All 9 Season of Facts of Life to be released on DVD

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Christopher

Oh you're talking about Come Back To The Truck Stop Natalie Green. She only did it that one episode and technically it wasn't even Mrs. Garrett. It was a character in Natalie's story Mrs. Garrett was playing. The rest of the episodes she's there talking to the girls and giving advice like Men For All Seasons, A New Life, or The Christmas Baby.

It wasn't just limited to CBTTTSNG, though. Take, for example, episode 7-07, "Doo-Wah". Mrs. Garrett flits into the shop four times to talk about her college assignment being due. She even mentions the cookies aren't ready, but no-one even responds to that. It's a throwaway line. She's on camera for less than two minutes, altogether, in the whole episode. I suspect she has fewer than ten lines, although I admit I didn't count them. There's no meat to her lines, no feeling that she's in the episode in a meaningful way. She could be edited out of the episode and no-one would notice.

And these aren't the only two episodes where that happens.

(One thing I did like about that episode is the girls singing "My Boyfriend's Back").

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

It wasn't just limited to CBTTTSNG, though. Take, for example, episode 7-07, "Doo-Wah". Mrs. Garrett flits into the shop four times to talk about her college assignment being due. She even mentions the cookies aren't ready, but no-one even responds to that. It's a throwaway line. She's on camera for less than two minutes, altogether, in the whole episode. I suspect she has fewer than ten lines, although I admit I didn't count them. There's no meat to her lines, no feeling that she's in the episode in a meaningful way. She could be edited out of the episode and no-one would notice.

And these aren't the only two episodes where that happens.

(One thing I did like about that episode is the girls singing "My Boyfriend's Back").

Same can be said for season 6. Cruisin probably matches her screen time in the Come Back episode. Doo-Wah reminds me of how little time she had in My Boyfriend's Back or The Rich Aren't That Different. I guarantee you if you compare Charlotte's screen time in her season 6 episodes to the season 7 episodes, it wouldn't be far off. However, a lot of fans here seem to complain about Charlotte's lack of screen time in season 7 and ignore she is having the same treatment in season 6. From what I have read from those fans, it seems to be the setting of Edna's Edibles that makes it ok. I've always said Charlotte became a background character in season 5 and it got worst with season 6. Season 7 isn't any better, but she does have more than just coming in with cookies and then leaving. She has the same quality as her season 6 episodes.

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by Christopher

Oh you're talking about Come Back To The Truck Stop Natalie Green. She only did it that one episode and technically it wasn't even Mrs. Garrett. It was a character in Natalie's story Mrs. Garrett was playing. The rest of the episodes she's there talking to the girls and giving advice like Men For All Seasons, A New Life, or The Christmas Baby. If all she's doing in the episodes you have watched of season 7 is delivering cookies and leaving, then you're watching edited episodes. That's why I'm so glad Shout released this series complete on DVD

You got me really intrigued now Christopher and i wonder if you're right: season 7 is the only DVD i haven't got from FOL, but now i wonder if i should get it, considering how much praise you give it?

It is true, that there is a few remarkable episodes i really liked in that season, such as 'The Christmas Baby': in it we see BLAIR seek advice from MRS G, and we also see her caring side and how devoted she is to her mother, staying at her side at all times while she is giving birth....

The other good episode i also especially like is the one named 'A New Life': it is the only time we see MONICA having a 'heart to heart' talk to MRS G about BLAIR and doubt if she is a good mother at all. In other words, MONICA is also thanking EDNA for taking care of her daughter while she was growing up, all those years she was busy travelling, she is scared of doing the same mistake with BAILEY, and this is when our feisty red head assures her that mothers are not perfect.....
I have always loved that episode particularly, but also found it sad, cos by then her girls were young adults, and she was gonna leave them soon.....

Season 7 was nearly the departure of CHARLOTTE RAE: you could feel it in the air...

