What Makes FOL So Special? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Nighthawk76 · 06-06-2006, 10:41 PM

What do you all think makes FOL so special? I think it is safe to say that Facts has the most dedicated fan base here at Sitcoms Online. Just look at how many more posts and threads the Facts board has then other show boards. Even a show like The Cosby Show, which probably had twice as many viewers as FOL, doesn't have as many posts and threads as we do here.

For me, I think Facts of Life is special for two reasons. One I think has to do with how the show so cleverly combines comedy with drama. Some of the show's best episodes ("Dieting", "Teenage Marriage", "Breaking Point", "Teacher's Pet", "Less Than Perfect") have as much drama to them as comedy.

The other reason that Facts is so special is due to it's great characters. Especially Jo and Blair (for me anyway). I love watching the scenes that Jo and Blair have together. Whether they are fighting or are there for each other as friends, there is just a magic between those two.

88survivor · 06-06-2006, 11:37 PM

It's the ultimate 80s show of all times.

SBTB Geek · 06-07-2006, 12:12 AM

It handled issues parents were afraid to deal with in the 80's. The show's teenage audience appreciated that.

JO jr · 06-07-2006, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAX

What do you all think makes FOL so special? I think it is safe to say that Facts has the most dedicated fan base here at Sitcoms Online. Just look at how many more posts and threads the Facts board has then other show boards. Even a show like The Cosby Show, which probably had twice as many viewers as FOL, doesn't have as many posts and threads as we do here.

For me, I think Facts of Life is special for two reasons. One I think has to do with how the show so cleverly combines comedy with drama. Some of the show's best episodes ("Dieting", "Teenage Marriage", "Breaking Point", "Teacher's Pet", "Less Than Perfect") have as much drama to them as comedy.

The other reason that Facts is so special is due to it's great characters. Especially Jo and Blair (for me anyway). I love watching the scenes that Jo and Blair have together. Whether they are fighting or are there for each other as friends, there is just a magic between those two.

DITTO DAX! ALTHOUGH I LOVE ALL THE GALS, JO IS MY FAV, AND WHEN SHE AND BLAIR ARE IN A SCENE TOGETHER, I THINK THEY STEAL THE SHOW.

:loveu BOTH NANCY AND LISA ARE EXCELLENT COMEDIC AND DRAMATIC ACTRESSES.

I BELIEVE THEY ARE A GREAT DUO, WHO BROUGHT THEIR ACTING ABILITES TO A HIGHER LEVEL, WHEN THEY FED OFF ONE ANOTHER. ESPECIALLY IN THE EARLY SEASONS AND BEING SO YOUNG, CAN YOU SEE THE SWELLS OF TALENT. IF I'M CORRECT IN MY CALCULATIONS, NANCY WAS ONLY 14 WHEN SHE STARTED ON FACTS! HER DRAMATIC SCENES ALWAYS SUCKED ME IN AND MADE ME CRY. IN FACT, IN REWATCHING SEASON ONE, I STILL DID. AWESOME ACTING, AND LISA IS INCREDIBLE AS WELL!

ALTHOUGH THERE ARE DETAILED SCRIPTS, IT'S WHAT ACTORS PUT INTO IT THEMSELVES THAT MAKE THEM "THEIR" CHARACTOR. COULD YOU IMAGINE ANYONE ELSE PORTRAYING JO OR BLAIR? I CAN'T! IT MAY HAVE BEEN A SUBTLE GESTURE, LOOK, OR WAY SOMETHING WAS SAID THAT REALLY MADE YOU FORGET THAT THEY WERE NANCY AND LISA, BUT THAT THEY WERE JO AND BLAIR.

AND NOW, BEING A LITTLE, OK, A LOT OLDER, AND WITH THE HELP OF SLOW-MO AND REWIND, IS IT THAT I FULLY AM AWARE OF THESE AWESOME TALENTS, THAT I TRULY APPRECIATE IN THESE FINE ACTRESSES.

AND YES, I MUST GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MINDY, KIM AND CHARLOTTE, OF COURSE. I COULDN'T SEE FACTS WITHOUT THEM AS WELL! LOVE YA GIRLS!

