About the "Diff'rent Strokes" Curse: Why didn't it affect "The Facts of Life"?

[RetroGuy2000]

We've all heard of the Diff'rent Strokes Curse: Todd Bridges, Dana Plato, and Gary Coleman wreaked havoc on the set: they held up productions with tantrums (Gary), got pregnant (Dana), were on trial for manslaughter (Todd), posed for Playboy (Dana), sued parents (Gary and Dana), didn't get along with Dixie Carter (Gary and Dana), did drugs (Dana and Todd), dyed their hair (Dana), robbed a 7-11 (Dana), punched a fan (Gary), may have molested a girl (Todd), did porn (Dana), spoke poorly of the show (Gary), and generally made headlines for bad behavior. Not all of this was their fault, and some of this was total BS, but clearly, some of it was their fault.

The Facts of Life was spun off from DS; it had much of the same cast, many of the characters crossed over, and like DS, FOL was taped at Metromedia Square for the first four seasons: the two shows must have been taped within feet of each other. Kim Fields still speaks fondly of Todd, although she relates several problems on the set with Gary and Dana.

So, what stopped FOL from becoming the total cast trainwreck that DS endured?

[Lorimar Television]

I guess they just hired less rebellious actors. I wonder if Felice Schacter got the part of Dana (I believe she tried out for it) if she would've been a more positive influence, or if the others would have made her more rebellious as well.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

I guess they just hired less rebellious actors. I wonder if Felice Schacter got the part of Dana (I believe she tried out for it) if she would've been a more positive influence, or if the others would have made her more rebellious as well.

Good question: would good behavior have rubbed off, or would bad behavior have rubbed off?

[kadeliah]

Seems like the FOL girls had better parents at home and more stability off set.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by kadeliah

Seems like the FOL girls had better parents at home and more stability off set.

I definitely think that's part of it. According to Kim's book, Kim's Aunt Pat was on the set every day, guiding her and keeping her in line. Having Gary's mother on set seemed to make things worse, by some accounts.

I also suspect there was a drug pusher (or more than one) on the set of DS. But whoever it was didn't manage to hook in any of the FOL cast, on a neighboring set.

Geri has talked about some unhealthy groupies and hangers-on, but no one who pushed drugs on her. Just assistants and boot-lickers who caused trouble on the set.

[Gemini_89]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

We've all heard of the Diff'rent Strokes Curse: Todd Bridges, Dana Plato, and Gary Coleman wreaked havoc on the set: they held up productions with tantrums (Gary), got pregnant (Dana), were on trial for manslaughter (Todd), posed for Playboy (Dana), sued parents (Gary and Dana), didn't get along with Dixie Carter (Gary and Dana), did drugs (Dana and Todd), dyed their hair (Dana), robbed a 7-11 (Dana), punched a fan (Gary), may have molested a girl (Todd), did porn (Dana), spoke poorly of the show (Gary), and generally made headlines for bad behavior. Not all of this was their fault, and some of this was total BS, but clearly, some of it was their fault.

The Facts of Life was spun off from DS; it had much of the same cast, many of the characters crossed over, and like DS, FOL was taped at Metromedia Square for the first four seasons: the two shows must have been taped within feet of each other. Kim Fields still speaks fondly of Todd, although she relates several problems on the set with Gary and Dana.

So, what stopped FOL from becoming the total cast trainwreck that DS endured?

I heard that Todd was the molested victim as a kid but I've never heard about him being the perpetrator.

What did Kim say about Gary and Dana?

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Gemini_89

I heard that Todd was the molested victim as a kid but I've never heard about him being the perpetrator.

See, I mentioned earlier that some of the accusations made against the DS kids are total BS. This, I believe, is one of those total BS things.

A former DS guest star accused Todd of tackling her and kissing her "inappropriately" when they were on the DS set. It's not entirely clear to me that it was inappropriate, but it's what she claims.

What did Kim say about Gary and Dana?

Kim mentioned going on the DS set and watching some of Gary's temper tantrums/meltdowns, one of which was over him getting hamburgers. As you know, craft services would have provided the food on set, but Gary insisted that he get hamburgers, and threw a fit.

She states that she also witnessed Dana coming to the set with her hair dyed pink, and the hairdressing folks were unable to wash it out for the episode. Kim indicates that it was poor behavior from actors that were supposed to be professional acting children.