RIP Roger Perry

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

So sad, may he R.I.P.

Side note: Idk why they didn't keep Mr. Bradley as the headmaster, he's the only character not to appear after season 1 (Not counting Ms. Mahoney). He must have only worked there for a year.

Having Mr. Bradley as the headmaster in Season Two, even on an occasional basis, would have been cool. He certainly was more hands-on than Mr. Harris, regularly interacting with the girls, and even teaching some classes (maybe even too many, to be an effective administrator).

It does seem, as both you and '80s allude, like he was only there for a year. Then again, the pride he takes about Sue Ann's track record, indicates he's been there longer. But he couldn't have been, because Mr. Crocker was the headmaster in "season zero".

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

But would she have stayed? We heard in earlier episodes that she was barely making ends meet. She had to moonlight, and even mentioned having to eat dog food because she lost her pension.

That worked out in the end somehow, but I forgot the resolution (it's been a few years since I've binged on the show).

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Mrs. Garrett never seemed to stay long in any one job: she was a maid in Manhattan for two years, and then became a housemother for a year. Then she became a school dietitian for three years: a record for her. She also worked in a Howard Johnson's. Then she went into business for herself, in a bakery, for two years. Then she started a Spencer's-type store, for one year. Then she moved to Africa.

Oh Edna, that unreliable drifter! (I know that's not what you meant, I just thought it was funny because those who don't know Mrs. Garrett could take it the wrong way, lol)

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Without even speaking with them. That's not a headmaster!

Yes it is. It might not be the preferred headmaster, but it's a headmaster (but I know what you meant, lol).

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Mr. Harris couldn't even be bothered to speak to the girls whose academic careers would have been severely damaged. That is just wrong. So, so wrong.

And so was Mr. Parker's mistreatment and abuse toward Edna, whom he once considered a fond colleague.

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

As someone who has very recently left his job of the past almost 15 years due to disrespect from work supervisors (in a school, even), I understand what you're saying. But prolonged abuse is very different than an isolated incident.
Mr. Parker learned his lesson, and they parted on good terms. I wish my own school administration dispute had ended on terms as good as Charles' and Edna's. I can't look on Charles as a bad man.

Mr. Parker's wasn't isolated though, he worsened with her over time. They parted on terrible terms at the school, but got some nice resolution at EE (with Edna having the upper hand over him).

I don't think he's a totally bad man, I just think he ended up behaving abominably and deserved justice for his actions (I enjoy him in his appearances until he starts behaving like a jerk). After having been a pushover so much of my life, I finally spoke up and had a meeting with my manager after the antagonist of my situation went too far. That person may not be a bad guy, but I wasn't going to give him the opportunity to so easily behave that way toward me any longer; or feel like he could get away with it. It felt so good to finally stand up for myself.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Having Mr. Bradley as the headmaster in Season Two, even on an occasional basis, would have been cool.

It would have been more than cool, it would have been a wonderful help to bridge the first season with the second. Almost anything from the first season would have been a welcome sight for the made-over show, and retaining the same headmaster would have been such a treat for fans; even a passing mention of why Mr. Bradley left would have been welcome. It's a real shame they apparently never even offered him to recur like they did the Lost Girls.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

That worked out in the end somehow, but I forgot the resolution (it's been a few years since I've binged on the show).

I know what you mean: I myself haven't seen most of the non-Eastland episodes in a long time. ("The Little Chill" being an exception).

In the episode, Edna goes to Charles, and tells him she's going to have to resign. He puts his job on the line for her, threatening the board that he'll resign if they don't pay Mrs. Garrett more. He saves her job, and calls her "family".

He's a good man.

Oh Edna, that unreliable drifter! (I know that's not what you meant, I just thought it was funny because those who don't know Mrs. Garrett could take it the wrong way, lol)

Haha! No, not an unreliable drifter, but definitely someone who changes careers every few years. She was at Eastland for about 4.5 years, considering the time between "The Girls' School" and "Brave New World", but that was a bit of a record for her, as far as I can tell. The idea that she would have stayed at Eastland much longer... it's just not her.

