Paley Center FOL Town Hall review

[80s Dude]

In 2014 there was a Facts of Life cast reunion and town hall meeting at the Paley Center. We are introduced to the following cast members Charlotte Rae, Mindy Cohn, Lisa Whelchel, and Nancy McKeon. Missing is Kim Fields who had given birth 3 days prior so I think we can give her a pass this time. Kim did make a brief video

Charlotte and Lisa are dressed elegantly as they always are. Mindy is wearing a dress that looks like she is going to a funeral. Nancy M. has done totally Gothic. She is wearing a black outfit to go with her black hair and black finger nail polish. The interviewer was Danielle Nussbaum from Entertainment Weekly.

One new and interesting disclosure was that Lisa said she was not comfortable with smoking and the writers didn't think she acted well as being a rebel, so they rewrote the role of Blair.

Mindy's favorite episode was the one with Charo (Welcome Back to the Truck Stop, Natalie Green), Lisa's favorite episode was the one where Blair and Jo were handcuffed together. Lisa also said that she favored the comedy centered episodes over the drama ones. Nancy M. didn't answer the question.

Nancy M. said she will correct people who come up to them or talk about her costars using their characters names. She will use their real names.

Geri Jewell made an appearance about half way through. She said her first episode was her favorite of her appearances in the series.

At the end Charlotte said a couple of swear words which took the girls and interviewers by surprise. The girls never recalled Charlotte using swear words before (she was said to stop some of the young actresses from swearing). When the interviewer asked Charlotte why she used the swear words, Charlotte said "Well, I am not Mrs. Garrett."

There is the most interesting parts of the Paley Center interview. They talked about other things, but we probably heard the stories millions of times.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

Missing is Kim Fields who had given birth 3 days prior so I think we can give her a pass this time.

Nope. She could have been there remotely. No pass.

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

At the end Charlotte said a couple of swear words which took the girls and interviewers by surprise. The girls never recalled Charlotte using swear words before (she was said to stop some of the young actresses from swearing). When the interviewer asked Charlotte why she used the swear words, Charlotte said "Well, I am not Mrs. Garrett."

Well what did she say??

[80s Dude]

Charlotte said "****" a couple of times.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

Charlotte said "****" a couple of times.

What is "****"??

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

In 2014 there was a Facts of Life cast reunion and town hall meeting at the Paley Center. We are introduced to the following cast members Charlotte Rae, Mindy Cohn, Lisa Whelchel, and Nancy McKeon. Missing is Kim Fields who had given birth 3 days prior so I think we can give her a pass this time. Kim did make a brief video

Charlotte and Lisa are dressed elegantly as they always are. Mindy is wearing a dress that looks like she is going to a funeral. Nancy M. has done totally Gothic. She is wearing a black outfit to go with her black hair and black finger nail polish. The interviewer was Danielle Nussbaum from Entertainment Weekly.

One new and interesting disclosure was that Lisa said she was not comfortable with smoking and the writers didn't think she acted well as being a rebel, so they rewrote the role of Blair.

Mindy's favorite episode was the one with Charo (Welcome Back to the Truck Stop, Natalie Green), Lisa's favorite episode was the one where Blair and Jo were handcuffed together. Lisa also said that she favored the comedy centered episodes over the drama ones. Nancy M. didn't answer the question.

Nancy M. said she will correct people who come up to them or talk about her costars using their characters names. She will use their real names.

Geri Jewell made an appearance about half way through. She said her first episode was her favorite of her appearances in the series.

At the end Charlotte said a couple of swear words which took the girls and interviewers by surprise. The girls never recalled Charlotte using swear words before (she was said to stop some of the young actresses from swearing). When the interviewer asked Charlotte why she used the swear words, Charlotte said "Well, I am not Mrs. Garrett."

There is the most interesting parts of the Paley Center interview. They talked about other things, but we probably heard the stories millions of times.

I for once do not AGREE at all with the writers saying that LISA wasn't good as the rebel: on the CONTRARY, she was a lot better as the rebel than the snobbish shallow airhead they rewrote her to be!!! (I guess i shouldn't be surprised considering how much DAMAGE was done to her character during the later years!!!!)

On the pilot 'The girls school': LISA as the rebellious BLAIR was actually the ONLY girl who caught my attention (and not NANCY unlike the rest of you) during her interaction with MRS G with her smoking scene, and if the writers cannot recognize a good acting when they see it, then they are DEFINITELY not good writers lol!!!!

Besides, in season 1: BLAIR was magnificent as the rebellious character and was an instant hit!!!! So what were the writers thinking when they decided to rewrite her?????

[80s Dude]

Lisa may not have been comfortable with the role either or her parents may have said something so they changed Blair's personality.

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

What is "****"??

I didn't know the board had built in ****ing censors.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

I didn't know the board had built in ****ing censors.

Oh, yeah. You can't even say the name of the man who starred in the sitcom about a TV writer who worked with Buddy and Sally and lived with Laura and Ritchie and whose last name on the show was "Petrie". The only part they'll allow showing is "Van", lol.

