Molly and Julie Pie channel their FOL characters.

[80s Dude]

Molly and Julie Pie channeled their FOL characters on the opposite side of a particular issue today.

Molly Ringwald channeled Molly Parker at full strength. Molly Parker could have been the author of this Instagram post. https://www.instagram.com/p/CW8otg4gvoJ/

Meawhile Julie Pie put her own opinion of the same issue out there on the opposite side with the same position Sue Ann would have taken.

This would have made a very interesting Facts of Life episode. The topic was covered in "The Source", but imagine if we had two of our Eastland girls on the opposite side of the issue.

[RetroGuy2000]

They definitely are their characters!

['80sSitcoms]

It feels like FOL really got a pass with an abortion episode. "Maude" was the first sitcom to have a story about it, and it became a huge deal in the press and was banned from airing on several affiliates.

FOL does an abortion episode, and no one bats an eye.

Of course, "Maude" had a much bigger viewing audience than FOL and was taken much more seriously, and then in daily syndication it's like FOL was a "babysitter" show where kids were watching in the daytime while their parents were otherwise engaged or away at work, so it feels like it kind of just flew under the radar in all those syndicated showings. It was also different in that a character wasn't debating whether to have one, or even did have one, but it was found out a character had one in the past (a character who would only be acknowledged for this one episode).

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

It feels like FOL really got a pass with an abortion episode. "Maude" was the first sitcom to have a story about it, and it became a huge deal in the press and was banned from airing on several affiliates.

FOL does an abortion episode, and no one bats an eye.

Of course, "Maude" had a much bigger viewing audience than FOL and was taken much more seriously, and then in daily syndication it's like FOL was a "babysitter" show where kids were watching in the daytime while their parents were otherwise engaged or away at work, so it feels like it kind of just flew under the radar in all those syndicated showings. It was also different in that a character wasn't debating whether to have one, or even did have one, but it was found out a character had one in the past (a character who would only be acknowledged for this one episode).

Some really good points, there, and these points deserve discussion.

I guess one major difference between the Maude episode and "The Source" is that a major character isn't considering an abortion. Natalie is just writing a fictional article about an abortion. Later, when we find out there really was an abortion, it's not a character we've seen before or ever will see again.

As you say, and I agree, The Facts of Life became the TV babysitter; I do think it fell under the radar. But also, the later episodes became kind of silly and bland: they started to reflect the materialism of the 1980s, and the episodes were rarely issues-driven TV anymore. Can you imagine an abortion episode in Season 9? People sort of forgot this show had a racy start.

It really is a shame that Molly and Sue Ann weren't around for this episode. They could have really ratcheted things up to the next level, with a huge dispute in the cafeteria!

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

It feels like FOL really got a pass with an abortion episode. "Maude" was the first sitcom to have a story about it, and it became a huge deal in the press and was banned from airing on several affiliates.

FOL does an abortion episode, and no one bats an eye.

Of course, "Maude" had a much bigger viewing audience than FOL and was taken much more seriously, and then in daily syndication it's like FOL was a "babysitter" show where kids were watching in the daytime while their parents were otherwise engaged or away at work, so it feels like it kind of just flew under the radar in all those syndicated showings. It was also different in that a character wasn't debating whether to have one, or even did have one, but it was found out a character had one in the past (a character who would only be acknowledged for this one episode).

When Maude had an abortion, that was a first and it was not long after Row vs. Wade made abortion legal nationwide. By the time the Facts of Life covered it, I think most people would have been used of abortion being legal. If Facts of Life did a suicide episode and a dope episode, we wouldn't be surprised at doing an abortion episode.

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Some really good points, there, and these points deserve discussion.

I guess one major difference between the Maude episode and "The Source" is that a major character isn't considering an abortion. Natalie is just writing a fictional article about an abortion. Later, when we find out there really was an abortion, it's not a character we've seen before or ever will see again.

As you say, and I agree, The Facts of Life became the TV babysitter; I do think it fell under the radar. But also, the later episodes became kind of silly and bland: they started to reflect the materialism of the 1980s, and the episodes were rarely issues-driven TV anymore. Can you imagine an abortion episode in Season 9? People sort of forgot this show had a racy start.

It really is a shame that Molly and Sue Ann weren't around for this episode. They could have really ratcheted things up to the next level, with a huge dispute in the cafeteria!

If both actresses were compassionate about an issue, that would make acting in their characters much more realistic. They should have had a minor character that we met before have an abortion. Brenda would come to mind. Brenda and a guy from Bates just got carried away on a big rock while they were out looking for rocks. The guy was adequate and Brenda became pregnant.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

If both actresses were compassionate about an issue, that would make acting in their characters much more realistic. They should have had a minor character that we met before have an abortion. Brenda would come to mind. Brenda and a guy from Bates just got carried away on a big rock while they were out looking for rocks.

The guy was adequate and Brenda became pregnant.

... Brenda went to her friend Blaire for help, but there was no student by that name.

[Lorimar Television]

Did Maude actually have the abortion? I’ve heard about the Ep but I forgot if she actually does or miscarries

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

Did Maude actually have the abortion? I’ve heard about the Ep but I forgot if she actually does or miscarries

The two-part episodes are on Daily Motion, here and here. I had never seen them until now.

Watching these two episodes, I just see Dorothy and Blanche and Mr. Drummond in the Facts of Life dorm common room. I guess that's because for 40+ years, I only knew them as those characters, and that set.

Yes, she went through with it.

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

... Brenda went to her friend Blaire for help, but there was no student by that name.

I think BRENDA thought BLAIR(E) was French lol!

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

I think BRENDA thought BLAIR(E) was French lol!

Maybe she thought she was French, or maybe Brenda was dumb as a... rock.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

^---50-year-old spoiler alert

Yeah, it's been years since I saw it, but Lorsie,

I believe she does so after talking with Walter and them deciding they're not fit to be parents at this "later" stage of their lives (back then, 50 was an older 50, lol).

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Maybe she thought she was French, or maybe Brenda was dumb as a... rock. :

Great one Retro!

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

^---50-year-old spoiler alert

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

"Beat it, ya 50-year-old spoiler!"