Nighthawk76 · 06-07-2006, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JO jr

DITTO DAX! ALTHOUGH I LOVE ALL THE GALS, JO IS MY FAV, AND WHEN SHE AND BLAIR ARE IN A SCENE TOGETHER, I THINK THEY STEAL THE SHOW.

:loveu BOTH NANCY AND LISA ARE EXCELLENT COMEDIC AND DRAMATIC ACTRESSES.

I BELIEVE THEY ARE A GREAT DUO, WHO BROUGHT THEIR ACTING ABILITES TO A HIGHER LEVEL, WHEN THEY FED OFF ONE ANOTHER. ESPECIALLY IN THE EARLY SEASONS AND BEING SO YOUNG, CAN YOU SEE THE SWELLS OF TALENT. IF I'M CORRECT IN MY CALCULATIONS, NANCY WAS ONLY 14 WHEN SHE STARTED ON FACTS! HER DRAMATIC SCENES ALWAYS SUCKED ME IN AND MADE ME CRY. IN FACT, IN REWATCHING SEASON ONE, I STILL DID. AWESOME ACTING, AND LISA IS INCREDIBLE AS WELL!

ALTHOUGH THERE ARE DETAILED SCRIPTS, IT'S WHAT ACTORS PUT INTO IT THEMSELVES THAT MAKE THEM "THEIR" CHARACTOR. COULD YOU IMAGINE ANYONE ELSE PORTRAYING JO OR BLAIR? I CAN'T! IT MAY HAVE BEEN A SUBTLE GESTURE, LOOK, OR WAY SOMETHING WAS SAID THAT REALLY MADE YOU FORGET THAT THEY WERE NANCY AND LISA, BUT THAT THEY WERE JO AND BLAIR.

AND NOW, BEING A LITTLE, OK, A LOT OLDER, AND WITH THE HELP OF SLOW-MO AND REWIND, IS IT THAT I FULLY AM AWARE OF THESE AWESOME TALENTS, THAT I TRULY APPRECIATE IN THESE FINE ACTRESSES.

AND YES, I MUST GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MINDY, KIM AND CHARLOTTE, OF COURSE. I COULDN'T SEE FACTS WITHOUT THEM AS WELL! LOVE YA GIRLS!

raya · 06-07-2006, 01:03 PM

I think there are a few other factors as well. For one, FOL isn't overexposed. What I mean by that is that Cosby is a beloved show and another one of my childhood favorites, but it is everywhere. It is always on in reruns somehow so after awhile the appeal dies down. When something is no longer rare, interest starts to wane.

With FOL, though it has been on various stations here and there over the years, it's only been on enough to tease viewers. It's never been on long enough for fans to become sick of it. There's no oversaturation.

Also I think there is something to what Lisa said a lot in the DVD interviews. "There is something about your childhood friends". For many people FOL evokes a part of their childhood and generally it brings people back to a simpler time and to fond memories. I know there are many here who didn't get into the show until later, but for me it is my childhood. Blair, Jo, Natalie and Tootie are in a weird way like my childhood friends so there is the nostalgia factor.

I also think there is something to be said for the fact that it is different than a lot of other shows out there. Part of the appeal for me was always the fact that FOL was a show with pretty much an all female lead cast. Where else on television was there a show about four independent women who were strong on their own and generally stood for something? Not to mention teens and young women. Because of that for young females in particular, it had a relatability factor that still holds up over time. I wanted to look up to other young women like myself and the FOL girls represented that.

Justwondering · 06-07-2006, 02:20 PM

Throughout the 1980s, Cosby, Family Ties, Growing Pains, and The Facts of Life were all considered "family shows." There weren't too many episodes in which you cannot clearly define a "moral of the story" for the young people watching. It was 22 minutes of entertainment with a lesson.

Since the early '90s, TV has been quite different. The two most successful shows, Senfield and Friends, were geared toward more mature audiences. The frequent topics were male/female relationships and sex. That trend continues with many of the other lousy sitcoms on TV today. Throw in a healthy dose of game shows, reality, and talent competition, and you have the present state of network TV.

