When Did The Facts of Life Jump the Shark?

[rusty spike]

Why the change?

Because a new business would open up new storylines and character interactions. I also think it was a cost cutting measure. With a store, it doesn't take much time to rearrange a bunch of ugly and tacky plastic crap on a display shelf. Whereas EE, required more prep to have bread and other food in various stages of production.

[CJMD03]

I would think that Rae was letting everyone know that the seventh season would be her last. Hard to have “Edna’s Edibles” without Edna.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

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

I don't know if this is the definitive "jump the shark" moment, but they were probably beginning to stretch things come the time that Blair and Jo graduated from Eastland and from there, they all moved into town and lived with Mrs. Garrett.

[CJMD03]

Well, they really didn’t have much choice because Blair and Jo were graduating. Imho, by the time “Over Our Heads” came and Rae left the show, it was over. Who cared about Beverly Ann, Andy, and Pippa? ��������

[Penny Lane]

Originally Posted by TMC

I don't know if this is the definitive "jump the shark" moment, but they were probably beginning to stretch things come the time that Blair and Jo graduated from Eastland and from there, they all moved into town and lived with Mrs. Garrett.

I'm glad that they did! The Edna's Edible years are my favorite!

[CJMD03]

As I said, when the ”Over Our Heads” era started, that was it. Also, there’s no way the girls would still be living with each other. Even Rae knew when to leave and it’s sad the others didn’t.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by CJMD03

Well, they really didn’t have much choice because Blair and Jo were graduating. Imho, by the time “Over Our Heads” came and Rae left the show, it was over. Who cared about Beverly Ann, Andy, and Pippa? ��������

The show was probably admittedly, really starting to show its age when Over Our Heads came along and they had George Clooney join the cast. It was also around this time that they updated the theme song to sound more "hip" and '80s. Simply put, if you looked at The Facts of Life from the fall of 1985 onward to what it was before, it's almost like a completely different show.

[Natalie1969]

Originally Posted by Penny Lane

I liked the change over to Edna's Edibles. The Halloween and Christmas episodes are my favorites of the series!

So love the Christmas Show episode-so Christmasy feeling with a feel good character in Mr. Lazzaroni who reminded everyone of the true spirit of Christmas and Blair showing her strong ties to Mrs. G and Jo by cancelling her plans in order to stay in Peekskill over the holidays. I wish they would have shown Tootie and Natalie having a ball in Washington to quote Tootie but I understand why they didn't-they would have needed some kind of storyline to go with it. I think Mr. Lazzaroni was Mr. Bigley from the Halloween show but they goofed and gave him a different name. I enjoyed the Ednas Edibles seasons-5 and 6 but things started to jump shark in season 7 with the opening of Over Our Heads.

[Natalie1969]

Originally Posted by just1paul

Jumped the shark Season 5 episode 1. With the girls graduating, Edna all of a sudden becomes disillusioned with her job and decides to open Ednas Edibles which her son funded. Then asking the girls who have graduated to come work for her...

The girls wanted to work for her. She only asked Jo but gladly hired Blair, Natalie and Tootie. She asked Jo because she knew Jo was looking for a job so that she could meet her expenses and stay at Langley.

[Penny Lane]

Originally Posted by Natalie1969

So love the Christmas Show episode-so Christmasy feeling with a feel good character in Mr. Lazzaroni who reminded everyone of the true spirit of Christmas and Blair showing her strong ties to Mrs. G and Jo by cancelling her plans in order to stay in Peekskill over the holidays. I wish they would have shown Tootie and Natalie having a ball in Washington to quote Tootie but I understand why they didn't-they would have needed some kind of storyline to go with it. I think Mr. Lazzaroni was Mr. Bigley from the Halloween show but they goofed and gave him a different name. I enjoyed the Ednas Edibles seasons-5 and 6 but things started to jump shark in season 7 with the opening of Over Our Heads.

That was no goof about Mr. Bigley from the Halloween show. After He spoiled Natalie's prank/movie he admitted that his real name was Lazaroni.

[Natalie1969]

My goof-sorry-I forgot about that part of the episode.

[jeansntshirtguy]

I enjoyed the shift from Eastland to Edna’s Edibles to Over Our Heads. I’m also glad that they still referenced Eastland during Season 5 after Blair and Jo started Langley. They actually had no choice since ½ the cast was still attending Eastland. Also, I think the general public still enjoyed the show in Season 7 - 9. The ratings were still pretty good and NBC was pushing for a season 10. To answer the question about jumping the shark, Pippa was the worst idea ever!

[TMC]

Originally Posted by CJMD03

I would think that Rae was letting everyone know that the seventh season would be her last. Hard to have “Edna’s Edibles” without Edna.

In hindsight, was Charlotte Rae correct in leaving when she did? By the seventh season, show had practically become more of a grown up situation comedy involving the girls and Mrs. Garrett just seems out of place in a lot of it. Can anybody else tell that the writers were having difficulty working her character into the storylines? Ironically, Cloris Leachman/Beverly Ann seemed to gel much better with the girls at that point despite arguably, not really have much of a character.

[BestTVever]

Most would say when Rae left. But Andy came right before Rae left so my answer is when Andy came. They needed some youth on the show. But I always hate the small, young kid who thinks he's smarter than everyone and talks down to others that are older than him.

[CJMD03]

Season 07.