still had several lines. Natalie definitely had her share of Nancied episodes though compared to Blair, Tootie, and Sue Ann. RH, IQ, Emily Dickinson, Flash flood. Plus only one main plot unlike the other 3. I’d say characters most to relevant throughout s1 are:
Blair
Tootie
Sue Ann
Molly
Natalie
Cindy
Nancy

I wish they'd given more storylines to Tootie as the main focus instead of her merely reacting to the others!

Tootie had lots of story line episodes. Overachieving, Emily Dickinson (She blackmailed Blair), The Return of Mrs. Garrett (she got the girls addicted to gambing), Dope, Gossip, Double Standard, Pretty Babies, Starstuck, Growing Pains, just to name a few.

Well I’m sure everyone knows mine being they should’ve kept Sue Ann and that I enjoyed season 1. I also prefer season 8 more than s6-7 and 9 as well.

You agree with me that season 8 is better than 6 and 7 :lol: My unpopular opinion isn't that unpopular :lol:

I wish they'd given more storylines to Tootie as the main focus instead of her merely reacting to the others!

But Tootie has tons of episodes where she's the main focus, especially during the early seasons

My unpopular opinion:

Season 8 is one of the best seasons. Many people don't like it because Mrs. Garrett is no longer on the show but there are several episodes in seasons 5,6 and 7 that are boring or depressing. Season 8 is really a breath of fresh air, we see the girls as adults without their longtime mentor, the stories are funny and enjoyable and Beverly Ann isn't a Mrs. Garrett clone. It's my favorite season right after the cafeteria years.

I agree with you on that. Season 8 is my second favorite season after season 2.

I think I have an unpopular opinion about Beverly Ann. Some either like her both seasons or hate her for joining the show. I like season 8 Beverly Ann. I felt she served a purpose to the show's premise about learning the facts of life with bouncing back from her divorce. I like how she was written as a friend to the girls instead of a Mrs. Garrett clone. She was her own character. The girls took her on trips, helped her learn how to use a computer, set her up on a date, and fought for her with the adoption of Andy. Beverly Ann was well written that year. I hate how they brought her back in season 9 as a doormat for the girls. She was cooking meals, cleaning house, taking the girls shifts in the store, making birthday cakes for the girls parents, and so much other crap. I feel like It's A Wonderful Christmas was the writers way of telling us even they didn't know what to do with Beverly Ann anymore since the point of that episode was to show us how useless she is to the girls. Beverly Ann should have been a one season character. She had full closure on everything in season 8 after selling her house with Frank. That finale should have been her leaving with Andy instead of Jo taking off.

I wouldn't call Natalie and Tootie "borderline extras".

They were in season 6. That whole season was to spotlight Jo and Blair. I think Tootie and Natalie each had two episodes out of 26 focused on their character with another episode having a story shared between them. I prefer the way they did season 7 and 8 over season 6 because it was equally split between the core four so not one or two had the most focus.

Natalie definitely had her share of Nancied episodes though compared to Blair, Tootie, and Sue Ann. RH, IQ, Emily Dickinson, Flash flood.

FF was more of an ensemble show though. It feels like the five girls who stayed at the dorm had a comparable amount of lines.

I’d say characters most to relevant throughout s1 are:
Blair
Tootie
Sue Ann
Molly
Natalie
Cindy
Nancy

I think I'd probably agree. :nod:

I agree with you on that. Season 8 is my second favorite season after season 2.

I think I have an unpopular opinion about Beverly Ann. Some either like her both seasons or hate her for joining the show. I like season 8 Beverly Ann. I felt she served a purpose to the show's premise about learning the facts of life with bouncing back from her divorce. I like how she was written as a friend to the girls instead of a Mrs. Garrett clone. She was her own character. The girls took her on trips, helped her learn how to use a computer, set her up on a date, and fought for her with the adoption of Andy. Beverly Ann was well written that year. I hate how they brought her back in season 9 as a doormat for the girls. She was cooking meals, cleaning house, taking the girls shifts in the store, making birthday cakes for the girls parents, and so much other crap. I feel like It's A Wonderful Christmas was the writers way of telling us even they didn't know what to do with Beverly Ann anymore since the point of that episode was to show us how useless she is to the girls. Beverly Ann should have been a one season character. She had full closure on everything in season 8 after selling her house with Frank. That finale should have been her leaving with Andy instead of Jo taking off.

In my opinion, what made the character working was that she was the complete opposite of Mrs. Garrett, you don't have the feel she was replacing another character. But I agree, the writers made her a total useless person in season 9, as was the case with Andy and Pippa. At least we have a good season with her :wave:

You guys are forgetting the episode 'Cruising' from season 6: it was an ensemble one, and the 4 girls had just about the same amount of lines! (and the same goes for 'The interview show'!)

PS: i am sorry to disagree with everyone, but the reason i still prefer season 5 and 6 over 8, is because BLAIR was still herself (and not the POD she became later on...