We remember "The Facts of Life" so fondly because as pre-teens and teens at the time of the show, we could relate so well to the cast: Jo would defend herself or a friend whenever neccessary; Natalie had quick wit and was the friend you could always trust. Blair was the sophicated beauty whom all the guys desired and made many of the girls envious. Tootie was the youngest, who so desperately wanted to partake in the same activities as her older friends and had to fight the desire of wanting to grow up too fast. The story lines focused on issues that may well have been affecting the audience at the same point in time.

This was the connection we had then, and it's likely part of the reason we watch and re-watch so often today. Youth is fleeting, but there is an irresistible charm in reliving those days. Lisa Whelchel is now 43, but put in your first season DVD, and it is literally yesterday once more. Today, Lisa's daughter is the same age she was when the pilot episode was taped!

raya · 06-07-2006, 02:43 PM

More good points Justwondering. There are a lack of family comedies today, at least on network stations. In the 80's, the majority of comedies were of the family variety that the whole family could watch together. Some have held up better over time than others and I think FOL holds up quality wise.

Just as a further example to that, my 12 year old cousin has a birthday coming up. She's into the Full House type of stuff but there aren't many family shows out there so my mother came up with the idea to buy her the FOL DVD's. She's at the perfect age and I know she will love it and relate to it. It's something the adults won't mind watching either. It has a general appeal while still being considered appropriate.

I also have to say something for the cast. Yes, they were great comedic actors but I also think part of the appeal too is the actresses themselves. How many shows can boast having had four actresses literally grow up on set and all grow into four rather well adjusted adults who all hold a fondness for the show and each other? We've got no rehab stories or tragedy or scandal...and I think there's part of the appeal of that too. It's refreshing. Jo, Blair, Natalie and Tootie were seen as nice girls and I think that's in part because Nancy, Lisa, Mindy and Kim were seen as nice girls.

candycandy · 11-15-2012, 08:01 PM

I think everyone here is forgetting CHARLOTTE RAE: she s the person who made the show, she was the 4 girls mentor, she taught them how to act, she inspired them, she was their mother figure (on set & in real life) so i think she deserves a bit more credit, don t you?
Of course BLAIR & JO were the main ones (TOOTIE & NAT came as 2d best) with MRS. G guiding them through their adolescence, she was the girl s rock, their friend + confidante + i am sure that is why there is hardly a FANFICTION story without MRS. G + the 4 girls on it!

Gemini_89 · 02-13-2016, 05:45 PM

For me personally i like that there is a black girl in a predominantly white cast who isn't the typical stereotypical angry black girl who portrays negative racial stereotypes.

06-06-2006, 10:41 PM	#1
Nighthawk76 Rachel Berry Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 28, 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 23,254	What Makes FOL So Special? What do you all think makes FOL so special? I think it is safe to say that Facts has the most dedicated fan base here at Sitcoms Online. Just look at how many more posts and threads the Facts board has then other show boards. Even a show like The Cosby Show, which probably had twice as many viewers as FOL, doesn't have as many posts and threads as we do here. For me, I think Facts of Life is special for two reasons. One I think has to do with how the show so cleverly combines comedy with drama. Some of the show's best episodes ("Dieting", "Teenage Marriage", "Breaking Point", "Teacher's Pet", "Less Than Perfect") have as much drama to them as comedy. The other reason that Facts is so special is due to it's great characters. Especially Jo and Blair (for me anyway). I love watching the scenes that Jo and Blair have together. Whether they are fighting or are there for each other as friends, there is just a magic between those two.

06-07-2006, 02:20 PM	#7
Justwondering Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 04, 2006 Posts: 103	So Different from the TV Shows of Today Throughout the 1980s, Cosby, Family Ties, Growing Pains, and The Facts of Life were all considered "family shows." There weren't too many episodes in which you cannot clearly define a "moral of the story" for the young people watching. It was 22 minutes of entertainment with a lesson. Since the early '90s, TV has been quite different. The two most successful shows, Senfield and Friends, were geared toward more mature audiences. The frequent topics were male/female relationships and sex. That trend continues with many of the other lousy sitcoms on TV today. Throw in a healthy dose of game shows, reality, and talent competition, and you have the present state of network TV. We remember "The Facts of Life" so fondly because as pre-teens and teens at the time of the show, we could relate so well to the cast: Jo would defend herself or a friend whenever neccessary; Natalie had quick wit and was the friend you could always trust. Blair was the sophicated beauty whom all the guys desired and made many of the girls envious. Tootie was the youngest, who so desperately wanted to partake in the same activities as her older friends and had to fight the desire of wanting to grow up too fast. The story lines focused on issues that may well have been affecting the audience at the same point in time. This was the connection we had then, and it's likely part of the reason we watch and re-watch so often today. Youth is fleeting, but there is an irresistible charm in reliving those days. Lisa Whelchel is now 43, but put in your first season DVD, and it is literally yesterday once more. Today, Lisa's daughter is the same age she was when the pilot episode was taped!

