2012 interview with Felice Schacher.

[80s Dude]

She had something interesting to say about the role of Kimberly as well as going from have a lead role to being wallpaper of Facts of Life.
Interesting what she said about the role of Kimberly of Different Strokes.
https://gojimmygo.net/2012/06/26/mak...vcIFMz8O4OuPes

[RetroGuy2000]

Yes, I remember reading this article when it was fairly new. She had the role of Kimberly Drummond, but an NBC executive insisted on Dana Plato.

How different might the Diff'rent Strokes "curse" have been, if Felice had stayed in the role of Kimberly? Would we even be talking about a Diff'rent Strokes Curse?

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Yes, I remember reading this article when it was fairly new. She had the role of Kimberly Drummond, but an NBC executive insisted on Dana Plato.

How different might the Diff'rent Strokes "curse" have been, if Felice had stayed in the role of Kimberly? Would we even be talking about a Diff'rent Strokes Curse?

And they considered Dana Plato more "wholesome" as Felice stated.

[DJM77]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

She had something interesting to say about the role of Kimberly as well as going from have a lead role to being wallpaper of Facts of Life.
2012 interview with Felice Schachter. Interesting what she said about the role of Kimberly of Different Strokes.
https://gojimmygo.net/2012/06/26/making-a-difference-a-conversation-with-felice-schachter/

The link doesn't work for me.

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by DJM77

The link doesn't work for me.

I fixed it.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

And they considered Dana Plato more "wholesome" as Felice stated.

It's funny because Kim relates in her book how, when she did her DS appearances, Gary and Dana were already acting out, and causing problems for the cast and crew. This would have been between 1979 and 1981, as all of Kim's appearances were during those years. Her last DS appearance was in November 1981.

[80s Dude]

I think Charlotte made sure that there was limited association between the DS kids and the FOL kids in the way of crossovers. She knew the kids from DS were train wrecks and didn't want the kids from FOL to have bad influences around them. Years later, she proclaimed on national TV about how she was proud of how straight her girls were. Of course the media took her meaning of the word "straight" as something different and ran with it.

[Lorimar Television]

That’s definitely crazy to think Felice could’ve been Kimberly

[80s Dude]

The producers probably told Felice that since she was so close to becoming Kimberly, she would be reserved for a lead role in an upcoming series. She was promised to be the major lead, but would soon be major wallpaper.

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

I think Charlotte made sure that there was limited association between the DS kids and the FOL kids in the way of crossovers. She knew the kids from DS were train wrecks and didn't want the kids from FOL to have bad influences around them. Years later, she proclaimed on national TV about how she was proud of how straight her girls were. Of course the media took her meaning of the word "straight" as something different and ran with it.

I'm not at all surprised to hear that: from what i could gather, CHARLOTTE RAE (MRS G) was a mother figure to the 4 girls on and off set, and probably knew how bad the DS kids were doing compared to the FOL ones, (whom she spent 7 years with) and wanted to keep them out of trouble.
It's a shame the DS kids never had a MRS G around them to keep them straight....

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

I'm not at all surprised to hear that: from what i could gather, CHARLOTTE RAE (MRS G) was a mother figure to the 4 girls on and off set

Actually, she wasn't. The girls will tell you in interviews that you might picture Charlotte as this warm, maternal figure, but she really wasn't. She wasn't mean or bad, of course, she was just more of a professional businesswoman, not maternal warmth.

[RetroGuy2000]

And Charlotte smoked.

['80sSitcoms]

^---I will NOT believe that.

(just because I don't want to, LOL)

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

^---I will NOT believe that.

(just because I don't want to, LOL)

There's an interview somewhere where Charlotte said the girls would pull the cigarettes out of her mouth.

[80s Dude]

And Charlotte drank too, at least in the early seasons she had trouble with alcohol after her divorce.