:bash::bash::bash::bash::bash::bash::bash::bash::bash::bash::bash::bash:

Tootie had lots of story line episodes. Overachieving, Emily Dickinson (She blackmailed Blair), The Return of Mrs. Garrett (she got the girls addicted to gambing), Dope, Gossip, Double Standard, Pretty Babies, Starstuck, Growing Pains, just to name a few.

But the thread said 'Single Most Unpopular Opinion" About the Show - and I think my saying that Tootie didn't get as many episodes in which she was the focus IS an unpopular opinion!

You guys are forgetting the episode 'Cruising' from season 6: it was an ensemble one, and the 4 girls had just about the same amount of lines! (and the same goes for 'The interview show'!)

PS: i am sorry to disagree with everyone, but the reason i still prefer season 5 and 6 over 8, is because BLAIR was still herself (and not the POD she became later on..

Don't worry, Valentina :wave:

Don't worry, Valentina :wave:



Hey FOL FAN ITA! How's it going?

:cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:

Hey FOL FAN ITA! How's it going?

:cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:

I'm fine but the pandemic here in Italy has become a nightmare. We're now up for the 3rd dose of vaccine, hoping that the end of Covid is near. And the situation in the UK?

I'm fine but the pandemic here in Italy has become a nightmare. We're now up for the 3rd dose of vaccine, hoping that the end of Covid is near. And the situation in the UK?


I had my BOOSTER just over a week ago (that'll be my third dose now) what about you?

:yeahthat:yeahthat:yeahthat:yeahthat:yeahthat:yeahthat:yeahthat:yeahthat

I had my BOOSTER just over a week ago (that'll be my third dose now) what about you?

:yeahthat:yeahthat:yeahthat:yeahthat:yeahthat:yeahthat:yeahthat:yeahthat

Late January :wave:

Late January :wave:

Any side effects?

:wave::wave::wave:

Any side effects?

:wave::wave::wave:

No, I'm okay. Here in Italy the third dose is done six months after the second vaccine

In my opinion, what made the character working was that she was the complete opposite of Mrs. Garrett, you don't have the feel she was replacing another character. But I agree, the writers made her a total useless person in season 9, as was the case with Andy and Pippa. At least we have a good season with her :wave:

I completely agree with this. Beverly Ann was completely different from Edna which brought a new dynamic to the show and helped it feel refreshed. Unfortunately s9 didn’t utilize her as well

I completely agree with this. Beverly Ann was completely different from Edna which brought a new dynamic to the show and helped it feel refreshed. Unfortunately s9 didn’t utilize her as well

:wave:
I don't understand why they added Pippa when they didn't know what to do with Bev and Andy

:wave:
I don't understand why they added Pippa when they didn't know what to do with Bev and Andy
The producers kept trying to integrate the latest fads into the show. Hence the kitschy shop, the parody episodes, the "next generation" children, and all things Australia. Pippa checked three boxes: she was a younger girl so she could help pull in a younger audience; she could be a playmate for Andy, who had no one to interact with; and she was Australian, which was a huge fad in the 1980s. Since she was high school aged, they could stick her in an Eastland uniform without having to build any expensive Eastland sets or hiring anyone to play her Eastland classmates or teachers. She would go friendless, aside from Andy. Her characterization was paper-thin: aside from Australia, there was nothing distinctive about her, and she would have almost no characteristics. The other girls constantly made her feel unwelcome, so she shared that trait with Beverly Ann.

Here's her character sketch:
15 years old
Eastland student
Australian
Unwelcome

The producers kept trying to integrate the latest fads into the show. Hence the kitschy shop, the parody episodes, the "next generation" children, and all things Australia. Pippa checked three boxes: she was a younger girl so she could help pull in a younger audience; she could be a playmate for Andy, who had no one to interact with; and she was Australian, which was a huge fad in the 1980s. Since she was high school aged, they could stick her in an Eastland uniform without having to build any expensive Eastland sets or hiring anyone to play her Eastland classmates or teachers. She would go friendless, aside from Andy. Her characterization was paper-thin: aside from Australia, there was nothing distinctive about her, and she would have almost no characteristics. The other girls constantly made her feel unwelcome, so she shared that trait with Beverly Ann.

Here's her character sketch:
15 years old
Eastland student
Australian
Unwelcome

There rumours that the unwelcomeness extended off script to Sherri Krenin.

There rumours that the unwelcomeness extended off script to Sherri Krenin.


So basically: both PIPPA and KELLY got a very bad treatment from the 'Core of 4' (with the exemption that PIPPA didn't sabotage 'Edna's Edibles' like KELLY did).

On the other hand, PIPPA framed herself, as an exchange student so she could come to the States and go to 'Estland': interesting...

:read::read::read::read::read::read::read::read::read::read::read::read:

There rumours that the unwelcomeness extended off script to Sherri Krenin.

Really? Never knew that. The girls didn't like new cast members

So basically: both PIPPA and KELLY got a very bad treatment from the 'Core of 4' (with the exemption that PIPPA didn't sabotage 'Edna's Edibles' like KELLY did).

Kelly was a mini Jo, there wasn't need of a character that already existed.