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by Christopher

I'm in the middle of my season 6 rewatch. Have you or anyone else notice how much Blair and Jo are always in the spotlight these two years? Natalie and Tootie are like supporting characters in their show. Blair and Jo take up over half of each season about them together or their characters separately. Even Natalie's grief episode in season 5 after her father dies is mainly about Blair jealous of Jo's popularity. Season 6 has Natalie used quite a bit to jump start the spotlight onto them. She's the reason Jo gets into the pizza business, the reason Blair meets the guy of her dreams in Gone With The Wind, the reason Jo and Blair have an episode dedicated to them on computer dating, and so on. Talk, Talk, Talk is another episode where Natalie gets the girls to support Jo in another Jo centered episode. I never realized how the writing was those two years until closely looking at these seasons. Rewatches are so fun of shows you love

Season 6 is really the transition of the relationship between JO and BLAIR: up until now, all they did was quarrel/snap at each other and behaved more like 'frenemies': all of that changed by the opening of season 6 and JO's new hairdo; from then on, you would see BLAIR and JO hanging around, spending most of their time together and enjoying each other's company.
We also see them become more mature and caring: on the episode where NAT is trying to set them up for a date, BLAIR and JO seem especially concerned about MRS G's feeling on how they are going to treat the 2 guys they never met, and when BLAIR says: "i suppose the right thing to do is go out with them..."
MRS G then replies "i'm surely glad you girls still listen to me."

Season 6 highlight the strong friendship between the 'Core of 4', and you're absolutely right Christopher: BLAIR and JO are the main focus, and NAT is definitely used to jump start the spotlight on them as you so nicely described!

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Christopher

Same can be said for season 6. Cruisin probably matches her screen time in the Come Back episode. Doo-Wah reminds me of how little time she had in My Boyfriend's Back or The Rich Aren't That Different. I guarantee you if you compare Charlotte's screen time in her season 6 episodes to the season 7 episodes, it wouldn't be far off. However, a lot of fans here seem to complain about Charlotte's lack of screen time in season 7 and ignore she is having the same treatment in season 6. From what I have read from those fans, it seems to be the setting of Edna's Edibles that makes it ok.

For me, with each season, she waned a little more each season, so it isn't just the change from Edna's Edibles to OOH. And S6 has EGOC; Talk, Talk, Talk; Two Guys from Appleton; and The Interview Show, all of which have nice moments for Mrs. Garrett. S7 has We Get Letters, and that episode is not one I'm fond of. I would have sent a letter, had I watched it on its original airing.

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

For me, with each season, she waned a little more each season, so it isn't just the change from Edna's Edibles to OOH. And S6 has EGOC; Talk, Talk, Talk; Two Guys from Appleton; and The Interview Show, all of which have nice moments for Mrs. Garrett. S7 has We Get Letters, and that episode is not one I'm fond of. I would have sent a letter, had I watched it on its original airing.

I absolutely agree with you on that one Retro: 'We got letters' was a rather weird episode, and yes, season 6 has got some centered episodes with MRS G (like the ones you mentioned) but you forgot 'Working it out': it is a BLAIR and MRS G centered one, and one of the last time we see them really interacting together...

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

You got me really intrigued now Christopher and i wonder if you're right: season 7 is the only DVD i haven't got from FOL, but now i wonder if i should get it, considering how much praise you give it?

It's better than season 9 I like season 7 because it showcases the girls friendship. We see a lot of core four episodes than character centered episodes and that was a nice change from the Blair & Jo show the previous two years

Originally Posted by valentina warner

Season 6 is really the transition of the relationship between JO and BLAIR: up until now, all they did was quarrel/snap at each other and behaved more like 'frenemies': all of that changed by the opening of season 6 and JO's new hairdo; from then on, you would see BLAIR and JO hanging around, spending most of their time together and enjoying each other's company.

You're absolutely right! Season 5 tried to keep the Blair / Jo friction from the previous three years. Season 6 is when they finally grow up and accept they're friends. I think a lot of that was formed in the season 5 finale though when Jo and Blair reconcile from their fight.

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

For me, with each season, she waned a little more each season, so it isn't just the change from Edna's Edibles to OOH. And S6 has EGOC; Talk, Talk, Talk; Two Guys from Appleton; and The Interview Show, all of which have nice moments for Mrs. Garrett. S7 has We Get Letters, and that episode is not one I'm fond of. I would have sent a letter, had I watched it on its original airing.

EGOC and Two Guys From Appleton are definitely Mrs. Garrett centered episodes. Talk, Talk, Talk is a Jo centered episode getting support to pass her class so she doesn't fail. The Interview Show is an episode about all them rather than one particular character.

We Get Letters is the only Mrs. Garrett centered episode, but she has a big part in Men For All Seasons, A New Life, The Christmas Baby, Born Too Late, and The Graduate. In season 6 they're shoving Mrs. Garrett in the background to showcase the core 4 or the beloved Blair & Jo show

Originally Posted by valentina warner

you forgot 'Working it out': it is a BLAIR and MRS G centered one, and one of the last time we see them really interacting together...

