Jo Polniaczek: Bad Girl

['80sSitcoms]

Jo is often thought of as the most grounded and dependable of the girls, and oftentimes the voice of reason, but she wasn't always reliable, solid Jo.

Let's take a look at what juvenile delinquency Jo engaged in in her youth, shall we?

She was guilty of the following, and maybe more:

• truancy, cutting classes
• breaking curfew
• ruining murals by spray painting graffiti
• stealing empty cans from a store, walking around the block, and bringing those cans back in to collect the recycling $
• hot-wiring vehicles
• faking IDs
• shoplifting
• smuggling beer

Oh, Jo---you've come a long way, baby! lol

[Lorimar Television]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Jo is often thought of as the most grounded and dependable of the girls, and oftentimes the voice of reason, but she wasn't always reliable, solid Jo.

Let's take a look at what juvenile delinquency Jo engaged in in her youth, shall we?

She was guilty of the following, and maybe more:

• truancy, cutting classes
• breaking curfew
• ruining murals by spray painting graffiti
• stealing empty cans from a store, walking around the block, and bringing those cans back in to collect the recycling $
• hot-wiring vehicles
• faking IDs
• smuggling beer

Oh, Jo---you've come a long way, baby! lol

Yep seasons 2 and 3 Jo was a thug

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

Yep seasons 2 and 3 Jo was a thug

And before that, too! It all started when her dad up and left.

[Lorimar Television]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

And before that, too! It all started when her dad up and left.

For JAIL

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

For JAIL

Haha, but not really; I meant it all started when he up and left the family. I guess actually we don't have the details, but I imagine he left a couple of years or so earlier, Jo turned "bad", and then he went to jail circa '78 or '79.

[Lorimar Television]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Haha, but not really; I meant it all started when he up and left the family. I guess actually we don't have the details, but I imagine he left a couple of years or so earlier, Jo turned "bad", and then he went to jail circa '78 or '79.

How long was he in jail for?

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

How long was he in jail for?

I don't remember, and I don't know if we're told. Oh wait! I think when Jo goes to visit him, it may come out? I think says something about she hasn't changed much, and she bites back, "I have, you just weren't there to see it!"

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

She was guilty of the following, and maybe more:

• truancy, cutting classes
• breaking curfew
• ruining murals by spray painting graffiti
• stealing empty cans from a store, walking around the block, and bringing those cans back in to collect the recycling $
• hot-wiring vehicles
• faking IDs
• smuggling beer

There's also shoplifting, assault, slander, and wanting to make a bomb to blow up a bike shop. Yeah, she was a firecracker in those early years. Even in season 5 she broke the law with computer tampering which could have gotten Mrs. Garrett arrested. Tootie's line "Mrs. Garrett's being arrested. I hope you're happy" still has me rolling in hysterics even when thinking of that scene

[RetroGuy2000]

The show was at its best when Jo was a firecracker. Later, the writers tried to bland-ify Jo, giving her 80s haircuts, making her play the piano, and having her dress un-Jo-like. It didn't work, and the show was cancelled only three short seasons later.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by Christopher

There's also shoplifting, assault, slander, and wanting to make a bomb to blow up a bike shop. Yeah, she was a firecracker in those early years. Even in season 5 she broke the law with computer tampering which could have gotten Mrs. Garrett arrested. Tootie's line "Mrs. Garrett's being arrested. I hope you're happy" still has me rolling in hysterics even when thinking of that scene

Oo, great point about shoplifting! I can't believe I didn't think of that one (I added it into my original post)...she was still new at Eastland when that happened, so that was definitely still the influence of her earlier "bad" days in the Bronx; and, you also get the distinct impression that she had had experience in that arena before.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

The show was at its best when Jo was a firecracker.

I thought you weren't too fond of season 2 Jo though? You thought they made her too Fonzie-like?

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Later, the writers tried to bland-ify Jo, giving her 80s haircuts, making her play the piano, and having her dress un-Jo-like. It didn't work, and the show was cancelled only three short seasons later.

Well it's only natural for her to mellow some as she matures. But you can't blame the '80s haircuts there, because they all had those, lol (but you know that I do loathe that piano element).

And you can't blame the show being cancelled because of Jo any more than others can claim the show was saved because of her.

(also: three "short" seasons?)

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

It didn't work, and the show was cancelled only three short seasons later.

Technically it wasn't cancelled because NBC wanted a 10th season but Nancy and Mindy didn't want to continue with it. NBC was still impressed with it's ratings and wanted more. Unfortunately where it's a core cast, there's no way it would have survived without those two. Also, I don't consider 3 years with a span of 72 episodes and a high rated TV movie short seasons. Short seasons are what we have nowadays with like 8 to 10 episodes a year.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by Christopher

Unfortunately where it's a core cast, there's no way it would have survived without those two.

Even if they tried to replace them. With "Designing Women", I have no interest in getting the last two seasons that are without Suzanne and Charlene.

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Even if they tried to replace them. With "Designing Women", I have no interest in getting the last two seasons that are without Suzanne and Charlene.

Season 6 wasn't good, but season 7 was alright. I like that Judith Ivey's character wasn't trying to replace any of the previous characters. I felt at times Alison was written to be like Suzanne. I don't mind new characters coming in, but I prefer them to be original and not a cardboard copy of a previous character.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by Christopher

Season 6 wasn't good, but season 7 was alright. I like that Judith Ivey's character wasn't trying to replace any of the previous characters. I felt at times Alison was written to be like Suzanne. I don't mind new characters coming in, but I prefer them to be original and not a cardboard copy of a previous character.

I always adored Jan Hooks (she was very funny on the short-lived "The Martin Short Show"), but even she can't get me to buy seasons 6 and 7 on DVD. I'm fine with 5 seasons of the charter cast.