Just read her tweets! http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/08/20/survivor-philippines-cast-lisa-whelchel-jeff-kent/

It was also front-page on Yahoo this afternoon.

http://tv.yahoo.com/blogs/fall-tv/facts-life-star-lisa-whelchel-returns-tv-survivor-174801481.html

*******************

Lisa Whelchel, best known for her role as Blair Warner on the '80s television show "The Facts of Life," headlines the cast of "Survivor: Philippines," which premieres Wednesday, September 19 on CBS. The former teen actress will join 17 other castaways, including retired MLB player three returning players (to be revealed Wednesday), to compete for $1 million and the title of Sole Survivor.

"I'm a huge, huge fan and have been from Season 1. I haven't missed an episode. I love the game and was born to play it," Whelchel shared with Yahoo! TV while on location during filming. "I never wanted to do reality TV, but this doesn't feel like reality TV. This feels like having an adventure that I've always wanted to have. Even if this weren't filmed, I would want to do it. It just happened that it's filmed and put on television and I use to be on television."


When "The Facts of Life" ended in 1988, Whelchel married a pastor and has been a stay-at-home mom homeschooling her three children. After sending her youngest off to college, the devout Christian "went on a vision quest" to figure out what she wanted to do with her life after focusing all her energy on raising her children. With encouragement from a friend, Whelchel tweeted a video to host Jeff Probst proclaiming her desire to be a contestant on the show.

"Lisa is somebody that a lot of people will recognize from many years on television on 'The Facts of Life.' I think that's going to appeal to a lot of people," Probst told us. "But what made her really appealing to us from a casting point of view is she wanted to do 'Survivor.' She's a superfan. She really knows the show, so it was great when we first met her. It was kind of a no-brainer to say 'yes,' and now to see her out here on a beach doing this is very exciting. I hope she lasts long enough so that she gets a real shot at playing this game that she loves."

Despite her being a celebrity (of the 14 other contestants we spoke to, only one recognized the 49-year-old "Facts of Life" alum), both Whelchel and Probst agree that her greatest challenge in the game will be her age. "Lisa's biggest obstacle is going to be her age, and it's not like she's that old, but she's old for 'Survivor.' I don't think Lisa's celebrity will get in her way nearly as much as her age. If she can find a way to get the monkey off her back of people saying, 'She's the older woman, she's not going to be good in challenges,' She'll be OK. How you do that, you've got to form a great alliance -- strong and with the right people," advises Probst. And being a "Survivor" fanatic, Whelchel plans on doing just that. "I will have to pay attention to where's the majority alliance," she shared. "It would be stupid to get on the minority alliance."


There is her video link as well...

Some more articles ("Lisa Whelchel Survivor" is #2 on Yahoo right now):

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/celebritology/post/blair-from-facts-of-life-aka-lisa-whelchel-will-compete-on-survivor-philippines/2012/08/20/075eca28-eaf7-11e1-9ddc-340d5efb1e9c_blog.html?wprss=rss_celebritology

http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/20/showbiz/tv/survivor-phillippines-ew/index.html


I might actually watch this season!

One thing - from Lisa's video interview with Yahoo, she said her contract with Women of Faith was "rescinded." I wonder why she is no longer part of their speaking team...

If we're really lucky, Lisa's appearance on Survivor might spark a renewed interest in Facts of Life making the release of the remaining seasons of FOL on DVD a more lucrative prospect for Sony.

Hmmm.. I can't find an icon for crossed fingers.

Here's a great "Where are they now?" on TFOL. It appeared on Yahoo this morning - with updated pictures and write-ups.

http://tv.yahoo.com/photos/the-facts-of-life-where-are-they-now-slideshow/

That is so cool.

I hope to God I get my DirecTV back in time to watch it. I haven't seen it for months!!

I'm sure you will.

I'm sure you will.
If not, I can see it on the t.v.'s at the fitness center while I work out.


Btw, has anyone tried to go on Facebook to Lisa's Tweet site? I was getting messages as of last week, and now I'm seeing nothing at all. :confused:

I haven't watched Survivor in a very long time. I watched it once in Season 8 but stopped and now with Lisa Whelchel going to be on there I have reason to want to see it again. Curiously, I do wonder how she will do and how long she can manage to last in the game.

Which network is it going to be on? I should probably know this already.

Some more articles ("Lisa Whelchel Survivor" is #2 on Yahoo right now):

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/celebritology/post/blair-from-facts-of-life-aka-lisa-whelchel-will-compete-on-survivor-philippines/2012/08/20/075eca28-eaf7-11e1-9ddc-340d5efb1e9c_blog.html?wprss=rss_celebritology

http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/20/showbiz/tv/survivor-phillippines-ew/index.html


I might actually watch this season!

One thing - from Lisa's video interview with Yahoo, she said her contract with Women of Faith was "rescinded." I wonder why she is no longer part of their speaking team...
Her Women Of Faith contract was rescinded?? Why?? :confused: I'd like to find that out as well. She was why I went to that the past two times she was in Seattle.

Btw, which network is Survivor going to be on?

Her Women Of Faith contract was rescinded?? Why?? :confused: I'd like to find that out as well. She was why I went to that the past two times she was in Seattle.

Btw, which network is Survivor going to be on?

CBS

CBS
Funny, I should have known that. I was seeing all these things like "Antenna" and such on the links and thought it was a new network it was switched to or something.

Her Women Of Faith contract was rescinded?? Why?? :confused: I'd like to find that out as well. She was why I went to that the past two times she was in Seattle.

Btw, which network is Survivor going to be on?

I'm not for sure why her contract was rescinded but I do know she is now part of the World Vision's 12 gifts of Christmas tour. She will be the Host of all 12 shows.

