Should they have had spun Blair/Jo off to their own show?

[80s Dude]

Should they have spun Blair/Jo off to their own show that focused on college life and kept the Facts of Life on by adding at least two younger girls than Tootie/Natalie and kept the focus on life at Eastland?

[Impressions]

No, I don't think it would necessary and I don't think it would have worked. The producers and writers of shows in the '70s and '80s were spin-off happy in the because they were desperate for programming that they knew worked based on a predecessor show that was successful. For me, the core 4 were the "main character" of the show (although in seasons 1-4, you could argue Mrs. Garrett was really the lead), and splitting them up would have been disastrous and would have people tuning out.

Here's why:

1. You can still teach "The Facts of Life" and not have it centered in Eastland.
2. It was inevitable that everyone would graduate from Eastland and the show would not focus on Eastland at some point in the series.
3. I don't think splitting up the chemistry that worked on the show would be in anyone's favor. Why play with something that was already working?
4. I don't know that either duos would be successfully be able to carry their own show.
5. Where would Mrs. Garrett fit into all of this? Would she flip between the two shows?

Most spin-offs I know, are of a supporting character. The core 4 were all supporting each other, and to break them a part wouldn't make sense. It's like spinning Joey off from Friends or Flo off from Alice. Neither show worked without its original supporting characters.

Now, I can see that if the original show had cancelled, there might be a The Facts of Life: The College Years, a la Saved by the Bell, but I think by season 9, the actors were tired of the show and wanted to move on.

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by Impressions

No, I don't think it would necessary and I don't think it would have worked. The producers and writers of shows in the '70s and '80s were spin-off happy in the because they were desperate for programming that they knew worked based on a predecessor show that was successful. For me, the core 4 were the "main character" of the show (although in seasons 1-4, you could argue Mrs. Garrett was really the lead), and splitting them up would have been disastrous and would have people tuning out.

Here's why:

1. You can still teach "The Facts of Life" and not have it centered in Eastland.
2. It was inevitable that everyone would graduate from Eastland and the show would not focus on Eastland at some point in the series.
3. I don't think splitting up the chemistry that worked on the show would be in anyone's favor. Why play with something that was already working?
4. I don't know that either duos would be successfully be able to carry their own show.
5. Where would Mrs. Garrett fit into all of this? Would she flip between the two shows?

Most spin-offs I know, are of a supporting character. The core 4 were all supporting each other, and to break them a part wouldn't make sense. It's like spinning Joey off from Friends or Flo off from Alice. Neither show worked without its original supporting characters.

Now, I can see that if the original show had cancelled, there might be a The Facts of Life: The College Years, a la Saved by the Bell, but I think by season 9, the actors were tired of the show and wanted to move on.

Mrs. Garrett would have stayed in Eastland. During the time that Blair and Jo were in the Langley dormitory, they did have a house mother. Another thing that showed the age of the writers. Most colleges didn't have house mothers or parents there. We always had upper classmen who were called Resident Advisors who filled that roll. They were more like older brother/sister than house parents.

[FOL-FAN-ITA]

Well, this spin-off would have been interesting but Facts would have been damaged. Without Blair and Jo, the show would have lost a great part of it, the costant feud between these two girls. We saw it in seasons 8-9, without Mrs. G. the show was weak and left the air after only two years, and without Blair too, maybe season 5 would have been the last. I watched the show in particular for Mrs. Garrett and Blair.

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

Well, this spin-off would have been interesting but Facts would have been damaged. Without Blair and Jo, the show would have lost a great part of it, the costant feud between these two girls. We saw it in seasons 8-9, without Mrs. G. the show was weak and left the air after only two years, and without Blair too, maybe season 5 would have been the last. I watched the show in particular for Mrs. Garrett and Blair.

Me too, i watched the show sorely because MRS G and BLAIR: those two had the greatest dynamic! (especially on the pilot, and season 1)

[FOL-FAN-ITA]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

Me too, i watched the show sorely because MRS G and BLAIR: those two had the greatest dynamic! (especially on the pilot, and season 1)

Exactly!
"In my home, housekeepers know their place"
That housekeeper became her friend and mentor, the beginning of a looong story

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

Exactly!
"In my home, housekeepers know their place"
That housekeeper became her friend and mentor, the beginning of a looong story

Ha ha ha indeed!

And i will post soon chapter 4 of my story 'The girls school', on the Fanfiction site DS probably tonight!

[FOL-FAN-ITA]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

Ha ha ha indeed!

And i will post soon chapter 4 of my story 'The girls school', on the Fanfiction site DS probably tonight!

Great, Valentina!

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

Ha ha ha indeed!

And i will post soon chapter 4 of my story 'The girls school', on the Fanfiction site DS probably tonight!

What is your Fan Fiction site again?

[FOL-FAN-ITA]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

What is your Fan Fiction site again?

Diff'rent Strokes FanFiction site

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

What is your Fan Fiction site again?

My story is on the FANFICTION site: 'DIFFERENT STROKES', and the story i wrote is called'The girls school' (so far i have posted 3 chapters).

[Fallon97]

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

Well, this spin-off would have been interesting but Facts would have been damaged. Without Blair and Jo, the show would have lost a great part of it, the costant feud between these two girls. We saw it in seasons 8-9, without Mrs. G. the show was weak and left the air after only two years,

But the show was still pretty decent in the ratings. I liked the later seasons. They were my favorites, in fact. From what I understand, the reason the show got cancelled was because the actresses who played Jo and Natalie wanted to leave. Also, I think the episode in the 9th season when Natalie has sex was the highest rated episode of the entire show.

[FOL-FAN-ITA]

Originally Posted by Fallon97

But the show was still pretty decent in the ratings. I liked the later seasons. They were my favorites, in fact. From what I understand, the reason the show got cancelled was because the actresses who played Jo and Natalie wanted to leave. Also, I think the episode in the 9th season when Natalie has sex was the highest rated episode of the entire show.

Oh no, don't get me wrong. I think there are several good episodes in later seasons and season 8 is one of my favorites. The show was weak because of Mrs. Garrett's absence, something was missing in those seasons.

[TV Guy]

I know they toyed with the idea, but it would have resulted in two weaker shows. I wouldn’t have wanted a Facts of Life with Alex and Kelly replacing Blair and Jo (though I did like Alex’s airheaded characterization in “Graduation”).

[Gemini_89]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

Should they have spun Blair/Jo off to their own show that focused on college life and kept the Facts of Life on by adding at least two younger girls than Tootie/Natalie and kept the focus on life at Eastland?

The show would have gotten stale by season 2 or 3. I wouldn't have watched it all without Tootie on there anyway........