The Marriage Brokers episode.

[80s Dude]

I just saw the Marriage Brokers episode in my DVD rotation last night and I have to say that this was the worse FOL episode besides "Brian and Sylvia" in the series so far.

A brief synopsis of the episode, is that the girls (except for Jo) decide that Mrs. Garrett should be married to the man she sees when he is passing through town. After Blair and her date double date with Mrs. G. and her man friend and her male friend told Blair and her date when Mrs. G. went to get a recipe that marriage was not for him. Afterward, the girls (except for Jo who wonders why this is even their business) tells Mrs. Garrett that he is no good for her. Mrs. G. then tells the girls that she is happy and not ready for marriage.

Right from the start, there is absolutely almost no reaction from the audience to the "jokes" from this episode. It got so bad that it almost sounded like this they added laugh tracks in spots because the studio audience was so dead.

Blair took a 180 degree turn from first season Blair in this episode. First Season Blair would have given Mrs. G. a high five and congratulated her for playing the field. Instead Blair went all out Sue Ann and wanted to get Mrs. G. married. Now if Sue Ann was around, a Experimental Blair vs. Family Values Sue Ann debate might have livened up the show at least a little bit. But since Sue Ann was not around and Experimental Blair disappeared, that didn't happen.

This is one of the few shows in the series that focused mainly on Mrs. G. Blair was also part of the plot. Jo opposed the girls butting into Mrs. G. business, but was pretty much Nancyed in this episode. Natalie was totally Nancyed in this episode.

I just don't remember this episode at all from the first time was shown. I definitely remember the next one "Starstruck", but the Marriage Brokers" was totally forgettable.

[RetroGuy2000]

Good analysis!

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

Blair took a 180 degree turn from first season Blair in this episode. First Season Blair would have given Mrs. G. a high five and congratulated her for playing the field. Instead Blair went all out Sue Ann and wanted to get Mrs. G. married. Now if Sue Ann was around, a Experimental Blair vs. Family Values Sue Ann debate might have livened up the show at least a little bit. But since Sue Ann was not around and Experimental Blair disappeared, that didn't happen.

Yeah, this is the problem with ditching Sue Ann. By reducing the number of girls to just four, the producers ended up forcing the girls to take up positions they never would have had: flirty Blair, who isn't worried about settling down, is suddenly concerned about Mrs. Garrett settling down. By jettisoning Sue Ann, they removed that conservative voice who acts as a foil to Blair's flirtatiousness.

This is one of the few shows in the series that focused mainly on Mrs. G. Blair was also part of the plot. Jo opposed the girls butting into Mrs. G. business, but was pretty much Nancyed in this episode. Natalie was totally Nancyed in this episode.

I don't feel as though Jo was Nancied, as she had an important perspective, but Natalie did get Nancied.

One more observation about this episode: I'm pretty sure we see this restaurant in other episodes. I suspect it's the same restaurant as the one in Diff'rent Strokes' "Slumber Party" episode. That arch near the ceiling sure looks familiar.

[valentina warner]

I quite enjoyed the episode 'Marriage brokers' i have to say: i have always loved the episodes focused on MRS G/BLAIR, and the fact that she wasn't your usual flirty shows that she has other qualities other being a tease, and that she really cared about her surrogate mother lol!

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Good analysis!



Yeah, this is the problem with ditching Sue Ann. By reducing the number of girls to just four, the producers ended up forcing the girls to take up positions they never would have had: flirty Blair, who isn't worried about settling down, is suddenly concerned about Mrs. Garrett settling down. By jettisoning Sue Ann, they removed that conservative voice who acts as a foil to Blair's flirtatiousness.



I don't feel as though Jo was Nancied, as she had an important perspective, but Natalie did get Nancied.

One more observation about this episode: I'm pretty sure we see this restaurant in other episodes. I suspect it's the same restaurant as the one in Diff'rent Strokes' "Slumber Party" episode. That arch near the ceiling sure looks familiar.

Could be. They used the same diner set for New York, New York and the Runaway. Both episodes just a few weeks apart.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

Could be. They used the same diner set for New York, New York and the Runaway. Both episodes just a few weeks apart.

Yes, I remember that, too. As if New York City only has a few diners.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

I quite enjoyed the episode 'Marriage brokers' i have to say: i have always loved the episodes focused on MRS G/BLAIR, and the fact that she wasn't your usual flirty shows that she has other qualities other being a tease, and that she really cared about her surrogate mother lol!

Blair obviously cared for Mrs. Garrett, but she sure got judgemental in this episode. Why can't a woman of Mrs. Garrett's age just want to have fun, nothing serious?

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Yes, I remember that, too. As if New York City only has a few diners.

And I don't think the food quality and clientele quality would be so great that someone as sophisticated as Blair would want to go back there a second time.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

And I don't think the food quality and clientele quality would be so great that someone as sophisticated as Blair would want to go back there a second time.

...Especially with the hair in the menu!

[80s Dude]

I wonder if Lisa and her parents had any influence in the direction that Blair's character took?

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

I just saw the Marriage Brokers episode in my DVD rotation last night and I have to say that this was the worse FOL episode besides "Brian and Sylvia" in the series so far.

A brief synopsis of the episode, is that the girls (except for Jo) decide that Mrs. Garrett should be married to the man she sees when he is passing through town. After Blair and her date double date with Mrs. G. and her man friend and her male friend told Blair and her date when Mrs. G. went to get a recipe that marriage was not for him. Afterward, the girls (except for Jo who wonders why this is even their business) tells Mrs. Garrett that he is no good for her. Mrs. G. then tells the girls that she is happy and not ready for marriage.

Right from the start, there is absolutely almost no reaction from the audience to the "jokes" from this episode. It got so bad that it almost sounded like this they added laugh tracks in spots because the studio audience was so dead.

Blair took a 180 degree turn from first season Blair in this episode. First Season Blair would have given Mrs. G. a high five and congratulated her for playing the field. Instead Blair went all out Sue Ann and wanted to get Mrs. G. married. Now if Sue Ann was around, a Experimental Blair vs. Family Values Sue Ann debate might have livened up the show at least a little bit. But since Sue Ann was not around and Experimental Blair disappeared, that didn't happen.

This is one of the few shows in the series that focused mainly on Mrs. G. Blair was also part of the plot. Jo opposed the girls butting into Mrs. G. business, but was pretty much Nancyed in this episode. Natalie was totally Nancyed in this episode.

I just don't remember this episode at all from the first time was shown. I definitely remember the next one "Starstruck", but the Marriage Brokers" was totally forgettable.

I found the episode 'Starstruck' rather BORING compared to that one i have to say: all TOOTIE did was whine "I wanna see Jermaine Jackson!"
On the other hand, in the episode 'Marriage brokers', i love how the 3 girls (minus JO) worry about MRS G and try to protect her.

I guess that's my point of view...

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Blair obviously cared for Mrs. Garrett, but she sure got judgemental in this episode. Why can't a woman of Mrs. Garrett's age just want to have fun, nothing serious?

I understand your point of view Retro: BLAIR did overreact a little, but i believe she did it because she always had a tendency to be overprotective towards MRS G.
She, herself was a tease and a flirt when it came to guys and loved to play the field, but when it came to her loved one she was very caring: and we all know how much she cared about our 'feisty red haired' and that she had high respect for her (as did the other 3 girls of course)