Did you forget they're lovely exchange in The Christmas Baby when Blair asks Mrs. Garrett to help her pray? That is a classic scene and one of the best. How could you forget?!?!?!

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

I absolutely agree with you on that one Retro: 'We got letters' was a rather weird episode, and yes, season 6 has got some centered episodes with MRS G (like the ones you mentioned) but you forgot 'Working it out': it is a BLAIR and MRS G centered one, and one of the last time we see them really interacting together.

It's been so long since I've seen Working it Out that I definitely need to re-review it. Thanks for the correction!

[Bachu]

i am about half way through season 6. As others have said, it is Jo/Blair heavy. In one episode Blair took Jo to court mostly in part down to how close she felt she and Jo were.

The Christmas episode that season at the prison was an odd one. They spent a lot of it just singing songs.

The episode with Jo getting a talking computer to help her with a problem; you don't get those episodes in TV these days. I think a lot of 80s shows had episodes were writers thought the public wouldn't understand the limits of computers so they could get away with it.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Bachu

i am about half way through season 6. As others have said, it is Jo/Blair heavy. In one episode Blair took Jo to court mostly in part down to how close she felt she and Jo were.

Not a great episode, as Jo acts shockingly callous towards Blair. It feels out of character, IMO. With some tweaks, it could have been so much better.

The Christmas episode that season at the prison was an odd one. They spent a lot of it just singing songs.

I wish they had had a Christmas episode at Eastland.

The episode with Jo getting a talking computer to help her with a problem; you don't get those episodes in TV these days. I think a lot of 80s shows had episodes were writers thought the public wouldn't understand the limits of computers so they could get away with it.

I do love the end of that episode, despite the ridiculous talking computer. Logic tells Jo to end her friendship with Blair. Jo knows that logic fails when it comes to relationships.

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by Christopher

It's better than season 9 I like season 7 because it showcases the girls friendship. We see a lot of core four episodes than character centered episodes and that was a nice change from the Blair & Jo show the previous two years



You're absolutely right! Season 5 tried to keep the Blair / Jo friction from the previous three years. Season 6 is when they finally grow up and accept they're friends. I think a lot of that was formed in the season 5 finale though when Jo and Blair reconcile from their fight.



EGOC and Two Guys From Appleton are definitely Mrs. Garrett centered episodes. Talk, Talk, Talk is a Jo centered episode getting support to pass her class so she doesn't fail. The Interview Show is an episode about all them rather than one particular character.

We Get Letters is the only Mrs. Garrett centered episode, but she has a big part in Men For All Seasons, A New Life, The Christmas Baby, Born Too Late, and The Graduate. In season 6 they're shoving Mrs. Garrett in the background to showcase the core 4 or the beloved Blair & Jo show




Did you forget they're lovely exchange in The Christmas Baby when Blair asks Mrs. Garrett to help her pray? That is a classic scene and one of the best. How could you forget?!?!?!

Hi Christopher!

I could never forget the lovely exchange between BLAIR and MRS G in the episode 'The Christmas Baby': it's just that it was so brief, and i wish it could have lasted a bit longer...

Season 7 does have a few good episodes indeed, unfortunately it also has got a lot of crap ones: something you don't see in any other season (even the season 9 you're not so fond of) but i might give it a go and try to get it for a cheaper price, just to see the great few episodes it has to offer!

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

It's been so long since I've seen Working it Out that I definitely need to re-review it. Thanks for the correction!

The reason i love the episode 'Working it out' so much, is because in a way it takes us back in time, when the girls were still going to 'Eastland': it's actually the only episode in season 6 (except maybe for 'The Interview Show') where we see a bit of the 'old MRS G'; the motherly and caring surrogate mother who wants what's best for her girls and does everything to keep them together as a family....
In all the other season 6 episodes, MRS G is either absent, or doesn't play a major role.

[Bachu]

The Eleanor episode was a fiesty Natalie and Tootie episode.

Also saw the introduction of Andy. Not keen so far.

And the episode opened and closed with an establishing shot of the store from outside!

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by Bachu

The Eleanor episode was a fiesty Natalie and Tootie episode.

Also saw the introduction of Andy. Not keen so far.

And the episode opened and closed with an establishing shot of the store from outside!

I was never a fan of ANDY either: he was trying too hard to be funny, and he was always in the way!!!!!

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Bachu

The Eleanor episode was a fiesty Natalie and Tootie episode.

Also saw the introduction of Andy. Not keen so far.

If they had to have a street urchin, he was the best choice. But why did they keep foisting street urchins on the show?

Still, he's an appealing kid.