Matt Hinrichs: Don't Be a Molly

[RetroGuy2000]

Matt Hinrichs' essay, "Don't be a Molly".

There comes a danger in watching old television shows one hasn’t seen in years. Like, unexpectedly recognizing a part of one’s self in the stories and characters.


For example, I was checking out the first, chaotic season of The Facts of Life. Although I enjoyed Facts during most of its original run, it had been at least twenty years since I’d examined the foibles of Mrs. Garrett, Blair, Tootie et al. As the episodes unspooled, I started realizing that the ill-fated, debut-season character of Molly (a girls’ school student played by Molly Ringwald, pre-John-Hughes-muse) was basically a girl version of myself at that age.

Full article continues...


Do you agree or disagree?

[Impressions]

I have no idea what the point of this article was, but I didn't like Molly as a character either. She was a know-it-all rambling feminist character that was a terrible ukulele song writer. I couldn't stand her. She was my least favorite of the "Lost Girls."

[80s Dude]

Wasn't that some of the things that Molly Ringwald's classmates described her as in that Facebook post?

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Do you agree or disagree?

I disagree. I don't think how he describes himself at that age was what Molly was about.

Besides, you have to question someone's credibility when they say Molly wrote a song every time she got upset. She only wrote one song when she was upset. One. Out of 201 episodes. So that's clearly not "every time" (and yes that was a little joke since she only co-starred in 13 and appeared once more, lol).

Besides, that's not what she her M.O. is when she gets upset; she chews on pencils.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

I disagree. I don't think how he describes himself at that age was what Molly was about.

Besides, you have to question someone's credibility when they say Molly wrote a song every time she got upset. She only wrote one song when she was upset. One. Out of 201 episodes. So that's clearly not "every time" (and yes that was a little joke since she only co-starred in 13 and appeared once more, lol).

Besides, that's not what she her M.O. is when she gets upset; she chews on pencils.

Maybe she chews on pencils while she's writing songs with those pencils.

I guess he's considering 'Stop Junking Up America, You Turkeys" as a song she wrote while being upset (about the environment). But I agree with you that she still didn't write a song every time she became upset. That is a big hit to his credibility.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Impressions

I have no idea what the point of this article was, but I didn't like Molly as a character either. She was a know-it-all rambling feminist character that was a terrible ukulele song writer. I couldn't stand her. She was my least favorite of the "Lost Girls."

Mine as well. BUT I feel like, with a little tweaking, she could have been a much stronger character. If they had toned down her Social Justice Warrior self just a bit, they would have been left with a lovely, much more nuanced character, who was still independent, but who still had a conscience and a set of moral values. A character who wasn't afraid to stand up to bullies like Margo, but who didn't go around insisting that men call 12-year-old girls "women".

We lost a lot when Molly was written off in the Cast Purge: we lost a girl who could become a warrior when needed. Someone who, when faced with real injustice, could have stood up for the little guy. The Molly we got on the first season was a little too confrontational, at times (although I will forever love her comment about not trusting a system where men know more about sex). The Molly we got in the second season was underwhelming, unable to stand up against someone who was a total snob. Some balance was needed there.

[80s Dude]

First season Molly was a happy child on and off camera. When she sang "Junking Up the World", that was for career night and not because she was unhappoy. She had a big smile on her face after the audience applause. OK, we know actors are not suppose to react to the audience response.

Second season Molly was Miserable Molly on and off the camera during her brief appearance. She didn't smile once and looked miserable. We know how she felt about that episode.

[80s Dude]

How many of Molly's props on the show were actually her own? We saw a ukulele on her couch from an Instagram post just a few weeks ago. Whether that was the same one she used on the show or a replacement we don't know. The ham radio she used in Flash Flood was probably hers since she used her real father's license handle and knew enough of the hamradio jargon to have the script rewritten for that part. The camera she used in running was probably hers own as well since photography has been a hobby of hers for decades.

[valentina warner]

I agree with Retro and 80s: MOLLY could have been toned down a little, and had she remained on FOL for the following episodes, she would have been a great warrior who would definitely had put MARGO right where she belong lol!
I also liked to think it was MRS G's idea to room MOLLY and MARGO to rub on each other...

PS: but like you, Impressions, i have to admit that MOLLY is my least favourite of the 'Lost girls'.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Maybe she chews on pencils while she's writing songs with those pencils.

But the line is, "Molly chews on pencils, what do you do?" not "Molly chews on pencils while writing songs for her little guitar, what do you do?" Just having fun. But I have always thought of her as chewing pencils sans guitar.

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I guess he's considering 'Stop Junking Up America, You Turkeys" as a song she wrote while being upset

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

When she sang "Junking Up the World", that was for career night and not because she was unhappoy.

Exactly. I think Article Guy interpreted that wrong.

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

She had a big smile on her face after the audience applause. OK, we know actors are not suppose to react to the audience response.

Molly Ringwald may partially be, but Molly Parker is smiling and reacting to the applause and cheers and encouragement of her friends.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

How many of Molly's props on the show were actually her own? We saw a ukulele on her couch from an Instagram post just a few weeks ago. Whether that was the same one she used on the show or a replacement we don't know. The ham radio she used in Flash Flood was probably hers since she used her real father's license handle and knew enough of the hamradio jargon to have the script rewritten for that part. The camera she used in running was probably hers own as well since photography has been a hobby of hers for decades.

Time for a few "buts"!

1) But Molly Parker didn't play a ukulele. It was a guitar, albeit a smaller one.

2) But maybe only her dad had a ham radio, and maybe the show wouldn't have wanted to ask to borrow it. So maybe they procured their own. But, who knows? (Molly, if you wanna ask her)

3) But who knows if she was into photography yet or not? Perhaps "Running" actually planted the seed for photography, who knows? (again, Molly, if you wanna ask her, lol)

[FOL-FAN-ITA]

Molly from season 1: happy, activist and a good student
Molly from season 2: sad, depressed and hurted
Molly from seasons 3-9: I'm famous

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

Molly from season 1: happy, activist and a good student
Molly from season 2: sad, depressed and hurted
Molly from seasons 3-9: I'm famous

But MOLLY wasn't on season 3 to 9 lol!!!!

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

But MOLLY wasn't on season 3 to 9 lol!!!!

She left Eastland to be famous and travel the world.

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

She left Eastland to be famous and travel the world.

yes: i guess she did!!!!