33 years ago today the last episode of FOL aired - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

80s Dude · 05-07-2021, 07:46 PM

33 years ago today, the last original episode of Facts of Life aired.

It definitely won't go down in history as one of the best season finales. It certainly won't rival Cheers, Mary Tyler Moore, Newhart (80s series). But you can't deny that the new batch of Eastland kids had lots of talent.

valentina warner · 05-07-2021, 08:14 PM

Love the picture lol!

RetroGuy2000 · 05-07-2021, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

33 years ago today, the last original episode of Facts of Life aired.

My, how time flies. I remember watching that episode, on its original airing. I never would have believed I'd be discussing it 33 years later.

Quote:

It definitely won't go down in history as one of the best season finales. It certainly won't rival Cheers, Mary Tyler Moore, Newhart (80s series).

Well, the Newhart ending was legendary. The MTM ending was heart-wrenching. I don't remember the Cheers ending being all that good, other than having an extended version of the theme song, which was cool.

Quote:

But you can't deny that the new batch of Eastland kids had lots of talent.

True. Seth Green and Mayim Bialik became household names.

awesome80snostalgia · 05-07-2021, 09:25 PM

happy anniversary to everyone on this board. it is all of you you who make the series live on. the actresses must be amazed that 30+ years later the show is still being discussed on computers, devices and with new generation of fans.

awesome80snostalgia · 05-07-2021, 09:51 PM

https://www.instagram.com/p/COlcyvgnPJq/

they are also celebrating the anniversary on the FOL Instagram page. if anyone here is on IG, go on over there and post your thoughts about it.

Fallon97 · 05-09-2021, 06:54 PM

Aww......time sure goes by fast. I remember being so sad when the show was cancelled.

TMC · 05-27-2021, 06:14 AM

Has Lisa Whelchel ever commented on why the attempted spin-off or retool involving Blair becoming the new headmistress at Eastland (which was now co-ed), never happened? I mean, I watched the final episode the other day on Logo, and much of the time was spent on building up this backdoor pilot (if you will), then being an out and out finale.

Do you think that despite having a good cast (which included a young Juliette Lewis, Mayim Bialik, and Seth Green), the concept was pretty tired by that point? And did the coed kids make it feel more like Saved by the Bell than The Facts of Life?

RetroGuy2000 · 05-27-2021, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMC

Has Lisa Whelchel ever commented on why the attempted spin-off or retool involving Blair become the new headmistress at Eastland (which was now co-ed), never happened? I mean, I watched the final episode the other day on Logo, and much of the time was spent on building up this backdoor pilot (if you will), then being an out and out finale.

I think it's been firmly established that that was a network decision; Lisa herself wanted to continue FOL, but Mindy and Nancy did not. I recall Lisa saying that in her opinion, the spin-off didn't happen, but it should have, because they were all talented kids who had success in the future:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisa

When the show ended at the end of the ninth season, I feel like it probably had some more run in it, but it’s always better if you can leave at that point. They did try to do a spin-off, which in hindsight they should have because the cast they had on it has all turned out to be pretty successful.

valentina warner · 05-27-2021, 05:11 PM

Personally, i would have loved to see more of BLAIR as the new headmistress: she would have been so good at interacting, and serving the new kids as a confidante (just as MRS G was with her for 7 years).....

RetroGuy2000 · 05-27-2021, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by valentina warner

Personally, i would have loved to see more of BLAIR as the new headmistress: she would have been so good at interacting, and serving the new kids as a confidante (just as MRS G was with her for 7 years).....

I definitely would have tuned in, too. I wonder what they could have done with the show, and I wonder if they would have put Andy in the new series.

valentina warner · 05-27-2021, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I definitely would have tuned in, too. I wonder what they could have done with the show, and I wonder if they would have put Andy in the new series.

I could have easily see BLAIR bonding with both girls: JULIETTE LEWIS and the mean girl (i can't remember her name now); she would have been a confidante to the nice and mean girl, and taught them all about the facts of life.....

