How was Lisa Whelchel able to get out of appearing in "The First Time"

[PracTz]

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

I guess Lisa wasn't in the position to give "orders" regarding her character development during the first season and she accepted what the writers gave her. In season 9, they all knew the end was near and she insisted a lot to change the storyline of TFT

Well, Miss Whelchel had little if any clout when the show started- being one of the teen regulars with Miss Rae being the adult undisputed star in Season One.

However, by Season Nine, Miss Whelchel being the one of the adult stars AND the producers intending to have her being THE star of their FoL Spinoff, she'd have had a LOT of clout. I mean, if they knew Miss McKeon wasn't going to stay around any more and they'd fired Miss Whelchel for refusing to have Blair be the first in The Four to admit having gone all the way, what would they have done for the spinoff? Have Natalie [Mindy Cohn] be the Eastland headmistress? Have Tootie become a drama teacher in another school with the whole thing being a 'Fame' type show?

[FOL-FAN-ITA]

Originally Posted by PracTz

Well, Miss Whelchel had little if any clout when the show started- being one of the teen regulars with Miss Rae being the adult undisputed star in Season One.

However, by Season Nine, Miss Whelchel being the one of the adult stars AND the producers intending to have her being THE star of their FoL Spinoff, she'd have had a LOT of clout. I mean, if they knew Miss McKeon wasn't going to stay around any more and they'd fired Miss Whelchel for refusing to have Blair be the first in The Four to admit having gone all the way, what would they have done for the spinoff? Have Natalie [Mindy Cohn] be the Eastland headmistress? Have Tootie become a drama teacher in another school with the whole thing being a 'Fame' type show?

Lisa was without a doubt the star from the beginning, but I'm sure the producers would have never fired her or the other three girls after a disagreement, especially after Mrs. Garrett + The Core 4 living together became the new premise of the show. Look what Nancy did at the start of season 6 for a pay raise, they could have fired her but they knew that her absence would have killed the show instantly

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

Lisa was without a doubt the star from the beginning, but I'm sure the producers would have never fired her or the other three girls after a disagreement, especially after Mrs. Garrett + The Core 4 living together became the new premise of the show. Look what Nancy did at the start of season 6 for a pay raise, they could have fired her but they knew that her absence would have killed the show instantly

Just imagine if they'd brought back "that Sue Ann". Molly wouldn't dared have come near the studio, Felice was committed to her education, and Julie Anne had mostly left the business. But I bet if they asked Julie Pie to return to the show she would have jumped on board: "What time do you need me there?"

Blair, Sue Ann, Natalie, and Tootie...would've been a throwback to "the gang" as it was when season 1 ended.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Just imagine if they'd brought back "that Sue Ann". Molly wouldn't dared have come near the studio, Felice was committed to her education, and Julie Anne had mostly left the business. But I bet if they asked Julie Pie to return to the show she would have jumped on board: "What time do you need me there?"

I think you are right. Julie Pie was even studying at UCLA around that time, so she wouldn't have even had to uproot her life.

Blair, Sue Ann, Natalie, and Tootie...would've been a throwback to "the gang" as it was when season 1 ended.

[FOL-FAN-ITA]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Just imagine if they'd brought back "that Sue Ann". Molly wouldn't dared have come near the studio, Felice was committed to her education, and Julie Anne had mostly left the business. But I bet if they asked Julie Pie to return to the show she would have jumped on board: "What time do you need me there?"

Blair, Sue Ann, Natalie, and Tootie...would've been a throwback to "the gang" as it was when season 1 ended.

"At least our group is back together....again"

Sue Ann starts sweating "No, not again"

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

"At least our group is back together....again"

Sue Ann starts sweating "No, not again"

But Retro's screencap just makes you wonder what the show would have been like had there been no Jo, and the cafeteria era started with Blair, Sue Ann, Natalie, and Tootie. Sue Ann running into the cafeteria with suitcases in her arms and a country-western straw hat atop her head a la "Running".

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

But Retro's screencap just makes you wonder what the show would have been like had there been no Jo, and the cafeteria era started with Blair, Sue Ann, Natalie, and Tootie. Sue Ann running into the cafeteria with suitcases in her arms and a country-western straw hat atop her head a la "Running".

SUE ANN: Hey guys! I just got back from Kansas City, Kansas, and boy, am I sure beat!

BLAIR: Sue Annnnnnn!!!!!!

NATALIE: There's our Midwest girl!

The four girls EMBRACE, AD-LIBBING comments.

BLAIR: It's so good to see you. How's your mom? And Tiger?

SUE ANN: It's good to see you, too, Blair. You're such a good friend. Anyone else starving? I wonder if the cafeteria has any rice pudding.

TOOTIE: C'mon, I'll show you what they've got.

