The "Mrs. Garrett Minute" (phone call) in 7-24, "The Apartment" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

RetroGuy2000 · 09-23-2021, 04:33 PM

Mrs. Garrett's third-to-last appearance in the series is episode 7-24, "The Apartment", where Natalie and Tootie get their own place in NYC. Charlotte Rae literally phones in her performance, as her only scene -- 1 minute and 30 seconds long -- is done over the phone, with Mrs. Garrett in a Wisconsin kitchen set. She only has five lines, including her hellos and goodbyes. This minute and a half includes Tootie's and Natalie's responses.

I suspect Charlotte's scene was pre-taped around the time of the previous episode, as there would be otherwise little point in having Mrs. Garrett back in Wisconsin just a week after she had returned to Peekskill.

Mrs. Garrett's phone scene greatly resembles the "Chrissy Minute" tag scenes Suzanne Somers was forced to tape during her last season on Three's Company, except instead of the shame Suzanne felt at taping on a separate stage nowhere near the other actors, with the footage then spliced into the episode, we know Charlotte had requested a reduced workload, and this was almost certainly at her request (we see a similar phoned-in performance with Mindy in the series finale).

It's good Charlotte agreed to make two more full appearances after this episode because otherwise this brief snippet would be the last of "Mrs. G."

'80sSitcoms · 09-23-2021, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

1 minute and 30 seconds long -- is done over the phone, with Mrs. Garrett in a Wisconsin kitchen set. She only has five lines, including her hellos and goodbyes. This minute and a half includes Tootie's and Natalie's responses.

Wow, Tootie and Natalie must say a lot of words to fill in that minute and a half.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I suspect Charlotte's scene was pre-taped around the time of the previous episode, as there would be otherwise little point in having Mrs. Garrett back in Wisconsin just a week after she had returned to Peekskill.

But that's what happens, right? I looked at the episode guide and the production guide, and Mrs. Garrett had been away, then returns to attend Tootie's graduation, and then she goes back to Wisconsin so she can make her Mrs. Garrett Minute phone call a week later. I guess she was taking a longer stay in Wisconsin and just went back to Peekskill to see Tootie graduate and then go right back to Wisconsin again.

RetroGuy2000 · 09-23-2021, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Wow, Tootie and Natalie must say a lot of words to fill in that minute and a half.

It's about 50% Tootie/Natalie and 50% Mrs. Garrett.

Quote:

But that's what happens, right? I looked at the episode guide and the production guide, and Mrs. Garrett had been away, then returns to attend Tootie's graduation, and then she goes back to Wisconsin so she can make her Mrs. Garrett Minute phone call a week later. I guess she was taking a longer stay in Wisconsin and just went back to Peekskill to see Tootie graduate and then go right back to Wisconsin again.

Yes, that's what happens. She instantly returns to Wisconsin. Then the next season, she's back in Peekskill, only to suddenly marry and move to Africa.

FOL-FAN-ITA · 09-25-2021, 05:04 AM

I'm really glad Charlotte decided to make a guest appearence in season 8, otherwise we would have seen Beverly Ann popping out of nowhere and we would have had no explanation about Mrs. Garrett's sudden departure, like it happened on DS

RetroGuy2000 · 09-25-2021, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

I'm really glad Charlotte decided to make a guest appearence in season 8, otherwise we would have seen Beverly Ann popping out of nowhere and we would have had no explation about Mrs. Garrett's sudden departure,

Yeah, that would have felt very abrupt. The transition was much more smooth with a BA introduction during Mrs. Garrett's farewell.

Quote:

like it happened on DS

I feel like Mrs. Garrett's departure on DS happened over a half a season.

FOL-FAN-ITA · 09-26-2021, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I feel like Mrs. Garrett's departure on DS happened over a half a season.

Yes, she leaves DS offscreen midway through season 2 of that show. The only mention I remember is in the episode where Adelaide is first introduced, Mr. Drummond says that the housekeeper has just left. I would have liked a goodbye episode

RetroGuy2000 · 09-26-2021, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

Yes, she leaves DS offscreen midway through season 2 of that show. The only mention I remember is in the episode where Adelaide is first introduced, Mr. Drummond says that the housekeeper has just left. I would have liked a goodbye episode

A farewell episode would have been really nice, but might have been weakened by Arnold and Willis appearing on FOL, and Tootie appearing on DS. For a while, they did crossover episodes. Tootie was appearing on DS as late as early Season 4 on DS.

'80sSitcoms · 09-27-2021, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

I'm really glad Charlotte decided to make a guest appearence in season 8, otherwise we would have seen Beverly Ann popping out of nowhere and we would have had no explanation about Mrs. Garrett's sudden departure, like it happened on DS

They would have to have mentioned something. There's no way they'd get away with their focal point character suddenly disappearing after 7 years with no explanation.

'80sSitcoms · 09-27-2021, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Tootie was appearing on DS as late as early Season 4 on DS.

Season 3! The very first episode!

Tootie appeared on DS a full week before she appeared appeared on season 2 of FOL -- interesting stuff!

Perhaps the Ramseys didn't live too far away from Park Avenue since Tootie hadn't gone off to Eastland for the new school year yet.

RetroGuy2000 · 09-27-2021, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Season 3! The very first episode!

