FOL season 1 'Lost girls'

[valentina warner]

After watching season 1 again, i began to pay more attention to the dialogues, and it came to my conclusion that out of the 4 'lost girls', SUE ANN had more lines than any of them, therefore she should have been the chosen the one to be kept on!
CINDY, on the contrary had less lines than anyone of them (even NANCY had more, on the few occasions she was seen on the phone talking to the 'invisible' ROGER).
As for MOLLY: she did have a few important lines, and i would have loved to see her kept on, but it wasn't meant to be....

Another thing that got my attention, was the fact that everyone seem to think SUE ANN and CINDY were 'best buddies', when to be honest the only episode they were seen together was 'RUNNING'.
On the other hand, in almost every episodes you can see BLAIR and SUE ANN hanging together (on the episode 'DOPE', BLAIR even refers SUE ANN as her best friend) so to me that's another plus for SUE ANN to have been kept on as the 'chosen girl', along with JO to be a foil/rival to BLAIR.

Comments?

[Lorimar Television]

Yep, Sue Ann had four episodes devoted to her as well, while Cindy had two, Natalie and Molly had only one, and Nancy only had one shared with Sue Ann.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

After watching season 1 again, i began to pay more attention to the dialogues, and it came to my conclusion that out of the 4 'lost girls', SUE ANN had more lines than any of them, therefore she should have been the chosen the one to be kept on!

Sue Ann definitely had more lines than Natalie, that first season; she likely had more lines than Natalie, Molly, and Nancy combined.

CINDY, on the contrary had less lines than anyone of them (even NANCY had more, on the few occasions she was seen on the phone talking to the 'invisible' ROGER).

I don't know: between "Running and "Rough Housing", Cindy seemed to have more lines than Nancy, who only had "IQ" in which to shine.

Another thing that got my attention, was the fact that everyone seem to think SUE ANN and CINDY were 'best buddies', when to be honest the only episode they were seen together was 'RUNNING'.

And "Gossip", "Sex Symbol", "Front Page", and "The Little Chill".

On the other hand, in almost every episodes you can see BLAIR and SUE ANN hanging together (on the episode 'DOPE', BLAIR even refers SUE ANN as her best friend) so to me that's another plus for SUE ANN to have been kept on as the 'chosen girl', along with JO to be a foil/rival to BLAIR.

Comments?

I think both Sue Ann and Cindy worked well as foils for Blair. But Margie thought hotpants and bolero shirts were "pornographic", catchphrases and rollerskates were "stereotypical", and she wanted to change as much about the show as possible, so nearly the entire premise of the show was changed. C'est la vie!

[WriterChick78]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I think both Sue Ann and Cindy worked well as foils for Blair. But Margie thought hotpants and bolero shirts were "pornographic", catchphrases and rollerskates were "stereotypical", and she wanted to change as much about the show as possible, so nearly the entire premise of the show was changed. C'est la vie!

Regardless of the actresses, though, don't you think that the short shorts were a little extreme for underage girls on TV? I didn't like them, but I'm a female and I have a daughter that right now is high school age.

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by WriterChick78

Regardless of the actresses, though, don't you think that the short shorts were a little extreme for underage girls on TV? I didn't like them, but I'm a female and I have a daughter that right now is high school age.

Those shorts shorts were common at that time. Another photo of Julie Piekarski and two other non-FOL girls wearing short shorts.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

After watching season 1 again, i began to pay more attention to the dialogues, and it came to my conclusion that out of the 4 'lost girls', SUE ANN had more lines than any of them

Yup, that's pretty obvious when watching. She's really at the forefront close to Blair.

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

she likely had more lines than Natalie, Molly, and Nancy combined.

More than 3 girls combined? I dunno. I'd definitely call for some line-counting to determine that (something which I'M SURE the lesser-featured girls did, despite Lisa's lofty cloud denial, lol)

Originally Posted by valentina warner

CINDY, on the contrary had less lines than anyone of them (even NANCY had more, on the few occasions she was seen on the phone talking to the 'invisible' ROGER).

Now, I really disagree with that. Nancy was the wallpaper, not Cindy. Cindy had 2 episodes (one starring her, one co-starring she and Sue Ann). Nancy only had "I.Q.", and even there she had to share it with Sue Ann. She never got her own episode.

Originally Posted by valentina warner

As for MOLLY: she did have a few important lines, and i would have loved to see her kept on, but it wasn't meant to be....

Molly was such a unique position as the only feminist, activist, musician, and techy in the group. Lots of great Molly moments.

Originally Posted by valentina warner

Another thing that got my attention, was the fact that everyone seem to think SUE ANN and CINDY were 'best buddies', when to be honest the only episode they were seen together was 'RUNNING'.

Yes, I've pointed this out before on the board that it's odd they're considered such "best friends all year", when they're rarely shown depicting that. Many episodes they don't even interact! But I'm still glad that writer chose that angle.

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

And "Gossip", "Sex Symbol", "Front Page", and "The Little Chill".

To be fair though, she's just talking about season 1.

