"The Girls' School" - Dissection and Discussion

['80sSitcoms]

The one that started it all!

The FOL backdoor pilot which was the season 2 finale of Diff'rent Strokes. Back when Eastland was "Eastlake", and the headmaster was Harold J. "The Croc" Crocker.

I totally forgot there was an exterior shot of the dorm! (and it totally doesn't match with the front door exterior set with the wall that juts out from the side in those close-ups here and in season 1, lol) And look at what a dorm it is---it definitely can house more than 7 girls. In fact, do you know how many girls it houses?

23!!

No wonder Warren Littlefield's math is so off! Maybe he just remembered seeing this episode, and a few season 1 FOL shows, and got it all mixed up.

Thanks to Tootie's panning shot of her out-of-control skating streak, I was able to get a count of all the girls, minus 3 that aren't in the shot (Blair, Laura, Ballerina-Looking-Gal [BLG] ), but I have #ed those three girls 21, 22, and 23 in the 4th photo here---and I also called out girl #12 as well, since you can't see her in the first numbered photos I posted, but she is just behind "The Croc" in the second of those numbered photos.

You will also notice two end tables I pointed out which did not survive the casting call to the full first season.

Welcome to Eastlake!

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

The one that started it all!

The FOL backdoor pilot which was the season 2 finale of Diff'rent Strokes. Back when Eastland was "Eastlake", and the headmaster was Harold J. "The Croc" Crocker.

I totally forgot there was an exterior shot of the dorm! (and it totally doesn't match with the front door exterior set with the wall that juts out from the side in those close-ups here and in season 1, lol)

GREAT topic!

I hadn't forgotten the original three-story dorm from the backdoor pilot. I wonder if any of the 23 students in that dorm slept on the third floor?

And look at what a dorm it is---it definitely can house more than 7 girls. In fact, do you know how many girls it houses?

23!!

Wow! So if that dorm was typical, and there were dorms A through G, Eastland would have had 161 students, which seems more realistic than seven per dorm.

No wonder Warren Littlefield's math is so off! Maybe he just remembered seeing this episode, and a few season 1 FOL shows, and got it all mixed up.

It's possible.

Thanks to Tootie's panning shot of her out-of-control skating streak, I was able to get a count of all the girls, minus 3 that aren't in the shot (Blair, Laura, Ballerina-Looking-Gal [BLG] ), but I have #ed those three girls 21, 22, and 23 in the 4th photo here---and I also called out girl #12 as well, since you can't see her in the first numbered photos I posted, but she is just behind "The Croc" in the second of those numbered photos.

Nice detective work!

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

GREAT topic! Nice detective work!

I love being a private investigator!

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I hadn't forgotten the original three-story dorm from the backdoor pilot. I wonder if any of the 23 students in that dorm slept on the third floor?

Possibly---maybe they could be more "private" rooms upstairs, and the more affluent of the girls (a la Blair) could snag those.

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Wow! So if that dorm was typical, and there were dorms A through G, Eastland would have had 161 students, which seems more realistic than seven per dorm.

Quite! lol...


And look! As much of a stingy nickel-squeezing grinch that "the Croc" was, he didn't install a pay phone in the dorm! At least, not at this point, anyway. There is no pay phone and one "regular" phone (that couldn't have been fun for 23 schoolgirls, lol...Nancy would've yanked the phone out of the wall and barricaded it with herself in her room! )


Although, because he is tricked into establishing a dramatic arts scholarship at the show's end, perhaps that loss of $ gave him the idea to rip out the free phone and install the pay unit.

Say, speaking of "the Croc", I just had a realization: our introduction show of the dorm presents us with "the Croc", and our farewell show of the dorm presents us with "the Group"

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

And look! As much of a stingy nickel-squeezing grinch that "the Croc" was, he didn't install a pay phone in the dorm! At least, not at this point, anyway. There is no pay phone and one "regular" phone (that couldn't have been fun for 23 schoolgirls, lol...Nancy would've yanked the phone out of the wall and barricaded it with herself in her room! )

Was Nancy even seeing Roger at that point?

