Decider names the 9 best episodes of The Facts of Life

[RetroGuy2000]

Here's their ranking:

1. "Rough Housing" (S1)
2. "The New Girl, 1 and 2" (S2)
3. "Breaking Point" (S2)
4. "The Secret" (S2)
5. "Runaway" (S3)
6. "Kids Can Be Gruel" (S3)
7. "A Death in the Family" (S5)
8. "Out of the Fire"/"Into the Frying Pan" (S7)
9. The First Time" (S9)

Why only 9 instead of the typical 10? I don't know. Especially when they end up listing 11 episodes anyway.

[Lorimar Television]

Surprised they ranked RH as number 1. Happy a season 1 Ep made it just surprised.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

Surprised they ranked RH as number 1. Happy a season 1 Ep made it just surprised.

It was a pretty ground-breaking episode, in retrospect. What other sitcom would tackle possible teenage lesbianism of a main character in 1979? Even the Golden Girls didn't touch teenage lesbianism (only adult lesbians and gays) a decade later. And no main characters. Had to be a guest star.

[Lorimar Television]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

It was a pretty ground-breaking episode, in retrospect. What other sitcom would tackle possible teenage lesbianism of a main character in 1979? Even the Golden Girls didn't touch teenage lesbianism (only adult lesbians and gays) a decade later. And no main characters. Had to be a guest star.

It was for sure, I wish Tootie, Natalie, Molly, Sue Ann, and Nancy werent all Nancied in that though.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

It was for sure, I wish Tootie, Natalie, Molly, Sue Ann, and Nancy werent all Nancied in that though.

Well, Nancy was going to be Nancied in just about any episode.

It's too bad there weren't 24 episodes that first season. We surely would have gotten a better representation of all the girls: maybe an episode where Julie Anne got to demonstrate more of her gymnastics, an episode where we got to see Julie Pie demonstrate her dance skills, an episode where Molly met Dan Rather, or an episode where Felice got to meet Baryshnikov on camera!

[Lorimar Television]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Well, Nancy was going to be Nancied in just about any episode.

It's too bad there weren't 24 episodes that first season. We surely would have gotten a better representation of all the girls: maybe an episode where Julie Anne got to demonstrate more of her gymnastics, an episode where we got to see Julie Pie demonstrate her dance skills, an episode where Molly met Dan Rather, or an episode where Felice got to meet Baryshnikov on camera!

Yeah it’s hard to have 10 main characters in 13 episodes

[FOL-FAN-ITA]

My list would be:

1. Take My Finals, Please

2. Gossip

3. Shoplifting

4. The Halloween Show

5. I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can (The scene when Natalie can't wait to open Mrs. Garrett's birthday gift is really funny)

6. Ex Marks the Spot

7. Dope

8. The Return of Mr. Garrett

9. Come Back to the Truck Stop, Natalie Green, Natalie Green

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

My list would be:

1. Take My Finals, Please

2. Gossip

3. Shoplifting

4. The Halloween Show

5. I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can (The scene when Natalie can't wait to open Mrs. Garrett's birthday gift is really funny)

6. Ex Marks the Spot

7. Dope

8. The Return of Mr. Garrett

9. Come Back to the Truck Stop, Natalie Green, Natalie Green

Some GREAT choices, there!

Mine might be:

1. Front Page
2. Running
3. Gossip
4. Rough Housing
5. The Little Chill
6. Take My Finals, Please
7. Dope
8. Dieting
9. IQ

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

6. "Kids Can Be Gruel" (S3)

Wow, one of my Halloween versions made their list!

And yeah, that is odd to have 9 instead of the traditional 10. Maybe they thought, "9 best out of 9 seasons"?

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Some GREAT choices, there!

Mine might be:

1. Front Page
2. Running
3. Gossip
4. Rough Housing
5. The Little Chill
6. Take My Finals, Please
7. Dope
8. Dieting
9. IQ

Whoa! Jo made it into 4 of yours!

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Wow, one of my Halloween versions made their list!

I couldn't resist!

And yeah, that is odd to have 9 instead of the traditional 10. Maybe they thought, "9 best out of 9 seasons"?

That's a reasonable explanation. I can't think of a better reason.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Whoa! Jo made it into 4 of yours!

More importantly, the Lost Girls made it into eight of them.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I couldn't resist!

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

More importantly, the Lost Girls made it into eight of them.

Yes, but that's not surprising. What is surprising is that Jo is in 4!

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Yes, but that's not surprising. What is surprising is that Jo is in 4!

The only one with only the Core Four that made my Top 9 list would be "Shoplifting".