Jo was definitely the Karen of the Facts of Life. Always butting her nose into other people's business. Going postal over stuff that doesn't concern her such as when they found out that Cliff was a male stripper.

Ironically, as a young adult Nancy McKeon looks a lot like a friend of mine whose name is Karen, but is no Karen.

I see what you're saying, but I still can't think of her as "a Karen." To me, Karens are obnoxious, privileged, rich white ladies ready to make public employees' days hell.

Correct. That is not the definition of a Karen.

Jo is worse than any real life Karen. She was an annoying bully whose fall back was to threaten physical violence against Blair. I would have liked an episode where she copped her attitude against the wrong girl and got her clock cleaned. I wish this character had never set foot in Eastland.

Jo is worse than any real life Karen. She was an annoying bully whose fall back was to threaten physical violence against Blair. I would have liked an episode where she copped her attitude against the wrong girl and got her clock cleaned. I wish this character had never set foot in Eastland.

In my opinion, you are being a little hard on Jo. Even though she was a tough cookie, she had some redeeming qualities.

In my opinion, you are being a little hard on Jo. Even though she was a tough cookie, she had some redeeming qualities.

Yeah, like slenderizing her teacher who was forced to resign. There's also the time she publicly embarrassed her boyfriend Bill and his family all because they had the audacity to be wealthy and who could forget the time she punched Blair in the face because Blair had the nerve to question the existence of god. Yes, Jo has bunches of redeeming qualities.

Yeah, like slenderizing her teacher who was forced to resign. There's also the time she publicly embarrassed her boyfriend Bill and his family all because they had the audacity to be wealthy and who could forget the time she punched Blair in the face because Blair had the nerve to question the existence of god. Yes, Jo has bunches of redeeming qualities.

This!

Yeah, like slenderizing her teacher who was forced to resign. There's also the time she publicly embarrassed her boyfriend Bill and his family all because they had the audacity to be wealthy and who could forget the time she punched Blair in the face because Blair had the nerve to question the existence of god. Yes, Jo has bunches of redeeming qualities.

Jo is a Mafia princess. Her father gives off that mobster vibe. Perhaps because he was one in real life.

Jo is a Mafia princess. Her father gives off that mobster vibe. Perhaps because he was one in real life.

I don't see her as a mafia princess. I see her as an annoying bully with a huge chip on her shoulder, also someone who punches like a wimp.

who could forget the time she punched Blair in the face because Blair had the nerve to question the existence of god

Jo punched Blair in the face!?! I thought I’d seen every episode of this. You’d think I’d remember that one. Which ep? Is it online?

Jo punched Blair in the face!?! I thought I’d seen every episode of this. You’d think I’d remember that one. Which ep? Is it online?

Best Sister, part 2. The episode that had Eve Plumb play the role of Blair's sister.

Look at the 9:00 mark and beyond in this video.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x834bhd

This was not the first time Blair got punched out. Sue Ann also punched Blair (though by accident) in Running. In Best Sister, they also recycled the part of Tootie joking about Blair getting hit.

Best Sister, part 2. The episode that had Eve Plumb play the role of Blair's sister.

Look at the 9:00 mark and beyond in this video.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x834bhd

This was not the first time Blair got punched out. Sue Ann also punched Blair (though by accident) in Running. In Best Sister, they also recycled the part of Tootie joking about Blair getting hit.

Thanks. I had remembered Eve Plumb being on, did not remember Jo coldcocking Blair. Nice left hook.

I havent seen the show since the 1980's when I was a teen, but I remember at least in the beginning that Blair was not a nice person at all and was the antogonist but of course the character mellowed out and became much more likable.

If the show was on now, would Jo be a lesbian? She (at least her character) was very masculine to me, maybe it was her New York accent. I think her character was working class so she made a good foil for spoiled and vaguely southern Blair.

Lastly, and I complain about this all over the internet, but I HATE the term Karen. I looked up once on Google that about 1.1 million people (I take it 99.999999 women) have this name, and now their name is a slur? How would you like it if this was your name? Think about that.

I havent seen the show since the 1980's when I was a teen, but I remember at least in the beginning that Blair was not a nice person at all and was the antogonist but of course the character mellowed out and became much more likable.

If the show was on now, would Jo be a lesbian? She (at least her character) was very masculine to me, maybe it was her New York accent. I think her character was working class so she made a good foil for spoiled and vaguely southern Blair.

Lastly, and I complain about this all over the internet, but I HATE the term Karen. I looked up once on Google that about 1.1 million people (I take it 99.999999 women) have this name, and now their name is a slur? How would you like it if this was your name? Think about that.

There was serious talk about making talk of making Cindy a lesbian, but they got cold feet of making a 14 year old charcter played by a 14 year old actress a lesbian. Julie Anne Haddock and her parents were OK going with it.

Blair was a NYer too. That southern thing was Lisa's accent slipping though her character.

You would be surprised at how many Karens turn out to be a Karen.

The short answer is no, I dont think Jo was a "Karen." Each of the girls was cast as a very different character that thrived off the interaction and conflict of each other. The interaction dynamic between Blair and Jo was hysterical and led to the popularity of the show. It was great casting and good writing for most of the show with all the main characters. When the mid 80s came around Jo started wearing designer clothes and seemed to lose her working class roots. But everyone was glam in the 80s.

There was serious talk about making talk of making Cindy a lesbian, but they got cold feet of making a 14 year old charcter played by a 14 year old actress a lesbian. Julie Anne Haddock and her parents were OK going with it.

Blair was a NYer too. That southern thing was Lisa's accent slipping though her character.

You would be surprised at how many Karens turn out to be a Karen.

But why say "Karen".Why "Karen" of all names? I dont get this at all. My real name is Glenn, and I would not like every male drunk, buffoon, angry person called Glenn. "He's a Glenn, look, a Glenn. Glenn is smashing up Taco Bell because he didnt get enough hot sauce."

Just say "b.tch". That term has been around for a thousand years, and it tonefully says what it means.

I do not think the Jo character was a "Karen" at all. She never acted privileged.

I do not think the Jo character was a "Karen" at all. She never acted privileged.

She did act entitled in one episode. It's the episode where she takes Blair's watch without asking, breaks it and is fine with everything because Blair is rich, so in Jo's mind it doesn't matter.

Jo also behaved like a spoiled, brat, 3rd grader when her dad decided to remarry another woman.

I do not think the Jo character was a "Karen" at all. She never acted privileged.

You don't have to be privilaged to act like a Karen. Karens can be nosy busy bodies who try to tell others what to do.

I dont see how that would apply, she was very anti establishment early on and came from a working class family

Wow I never realized that the Jo character was so loathed on this board.

Not loathed, just Nancied.

Wow I never realized that the Jo character was so loathed on this board.

Oh, you should have been here 20 years ago. This board was overflowing with fans who WORSHIPED Jo/Nancy McKeon!

Not loathed, just Nancied.

LMAO idk, shes not really ignored