When Did The Facts of Life Jump the Shark? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 02-19-2023, 05:15 AM

https://popculturereferences.com/whe...ump-the-shark/

Quote:

In a feature looking at if or when a TV series "jumped the shark," Brian asks you all to determine when (or if) The Facts of Life jumped the shark.

Today, we look at when (or if) you folks believe that The Facts of Life “jumped the shark.”

This is “Just Can’t Jump It,” a feature where we examine shows and whether they “jumped the shark.” Jumped the shark (coined by Jon Hein) means that the show had a specific point in time where, in retrospect, you realize that show was going downhill from there (even if, in some rare occasions, the show later course-corrected). Not every show DOES jump the shark. Some shows just remain good all the way through. And some shows are terrible all the way through. What we’re looking for are moments where a show that you otherwise enjoyed hit a point where it took a noticeable nose dive after that time and if so, what moment was that?

The Facts of Life is one of the rare occasions when a dramatic Season 2 revamp of a sitcom actually turned things around, as the decision to turn the show from a story about Mrs. Garrett (Charlotte Rae, being spun off from her Diff’rent Strokes role as the housekeeper for Mr. Drummond) being the housemother for a dormitory of an all-girls boarding school to a story about specifically four girls at the school who are forced by Garrett to room together (three returning cast members from Season 1 paired with street tough Jo Polniaczek, played wonderfully by Nancy McKeon) after they have a run in with the law. With a paired down cast of four plus Mrs. Garrett, the show became a lot more focused and the change led to a long and popular run. With the two oldest students, Jo and Blair (Lisa Whelchel), graduating, the show changed formats by having Mrs. Garrett leave the school to open up her own bakery, with the girls working for her and living above the shop. Two seasons later, with all four of the girls now graduated, the bakery burned down and the girls all opened a new gift shop alongside Mrs. Garrett. Then Mrs. Garrett left after Season 7, with her sister (played by Cloris Leachman) taking over her duties managing the store and being the mentor to the now young women. It lasted two seasons with this new format before ending after nine seasons.

So first…DID IT JUMP THE SHARK? I think so, yes.

WHEN DID IT JUMP THE SHARK I don’t think Cloris Leachman did a bad job on the series, but I think her addition to the series is probably a good of a point to pick as any. One of the deals with The Facts of Life is that it was very issue-driven, and after seven seasons, almost every “issue” had happened to the girls, sometimes twice (although it wasn’t until Season 9 that one of them finally had sex, which is kind of ridiculous, but whatever). So when there was no longer even Mrs. Garrett around, the show really no longer had any purpose. However, I’ll admit that it wasn’t like Season 7 was any good, either, so hey, I can be persuaded that the store burning down was the jumping the shark moment.

Let me know what you think in the comments or on social media!

ChrisW · 02-19-2023, 05:40 PM

I don't think there's a specific episode to point to. Season Five and Six had the best episodes. Cloris Leachman didn't help but it's not her fault. Andy definitely did hurt the show but can usually be ignored.

For me, it's most convenient to point to the fashion. Kim and Mindy looked as good as they could in those outfits and hair. Lisa went between good and bad but at least you could believe that Blair would wear those things. But Nancy... Oh. My. God!

Lorimar Television · 03-14-2023, 12:45 AM

Season 7 when Edna’s Edibles became Over our heads

rusty spike · 03-14-2023, 04:04 AM

Season 7

Chocolate Moose · 03-14-2023, 09:54 AM

the show was definitely all over the place

BestTVever · 03-15-2023, 10:21 AM

The last few seasons even with Mrs Garrett were all over the place. Some really good while most others meh. I will say the addition of the young kid and George Clooney the show jumped the shark. Those characters did not quite fit while trying to breathe new life into the series.

'80sSitcoms · 03-15-2023, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

Season 7 when Edna’s Edibles became Over our heads

Penny Lane · 03-18-2023, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

I agree! Edna's Edibles and the sets were so warm and cozy. I did not like the change but there were still some good moments.

80s Dude · 03-21-2023, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

Season 7 when Edna’s Edibles became Over our heads

Mindy agrees with you.

rusty spike · 03-21-2023, 04:14 PM

The day Tootie stopped zipping around on her roller skates

Fallon97 · 04-05-2023, 11:03 PM

Never.

Yong Fang · 04-06-2023, 01:17 AM

When the girls were 30 years old and still living together.

Show should have been called "The Facts of Co-dependency".

FOL-FAN-ITA · 04-09-2023, 04:26 PM

When they left the school and later when Mrs. Garrett left

80s Dude · 04-09-2023, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

When they left the school and later when Mrs. Garrett left

Welcome back. Long time, no see.

FOL-FAN-ITA · 04-10-2023, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

Welcome back. Long time, no see.

Thank you, dear 80s. Yeah, I was gone for too long for a couple of reasons but I'm happy to be back now

03-14-2023, 12:45 AM	#3
Lorimar Television Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 06, 2007 Posts: 7,034	Season 7 when Edna’s Edibles became Over our heads
	__________________ Some of my favorite theme songs: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-e...89CsiJpV_irnNw

03-14-2023, 09:54 AM	#5
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,881	the show was definitely all over the place
	__________________ How long a minute is, depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on.

04-09-2023, 04:26 PM	#13
FOL-FAN-ITA Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 29, 2019 Location: Italy Posts: 1,473	When they left the school and later when Mrs. Garrett left
	__________________ The Facts Of Life Italian Fan

02-19-2023, 05:40 PM	#2
ChrisW Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 07, 2021 Posts: 33	I don't think there's a specific episode to point to. Season Five and Six had the best episodes. Cloris Leachman didn't help but it's not her fault. Andy definitely did hurt the show but can usually be ignored. For me, it's most convenient to point to the fashion. Kim and Mindy looked as good as they could in those outfits and hair. Lisa went between good and bad but at least you could believe that Blair would wear those things. But Nancy... Oh. My. God!

03-14-2023, 04:04 AM	#4
rusty spike Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 08, 2015 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,124	Season 7

03-15-2023, 10:21 AM	#6
BestTVever Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 29, 2021 Location: Miami Posts: 1,874	The last few seasons even with Mrs Garrett were all over the place. Some really good while most others meh. I will say the addition of the young kid and George Clooney the show jumped the shark. Those characters did not quite fit while trying to breathe new life into the series.

03-21-2023, 04:14 PM	#10
rusty spike Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 08, 2015 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,124	The day Tootie stopped zipping around on her roller skates

04-05-2023, 11:03 PM	#11
Fallon97 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 04, 2007 Location: America Posts: 1,268	Never.

04-06-2023, 01:17 AM	#12
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,072	When the girls were 30 years old and still living together. Show should have been called "The Facts of Co-dependency".