When and where did you first see The Facts of Life? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

RetroGuy2000 · 01-19-2019, 02:14 AM

Lorimar has told us that he didn't see FOL until it started airing on Nick at Night, which was, I guess, somewhere around the early 2000s.

This seems sooo late to me (not "bad", just seems odd); I distinctly recall watching reruns of the show over the summer in the daytime on NBC sometime in the early 1980s, circa 1982. Although I might have seen the show prior to that, I definitely recall that my sister and I were regular viewers by that point. My sister even got a little red raincoat that was just like Tootie's, in "Flash Flood", because she wanted to be just like Tootie.

I was so confused because the daytime episodes had Lost Girls, but the nighttime episodes had no Lost Girls. I couldn't figure out why. I didn't know that the daytime episodes were older reruns, and that the nighttime episodes were new episodes.

(This raincoat

Lorimar Television · 01-19-2019, 05:27 AM

Yes it was 2000 exactly when nick aired it. Strange to think about but that’s actually almost 20 years ago now.

Christopher · 01-19-2019, 06:07 AM

I believe it was either 89 or 90 when I first got into The Facts of Life. It was on local syndication channels back then. When it went to USA Network, I became a hard core fan recording the show on VHS tapes and the marathon USA would air of The Facts of Life. I remember that marathon had cast interviews. Specifically Mindy's interview I remember the most because she talked about "The Breaking Point" and how fans thanked them for that episode. When The Facts of Life started on N@N, I started recording the show on that network too. I remember their week long marathon when it first started and The Blair / Tootie project marathon they had. My only complaint with N@N was that they skipped the really controversial episodes. Thank God for DVD releases.

RetroGuy2000 · 01-19-2019, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

Yes it was 2000 exactly when nick aired it. Strange to think about but that’s actually almost 20 years ago now.

Definitely feels strange to think about that way, for sure!

RetroGuy2000 · 01-19-2019, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christopher

I believe it was either 89 or 90 when I first got into The Facts of Life. It was on local syndication channels back then. When it went to USA Network, I became a hard core fan recording the show on VHS tapes and the marathon USA would air of The Facts of Life. I remember that marathon had cast interviews. Specifically Mindy's interview I remember the most because she talked about "The Breaking Point" and how fans thanked them for that episode.

Definitely a ground-breaking episode!

Quote:

When The Facts of Life started on N@N, I started recording the show on that network too. I remember their week long marathon when it first started and The Blair / Tootie project marathon they had.

Ah, yes, the Blair Tootie Project! Those ads were soooo funny!

Quote:

My only complaint with N@N was that they skipped the really controversial episodes. Thank God for DVD releases.

Yeah, I definitely remember lots of episodes being skipped, and being, like, "WTF?! I know there were other episodes! I remember them!"

Lorimar Television · 01-19-2019, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Ah, yes, the Blair Tootie Project! Those ads were soooo funny!

Yes! N@N used to have the best ads!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T16_DL6941s

Mr. Television · 01-19-2019, 04:38 PM

1979

Lorimar Television · 01-19-2019, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Television

1979

So you saw it when it started? Awesome! Do you remember what episode? What did you think of the changes that followed?

Mr. Television · 01-19-2019, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

So you saw it when it started? Awesome! Do you remember what episode? What did you think of the changes that followed?

Well I was a fan of DS so I just happen to catch it that summer because of Mrs. Garrett. Don't remember if I saw the first episode then or not but I think I did. Wasn't really a big fan of the show under that format. I know I would watch it sometimes if nothing else was on . I didn't start watching every week until they made the changes and added Jo to the cast. Then I pretty much watched it every week until the show left the air. I liked the revamped show much better but looking back the first season episodes weren't that bad. Even though the show was about girls and I was a boy there were some episodes I could really relate too. I think that's what made the show a success.

RetroGuy2000 · 01-19-2019, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

Yes! N@N used to have the best ads!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T16_DL6941s

That takes me back...

Mr. Television, thanks for your thoughts on the earliest years of the show.

OH Nuts! · 01-19-2019, 10:46 PM

When it originally aired in the late 70s & 80s

Lorimar Television · 01-19-2019, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

That takes me back...