The producers kept trying to integrate the latest fads into the show. Hence the kitschy shop, the parody episodes, the "next generation" children, and all things Australia. Pippa checked three boxes: she was a younger girl so she could help pull in a younger audience; she could be a playmate for Andy, who had no one to interact with; and she was Australian, which was a huge fad in the 1980s. Since she was high school aged, they could stick her in an Eastland uniform without having to build any expensive Eastland sets or hiring anyone to play her Eastland classmates or teachers. She would go friendless, aside from Andy. Her characterization was paper-thin: aside from Australia, there was nothing distinctive about her, and she would have almost no characteristics. The other girls constantly made her feel unwelcome, so she shared that trait with Beverly Ann.

Here's her character sketch:
15 years old
Eastland student
Australian
Unwelcome

The Cousin Oliver Syndrome :lol:

Has anyone here ever heard of anyone who said,

"I hadn't ever watched FOL until I heard that they got that Pippa character as a regular who saved the show !"

If so, it would be hard to imagine ANY FOL opinion that would be more unpopular!

Has anyone here ever heard of anyone who said,

"I hadn't ever watched FOL until I heard that they got that Pippa character as a regular who saved the show !"

If so, it would be hard to imagine ANY FOL opinion that would be more unpopular!


Ha ha ha great one lol! (PIPPA saving the show!)

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Has anyone here ever heard of anyone who said,

"I hadn't ever watched FOL until I heard that they got that Pippa character as a regular who saved the show !"

If so, it would be hard to imagine ANY FOL opinion that would be more unpopular!

Yeah, she saved the show.....from a 10th season, 10 episodes after her debut :lol: This wins the first prize of unpopular opinions :lol:.

Has anyone here ever heard of anyone who said,

"I hadn't ever watched FOL until I heard that they got that Pippa character as a regular who saved the show !"

If so, it would be hard to imagine ANY FOL opinion that would be more unpopular!

"I was a huge fan of Kelly Affinado!" :lol:

"When Ryan Cassidy left the show, I was crushed!" :lol:

"I was a huge fan of Kelly Affinado!" :lol:

"When Ryan Cassidy left the show, I was crushed!" :lol:

"The show jumped the shark when Miko left" :lol::lol:

"The show jumped the shark when Miko left" :lol::lol:

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

Oh Miko,
Oh you came and you gave without taking
But they sent you away...

Excuse me, I need a moment alone. :(

I like Beverly Ann, Pippa, Andy, and George.

I like the later years.

Another unpopular opinion that I just stumbled upon. The show with Margie Peters and Linda Marsh in charge (https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=390557) didn't do a good enough of a job with steering the ship come Season 2. The show as I previously alluded to, should've kept (https://web.archive.org/web/20140331140552/http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/topic/2625067-the-facts-of-life/page-3#entry2124054) at least one more girl (https://www.datalounge.com/thread/25697298-behind-closed-doors-the-facts-of-life) from Season 1 (https://www.datalounge.com/thread/24432942-the-facts-of-life-premiered-august-24-1979).

Another unpopular opinion that I just stumbled upon. The show with Margie Peters and Linda Marsh in charge (https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=390557) didn't do a good enough of a job with steering the ship come Season 2. The show as I previously alluded to, should've kept (https://web.archive.org/web/20140331140552/http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/topic/2625067-the-facts-of-life/page-3#entry2124054) at least one more girl (https://www.datalounge.com/thread/25697298-behind-closed-doors-the-facts-of-life) from Season 1 (https://www.datalounge.com/thread/24432942-the-facts-of-life-premiered-august-24-1979).

Wow, those Datalounge links sure get saucy! :eek::lol:

My unpopular opinion:

Season 8 is one of the best seasons. Many people don't like it because Mrs. Garrett is no longer on the show but there are several episodes in seasons 5,6 and 7 that are boring or depressing. Season 8 is really a breath of fresh air, we see the girls as adults without their longtime mentor, the stories are funny and enjoyable and Beverly Ann isn't a Mrs. Garrett clone. It's my favorite season right after the cafeteria years.

Agreed. To use a recently coined term, season 8 felt like a "soft reboot" of the show that worked. I did feel like it went downhill right afterwards mainly because the show had simply run its course, the actresses were too old to still be wanting to share a room together and the writing took a sharp downhill turn in season 9. But in season 8, there was a lot of magic there.

Agreed. To use a recently coined term, season 8 felt like a "soft reboot" of the show that worked. I did feel like it went downhill right afterwards mainly because the show had simply run its course, the actresses were too old to still be wanting to share a room together and the writing took a sharp downhill turn in season 9. But in season 8, there was a lot of magic there.

I absolutely agree with you. Season 8 is really a nice year and the writing was very good. If Charlotte Rae had stayed on the show for that season, it would be even better but Cloris Leachman did a good job with Beverly Ann. In my opinion season 9 didn't consider the girls as a group but you're right, the show had run its course by the time of the final year

In Season 9, you had two girls who wanted to leave the show. Jo got into a strange marriage. Blair became an airhead. A number of reasons why it was bad.