06-06-2006, 11:37 PM	#2
88survivor Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 03, 2006 Location: NY Posts: 1,849	It's the ultimate 80s show of all times.

06-07-2006, 12:12 AM	#3
SBTB Geek Smooth Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 21, 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,004	It handled issues parents were afraid to deal with in the 80's. The show's teenage audience appreciated that.

06-07-2006, 01:03 PM	#6
raya Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 09, 2006 Posts: 369	I think there are a few other factors as well. For one, FOL isn't overexposed. What I mean by that is that Cosby is a beloved show and another one of my childhood favorites, but it is everywhere. It is always on in reruns somehow so after awhile the appeal dies down. When something is no longer rare, interest starts to wane. With FOL, though it has been on various stations here and there over the years, it's only been on enough to tease viewers. It's never been on long enough for fans to become sick of it. There's no oversaturation. Also I think there is something to what Lisa said a lot in the DVD interviews. "There is something about your childhood friends". For many people FOL evokes a part of their childhood and generally it brings people back to a simpler time and to fond memories. I know there are many here who didn't get into the show until later, but for me it is my childhood. Blair, Jo, Natalie and Tootie are in a weird way like my childhood friends so there is the nostalgia factor. I also think there is something to be said for the fact that it is different than a lot of other shows out there. Part of the appeal for me was always the fact that FOL was a show with pretty much an all female lead cast. Where else on television was there a show about four independent women who were strong on their own and generally stood for something? Not to mention teens and young women. Because of that for young females in particular, it had a relatability factor that still holds up over time. I wanted to look up to other young women like myself and the FOL girls represented that.

06-07-2006, 02:43 PM	#8
raya Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 09, 2006 Posts: 369	More good points Justwondering. There are a lack of family comedies today, at least on network stations. In the 80's, the majority of comedies were of the family variety that the whole family could watch together. Some have held up better over time than others and I think FOL holds up quality wise. Just as a further example to that, my 12 year old cousin has a birthday coming up. She's into the Full House type of stuff but there aren't many family shows out there so my mother came up with the idea to buy her the FOL DVD's. She's at the perfect age and I know she will love it and relate to it. It's something the adults won't mind watching either. It has a general appeal while still being considered appropriate. I also have to say something for the cast. Yes, they were great comedic actors but I also think part of the appeal too is the actresses themselves. How many shows can boast having had four actresses literally grow up on set and all grow into four rather well adjusted adults who all hold a fondness for the show and each other? We've got no rehab stories or tragedy or scandal...and I think there's part of the appeal of that too. It's refreshing. Jo, Blair, Natalie and Tootie were seen as nice girls and I think that's in part because Nancy, Lisa, Mindy and Kim were seen as nice girls.

11-15-2012, 08:01 PM	#9
candycandy Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 26, 2012 Location: Austria Posts: 245	I think everyone here is forgetting CHARLOTTE RAE: she s the person who made the show, she was the 4 girls mentor, she taught them how to act, she inspired them, she was their mother figure (on set & in real life) so i think she deserves a bit more credit, don t you? Of course BLAIR & JO were the main ones (TOOTIE & NAT came as 2d best) with MRS. G guiding them through their adolescence, she was the girl s rock, their friend + confidante + i am sure that is why there is hardly a FANFICTION story without MRS. G + the 4 girls on it!

02-13-2016, 05:45 PM	#10
Gemini_89 Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 09, 2009 Location: Unknown Posts: 1,294	For me personally i like that there is a black girl in a predominantly white cast who isn't the typical stereotypical angry black girl who portrays negative racial stereotypes.