Plot holes from the show.

[geremi]

The Facts of Life have plot holes that the writers often overlooked, either deliberately, or because they need to create a storyline for a character and pretend that we, the audience, are too stupid to know.

First, does Mrs. Garrett have other people working for her at Edna's Edibles besides the four girls? For instance, during summer breaks, when they all go their separate ways, who works for her? The shop was built for her to have an income since she no longer works at Eastland School. I can't see the store closing down during the summer hiatus. In that case, the writers could of have given Charlotte a flashback storyline clip the does not need to include Blair, Jo, Natalie, and Tootie.

Second, Why are Jo and Natalie always broke? They work at Edna's Edibles and part owners of Over Our Heads? Jo doesn't even have money to remodeled her bedroom and has has to sell her bike. Natalie working odd jobs and even complaint that she has no income when she was fired from Señore Sombrero. Clearly, they do have money coming in from the store to help them out. Natalie, basically has 2 income, one from the store and the other from working outside of the store.

Third, Andy's adoption storyline was a joke. So basically, if you are adopted and your parents are getting a divorce, they're sending you back to the adoption agency? So. it's like "Return to Sender", sort of. What about Grandma Polly from "Write and Wrong" episode? She doesn't care about him anymore, she would rather let Beverly Ann, whom he just met adopt him? No one from his immediate family cares anymore? This storyline itself was an embarrassment to the us viewers. There was no need for an adoption storyline for Andy at all. The show was about Mrs. Garrett with Blair, Jo, Natalie, and Tootie, it's not about Andy and Beverly Ann.

I know that there are more plot holes as well. The three that I mentioned are the ones that needed to be addressed. Feel free to add more.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by geremi

The Facts of Life have plot holes that the writers often overlooked, either deliberately, or because they need to create a storyline for a character and pretend that we, the audience, are too stupid to know.

First, does Mrs. Garrett have other people working for her at Edna's Edibles besides the four girls? For instance, during summer breaks, when they all go their separate ways, who works for her? The shop was built for her to have an income since she no longer works at Eastland School. I can't see the store closing down during the summer hiatus. In that case, the writers could of have given Charlotte a flashback storyline clip the does not need to include Blair, Jo, Natalie, and Tootie.

Maybe things slow down during the summer months, so that Mrs. G doesn't need a lot of help over the summer. Or maybe Mrs. Garrett does close the store over the summer months.

Second, Why are Jo and Natalie always broke? They work at Edna's Edibles and part owners of Over Our Heads? Jo doesn't even have money to remodeled her bedroom and has has to sell her bike. Natalie working odd jobs and even complaint that she has no income when she was fired from Señore Sombrero. Clearly, they do have money coming in from the store to help them out. Natalie, basically has 2 income, one from the store and the other from working outside of the store.

I never felt like Edna's Edibles was a successful business. It only operated for two years, and with the messes the girls made (the bad catered Chinese food, the "pot lid" pizza, and other disasters), I can't imagine they ever made a profit on that store. Plus, the phone they were using was from the 1800s!

None of this sounds like a viable business plan.

Even Edna's delicious quiches, homemade strudel, etc., couldn't make up for the culinary disasters, which is why EE only lasted two years. Sure, the store burned down, but had the business been really successful, nothing would have stopped them from rebuilding as Edna's Edibles. They didn't do that.

Third, Andy's adoption storyline was a joke. So basically, if you are adopted and your parents are getting a divorce, they're sending you back to the adoption agency? So. it's like "Return to Sender", sort of. What about Grandma Polly from "Write and Wrong" episode? She doesn't care about him anymore, she would rather let Beverly Ann, whom he just met adopt him? No one from his immediate family cares anymore? This storyline itself was an embarrassment to the us viewers. There was no need for an adoption storyline for Andy at all. The show was about Mrs. Garrett with Blair, Jo, Natalie, and Tootie, it's not about Andy and Beverly Ann.

By the time Andy arrived on the show, almost nothing really made sense. Mrs. G would soon leave, the store would change, and the focus would go from meaningful storylines to fluff pieces about 1950s girl groups, pop culture parodies, and celebrity guest appearances. It wasn't the same show.

[Lorimar Television]

I just watched the pot lid pizza ep, but technically that was Jos business not EE

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by geremi

First, does Mrs. Garrett have other people working for her at Edna's Edibles besides the four girls? For instance, during summer breaks, when they all go their separate ways, who works for her? The shop was built for her to have an income since she no longer works at Eastland School. I can't see the store closing down during the summer hiatus. In that case, the writers could of have given Charlotte a flashback storyline clip the does not need to include Blair, Jo, Natalie, and Tootie.

In the season 6 premiere during the flashbacks, it was shown that Mrs. Garrett went on vacation with Jo. It's possible she closed the store for awhile to go have fun. She also probably had Mr. Lazzeroni help her like she did in the Christmas episode of season 5. The girls did ask Mrs. Garrett who was going to help her while they were gone for Christmas break. This is probably our explanation for all breaks the girls took.

