Big Apple Blues spin-off

[FOL-FAN-ITA]

Why NBC stopped after the backdoor pilot?

It's curious that Tootie has never had her own backdoor pilot. Blair has two pilots (Graduation and the series finale), Jo has Graduation and Natalie has BAB. Probably she wasn't popular like the other three girls....

[RetroGuy2000]

BAB was terrible, and I'm not surprised the network decided not to greenlight it. Can you imagine more than 13 episodes of Natalie hanging around with a bunch of SoHo freaks?

[80s Dude]

At this point in the show's run, they were throwing anything out there to see if anything stuck. Nothing did.

[Impressions]

Thank God it didn't happen. It was the worst episode of the series in my opinion. Nobody had any redeeming qualities. It would have been cancelled after 1 episode or before the pilot hit the air.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Impressions

Thank God it didn't happen. It was the worst episode of the series in my opinion. Nobody had any redeeming qualities. It would have been cancelled after 1 episode or before the pilot hit the air.

I feel the same way. The characters were hopeless. The premise was "they're weird". What kinds of plots could there even have been? "Natalie quickly realizes this living arrangement won't work and moves back to Peekskill"?

[valentina warner]

In my opinion, the reason TOOTIE never had any back door pilot is because she was the least popular out of the 'Core of 4' (she only gained popularity during the Golden era of season 1, when she was still a sassy/cute kid with the most memorable lines as the wise cracker of the 7 girls)....

[Lorimar Television]

Yep Tootie and Blair were the stars of season 1. With Sue Ann third.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

In my opinion, the reason TOOTIE never had any back door pilot is because she was the least popular out of the 'Core of 4' (she only gained popularity during the Golden era of season 1, when she was still a sassy/cute kid with the most memorable lines as the wise cracker of the 7 girls)....

You know, you raise a good point, Valentina: by removing Tootie's sassiness after S1, they ended up making Tootie far less popular.

It's somewhat interesting that "Gossip" has Tootie return to some of that sassiness, with lines like, "Make a break for it." This is something S1 Tootie would say. Mrs. Garrett also feels much more like the kooky character of Season One, and of course the Lost Girls appear. We even get a headmaster for a single episode.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

Yep Tootie and Blair were the stars of season 1. With Sue Ann third.

Who would you say was fourth?

[Lorimar Television]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Who would you say was fourth?

Well this is discounting the adults as obviously Mrs G was the star. Honestly I'd say early on it was Cindy or Molly then eventually Natalie. As always poor phone girl was Nancied

[valentina warner]

MRS G was definitely the star in season 1 along with BLAIR: those 2 had the best chemistry/dynamic right from the start!
In the episode 'Rough housing', you can tell how hurt BLAIR is about MRS G's assumption on her being a slut/easy (although we all know that 'our feisty red haired' was just trying to teach her a lesson) and afterwards they break the ice!

TOOTIE was definitely the second star, as the sassy/cheeky youngest one out of the 7 girls and her charm was contagious: you couldn't help loving her to bits and wanting to hug her!
Unfortunately as you say Retro, after the revamp all of that was gone to be replaced by a whiny/annoying kid (although not until season 3).

The third star as we all know was SUE ANN: she became quite a popular and very likable character due to her kind heart and easy going personality! She was torn between BLAIR and CINDY though! (always eager to hang around the popular kids, but perhaps she had more in common with our 'pig tailed blond haired tomboy'?).

As for the fourth star: i'd say it was a mixture between NATALIE and MOLLY lol!

Sorry NANCY, but that leaves you out....

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

MRS G was definitely the star in season 1 along with BLAIR: those 2 had the best chemistry/dynamic right from the start!
In the episode 'Rough housing', you can tell how hurt BLAIR is about MRS G's assumption on her being a slut/easy (although we all know that 'our feisty red haired' was just trying to teach her a lesson) and afterwards they break the ice!

TOOTIE was definitely the second star, as the sassy/cheeky youngest one out of the 7 girls and her charm was contagious: you couldn't help loving her to bits and wanting to hug her!
Unfortunately as you say Retro, after the revamp all of that was gone to be replaced by a whiny/annoying kid (although not until season 3).

The third star as we all know was SUE ANN: she became quite a popular and very likable character due to her kind heart and easy going personality! She was torn between BLAIR and CINDY though! (always eager to hang around the popular kids, but perhaps she had more in common with our 'pig tailed blond haired tomboy'?).

As for the fourth star: i'd say it was a mixture between NATALIE and MOLLY lol!

Sorry NANCY, but that leaves you out....

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

Well this is discounting the adults as obviously Mrs G was the star. Honestly I'd say early on it was Cindy or Molly then eventually Natalie. As always poor phone girl was Nancied

So, it's great getting both your takes on this.

Lorimar, you mention how early on the "fourth girl" may have been Cindy or Molly early on, and then eventually became Natalie. Valentina, you mention the "fourth girl" was a mixture of Natalie and Molly.

I'm going to slightly disagree and say the "fourth girl" that season was... Cindy. I know that's a bit controversial because she definitely got Nancied during the last two episodes that season, but prior to that, she got the lead role in "Rough Housing", and also had a co-starring role in "Running". Molly only got "Molly's Holiday" and Natalie only got 'Adoption".

Of course, I think by the end of the season, the producers had changed course; by the final scene of the season, several girls are left Nancied downstairs, and only Blair, Tootie, Natalie, and Sue Ann are allowed in the "our group" final hug of the season, with Mrs. Garrett. I think the producers were telegraphing their intentions, although they may not have yet made any final decisions.

[Sitcommania]

I’m not getting how Tootie was the least popular. She’s one of the most memorable. Most other sitcoms reference Tootie when they mention FOL (Golden Girls?’c Will and Grace, Step by Step, Mama’s Family).
Some of her sassiness returned in Season 6 and it was mixed in with some bossiness and eccentricity. I thought it was funny.

[Lorimar Television]

I agree Cindy was def big in the 1979 eps but she was sadly Nancied in the 80's eps besides Running while Molly and Natalie became more prominent. Despite having more storylines than each I'd say Cindy was fourth but eventually relegated to fifth or sixth.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Sitcommania

I’m not getting how Tootie was the least popular. She’s one of the most memorable. Most other sitcoms reference Tootie when they mention FOL (Golden Girls?’c Will and Grace, Step by Step, Mama’s Family).
Some of her sassiness returned in Season 6 and it was mixed in with some bossiness and eccentricity. I thought it was funny.

Tootie definitely started out sassy, with funny lines and catchphrases and her distinct mode of transportation: roller skates. I mean, that's the Tootie most people are remembering: "There's gonna be trooooublllle..." But then Linda Marsh and Margie Peters watered her down; they felt as though she was just a stereotype. Gone were the skates, phased out was her catchphrase, and the little cute girl just became another student.

I do agree some of her sassiness returned late in the series' run, after Linda and Margie had left the show.