I never realized how much what Charlotte Rae lost beginning in season 2. Charlotte was much heavier in Different Strokes and FOL season 1 than season 2 and beyond.

Mrs. Garrett is a much different character from season 2 on, appearances aside. She seems to gain a few IQ points, and becomes much more grounded. Even her speech patterns change -- no longer dropping the "g" from anything ending in "ing".

exactly!! I do not liek Season 1 mrs. garrett barely at all! I like season 2 and on mrs. garrett!! But the reason that a lot of people don't liek season 1 is cuz everythign is SOOO different compared to the other seasons!! and there were only 13 episodes in that season (12 if you dont count dope which many haven't seen) which makes it seem a lot shorter than a usual season would be... this is what helps me like season 1... I think of it as a COMPLETELY different show!! I mean, everythign is different in it!! The school is different... the characters are different... there is sue ann, nancy, molly, and cindy... there is NO jo... Mrs. Garrett is really weird!! and she's a lot more "heavy" than she was in the other seaons... Mr. Bradley... 4 episodes of Miss Mahoney.. Tootie's father who we NEVER see again!!... Blair's mother who is completely different... Natalie's sister who we never see again (i think we heard of her but never see her)... Tootie in her "cuteness" and her rollerskates that NEVER came off!!... Blair is a real stuck up and she looks REALLY young!!... the girls' CORNY lines and stupid remarks that are kinda funny becuase they're so stupid... The stupid problems that are never really solved... the theme song being totally different... ok i will not carry on, but if you think about it and think of the first season as a completely different show it is SOOO easy to like it.. becuase nothing from teh first season really carried onto the next except for frequent appearances by the first season characters, Natalie still being adopted, and Blair being a rich snob... so seeing the first season as a totally different show really makes you like FOL's first season!! Seriously! try it!!

The changes to the show are why I like Seasons 2-7 so well and Season 1 so little (seasons 8 and 9 are ok)

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Andy: C'Mon Ms. Garrett, throw us a song.

Ms. G.: Born in the U.S.S.R.