Ah, ah, ah, '80sSitcoms! What happened to F.A.C.T.?

While Kim did appear in DS season 3, Kim also made appearances in Diff'rent Strokes episodes "First Day Blues" (aired as 4-02) and "The Team" (aired as 4-04). Those episodes were in Season 4.

Quote:

Perhaps the Ramseys didn't live too far away from Park Avenue since Tootie hadn't gone off to Eastland for the new school year yet.

I do believe the Ramseys must have had a place in NYC, in addition to a place in DC, where they often worked.

'80sSitcoms · 09-27-2021, 12:26 PM

Ahh, I read you wrong at an early hour. I thought you meant she started appearing on DS in crossovers as late as season 4, when it was actually season 3 when she started.

RetroGuy2000 · 09-27-2021, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Ahh, I read you wrong at an early hour. I thought you meant she started appearing on DS in crossovers as late as season 4, when it was actually season 3 when she started.

Well, she started during Season 1, with "The Girls' School", then did Season 2's "The Slumber Party", and Season 3's "The Bank Job", followed by Season 4's "First Day Blues" and "The Team".

I have read that Kim's Season 4 appearances were filling in for Gary Coleman, who was sick during the tapings, and Kim's role was a last-minute change. It's terrible that Gary was so ill, but I do love the crossovers between the shows. Just a touch of "Eastlandy" goodness in DS!

'80sSitcoms · 09-27-2021, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Well, she started during Season 1, with "The Girls' School", then did Season 2's "The Slumber Party".

Those aren't the "Tootie crossovers" (like "The Chrissy Minute", lol) as in solo crossovers for the character, as they're group crossovers. For me, the "Tootie crossovers," the special appearances of only Tootie, start with her appearing as the sole FOL guest character in TBJ to premiere DS season 3.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I have read that Kim's Season 4 appearances were filling in for Gary Coleman, who was sick during the tapings, and Kim's role was a last-minute change. It's terrible that Gary was so ill, but I do love the crossovers between the shows. Just a touch of "Eastlandy" goodness in DS!

I know what you mean; just imagine if we hadn't had those!

RetroGuy2000 · 09-27-2021, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Those aren't the "Tootie crossovers" (like "The Chrissy Minute", lol) as in solo crossovers for the character, as they're group crossovers. For me, the "Tootie crossovers," the special appearances of only Tootie, start with her appearing as the sole FOL guest character in TBJ to premiere DS season 3.

Ah, an interesting way of looking at things!

Quote:

I know what you mean; just imagine if we hadn't had those!

They are wonderful treats! The crossovers feel almost like an "extended season" to me.

'80sSitcoms · 09-27-2021, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Ah, an interesting way of looking at things!

There's one backdoor pilot, one group crossover, and then we get our "Tootie crossovers", along with a Blair/Natalie crossover.

It's too bad they never crossed Jo over; her reaction to that penthouse would've been great!

09-23-2021, 04:33 PM	#1
RetroGuy2000 Julie,Julie Anne,&Felice 4Ever Forum Star Join Date: Dec 27, 2013 Posts: 16,914	The "Mrs. Garrett Minute" (phone call) in 7-24, "The Apartment" Mrs. Garrett's third-to-last appearance in the series is episode 7-24, "The Apartment", where Natalie and Tootie get their own place in NYC. Charlotte Rae literally phones in her performance, as her only scene -- 1 minute and 30 seconds long -- is done over the phone, with Mrs. Garrett in a Wisconsin kitchen set. She only has five lines, including her hellos and goodbyes. This minute and a half includes Tootie's and Natalie's responses. I suspect Charlotte's scene was pre-taped around the time of the previous episode, as there would be otherwise little point in having Mrs. Garrett back in Wisconsin just a week after she had returned to Peekskill. Mrs. Garrett's phone scene greatly resembles the "Chrissy Minute" tag scenes Suzanne Somers was forced to tape during her last season on Three's Company, except instead of the shame Suzanne felt at taping on a separate stage nowhere near the other actors, with the footage then spliced into the episode, we know Charlotte had requested a reduced workload, and this was almost certainly at her request (we see a similar phoned-in performance with Mindy in the series finale). It's good Charlotte agreed to make two more full appearances after this episode because otherwise this brief snippet would be the last of "Mrs. G."
	__________________ The Facts of Life's "Lost Girls" Tribute to Julie Piekarski, Eastland Girl Join "The Group", Sitcoms Online's Facts of Life group!

09-25-2021, 05:04 AM	#4
FOL-FAN-ITA Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 29, 2019 Location: Italy Posts: 1,473	I'm really glad Charlotte decided to make a guest appearence in season 8, otherwise we would have seen Beverly Ann popping out of nowhere and we would have had no explanation about Mrs. Garrett's sudden departure, like it happened on DS
	__________________ The Facts Of Life Italian Fan Last edited by FOL-FAN-ITA; 09-26-2021 at 04:07 AM.

09-27-2021, 12:26 PM	#11
'80sSitcoms Member Forum Star Join Date: Jan 30, 2013 Posts: 12,474	Ahh, I read you wrong at an early hour. I thought you meant she started appearing on DS in crossovers as late as season 4, when it was actually season 3 when she started.