Mr. Parker's wasn't isolated though, he worsened with her over time. They parted on terrible terms at the school, but got some nice resolution at EE (with Edna having the upper hand over him).

I don't think he's a totally bad man, I just think he ended up behaving abominably and deserved justice for his actions (I enjoy him in his appearances until he starts behaving like a jerk). After having been a pushover so much of my life, I finally spoke up and had a meeting with my manager after the antagonist of my situation went too far. That person may not be a bad guy, but I wasn't going to give him the opportunity to so easily behave that way toward me any longer; or feel like he could get away with it. It felt so good to finally stand up for myself.

Thanks for sharing with me part of your story. Even after chatting with you frequently about FOL for so many years, I feel like I don't know too much about you as a person, and so I appreciate the details. It's been so fun chatting with you about FOL!

I'm glad you stood up for yourself, and that you won't allow your work situation to become abusive.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

In the episode, Edna goes to Charles, and tells him she's going to have to resign. He puts his job on the line for her, threatening the board that he'll resign if they don't pay Mrs. Garrett more. He saves her job, and calls her "family".

He's a good man.

I agree, that is the Charles Parker I came to love. Unfortunately though, he didn't stay that knight in shining pale yellow armor (pale yellow like one of the school's main colors, lol).

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

The idea that she would have stayed at Eastland much longer... it's just not her.

Maybe not "much longer", but it's just sad how her leaving all comes about.

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Thanks for sharing with me part of your story. Even after chatting with you frequently about FOL for so many years, I feel like I don't know too much about you as a person, and so I appreciate the details. It's been so fun chatting with you about FOL!

Same here, it's always fun to talk shows so in-depth with others who are the same way!

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I'm glad you stood up for yourself, and that you won't allow your work situation to become abusive.

Thanks; I left there a few months ago, and in my exit interview I made sure to bring up the disrespect and mistreatment I received from that person (at times in front of others, no less). I was in a similar situation once where I did not stand up for myself, so this time it felt good to not take less than being treated decently like a human being. Like I told my ex-manager (who was a great guy---he was like moonlighting-Edna's-Charles-Parker, lol), if I am disrespected, I am going to say something, to someone.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

It would have been more than cool, it would have been a wonderful help to bridge the first season with the second. Almost anything from the first season would have been a welcome sight for the made-over show, and retaining the same headmaster would have been such a treat for fans; even a passing mention of why Mr. Bradley left would have been welcome. It's a real shame they apparently never even offered him to recur like they did the Lost Girls.

As you say, with a new cafeteria, kitchen and lounge, no gym, no dorm common room, and a seldom-seen classroom, it became a very different set. Having more familiar characters from the previous season would have been a great bridge. Even a brief mention by Blair, along the lines of, "I heard Mr. Bradley and Miss Mahoney ran off together, isn't that a hoot?" during one of the S2 episodes would have provided a little more closure.

Instead, all we got were Tumpy's stereo, the NYer poster, the stuffed tiger, the Notre Dame painting, some flowers, and sporadic appearances by the Lost Girls. Which is better than nothing, I guess!

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

As you say, with a new cafeteria, kitchen and lounge, no gym, no dorm common room, and a seldom-seen classroom, it became a very different set. Having more familiar characters from the previous season would have been a great bridge.

Yes...and my ultimate fantasy of bridging would be to have season 2 start with still being staged in the dorm. Mrs. Garrett could come by and tell the girls of her new position, Jo could arrive and check out her new digs in "Blairsy's" room, then later all the girls get to talking, there's conflict, and Jo and Blair go off to The Chug-A-Lug, with the other girls declining to take part, except for Natalie and Tootie who just wanna go along to watch. Then, after they're bailed out, we're introduced to the cafeteria.

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Even a brief mention by Blair, along the lines of, "I heard Mr. Bradley and Miss Mahoney ran off together, isn't that a hoot?" during one of the S2 episodes would have provided a little more closure.