There is a really good new interview with Lisa about Survivor at foxnews.com. She mentions that Charlotte, Nancy & Mindy are all rooting for her!

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/09/17/facts-life-star-and-devout-christian-lisa-whelchel-said-shell-lie-like-rug-if/

I'm not for sure why her contract was rescinded but I do know she is now part of the World Vision's 12 gifts of Christmas tour. She will be the Host of all 12 shows.
Sweet!!! Where do I find out about this?? Wait, I should know, I live in the same city where World Vision is based.

Give me more info anyway!!!! :rock:

Sweet!!! Where do I find out about this?? Wait, I should know, I live in the same city where World Vision is based.

Give me more info anyway!!!! :rock:

Ok here is the website http://12gifts.com/

Ok here is the website http://12gifts.com/
Well, uhh, this is very interesting. There are no West Coast dates listed here. :confused:

I found this little bit of Info that you all might be interesed in on facebook


Karen Tj writes
Even more insight into Lisa’s prep for the show. She hired a sports psychiatrist to help prepare mentally. Plus she confirms that the plan is to move back to California in January 2013 and get back into acting. Note that a CBS rep needed to be on the phone interview to make sure she spilled no Survivor beans. http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/television/15198102-421/lisa-whelchel-joins-the-cast-of-survivor-phillippines.html

I found this little bit of Info that you all might be interesed in on facebook


Karen Tj writes
Even more insight into Lisa’s prep for the show. She hired a sports psychiatrist to help prepare mentally. Plus she confirms that the plan is to move back to California in January 2013 and get back into acting. Note that a CBS rep needed to be on the phone interview to make sure she spilled no Survivor beans. http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/television/15198102-421/lisa-whelchel-joins-the-cast-of-survivor-phillippines.html
WOO-HOOOOOO!!!!!!!
SHE'S BACK FOR THE ATTACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:rock: :guitar: :guitar: :rock:

What do you guys think of Lisa keeping her Facts life a secret on the show?

What do you guys think of Lisa keeping her Facts life a secret on the show?

Well after reading this article about Zane Knight the first survivor cast off I think she made a wise choice. You know she has watched every episode of this show since the beginning so I think she probably has some idea of what to do/reveal and what not to do/reveal on the show. I think once she starts interacting more with her teammates she will go far.

One of the contestants said it best - the show is about who is the best survivor, not who needs the $1 million. I watch to see who plots the best, who works hard, who endures under pressure, who has won challenges, etc. It is not about a person who is famous and doesn't need the money so they should be booted off. Better to keep the identity secret and if others figure it out, so be it, but why reveal something if others will use it to boot you off?

I am sooooo disappointed. I was going to watch 'Survivor' at the fitness center while doing cardio, and was told that they'd turn the channel to it when it was time, but then I found out the t.v. set wasn't programmed to it and they couldn't change it. So I went out and tried to see if any of the local bars or wherever might have it on, and I was out of luck. I was so frustrated!! :mad: I really wanted to see it because I saw a clip of it last week on Facebook about Lisa, and it sounded like a great episode. Has anyone seen it, and is there a way to check out last night's broadcast online?


I need to get a digital converter for one of my t.v.'s. :wallbang

I just wanted to hug Lisa in last night's episode of Survivor. All the other constants, (mainly the girls) were making fun of her and saying how sneaky she was being for wandering off on her own often and thought she was looking for the idol when the reason was much more emotional than that. Because she had been on her own since she was 12 years old she never learned how to open up to people and therefore was very shy. :( My heart really went out to her.

I just wanted to hug Lisa in last night's episode of Survivor. All the other constants, (mainly the girls) were making fun of her and saying how sneaky she was being for wandering off on her own often and thought she was looking for the idol when the reason was much more emotional than that. Because she had been on her own since she was 12 years old she never learned how to open up to people and therefore was very shy. :( My heart really went out to her.


I watched it tonight as well on demand. I felt bad for her too. She didn't deserve that. They were so paranoid and unfairly judged her but I understand that they had every right to be suspicious as they play the "trust nobody" card. I'm the same way with people. I'm silly, fun and easygoing one on one or if I'm on stage but being around a group of people in a personal setting can be intimidating at times. I understood where Lisa was coming from. I'm glad she and her team won first place tonight. They get the tarp and blankets as a bonus. ;)

For all of you following Lisa on Survivor and incase you don't know there is a lisa whelchel survivor facebook page for fans who are rooting Lisa on the show.

Wednesday's ep was really good. I really don't like those younger girls on Lisa's team I hope when they do go to tribal council that they are the first ones off. I Also felt bad for Lisa when she was crying but she showed that she has such a beautiful heart. And she should be so proud of herself for how well she did guiding her team to the win during the immunity challenge. I can't wait for next weeks ep.

I wanted so badly the other night to see what transpired with Lisa and the other members. I knew that they distrusted her for seeming to be "aloof" and by herself too much. I did see her clip on her Facebook Twitter site where she was crying and talked about her being alone since the age of twelve. This just tore my heart up and I wanted to see just what it was that brought all this on. I saw the first episode and I resented deeply these characters for badmouthing her. I read her book about friendship and understood very well her tendency to be alone and do things by herself since she was very young. I have been very much the same way all my life.
It's never easy. We withdraw and remain in our own quiet realm. We fear to reach out and we get used to it. The story of my life.


Just that clip alone made me know what cruelty was being done to her. :crying:

We had a discussion at work today about Lisa on Survivor. We wondered why she didn't just pick a persona for herself and pretend to be that person. She is an actress after all. I think she said somewhere that that's how she keeps a distance when she has to be "on stage". (Of course actors get to go home after work and rest.) Perhaps a combo of friendly Tootie with tough Jo?