Reunion Movie Update - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Ags2000 · 08-14-2001, 09:47 AM

This is in Lisa's Journal for today (8/14/01)

Quote:

By the way, I got some exciting news today. Kim Fields is definitely going to be in the reunion movie. They closed her deal today. That means that Kim, Mindy and Charlotte and I will be in it. As well as guest appearances by some of the other actors from the show. I’ll let you know as I find out more about which ones.

D

[This message has been edited by Ags2000 (edited 08-14-2001).]

ThomasE · 08-14-2001, 10:06 AM

At least Kim's coming back. Whew! What a relief. Now we need to work on Nancy.

angel676 · 08-14-2001, 02:33 PM

Even though most of us don't agree about
Nancy not doing the reunion, but I think
she has made her final decision, and she
chooses not to do the reunion. I could
be wrong about this, I'm not sure though,
but I don't even think that Nancy will
do the reunion if she was offered a decent price. That's just my opinion!

08-14-2001, 05:17 PM

Who knew that GSN was getting Press Your Luck?

I use that to express that youi never do know about some things....

When they air the reunion, then we'll know..

blair's #1 guy · 08-14-2001, 05:26 PM

ABC sets "Facts of Life" reunion

Updated: Tue, Aug 14 12:41 AM EDT

By Michael Schneider

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have ... a "Facts of Life" reunion movie at ABC.

Production begins Sept. 10 in Toronto for the yet-untitled "Facts of Life" redux. Original cast members Charlotte Rae (Mrs. Garrett), Mindy Cohn (Natalie), Kim Fields (Tootie) and Lisa Whelchel (Blair) are all on board to reprise their characters from the hit coming-of-age comedy, which ran on NBC from 1979 to 1988.

It's still unclear whether Nancy McKeon, who played tomboy Jo, will appear in a cameo. But George Clooney, who played handyman George during the show's 1985-86 season, has not been approached.

The two-hour picture focuses on Natalie, who asks the girls to reunite in Peekskill, N.Y., after she receives two different marriage proposals.

"We chose to do it as an old-fashioned romantic comedy," said Quinn Taylor, senior vice president of TV movies at ABC. "The writers captured the voices of these women, which in any of these reunion movies is the hardest thing to do."

The "Facts of Life" reunion will air sometime next season in the "Wonderful World of Disney" time slot, which Taylor hopes will benefit from the picture's adult appeal.

The project grew out of a brainstorming session at ABC, which posted strong numbers last season for a "Growing Pains" reunion picture. The "Facts of Life" project went through a number of changes -- including a possible "Big Chill"-esque tone at one point, with one of the girls dying -- before taking its current form.

Taylor said the original "Facts" writers either "didn't care, aren't around or didn't want to be a part of it." Instead, Max Enscoe and Annie deYoung wrote the script, with an assist by Kevin Hench ("Kiss My Act") and Heather Juergensen.

"Max and Annie were true to their voices," Taylor said. "They can tell you minutiae about the show, which is a little alarming, but they're also the reason why everyone got so excited."

Taylor said everyone involved with the project watched countless episodes of "Facts of Life" to get into the spirit. The movie's scribes were then charged with trying to figure out where these characters would be now.

Natalie, for example, now serves as a behind-the-scenes producer at CNN. Mrs. Garrett, who got married and moved away when Rae left the show in 1986, returns to the States via cruise ship, where she meets a new love interest (she apparently joined the Peace Corps and became a widow in the time since "Facts" left the air).

Tootie is a Hollywood-based talk show host and the single mother of a 10-year-old girl. Blair owns Warner Enterprises, which includes a stable of hotels, and is married without children. And while Jo doesn't show up for the reunion, her husband Rick and daughter do.

The movie will also include a number of inside jokes for "Facts" fans, including indirect references to Clooney and Molly Ringwald, who played a schoolmate during the show's freshman season. Taylor said the "Facts" stars all had input in the final script.

"They were all very articulate and thoughtful and cared about what their characters would do," Taylor said. "Mindy and Charlotte, Lisa and then Kim all contributed greatly to where their characters would be."

Disney-owned producer Touchstone Television, a sister company of ABC, bought the rights to remake "Facts" from Sony's Columbia TriStar TV. During the sitcom's 10-year run, 205 half-hour episodes were produced.

Other series reunion pictures may be in the works at ABC as well, Taylor said.

But "just because it was a hit series doesn't mean it's viable or a good reunion show," he said. "There have been a lot pitched here that we have passed on."

Charles Herman-Wurmfeld, who's helming the upcoming indie feature "Kissing Jessica Stein," will direct.

JMPolniaczek15 · 08-14-2001, 08:56 PM

It would be a little hard for Nancy to do the movie, because filming for that starts at the same time as filming for the new season of TD.

------------------
"You're old, you're ugly, you live with it!" - Jo
*************************
"Why would you want to be popular? You have to smile and talk to peple and all that stuff!" - Jo
*************************
Rose: So, Jerry, ever dressed up like a horse?
Jerry: No, but thank you for asking!
*************************
"Get back here, you deceitful little Sicilian gecko!" - Dorothy Zbornak
*************************
"I've got PMS and I've got a gun - any questions?" - Jinny Extead

toadwilliams · 08-14-2001, 09:39 PM

I think that the reason why Nancy can't do Facts of Life is because of The Division filming.