Good catch on the payphone! I wonder what the thinking was, behind the scenes, on why a payphone should replace the regular phone, and then, four episodes later, is swapped out with a regular phone again.

Bradley seemed more reasonable than Crocker. If anyone installed the payphone, it was The Crock. After all, it was uninstalled in Bradley's era; that should say something.

Say, speaking of "the Croc", I just had a realization: our introduction show of the dorm presents us with "the Croc", and our farewell show of the dorm presents us with "the Group"

Yep! Although... "The Group" was a bit of a "crock"

The screen capture of Kimberly there reminds me that the Eastland/Eastlake uniform slightly changed, too: Kimberly is wearing a grey blazer over the maroon outfit. Blair always wore a blue blazer over the maroon outfit, and of course the other girls all wore blue sweaters.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Was Nancy even seeing Roger at that point?

Well, I was implying whenever she started seeing Roger, had she still had 22 "dormmates", lol.

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Good catch on the payphone! I wonder what the thinking was, behind the scenes, on why a payphone should replace the regular phone

Perhaps they wanted a bit of "downstage action"? But yeah then they changed their mind after 4 episodes, lol.

Now, going back upstage, note the piano---it's brown! They used a brown piano for one episode! Makes you wonder why they swapped it out for a radically different one after the backdoor pilot (it's not like they ever "showed it off" or anything, lol).

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Well, I was implying whenever she started seeing Roger, had she still had 22 "dormmates", lol.

Could any of them even hear the phone ringing over the noise of that many students?!

Now, going back upstage, note the piano---it's brown! They used a brown piano for one episode! Makes you wonder why they swapped it out for a radically different one after the backdoor pilot (it's not like they ever "showed it off" or anything, lol).

Oh, good catch!

(I think we need to check the piano in Co-Ed Fever, too, if there was one.)

I suspect what happened is that they taped "The Girls' School", emptied the set, went on hiatus, and then when they came back, they figured no-one would ever notice a different piano was where the old piano was.

The same thing likely happened after the first four episodes were taped: they moved out all the furniture, including clocks, phones, and globes, then came back for the Spring 1980 episodes, and had to hastily try to reconstruct the set.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Could any of them even hear the phone ringing over the noise of that many students?!

Hahaha, great point! If it would have been anything like "The Girls' School", they sure couldn't have!

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Oh, good catch!

(I think we need to check the piano in Co-Ed Fever, too, if there was one.)

I thought about that too, that a lot of this set decoration may be from CEF.

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I suspect what happened is that they taped "The Girls' School", emptied the set, went on hiatus, and then when they came back, they figured no-one would ever notice a different piano was where the old piano was.


The same thing likely happened after the first four episodes were taped: they moved out all the furniture, including clocks, phones, and globes, then came back for the Spring 1980 episodes, and had to hastily try to reconstruct the set.

If that's what they did, that is strange; a number of changes wouldn't be uncommon, but actually emptying the set and putting it all back together again? Wow.


Speaking of set changes, check out a few other different things in TGS: a green pennant, a red rug, and yet another (I believe different) end table.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

If that's what they did, that is strange; a number of changes wouldn't be uncommon, but actually emptying the set and putting it all back together again? Wow.

It's actually the modern standard. I don't know how it worked in 1979/1980, but sets are emptied after every season. This is so stuff doesn't "walk" between seasons. If you ever watch the Friends special that goes behind the scenes, they actually show the apartment sets being re-dressed between seasons five and six: the entire set was dismantled between those seasons.

The Facts of Life sets were also apparently frequently dismantled: from 1979 to 1982, the show was taped at Metromedia's facilities. From '82 to '85, the show was taped at Universal Studios Hollywood, and from '85 to '88, the show was taped at Sunset Gower Studios. This means the S2 cafeteria was dismantled and reassembled on another soundstage, miles to the south. The bakery/store set was also dismantled and reassembled.

['80sSitcoms]

^---I didn't realize this thread of dissection would lead to dismantling, haha.

Something neat about the blocking of this episode---they utilized the stairs! Now of course the stairs were used in season 1, but I don't think they were ever used for staging purposes, as far as sitting on them. And it's very natural for kids to sit on stairs to talk. Funny that that was thought of for a scene in this backdoor pilot, but apparently never again the 13 shows that featured a staircase.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

^---I didn't realize this thread of dissection would lead to dismantling, haha.

