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

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

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!)

I also believe that's Chez Nat and Toot. Yes, Blair and Sue Ann enter, but they don't say anything about it being their room. Ergo, it's Natalie and Tootie's dorm room, which just happens to look just like Molly's room and also Blair's room.

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.

That I'm not sure about. I seem to recall at least one newspaper stating Sue Ann would stay.

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.

I'd argue that Nancy's part is far more prominent and memorable than anything Cindy and Molly do in "Dope". And of course, Nancy and Cindy get put on a bus halfway through "Molly's Holiday".

[Lorimar Television]

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.

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

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.



Or Blair, Cindy, Tootie and Natalie

Pretty much everyone is in agreement that Felice was the first one fired. As for the last one being fired or being the original 4th girl, no one knows for sure, but lots of evidence points toward Molly. Besides Molly, we have had other people say that it was Molly. The TV Guide documentary said the older girls were let go first and then it came down to deciding which of the two preteens to keep. Molly was featured in all the promos along with Blair, Tootie, and Natalie. We know the Felice was in the basement when she got the news, Julie Anne was at her brother's baseball game while Molly got the news in the production offices.

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

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!)



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.




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.

Felice got the news while in the basement. She should have listened to Mrs. Garrett's advice to Cindy not to go into the basement.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

Felice got the news while in the basement. She should have listened to Mrs. Garrett's advice to Cindy not to go into the basement.

Yes! Never go to the Eastland basement! You'll either get a phone call that you're fired, or you'll get electrizzifed!

[PracTz]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Yes! Never go to the Eastland basement! You'll either get a phone call that you're fired, or you'll get electrizzifed!

Or you unintentionally strip the wax from the floor with Blair's $30 whine/wine [roughly $92 in today's money]!

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by PracTz

Or you unintentionally strip the wax from the floor with Blair's $30 whine/wine [roughly $92 in today's money]!

[FOL-FAN-ITA]

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. Nancy's role seems to have been significantly reduced after the December 1979 retooling.

It will always be a mystery. I don't know if the writers had already decided by the time the first season was ending or if it was a mere coincedence that they were using the same girls for the remaining episodes.

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

Pretty much everyone is in agreement that Felice was the first one fired. As for the last one being fired or being the original 4th girl, no one knows for sure, but lots of evidence points toward Molly. Besides Molly, we have had other people say that it was Molly. The TV Guide documentary said the older girls were let go first and then it came down to deciding which of the two preteens to keep. Molly was featured in all the promos along with Blair, Tootie, and Natalie. We know the Felice was in the basement when she got the news, Julie Anne was at her brother's baseball game while Molly got the news in the production offices.

Honestly, I can't decide between Molly and Julie Anne. Molly's theory was supported by the fact that she was the first girl to appear after the retool. On the other hand, Jo was a lot like Cindy (I would say a composite of Cindy and Sue Ann). We'll never know if they were planning to keep the tomboy character (Cindy) and fire the other girls.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I also believe that's Chez Nat and Toot. Yes, Blair and Sue Ann enter, but they don't say anything about it being their room. Ergo, it's Natalie and Tootie's dorm room, which just happens to look just like Molly's room and also Blair's room.

It's really, really weird. Tootie, Nancy, and Natalie are in there. Blair and Sue Ann enter as if it's their room or a communal girls' room, but Mr. Bradley says he's inspecting Blair's room next (having still her own private room, apparently). But it feels weird that two older teenage girls with drugs on their person (Blair's) would go into a room of younger girls right after leaving The Group. Such a strange set-up.

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

That I'm not sure about. I seem to recall at least one newspaper stating Sue Ann would stay.

Oh? Interesting!

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I'd argue that Nancy's part is far more prominent and memorable than anything Cindy and Molly do in "Dope". And of course, Nancy and Cindy get put on a bus halfway through "Molly's Holiday".