Mr. Television, thanks for your thoughts on the earliest years of the show.

Remember the lost girl commercial they had talking about them? I think they said "Boy crazy Nancy, Kansas girl Sue Ann, tomboy Cindy, and feminist Molly" then ended with the clip of Sue Ann in IQ saying, "how do you think it feels to spend the rest of your life in the basement?"

Thats why I pictured Nancy and Sue Ann living in the basement of Ednas Edibles

RetroGuy2000 · 01-19-2019, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

Remember the lost girl commercial they had talking about them? I think they said "Boy crazy Nancy, Kansas girl Sue Ann, tomboy Cindy, and feminist Molly" then ended with the clip of Sue Ann in IQ saying, "how do you think it feels to spend the rest of your life in the basement?"

Thats why I pictured Nancy and Sue Ann living in the basement of Ednas Edibles

I only vaguely remember that commercial, and started to confuse it with the more sinister one they were playing around Halloween one year, indicating that something dreadful had happened to Molly. That one ends with "...but no Molly Ringwald."

Lorimar Television · 01-19-2019, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I only vaguely remember that commercial, and started to confuse it with the more sinister one they were playing around Halloween one year, indicating that something dreadful had happened to Molly. That one ends with "...but no Molly Ringwald."

Gasp! Did they use Mrs G chasing her in MH?

Impressions · 02-09-2019, 12:12 AM

I first saw it on Nick at Nite and loved it, but then didn't really get into it until The Hallmark Channel aired in like 17 years ago. Now I have all the DVDs and watch it

01-19-2019, 02:14 AM	#1
RetroGuy2000 Julie,Julie Anne,&Felice 4Ever Forum Star Join Date: Dec 27, 2013 Posts: 16,914	When and where did you first see The Facts of Life? Lorimar has told us that he didn't see FOL until it started airing on Nick at Night, which was, I guess, somewhere around the early 2000s. This seems sooo late to me (not "bad", just seems odd); I distinctly recall watching reruns of the show over the summer in the daytime on NBC sometime in the early 1980s, circa 1982. Although I might have seen the show prior to that, I definitely recall that my sister and I were regular viewers by that point. My sister even got a little red raincoat that was just like Tootie's, in "Flash Flood", because she wanted to be just like Tootie. I was so confused because the daytime episodes had Lost Girls, but the nighttime episodes had no Lost Girls. I couldn't figure out why. I didn't know that the daytime episodes were older reruns, and that the nighttime episodes were new episodes. (This raincoat
	__________________ The Facts of Life's "Lost Girls" Tribute to Julie Piekarski, Eastland Girl Join "The Group", Sitcoms Online's Facts of Life group!

01-19-2019, 05:27 AM	#2
Lorimar Television Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 06, 2007 Posts: 7,034	Yes it was 2000 exactly when nick aired it. Strange to think about but that’s actually almost 20 years ago now.
	__________________ Some of my favorite theme songs: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-e...89CsiJpV_irnNw

01-19-2019, 04:38 PM	#7
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	1979
	__________________ Sonny

01-19-2019, 06:07 AM	#3
Christopher The OG Core Four Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 15, 2001 Posts: 14,833	I believe it was either 89 or 90 when I first got into The Facts of Life. It was on local syndication channels back then. When it went to USA Network, I became a hard core fan recording the show on VHS tapes and the marathon USA would air of The Facts of Life. I remember that marathon had cast interviews. Specifically Mindy's interview I remember the most because she talked about "The Breaking Point" and how fans thanked them for that episode. When The Facts of Life started on N@N, I started recording the show on that network too. I remember their week long marathon when it first started and The Blair / Tootie project marathon they had. My only complaint with N@N was that they skipped the really controversial episodes. Thank God for DVD releases.

01-19-2019, 10:46 PM	#11
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	When it originally aired in the late 70s & 80s

02-09-2019, 12:12 AM	#15
Impressions She died the way she lived Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 08, 2002 Posts: 4,640	I first saw it on Nick at Nite and loved it, but then didn't really get into it until The Hallmark Channel aired in like 17 years ago. Now I have all the DVDs and watch it