['80sSitcoms]

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

SUE ANN: Hey guys! I just got back from Kansas City, Kansas, and boy, am I sure beat!

BLAIR: Sue Annnnnnn!!!!!!

NATALIE: There's our Midwest girl!

The four girls EMBRACE, AD-LIBBING comments.

BLAIR: It's so good to see you. How's your mom? And Tiger?

SUE ANN: It's good to see you, too, Blair. You're such a good friend. Anyone else starving? I wonder if the cafeteria has any rice pudding.

TOOTIE: C'mon, I'll show you what they've got.

Sue Ann: I caught some fish from Miller's Pond and brought them so we can cook them up.

Blair: That sounds so wholesome that I could barf.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

Sue Ann: I caught some fish from Miller's Pond and brought them so we can cook them up.

Blair: That sounds so wholesome that I could barf.

Good one!

[valentina warner]

I would have absolutely loved it, if the writers had kept SUE ANN! (just imagine the dynamic between BLAIR, SUE ANN, NAT and TOOTIE lol!) just awesome!

[TMC]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I think you are right. Julie Pie was even studying at UCLA around that time, so she wouldn't have even had to uproot her life.

Was Sue Ann originally considered to be the "fourth girl" going into the second season before the producers decided to bring in Nancy McKeon's Jo character? I'm assuming that there were already plans to pair the main cast down and retool the show in some shape or form.

[FOL-FAN-ITA]

Originally Posted by TMC

Was Sue Ann originally considered to be the "fourth girl" going into the second season before the producers decided to bring in Nancy McKeon's Jo character? I'm assuming that there were already plans to pair the main cast down and retool the show in some shape or form.

There are many stories about who was going to be the fourth girl. One documentary says Julie Anne Haddock (Cindy) was the last girl fired, another one states Felice (Nancy) was going to be one of the Core Four, Molly claims she was first kept and then fired and Julie Piekarski (Sue Ann) was with the other girls in the last scene of the season 1 finale.

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

But Retro's screencap just makes you wonder what the show would have been like had there been no Jo, and the cafeteria era started with Blair, Sue Ann, Natalie, and Tootie. Sue Ann running into the cafeteria with suitcases in her arms and a country-western straw hat atop her head a la "Running".

Or Blair, Cindy, Tootie and Natalie

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by TMC

Was Sue Ann originally considered to be the "fourth girl" going into the second season before the producers decided to bring in Nancy McKeon's Jo character? I'm assuming that there were already plans to pair the main cast down and retool the show in some shape or form.

We will likely never know the full truth, and as ITA says above, each source gives a different answer on who the "fourth girl" might have been. Watching the end of Season One, you can see how prominent Sue Ann's role was, and she gets the final "group hug" with Mrs. Garrett and the Core Three, while the other Lost Girls are downstairs, packing their bags to move into the Lost Girls' basement: literally, Nancy is seen taking boxes downstairs as she laments about how she didn't get into "The Group".

Newspapers of that time do indicate the cast knew there would be a purge over the summer months, with two newspapers strangely indicating Nancy/Felice would be kept on. Yet one FOL documentary states Julie Anne/Cindy was "the last to face expulsion", and Molly states she was originally going to be kept on, before she was bumped off by Nancy McKeon.

What is clear is that even during the last few episodes of Season One, the writers seem to be telegraphing at least some of the producers' decision: Nancy, Cindy, and Mr. Bradley are hardly seen in the last two episodes, being written out of the majority of those scripts. Nancy's role seems to have been significantly reduced after the December 1979 retooling.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Nancy is seen taking boxes downstairs as she laments about how she didn't get into "The Group".

Ha, nice point, although I always assume she's simply taking her boxes of private belonging down the hall back to her own room. (I think I always assume that room in that final scene is supposed to be Natalie and Tootie's room--yet Blair and Sue Ann walk in? I don't know. That room has such a mercurial history!)

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Newspapers of that time do indicate the cast knew there would be a purge over the summer months, with two newspapers strangely indicating Nancy/Felice would be kept on. Yet one FOL documentary states Julie Anne/Cindy was "the last to face expulsion", and Molly states she was originally going to be kept on, before she was bumped off by Nancy McKeon.

My personal feelings are that the last girl was either Julie Anne or Molly.

We already know Felice was phone-fired first (what a coincidence, as Nancy LIVED for the phone), and nothing has ever stated Julie Pie was to be kept on.

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

What is clear is that even during the last few episodes of Season One, the writers seem to be telegraphing at least some of the producers' decision: Nancy, Cindy, and Mr. Bradley are hardly seen in the last two episodes, being written out of the majority of those scripts.

I don't like that kind of negative view on my favorite Facts of Life girl. Cindy and Molly have about the same amount to do in "Dope", which is comparable to some of their other episodes. But Nancy only has that one little moment with Mrs. Garrett before exiting the studio.