Something neat about the blocking of this show---they utilized the stairs! Now of course the stairs were used in season 1, but I don't think they were ever used for staging purposes, as far as sitting on them. And it's very natural for kids to sit on stairs to talk. Funny that that was thought of for a scene in this backdoor pilot, but apparently never again the 13 shows that featured a staircase.

But what about "Molly's Holiday", when Cindy and Blair talk about divorce while they walk upstairs? And in the same episode, Tootie throws her bag down the stairs.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

But what about "Molly's Holiday", when Cindy and Blair talk about divorce while they walk upstairs? And in the same episode, Tootie throws her bag down the stairs.

Yeah, I know they of course use the stairs, and Natalie reveals on the landing the news of one of her stuffed animals almost being totaled in "Flash Flood", lol, but I was emphasizing about the missed staging opportunity of the girls actually sitting on the steps to discuss/talk things out, like in the pic I posted. I'm surprised they never staged any of the girls sitting on the stairs during blocking of any of the actual episodes.

On another subject, we all know Natalie and Cindy are not in this episode. Do we know if the producers and Charlotte did their research at that one girls' school after this episode aired? Because we know that's where Charlotte "appropriated" Mindy (haha). But Mindy didn't appear in the backdoor pilot. So maybe after DS's taping season ended, then that's when they went to the school to do some research before the actual series?

And just when did Cindy Webster come about? What led to her creation? In The Girls' School there is one girl with long blond hair who is wearing a kind of athletic-style Lake Tahoe shirt, and a ball cap. They probably tried to make some of the girls look different so they wouldn't all look too similar; did a producer while watching this episode get inspired by this girl to create a tomboy athlete character? Could be, could not be, but it's interesting to note...

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Yeah, I know they of course use the stairs, and Natalie reveals on the landing the news of one of her stuffed animals almost being totaled in "Flash Flood", lol, but I was emphasizing about the missed staging opportunity of the girls actually sitting on the steps to discuss/talk things out, like in the pic I posted. I'm surprised they never staged any of the girls sitting on the stairs during blocking of any of the actual episodes.

Alas, we only got a half a season of the Eastland dorm episodes!

On another subject, we all know Natalie and Cindy are not in this episode. Do we know if the producers and Charlotte did their research at that one girls' school after this episode aired? Because we know that's where Charlotte "appropriated" Mindy (haha). But Mindy didn't appear in the backdoor pilot. So maybe after DS's taping season ended, then that's when they went to the school to do some research before the actual series?

That's what I think: after DS's season ended, the writers, producers, and Charlotte went to Westlake, where Mindy was "discovered".

And just when did Cindy Webster come about? What led to her creation?

I alluded to this in another recent thread, but as you say, it really does make you wonder when exactly the character of Cindy Webster was created. Did the producers realize, after watching TGS, that there was no jock?

In The Girls' School there is one girl with long blond hair who is wearing a kind of athletic-style Lake Tahoe shirt, and a ball cap. They probably tried to make some of the girls look different so they wouldn't all look too similar; did a producer while watching this episode get inspired by this girl to create a tomboy athlete character? Could be, could not be, but it's interesting to note...

Hey, now, that's interesting! Obviously, we have no way of confirming any of this, but it's a very intriguing theory!

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

That's what I think: after DS's season ended, the writers, producers, and Charlotte went to Westlake, where Mindy was "discovered".

That in turn makes you wonder if the producers had a "final" cast set in place of 6 girls (if Julie Anne had been found yet), until Charlotte saw Mindy and managed to get her on board.

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I alluded to this in another recent thread, but as you say, it really does make you wonder when exactly the character of Cindy Webster was created. Did the producers realize, after watching TGS, that there was no jock?

Yes, it's one of the most clouded mysteries of season 1: where did Cindy Webster come from? After I have lunch with Julie Anne I'll be sure and let you know!*


*(hopeful fan fantasy, lol)

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Hey, now, that's interesting! Obviously, we have no way of confirming any of this, but it's a very intriguing theory!

