Reelz Channel's Behind Closed Doors: The Facts of Life - links and reactions - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

RetroGuy2000 · 03-09-2020, 02:53 AM

Here is where we can post links to clips and discuss our reactions.

My reaction video to how Mindy and Julie Anne came to the show, and how John Lawlor and Jenny O'Hara describe their characters, 40 years later

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

My reaction:

Wow!!!!

Wowowowowow!!!

WOW!!!!

Lost Girls fans, and fans of the First Season are very likely to enjoy this. There are so, sooo many behind-the-scenes (behind closed doors?) photos, stories, and thoughts we've NEVER, ever heard before. We truly learn things never before spoken in any documentary or interview. It was very thorough. The documentary team did their research! This was in depth. This would please even most Season One super-fans.

This documentary fits very nicely as a bookend to my YouTube video, and may have been inspired by it. Certainly, it reflects the fact that producers realize the original characters were beloved, and they took time to tell their stories. It wasn't a Nancy McKeon love-fest, although that happened in the second half.

We get stories from Julie, Julie Anne, Jenny, John, Geri, and even someone whose name doesn't start with a "J" sound: Felice! Every single one of those stories is already dear to me. I am in tears. A full hour of the documentary is dedicated to the Lost Girls and the first season. It's a true tribute to what the show was supposed to be.

I can't thank enough everyone involved in this production. Julie Pie's behind-the-scenes photos (which she kept in her scrapbook for 40 years), the Getty images never before seen, Julie Anne's sad words about Charlotte's passing, Felice's heartbreak, the special spotlight on Molly, the mention of the Ratings Spike during The Little Chill, Jenny's explanation for her character's departure, Geri and Mack, John discussing Charlotte...

Too much emotion, right now. Too much new info to process all at once. I don't even have my thoughts sorted, yet. But I loved it.

---

And a minor nitpick: they misspelled the name Schachter EVERY SINGLE TIME it appeared. And it appeared a lot.

Who else saw it?! What did everyone think? I am DYING! My heart just burst!

(Clips soon)

Lorimar Television · 03-09-2020, 03:29 AM

Omg this sounds incredible! I sure hope it’s online soon! And miss Mahoney appears? Amazing!

RetroGuy2000 · 03-09-2020, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

Omg this sounds incredible!

It is. We get answers to many of the questions we've been asking for DECADES. It's like the producers read this forum. Maybe they did, maybe they didn't. But it feels like it.

Quote:

I sure hope it’s online soon!

I hope to have clips up later tonight.

Quote:

And miss Mahoney appears?

YES! Jenny O'Hara herself! And not just briefly, either. There's a whole section for her.

Quote:

Amazing!

YEP!

Lorimar Television · 03-09-2020, 03:52 AM

This is so amazing!

80s Dude · 03-09-2020, 05:52 AM

Great job. Can't wait. I tried getting it, but was not going to pay couldn't find anything that didn't charge me for a whole month for signing up for a streaming service just to watch a two hour show.

80s Dude · 03-09-2020, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

It is. We get answers to many of the questions we've been asking for DECADES. It's like the producers read this forum. Maybe they did, maybe they didn't. But it feels like it.

I hope to have clips up later tonight.

YES! Jenny O'Hara herself! And not just briefly, either. There's a whole section for her?

YEP!

Did Mrs. Mahoney's Season 1 hair make an appearance or did it leave her behind when the 80s ended.

RetroGuy2000 · 03-09-2020, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

Did Mrs. Mahoney's Season 1 hair make an appearance or did it leave her behind when the 80s ended.

We do see flashbacks to The Hair.

80s Dude · 03-09-2020, 06:33 AM

I just check Getty images and searched Facts of Life and I saw some images that were not there a couple of weeks ago. One image of Charlotte with Lisa and Kim from Season 1. A couple of picture of Lisa, Kim, and Mindy a couple of years later at a slumber party (a picture of Rick Springfield's 1981 album gives away about the year it was taken). I will try to post them soon here.

80s Dude · 03-09-2020, 08:51 AM

Did Warren Littlefield show his ugly face and personality?

'80sSitcoms · 03-09-2020, 11:05 AM

Jenny O'Hara?? HOLY COW!!

(I'm not reading beyond your "SPOILERS" lines---thank you!!)

Retro, I don't know what your plans are for videos, but if you do end up sharing the entire special, PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE let us know, lol.

RetroGuy2000 · 03-09-2020, 11:24 AM

The first clip is up. Enjoy!

RetroGuy2000 · 03-09-2020, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Jenny O'Hara?? HOLY COW!!

(I'm not reading beyond your "SPOILERS" lines---thank you!!)

Retro, I don't know what your plans are for videos, but if you do end up sharing the entire special, PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE let us know, lol.

I can't. It took overnight just to post a seven-minute clip. Imagine how long, then, it would take to post the whole thing.

80s Dude · 03-09-2020, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

The first clip is up. Enjoy!

When I saw the photo of Molly giving Lisa the rabbit ears, I will be honest. At first I was wondering who that boy was and if it was John Lawlor's son. Then I looked again and then I realized, oh that is Molly.

80s Dude · 03-09-2020, 11:33 AM

I've seen some negative reaction on Facebook by Core Four fans who are upset that none of the Core Four were interviewed. My reaction is that the Core Four and Molly can give their perspective on the show anytime they want and the Core Four has done so many times. The rest of the victims of the Great Purge don't have that luxury. This documentary gives them a chance for them to tell their story and their perspective.