ThomasE · 08-15-2001, 08:43 AM

She could if she wanted to, but chooses not to. She can at least do a cameo.

08-14-2001, 05:17 PM	#4
Devastation26 Guest Posts: n/a	Who knew that GSN was getting Press Your Luck? I use that to express that youi never do know about some things.... When they air the reunion, then we'll know..
Devastation26 Guest Posts: n/a

08-14-2001, 10:06 AM	#2
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	At least Kim's coming back. Whew! What a relief. Now we need to work on Nancy.

08-14-2001, 02:33 PM	#3
angel676 Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 09, 2000 Location: Mansfield, Ohio Posts: 2,482	Even though most of us don't agree about Nancy not doing the reunion, but I think she has made her final decision, and she chooses not to do the reunion. I could be wrong about this, I'm not sure though, but I don't even think that Nancy will do the reunion if she was offered a decent price. That's just my opinion!

08-14-2001, 05:26 PM	#5
blair's #1 guy Member Forum Cub Join Date: Aug 14, 2001 Posts: 2	ABC sets "Facts of Life" reunion Updated: Tue, Aug 14 12:41 AM EDT By Michael Schneider HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have ... a "Facts of Life" reunion movie at ABC. Production begins Sept. 10 in Toronto for the yet-untitled "Facts of Life" redux. Original cast members Charlotte Rae (Mrs. Garrett), Mindy Cohn (Natalie), Kim Fields (Tootie) and Lisa Whelchel (Blair) are all on board to reprise their characters from the hit coming-of-age comedy, which ran on NBC from 1979 to 1988. It's still unclear whether Nancy McKeon, who played tomboy Jo, will appear in a cameo. But George Clooney, who played handyman George during the show's 1985-86 season, has not been approached. The two-hour picture focuses on Natalie, who asks the girls to reunite in Peekskill, N.Y., after she receives two different marriage proposals. "We chose to do it as an old-fashioned romantic comedy," said Quinn Taylor, senior vice president of TV movies at ABC. "The writers captured the voices of these women, which in any of these reunion movies is the hardest thing to do." The "Facts of Life" reunion will air sometime next season in the "Wonderful World of Disney" time slot, which Taylor hopes will benefit from the picture's adult appeal. The project grew out of a brainstorming session at ABC, which posted strong numbers last season for a "Growing Pains" reunion picture. The "Facts of Life" project went through a number of changes -- including a possible "Big Chill"-esque tone at one point, with one of the girls dying -- before taking its current form. Taylor said the original "Facts" writers either "didn't care, aren't around or didn't want to be a part of it." Instead, Max Enscoe and Annie deYoung wrote the script, with an assist by Kevin Hench ("Kiss My Act") and Heather Juergensen. "Max and Annie were true to their voices," Taylor said. "They can tell you minutiae about the show, which is a little alarming, but they're also the reason why everyone got so excited." Taylor said everyone involved with the project watched countless episodes of "Facts of Life" to get into the spirit. The movie's scribes were then charged with trying to figure out where these characters would be now. Natalie, for example, now serves as a behind-the-scenes producer at CNN. Mrs. Garrett, who got married and moved away when Rae left the show in 1986, returns to the States via cruise ship, where she meets a new love interest (she apparently joined the Peace Corps and became a widow in the time since "Facts" left the air). Tootie is a Hollywood-based talk show host and the single mother of a 10-year-old girl. Blair owns Warner Enterprises, which includes a stable of hotels, and is married without children. And while Jo doesn't show up for the reunion, her husband Rick and daughter do. The movie will also include a number of inside jokes for "Facts" fans, including indirect references to Clooney and Molly Ringwald, who played a schoolmate during the show's freshman season. Taylor said the "Facts" stars all had input in the final script. "They were all very articulate and thoughtful and cared about what their characters would do," Taylor said. "Mindy and Charlotte, Lisa and then Kim all contributed greatly to where their characters would be." Disney-owned producer Touchstone Television, a sister company of ABC, bought the rights to remake "Facts" from Sony's Columbia TriStar TV. During the sitcom's 10-year run, 205 half-hour episodes were produced. Other series reunion pictures may be in the works at ABC as well, Taylor said. But "just because it was a hit series doesn't mean it's viable or a good reunion show," he said. "There have been a lot pitched here that we have passed on." Charles Herman-Wurmfeld, who's helming the upcoming indie feature "Kissing Jessica Stein," will direct.

08-14-2001, 08:56 PM	#6
JMPolniaczek15 Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 16, 2001 Location: Amongst the cornfields in Indiana... Posts: 706	It would be a little hard for Nancy to do the movie, because filming for that starts at the same time as filming for the new season of TD. ------------------ "You're old, you're ugly, you live with it!" - Jo *********************** "Why would you want to be popular? You have to smile and talk to peple and all that stuff!" - Jo ********************* Rose: So, Jerry, ever dressed up like a horse? Jerry: No, but thank you for asking! ********************* "Get back here, you deceitful little Sicilian gecko!" - Dorothy Zbornak *********************** "I've got PMS and I've got a gun - any questions?" - Jinny Extead

08-14-2001, 09:39 PM	#7
toadwilliams Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 21, 2001 Location: grandview mo usa Posts: 17	I think that the reason why Nancy can't do Facts of Life is because of The Division filming.

08-15-2001, 08:43 AM	#8
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	She could if she wanted to, but chooses not to. She can at least do a cameo.