Yeah, I can't help but wonder that. And the fan in me loves to think that's how it happened, until we ever hear some "facts", lol.


You know, watching TGS for the first time in a few years, I was struck by how really good Felice was---she really did get a "bum rap"! I mean I always knew how sad her tale was and how unfair it was for her, but when you watch this backdoor pilot and see what a sweet little star she was, she really was so talented throughout the whole episode. She showed a range of emotions: friendly, eager, heartbroken, flustered, hopeful, happy, even catty! (in an innocent-sounding way, lol) And she flowed through all of these beautifully. She didn't miss a beat.



And then...


well...


for whatever reason, perhaps this is what happened after the episode aired

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

That in turn makes you wonder if the producers had a "final" cast set in place of 6 girls (if Julie Anne had been found yet), until Charlotte saw Mindy and managed to get her on board.

Based on TGS, it seemed as though the cast would be Felice, Lisa, Julie, Kim, Laura, Jennifer and Molly. But obviously, things weren't set in stone. TGS had a great part for Felice, a part where she shone, yet someone in charge after the episode was taped decided that Lisa, Julie and Kim would be the primary focus (along with Charlotte, naturally).

At some point, someone must have decided that the Laura and Jennifer characters weren't cutting it, and they got the axe. (Or maybe a "frog handler" was too expensive? ) It's too bad we never saw them again at Eastland, but they didn't really stick out to me.

This would have left Felice as one of five girls, and although her role might not have been as big as Lisa's, Julie's, or Kim's, surely she would have had more screen time, had she been one of just five girls.

But then Charlotte brought Mindy on board from Westlake, and presumably around the same time, Julie Anne was also brought on board, which has never been explained. Felice was thus left with a rather small role, when she had been such an integral part of the backdoor pilot.

Yes, it's one of the most clouded mysteries of season 1: where did Cindy Webster come from? After I have lunch with Julie Anne I'll be sure and let you know!*

*(hopeful fan fantasy, lol)

Are you on Twitter? Julie Anne has an account. You could ask her yourself, if you dare!

You know, watching TGS for the first time in a few years, I was struck by how really good Felice was---she really did get a "bum rap"! I mean I always knew how sad her tale was and how unfair it was for her, but when you watch this backdoor pilot and see what a sweet little star she was, she really was so talented throughout the whole episodes. She showed a range of emotions: friendly, eager, heartbroken, flustered, hopeful, happy, even catty! (in an innocent-sounding way, lol) And she flowed through all of these beautifully. She didn't miss a beat.

Felice was very good, and it's a shame she didn't get a meatier role on FOL, but I'm glad she appeared in the episodes she did appear in: "Gossip" is quite funny, in part because of her. Despite her FOL role being so diminished, she has had a good acting career nonetheless.

for whatever reason, perhaps this is what happened after the episode aired

Haha!

It's funny, because Felice's mother was both the agent for Felice and for Mindy. Felice states that she was in her basement when she heard the news that she was no longer going to regularly be on FOL. What must Felice's mom have been thinking, at that moment? "They're keeping the girl with no acting experience?!" Despite this, I'm glad Felice and Mindy remained friends.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

At some point, someone must have decided that the Laura and Jennifer characters weren't cutting it, and they got the axe. (Or maybe a "frog handler" was too expensive? ) It's too bad we never saw them again at Eastland, but they didn't really stick out to me.

Yeah, Cindy and Natalie were much more entertaining than Jennifer and Laura.

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Are you on Twitter? Julie Anne has an account. You could ask her yourself, if you dare!

No; are you? You ask!

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

It's funny, because Felice's mother was both the agent for Felice and for Mindy. Felice states that she was in her basement when she heard the news that she was no longer going to regularly be on FOL. What must Felice's mom have been thinking, at that moment? "They're keeping the girl with no acting experience?!" Despite this, I'm glad Felice and Mindy remained friends.

Oh, yikes! lol



And yeah, it's nice that there were some lasting friendships. I remember seeing "behind-the-scenes" photos of the girls at birthday parties (Lisa's, maybe?), and I remember seeing at least Felice of the Lost Girls at one of them.