Hahaha! I can totally hear Blair saying that, and see her wrinkling her nose in a smile and doing a little demure palm-down hand gesture on "hoot!" (you know, kind of like an, "Oh, stop it!" hand gesture a girl would do, lol)

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Instead, all we got were Tumpy's stereo, the NYer poster, the stuffed tiger, the Notre Dame painting, some flowers, and sporadic appearances by the Lost Girls. Which is better than nothing, I guess!

Yup, we take what we get! lol

And don't forget the sombrero! lol---oh, and Tootie's skates! And the pennant!

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Yes...and my ultimate fantasy of bridging would be to have season 2 start with still being staged in the dorm. Mrs. Garrett could come by and tell the girls of her new position, Jo could arrive and check out her new digs in "Blairsy's" room, then later all the girls get to talking, there's conflict, and Jo and Blair go off to The Chug-A-Lug, with the other girls declining to take part, except for Natalie and Tootie who just wanna go along to watch. Then, after they're bailed out, we're introduced to the cafeteria.

That would have been a less drastic revamp, for the viewers. Too bad that did not happen! The producers sort of threw the babies out with the bathwater between season one and two.

Hahaha! I can totally hear Blair saying that, and see her wrinkling her nose in a smile and doing a little demure palm-down hand gesture on "hoot!" (you know, kind of like an, "Oh, stop it!" hand gesture a girl would do, lol)

That's how I imagined it.

And don't forget the sombrero! lol---oh, and Tootie's skates! And the pennant!

I was including the sombrero with the tiger. Good point about the skates, although they're rarely seen.

Which pennant? The green one?

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Which pennant? The green one?

Yellow.

[Dude111]

Very sad

[Lorimar Television]

I love all those ideas! Season 2's changes were so abrupt

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

I love all those ideas! Season 2's changes were so abrupt

EXACTLY!

I'm not saying some changes weren't justified... but to have new sets, AND new actors, AND a new premise, AND most of the old characters we'd grown to love were gone... Well, it just makes you wish they'd gone a bit more slowly on the revamp. Could they really not get John Lawler back? Could they really not wait to destroy the old set? Could they not have brought the Lost Girls back on a slightly more frequent basis?

Also: some of the reasons they gave for the revamp were so bizarre: the producers took Tootie off her rollerskates because they thought it was racist. Hello! We rollerskated every week at my school, and we didn't think it was a "black thing"... EVER.

Getting rid of the short shorts in upper NY state made sense. But the way Margie Whatshername made it sound, the show was pornographic. But it was not.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Also: some of the reasons they gave for the revamp were so bizarre: the producers took Tootie off her rollerskates because they thought it was racist. Hello! We rollerskated every week at my school, and we didn't think it was a "black thing"... EVER.

Where did they say that? I don't remember that part from a documentary. I do however remember Margie Peters saying very intensely the reason they took Tootie off her roller skates was because "No one. Roller skates. In. The. House." lol

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Getting rid of the short shorts in upper NY state made sense. But the way Margie Whatshername made it sound, the show was pornographic. But it was not.

Margie made it sound like they were really exploiting those girls (but those shorts were really short, lol).

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Where did they say that? I don't remember that part from a documentary. I do however remember Margie Peters saying very intensely the reason they took Tootie off her roller skates was because "No one. Roller skates. In. The. House." lol

She said it in FOL Girls, the E! True Hollywood Story.

Margie made it sound like they were really exploiting those girls (but those shorts were really short, lol).

She did. The shorts were very short, but way more chaste than what is shown at a gymnastics competition. They showed Cindy doing a flip in shorts shorts as an example of "pornography", whereas if she had actually been in a competition, she'd be wearing way tighter/skimpier clothes.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

She said it in FOL Girls, the E! True Hollywood Story.

Oh man, I wish that would surface in a rerun or on YouTube; I know the transcript is online, and I got to see it on TV once many years ago, but sure would love to see it again.

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

She did. The shorts were very short, but way more chaste than what is shown at a gymnastics competition. They showed Cindy doing a flip in shorts shorts as an example of "pornography", whereas if she had actually been in a competition, she'd be wearing way tighter/skimpier clothes.

Double standard for athletic competition versus everyday lives. Margie's appalled underage girls would be wearing such short shorts when they didn't need to be.