TBS

[chris jacob]

did the Factsd of life ever air on TBS?

[Christopher]

No. The Facts of Life reran on USA, N@N, Hallmark, The Hub, Logo, and now Antenna TV. It was also on an on-demand channel called Tube Time. They aired the episodes uncut. I still have season 6 on DVD-R's when I recorded the show from them. Of the cable networks, USA and N@N treated the show with respect. Hallmark on the other hand cut the first few minutes of the episode to air before the opening credits. They wanted to air the show a certain way and it was stupid. I'm glad everyone has the option of seeing the show the way it was on DVDs instead of the way networks like Hallmark or Logo from what I hear air the show.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by Christopher

Of the cable networks, USA and N@N treated the show with respect.

N@N did? But they refused to air several episodes, and after all the exuberant promos for FOL coming to N@N in a marathon, and then it being so popular they had to re-air the marathon, I remember messages around here those 20-plus years ago where folks were criticizing N@N for heralding the show, saying the marathon ratings were amazing, etc., but then they got rid of the show fairly quickly.

Originally Posted by Christopher

Hallmark on the other hand cut the first few minutes of the episode to air before the opening credits. They wanted to air the show a certain way

Yes! They altered them to have "teasers" by delaying the theme song intro to air after the first scene or partial scene of each episode. Having grown up on the show in syndicated reruns, it was SO weird seeing that, lol. Neat, but weird.

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

N@N did? But they refused to air several episodes, and after all the exuberant promos for FOL coming to N@N in a marathon, and then it being so popular they had to re-air the marathon, I remember messages around here those 20-plus years ago where folks were criticizing N@N for heralding the show, saying the marathon ratings were amazing, etc., but then they got rid of the show fairly quickly.

I thought N@N did a good job. Maybe they didn't. You'll have to excuse my memory then since it's been 20 years ago

I know they skipped episodes but the episodes they did air I don't remember them cutting too bad for commercials. I also don't remember them placing commercial breaks where there shouldn't have been. I hate when networks do that. You'll get into a scene and then all of a sudden the network decides we need to learn more about commercials than the show we're watching.

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Yes! They altered them to have "teasers" by delaying the theme song intro to air after the first scene or partial scene of each episode. Having grown up on the show in syndicated reruns, it was SO weird seeing that, lol. Neat, but weird.

I thought it was silly. I like how USA and N@N aired the show. It was only meant to have 3 commercial breaks, not 5 or 7.

['80sSitcoms]

Agreed on the breaks---it's so irritating when it's so obvious they are cutting a scene off in "action" to air a break. And then cutting back in, fading up from laughter on a joke that was just missed due to the cutting room floor.

[80s Dude]

If you go back and read the postsof this forum from around 2000 and 2001, you will see many complaints that Nick at Night banned several controversial episodes and cut off scenes from other episodes.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

If you go back and read the postsof this forum from around 2000 and 2001, you will see many complaints that Nick at Night banned several controversial episodes and cut off scenes from other episodes.

Yeah, from what I recall, the first season was almost halved, because they banned so many episodes.

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

cut off scenes from other episodes.

There are multiple syndicated versions of The Facts of Life. USA's version had some scenes N@N didn't and N@N had some scenes USA didn't. That's how I learned this. I don't think N@N did a bad job when comparing their versions of the episodes to what Hallmark or Logo showed.

When I spoke of respect for the show, I meant the marathons they did and not adding in more commercial breaks like the following networks did that aired the show. I do remember the outrage fans had when N@N dropped the show, but while they had it, I don't think they did a bad job. Again, my memory maybe fuzzy on it since it was awhile ago that it had aired on the channel.

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by Christopher

There are multiple syndicated versions of The Facts of Life. USA's version had some scenes N@N didn't and N@N had some scenes USA didn't. That's how I learned this. I don't think N@N did a bad job when comparing their versions of the episodes to what Hallmark or Logo showed.

When I spoke of respect for the show, I meant the marathons they did and not adding in more commercial breaks like the following networks did that aired the show. I do remember the outrage fans had when N@N dropped the show, but while they had it, I don't think they did a bad job. Again, my memory maybe fuzzy on it since it was awhile ago that it had aired on the channel.

If you read posts around 155-165, you will see a lot of people unhappy with Nick at Nights presentation because they banned so many episodes. Of course back then, most of the members of this board appear to be under 18.

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Yeah, from what I recall, the first season was almost halved, because they banned so many episodes.

Dope, Facts of Love, Rough Housing were banned. I think the return of Mr. Garrett was also banned because of kids gambling. The suicide episode, the male strippers, the male beefcake calendar and "The First Time" were banned episodes later on. And they probably cut off the Blair Industries Langerie scene of Adoption.

[umfan87]

yes i remember this is when i first discovered the show on nick at nite between ages 13-14 and remember reading about the banned episodes and not seeing them until i got the dvd's years later and i remember loving the marathons of fol they did they even showed different strokes and silver spoons in 2001 for a minute i remember being really sad and angry when they took it off in the summer of 01 i was off school and looked forward to watching it i used to tape every episode religiously.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by umfan87

yes i remember this is when i first discovered the show on nick at nite between ages 13-14 and remember reading about the banned episodes and not seeing them until i got the dvd's years later

That's one of the joys of the DVDs: you get to see them whenever you want, you don't get edited episodes (although there are a few exceptions), and you get every episode, rather than skipping episodes The Man doesn't want you to see (™ Molly Parker).

and i remember loving the marathons of fol they did they even showed different strokes and silver spoons in 2001 for a minute i remember being really sad and angry when they took it off in the summer of 01 i was off school and looked forward to watching it i used to tape every episode religiously.

Yeah, it was very sad.

One thing I loved about FOL on Nick at Night is they would have funny bumpers, with the Nick at Nite announcer guy (anyone know his name?).

'80sSitcoms and I have talked about this, but I don't think most people here saw those threads. There was the "Blair Tootie Project", and the one about Molly Ringwald coming up missing, as they show Mrs. G cackling evilly. Who else remembers those?

[umfan87]

i remember taping the launch marathon for fol on n@n it was in september of 2000 the blair tootie project i even remember the name of the vhs tape i used it was a focal vhs tape lol

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

Dope, Facts of Love, Rough Housing were banned. I think the return of Mr. Garrett was also banned because of kids gambling. The suicide episode, the male strippers, the male beefcake calendar and "The First Time" were banned episodes later on. And they probably cut off the Blair Industries Langerie scene of Adoption.

The thing is, "Dope" was so mild. Sue Ann does very briefly smoke pot, but the girls quickly learn their lesson, and it's clear that the message is "pot is bad".

"Rough Housing" was also daring for the 1970s, but sooo tame by 2000s standards: Cindy questions her sexuality, but they never even use the word "gay" or "lesbian", and by the end of the episode, she's "cured".

I don't understand why Nick at Nite would be so conservative as to ban either episode. "The Facts of Love" I can see, due to the sex ed scene, which had some provocative statements by the girls, and the van scene, which is always shocking.

Do you recall if the Natalie-almost-raped episode was banned?

I also remember some channel in the early 2000s airing FOL during early morning hours.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by umfan87

i remember taping the launch marathon for fol on n@n it was in september of 2000 the blair tootie project i even remember the name of the vhs tape i used it was a focal vhs tape lol

Do you still have it?