ANDY and PIPPA would have only been secondary characters, but to make season 10 enjoyable we would need to have both: a mean girl (the dark curly haired one whose father was an important, rich man) and a nice girl (JULIETTE LEWIS).

Sounds familiar?

History repeat itself with a new BLAIR and JO lol!

RetroGuy2000 · 05-27-2021, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by valentina warner

I could have easily see BLAIR bonding with both girls: JULIETTE LEWIS and the mean girl (i can't remember her name now); she would have been a confidante to the nice and mean girl, and taught them all about the facts of life.....

ANDY and PIPPA would have only been secondary characters, but to make season 10 enjoyable we would need to have both: a mean girl (the dark curly haired one whose father was an important, rich man) and a nice girl (JULIETTE LEWIS).

Sounds familiar?

History repeat itself with a new BLAIR and JO lol!

I can see that working. At the very least, I would have tuned in.

I wonder if they would have kept the entire cast from the backdoor pilot, or would some of them be "Jennifered" off the show?

RetroGuy2000 · 05-27-2021, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

33 years ago today, the last original episode of Facts of Life aired.

It definitely won't go down in history as one of the best season finales. It certainly won't rival Cheers, Mary Tyler Moore, Newhart (80s series). But you can't deny that the new batch of Eastland kids had lots of talent.

Looking back on this photo, it feels like false advertising. It should have just been Jo, Blair, Tootie, and a phone in the photo.

valentina warner · 05-27-2021, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Looking back on this photo, it feels like false advertising. It should have just been Jo, Blair, Tootie, and a phone in the photo.

NAT became the NANCY with the phone scene ha ha!

valentina warner · 05-27-2021, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I can see that working. At the very least, I would have tuned in.

I wonder if they would have kept the entire cast from the backdoor pilot, or would some of them be "Jennifered" off the show?

As long as JULIETTE LEWIS and MEAN GIRL stayed, i would have been more than happy!

05-07-2021, 07:46 PM	#1
80s Dude Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 24, 2019 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,810	33 years ago today the last episode of FOL aired 33 years ago today, the last original episode of Facts of Life aired. It definitely won't go down in history as one of the best season finales. It certainly won't rival Cheers, Mary Tyler Moore, Newhart (80s series). But you can't deny that the new batch of Eastland kids had lots of talent. Attached Images

05-27-2021, 06:14 AM	#7
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,387	Has Lisa Whelchel ever commented on why the attempted spin-off or retool involving Blair becoming the new headmistress at Eastland (which was now co-ed), never happened? I mean, I watched the final episode the other day on Logo, and much of the time was spent on building up this backdoor pilot (if you will), then being an out and out finale. Do you think that despite having a good cast (which included a young Juliette Lewis, Mayim Bialik, and Seth Green), the concept was pretty tired by that point? And did the coed kids make it feel more like Saved by the Bell than The Facts of Life?
	Last edited by TMC; 10-23-2021 at 05:26 AM.

05-27-2021, 05:11 PM	#9
valentina warner Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 31, 2020 Location: The Uk Posts: 3,154	SEASON 10 Personally, i would have loved to see more of BLAIR as the new headmistress: she would have been so good at interacting, and serving the new kids as a confidante (just as MRS G was with her for 7 years).....

05-07-2021, 08:14 PM	#2
valentina warner Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 31, 2020 Location: The Uk Posts: 3,154	Love the picture lol!

05-07-2021, 09:25 PM	#4
awesome80snostalgia Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 02, 2021 Location: east coast Posts: 164	happy anniversary to everyone on this board. it is all of you you who make the series live on. the actresses must be amazed that 30+ years later the show is still being discussed on computers, devices and with new generation of fans.

05-07-2021, 09:51 PM	#5
awesome80snostalgia Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 02, 2021 Location: east coast Posts: 164	https://www.instagram.com/p/COlcyvgnPJq/ they are also celebrating the anniversary on the FOL Instagram page. if anyone here is on IG, go on over there and post your thoughts about it.

05-09-2021, 06:54 PM	#6
Fallon97 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2007 Location: America Posts: 1,268	Aww......time sure goes by fast. I remember being so sad when the show was cancelled.