I just think Cindy and Molly's parts are comparable to other episodes they're in. They're on the set more than Nancy is, I believe for 3 scenes, compared to Nancy's little 1. "Dope" may indeed be Nancy's least screen time, with only that one moment with Mrs. Garrett.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

PrJulie Anne was at her brother's baseball game while Molly got the news in the production offices.

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

Molly's theory is supported by the fact that she was the first girl to appear after the retool.

I don't know that that's what went down. My theory is that Molly was called at home, like the others, but she was so devastated and her mother was so upset that she drove Molly to the studio to confront them in person over what was going on, and to try and save her daughter's part on the show. But the execs were firm, while sorry, and said that that's the way it was going to be, but they offered to have Molly on a semi-regular to try and appease mother and daughter.

And I think that's why Molly appeared back first, as the show's way to show her, "We would still love to have you on when we can," and hopefully smooth things over.

That's my own personal theory.

We do know that after doing her part in season 2, Molly's mother asked her if she really wanted to do this (i.e., be demoted to appearing just semi-regularly), and Molly admitted, no, she didn't. And that was that.

[FOL-FAN-ITA]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

I don't know that that's what went down. My theory is that Molly was called at home, like the others, but she was so devastated and her mother was so upset that she drove Molly to the studio to confront them in person over what was going on, and to try and save her daughter's part on the show. But the execs were firm, while sorry, and said that that's the way it was going to be, but they offered to have Molly on a semi-regular to try and appease mother and daughter.

And I think that's why Molly appeared back first, as the show's way to show her, "We would still love to have you on when we can," and hopefully smooth things over.

That's my own personal theory.

We do know that after doing her part in season 2, Molly's mother asked her if she really wanted to do this (i.e., be demoted to appearing just semi-regularly), and Molly admitted, no, she didn't. And that was that.

Interesting

I have another theory. They were all offered a guest spot on "The New Girl: Part 2" but everyone turned down the offer, except Molly.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

Interesting

I have another theory. They were all offered a guest spot on "The New Girl: Part 2" but everyone turned down the offer, except Molly.

I don't think the Julies or Felice were turning down any roles on FOL. In a news article, Felice described her guest appearances as having negotiations: she negotiated the number ahead of time, and was able to get a number she was pleased with. She wasn't turning down appearances, and she ended up with more episodes than anyone else.

This is unlike the situation with Geri, who had hoped to become a regular on the show, but the producers offered her only one episode. When she turned them down, that was it. No more Geri Warner/Tyler. Lisa brought Geri to tapings, in the hopes that that would cause the producers to see her, and offer her some kind of part, but it never happened.

[FOL-FAN-ITA]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I don't think the Julies or Felice were turning down any roles on FOL. In a news article, Felice described her guest appearances as having negotiations: she negotiated the number ahead of time, and was able to get a number she was pleased with. She wasn't turning down appearances, and she ended up with more episodes than anyone else.

This is unlike the situation with Geri, who had hoped to become a regular on the show, but the producers offered her only one episode. When she turned them down, that was it. No more Geri Warner/Tyler. Lisa brought Geri to tapings, in the hopes that that would cause the producers to see her, and offer her some kind of part, but it never happened.

They were probably hurted for the retool but they later agreed to make guest appearences. Interesting that Felice appeared in more episodes than the Julies

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

In a news article, Felice described her guest appearances as having negotiations: she negotiated the number ahead of time, and was able to get a number she was pleased with. She wasn't turning down appearances, and she ended up with more episodes than anyone else.

Interesting...but it sounds like she sure didn't know how to negotiate very well, as it turns out she was only in a small number of cafeteria episodes.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Interesting...but it sounds like she sure didn't know how to negotiate very well, as it turns out she was only in a small number of cafeteria episodes.

I think she negotiated better than The Julies, for example. She managed to land five cafeteria episodes. Did anyone else manage better than that, aside from Charles Parker/Roger Perry and Geri Jewell (who was specifically brought on by Norman Lear)?