Originally Posted by valentina warner

On the other hand, in almost every episodes you can see BLAIR and SUE ANN hanging together (on the episode 'DOPE', BLAIR even refers SUE ANN as her best friend) so to me that's another plus for SUE ANN to have been kept on as the 'chosen girl', along with JO to be a foil/rival to BLAIR.

Yes, "our group", as Mrs. Garrett states, at the end of the final scene of season 1, is Blair, Natalie, Tootie, and Sue Ann. You'd think that was a sign of things to come, but boy, viewers must have been surprised at the first episode of season 2...

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I think both Sue Ann and Cindy worked well as foils for Blair.

Maybe Cindy could have eventually, but she's not believable at all in "Rough Housing" as a match for Blair. She's much too young and small to be pitted believably against Blair (at least to me, anyway).

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Margie thought hotpants and bolero shirts were "pornographic", catchphrases and rollerskates were "stereotypical"

Well, I can definitely see that. Regarding the short shorts, Margie was probably thinking of that appealing to some creepy grown men too much.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Well, I can definitely see that. Regarding the short shorts, Margie was probably thinking of that appealing to some creepy grown men too much.

This is what Mary Lou Retton wore to win gold at the 1984 Olympics, in front of an audience of a half a billion. She was 16 at the time. Is it "kiddie porn"?

If not, then the shorts Julie Anne wore to do a backflip on the show are also not "kiddie porn".

You can't base wardrobe decisions on imagined creepy men. A boy is going to find a girl attractive whether or not she is wearing a tight gymnast's outfit, a pair of short shorts, or a full burqa. Write a funny, polished script and don't worry about what is going on in people's heads. If you're trying to police people's thoughts, you've already shown what's going on in your own head.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

This is what Mary Lou Retton wore to win gold at the 1984 Olympics, in front of an audience of a half a billion. She was 16 at the time. Is it "kiddie porn"?

No, but that's accepted as gymnast attire. Girls can wear pants in school.

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

You can't base wardrobe decisions on imagined creepy men. A boy is going to find a girl attractive whether or not she is wearing a tight gymnast's outfit, a pair of short shorts, or a full burqa. Write a funny, polished script and don't worry about what is going on in people's heads. If you're trying to police people's thoughts, you've already shown what's going on in your own head.

But also, know I'm not really actively defending Margie, I'm just playing devil's advocate and saying I can see where an adult, especially a woman, would look at "showing off" these young girls in short shorts and finding a problem with it.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by WriterChick78

Regardless of the actresses, though, don't you think that the short shorts were a little extreme for underage girls on TV? I didn't like them, but I'm a female and I have a daughter that right now is high school age.

80s dude has pointed this out, above: they were the fashion at the time. I have no problem with getting rid of the hotpants and bolero shirts, but don't call them "kiddie porn".

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

80s dude has pointed this out, above: they were the fashion at the time. I have no problem with getting rid of the hotpants and bolero shirts, but don't call them "kiddie porn".

And that's something Margie could have said in that one documentary: That though it was the fashion at the time, she or they (if Linda agreed) found that inappropriate for young teenage girls on a sitcom at a boarding school. At least then she would have acknowledged they were indeed contemporary clothes.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Maybe Cindy could have eventually, but she's not believable at all in "Rough Housing" as a match for Blair. She's much too young and small to be pitted believably against Blair (at least to me, anyway).

She's not a match for Blair: I agree. She's smaller, more gentle, more quiet. There's a sensitive side to her. She's the opposite of Blair: kind, considerate, maybe even a bit naïve.

And that is why I think she made a good foil for Blair.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

And that's something Margie could have said in that one documentary: That though it was the fashion at the time, she or they (if Linda agreed) found that inappropriate for young teenage girls on a sitcom at a boarding school. At least then she would have acknowledged they were indeed contemporary clothes.

Yes. But...

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

She says it again, in the new Reelz documentary.

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

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

She's not a match for Blair: I agree. She's smaller, more gentle, more quiet. There's a sensitive side to her. She's the opposite of Blair: kind, considerate, maybe even a bit naïve.

And that is why I think she made a good foil for Blair.

Ahh, I see what you mean. I took your meaning of "foil" in the Jo Polniaczek bullying "I'm gonna POUND YOU!" way, lol.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Yes. But...

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

She says it again, in the new Reelz documentary.

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

Well, um, thank you for the SPOILER alerts, but responding to me but telling me it's a spoiler??? You can't do that to me!!

BUT, I do thank you for it being such a complete general statement you made! Something that doesn't "ruin" anything for not having yet seen it (I was going to this weekend at my folks', but you know this thing in all the news headlines, keeping folks apart, so I didn't "go home" and didn't do much of anything, [sigh]...)

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Ahh, I see what you mean. I took your meaning of "foil" in the Jo Polniaczek bullying "I'm gonna POUND YOU!" way, lol.

Foiling characters is simply a way of contrasting them: you get really defined characters that way, and it's a great writing technique to get your audience to understand the characters' differences. It isn't necessary to get the characters to clash with one another (although that certainly was the case with Blair and Jo!). I think what they did in "Rough Housing" was really effective, and we even see a mirror of it in the cotillion episode, with Blair and Jo.