RetroGuy2000 · 03-09-2020, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

Did Warren Littlefield show his ugly face and personality?

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

No. There are no interviews with NBC executives. Only the producers, director, cast, and crew. Eve Branstein does a ton of the casting explanations. Assad Kelada talks about working with Geri. Margie goes crazy with justifications for removing Tootie's catchphrase. Everyone says "OMG, there were seven students! How could we have that many students on a six-minute long show!? It's never been done before or since."

(Luckily, low ratings are NOT mentioned as the cause for the Cast Purge, as we now know that was not really accurate, and they discuss several episodes' high ratings).

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

03-09-2020, 02:53 AM	#1
RetroGuy2000 Julie,Julie Anne,&Felice 4Ever Forum Star Join Date: Dec 27, 2013 Posts: 16,914	Reelz Channel's Behind Closed Doors: The Facts of Life - links and reactions Here is where we can post links to clips and discuss our reactions. My reaction video to how Mindy and Julie Anne came to the show, and how John Lawlor and Jenny O'Hara describe their characters, 40 years later SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS My reaction: Wow!!!! Wowowowowow!!! WOW!!!! Lost Girls fans, and fans of the First Season are very likely to enjoy this. There are so, sooo many behind-the-scenes (behind closed doors?) photos, stories, and thoughts we've NEVER, ever heard before. We truly learn things never before spoken in any documentary or interview. It was very thorough. The documentary team did their research! This was in depth. This would please even most Season One super-fans. This documentary fits very nicely as a bookend to my YouTube video, and may have been inspired by it. Certainly, it reflects the fact that producers realize the original characters were beloved, and they took time to tell their stories. It wasn't a Nancy McKeon love-fest, although that happened in the second half. We get stories from Julie, Julie Anne, Jenny, John, Geri, and even someone whose name doesn't start with a "J" sound: Felice! Every single one of those stories is already dear to me. I am in tears. A full hour of the documentary is dedicated to the Lost Girls and the first season. It's a true tribute to what the show was supposed to be. I can't thank enough everyone involved in this production. Julie Pie's behind-the-scenes photos (which she kept in her scrapbook for 40 years), the Getty images never before seen, Julie Anne's sad words about Charlotte's passing, Felice's heartbreak, the special spotlight on Molly, the mention of the Ratings Spike during The Little Chill, Jenny's explanation for her character's departure, Geri and Mack, John discussing Charlotte... Too much emotion, right now. Too much new info to process all at once. I don't even have my thoughts sorted, yet. But I loved it. --- And a minor nitpick: they misspelled the name Schachter EVERY SINGLE TIME it appeared. And it appeared a lot. Who else saw it?! What did everyone think? I am DYING! My heart just burst! (Clips soon)
	__________________ The Facts of Life's "Lost Girls" Tribute to Julie Piekarski, Eastland Girl Join "The Group", Sitcoms Online's Facts of Life group! Last edited by RetroGuy2000; 04-02-2020 at 05:39 PM.

03-09-2020, 03:29 AM	#2
Lorimar Television Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 06, 2007 Posts: 7,034	Omg this sounds incredible! I sure hope it’s online soon! And miss Mahoney appears? Amazing!
	__________________ Some of my favorite theme songs: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-e...89CsiJpV_irnNw

03-09-2020, 11:05 AM	#10
'80sSitcoms Member Forum Star Join Date: Jan 30, 2013 Posts: 12,474	Jenny O'Hara?? HOLY COW!! (I'm not reading beyond your "SPOILERS" lines---thank you!!) Retro, I don't know what your plans are for videos, but if you do end up sharing the entire special, PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE let us know, lol.
	__________________ "The Facts of Life" - re-imagined episode guide with all 8 girls in all 9 seasons

03-09-2020, 03:52 AM	#4
Lorimar Television Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 06, 2007 Posts: 7,034	This is so amazing!

03-09-2020, 05:52 AM	#5
80s Dude Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 24, 2019 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,818	Great job. Can't wait. I tried getting it, but was not going to pay couldn't find anything that didn't charge me for a whole month for signing up for a streaming service just to watch a two hour show.

03-09-2020, 06:33 AM	#8
80s Dude Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 24, 2019 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,818	I just check Getty images and searched Facts of Life and I saw some images that were not there a couple of weeks ago. One image of Charlotte with Lisa and Kim from Season 1. A couple of picture of Lisa, Kim, and Mindy a couple of years later at a slumber party (a picture of Rick Springfield's 1981 album gives away about the year it was taken). I will try to post them soon here.

03-09-2020, 08:51 AM	#9
80s Dude Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 24, 2019 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,818	Did Warren Littlefield show his ugly face and personality?

03-09-2020, 11:24 AM	#11
RetroGuy2000 Julie,Julie Anne,&Felice 4Ever Forum Star Join Date: Dec 27, 2013 Posts: 16,914	The first clip is up. Enjoy!

03-09-2020, 11:33 AM	#14
80s Dude Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 24, 2019 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,818	I've seen some negative reaction on Facebook by Core Four fans who are upset that none of the Core Four were interviewed. My reaction is that the Core Four and Molly can give their perspective on the show anytime they want and the Core Four has done so many times. The rest of the victims of the Great Purge don't have that luxury. This documentary gives them a chance for them to tell their story and their perspective.