Originally Posted by geremi

Second, Why are Jo and Natalie always broke? They work at Edna's Edibles and part owners of Over Our Heads? Jo doesn't even have money to remodeled her bedroom and has has to sell her bike. Natalie working odd jobs and even complaint that she has no income when she was fired from Señore Sombrero. Clearly, they do have money coming in from the store to help them out. Natalie, basically has 2 income, one from the store and the other from working outside of the store.

Jo's financial burden is very understandable. It costs a lot to go to college. I'm sure her money went for bills there and necessities she needed. Natalie's financial burden I don't understand. She didn't have any big financial burden like Jo and Tootie. Don't forget Natalie also made money off selling her stories. The biggest plot hole here is how did Natalie find time to work in Over Our Heads with her other jobs, writing, and dating Snake? Over Our Heads was slowly being written out in season 8.

Originally Posted by geremi

Third, Andy's adoption storyline was a joke. So basically, if you are adopted and your parents are getting a divorce, they're sending you back to the adoption agency? So. it's like "Return to Sender", sort of. What about Grandma Polly from "Write and Wrong" episode? She doesn't care about him anymore, she would rather let Beverly Ann, whom he just met adopt him? No one from his immediate family cares anymore? This storyline itself was an embarrassment to the us viewers. There was no need for an adoption storyline for Andy at all. The show was about Mrs. Garrett with Blair, Jo, Natalie, and Tootie, it's not about Andy and Beverly Ann.

I don't think it was an embarrassment. Beverly Ann's story in season 8 was to find herself and rebuild her life after her divorce. Andy's story was thrown in to give Beverly Ann another new aspect to starting over. I'll admit it wasn't thought out well since that's the only time it was revealed Andy was adopted, but I get what they were trying to do. Not a lot of fans understand Beverly Ann's character but she was very important to season 8 and part of the show's original premise story, learning The Facts of Life. Divorce and starting over is something a lot of people go through. Beverly Ann was the perfect character for that story. The only bad part was watering her down in season 9 and making her absolutely useless since the girls themselves weren't even apart of each others lives that year.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Maybe things slow down during the summer months, so that Mrs. G doesn't need a lot of help over the summer. Or maybe Mrs. Garrett does close the store over the summer months.

That is interesting, and adds a bit of "mystique" to the establishment...

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I never felt like Edna's Edibles was a successful business.

A bit ironic; Edna Garrett was one of the culinary artists around, and people loved her and her creations, yet, yes, they always seemed to struggle.

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Plus, the phone they were using was from the 1800s!

Nancy would have been at her wit's end trying to figure out how to dial Roger! ---> " "

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

I just watched the pot lid pizza ep, but technically that was Jos business not EE

Yeah, that was the girls on a lark on their own; showing that put together, the 4 of them couldn't even make a quarter of a Mrs. Garrett! lol

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

By the time Andy arrived on the show, almost nothing really made sense. Mrs. G would soon leave, the store would change, and the focus would go from meaningful storylines to fluff pieces about 1950s girl groups, pop culture parodies, and celebrity guest appearances. It wasn't the same show.

Season 8 had meaningful storylines. Tootie deciding whether to have sex or not, Jo almost marrying a guy to get him his visa, Natalie and Tootie discovering they're in different places in their lives and how it almost ruined their friendship in Greek Connection, Natalie learning she's not responsible enough for a credit card, Jo agreeing to go on a date with her best friend's ex boyfriend (I don't understand why this is a social problem in real life. If you're friend wants to date your ex, you shouldn't get upset. JMO), and other stories. These are things people go through in life. I think season 8 is just as good as the Eastland years. The only difference is they weren't filmed dramatically like the Eastland years. There wasn't a lot of crying and audience going "awe".

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

I just watched the pot lid pizza ep, but technically that was Jos business not EE

It was in the same kitchen!

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Christopher

Season 8 had meaningful storylines. Tootie deciding whether to have sex or not, Jo almost marrying a guy to get him his visa, Natalie and Tootie discovering they're in different places in their lives and how it almost ruined their friendship in Greek Connection, Natalie learning she's not responsible enough for a credit card, Jo agreeing to go on a date with her best friend's ex boyfriend (I don't understand why this is a social problem in real life. If you're friend wants to date your ex, you shouldn't get upset. JMO), and other stories. These are things people go through in life. I think season 8 is just as good as the Eastland years. The only difference is they weren't filmed dramatically like the Eastland years. There wasn't a lot of crying and audience going "awe".

I do see what you are saying about the season 8 and 9 differences, Christopher. And I agree to some extent that season 8 had more meaningful storylines. I also like the fact that we get a little bit of Edna, Cindy, Sue Ann, Nancy, and Molly (in flashback) in Season 8.

But I don't agree that S8 was as good as the Eastland years.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Nancy would have been at her wit's end trying to figure out how to dial Roger! ---> " "

Haha!

Yeah, that was the girls on a lark on their own; showing that put together, the 4 of them couldn't even make a quarter of a Mrs. Garrett! lol

And they proved it again with the bad Chinese food episode!

[Lorimar Television]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

It was in the same kitchen!

Yes it was, before the fire allowed them to redo it and include a backdoor, windows, and stairs which would have to be next to the other staircase in the living room pretty much.