So was it the "F" word 80s Dude?

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Oh, yeah. You can't even say the name of the man who starred in the sitcom about a TV writer who worked with Buddy and Sally and lived with Laura and Ritchie and whose last name on the show was "Petrie". The only part they'll allow showing is "Van", lol.

So was it the "F" word 80s Dude?

No, the "Sh" word.

[80s Dude]

I read somewhere that Charlotte would not allow the kids to swear on the set. I can see Mindy, Molly, and perhaps Felice and Nancy M. being the swearers. I can't see Lisa, Julie Pie, Julie Ann, or Kim do a lot of swearing.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

No, the "Sh" word.

Ah, thanks.

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

I can see Mindy, Molly, and perhaps Felice and Nancy M. being the swearers. I can't see Lisa, Julie Pie, Julie Ann, or Kim do a lot of swearing.

Well I can't see Molly doing it at all---she was only 11 and 12!

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

I read somewhere that Charlotte would not allow the kids to swear on the set. I can see Mindy, Molly, and perhaps Felice and Nancy M. being the swearers. I can't see Lisa, Julie Pie, Julie Ann, or Kim do a lot of swearing.

Girl, you know Aunt Pat would've washed Kim's mouth out with soap if she would have sworn!

Kim, Mindy, Molly, Lisa, Julie Pie, and Julie Anne would not have sworn, IMO. Mindy was 13. Molly was 11. The Julies, Lisa, and Kim were church-goers. That only leaves Felice and Nancy.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

In 2014 there was a Facts of Life cast reunion and town hall meeting at the Paley Center. We are introduced to the following cast members Charlotte Rae, Mindy Cohn, Lisa Whelchel, and Nancy McKeon. Missing is Kim Fields who had given birth 3 days prior so I think we can give her a pass this time. Kim did make a brief video

Charlotte and Lisa are dressed elegantly as they always are. Mindy is wearing a dress that looks like she is going to a funeral. Nancy M. has done totally Gothic. She is wearing a black outfit to go with her black hair and black finger nail polish. The interviewer was Danielle Nussbaum from Entertainment Weekly.

One new and interesting disclosure was that Lisa said she was not comfortable with smoking and the writers didn't think she acted well as being a rebel, so they rewrote the role of Blair.

Mindy's favorite episode was the one with Charo (Welcome Back to the Truck Stop, Natalie Green), Lisa's favorite episode was the one where Blair and Jo were handcuffed together. Lisa also said that she favored the comedy centered episodes over the drama ones. Nancy M. didn't answer the question.

Nancy M. said she will correct people who come up to them or talk about her costars using their characters names. She will use their real names.

Geri Jewell made an appearance about half way through. She said her first episode was her favorite of her appearances in the series.

At the end Charlotte said a couple of swear words which took the girls and interviewers by surprise. The girls never recalled Charlotte using swear words before (she was said to stop some of the young actresses from swearing). When the interviewer asked Charlotte why she used the swear words, Charlotte said "Well, I am not Mrs. Garrett."

There is the most interesting parts of the Paley Center interview. They talked about other things, but we probably heard the stories millions of times.

Thanks, 80s Dude!

What is the run time of the version you saw?

There's a longer version of the interview held at the Paley Center. In that version, at one point, the audience asks about the Lost Girls. I saw this version, briefly, on YouTube (or, rather, the hand-held phone footage version).

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Girl, you know Aunt Pat would've washed Kim's mouth out with soap if she would have sworn!

Kim, Mindy, Molly, Lisa, Julie Pie, and Julie Anne would not have sworn, IMO. Mindy was 13. Molly was 11. The Julies, Lisa, and Kim were church-goers. That only leaves Felice and Nancy.

I learned what swear words met by the time I was in the 4th grade from other kids, before I was 11 or 12. And since I was about the same age as Blair, Sue Ann, and Nancy O., there would have been younger kids who were Molly's and Tootie's age use them. Though from reading Kim's book, I doubt her mother would have ever allow her to speak like that.

I've seen Mindy use swear words and graphic language many times (as an adult). I don't think Molly came from a religious family. She certainly has never embraced any religion publicly. She did swear on 16 candles. I can't remember if she swore on The Tempest where she was 13 when it was filmed (fall 1981, Season 3 of FOL). http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/bl...-a-potty-mouth

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Thanks, 80s Dude!

What is the run time of the version you saw?

There's a longer version of the interview held at the Paley Center. In that version, at one point, the audience asks about the Lost Girls. I saw this version, briefly, on YouTube (or, rather, the hand-held phone footage version).

The run time on the Paley Center on the DVD set was 54 minutes. No mention at all of the lost girls. Since the DVD already had the Paris and Austrailia movies, the Girls School episode, a FOL interactive trivia contest, there was not much space left to put the full show on it. Perhaps they should have put the Paley town hall on it's own DVD.

There was no Q & A from the audience on the portion that was put on the DVD.