The "Forgotten 4" from 1st season FOL! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Troi Tribble · 12-18-2006, 11:01 PM

Is it just me, or am I the ONLY fan of the 4 first season FOL girls--Molly, Sue Anne, Cindy, and Nancy--that left?

Justwondering · 12-18-2006, 11:38 PM

You are definitely not alone.

Back in May when the first season came out on DVD, there were a multitude of posts on this board from individuals who swore (and still do) that the first season's cast was superior. Let's face it: It's simply a matter of opinion. There is no right or wrong on the matter.

The only reason the cast was trimmed was to allow for greater character development. The producers felt 4 girls were sufficient when writing a half-hour show.

Sue Anne, Cindy, and Nancy made a handful of small guest appearances over the course of the series. Molly Ringwald's appearances were certainly fewer because after she became a household name in 1984 with "Sixteen Candles," you can imagine that she was not going to belittle herself with an insignificant guest spot. (Though, I suspect the FOL writers, at that point, would have loved to write an episode or two for her.)

Nighthawk76 · 12-19-2006, 12:27 AM

I certainly have not forgotten the first season or the first season girls. Some of my favorite episodes like "Rough Housing", "Emily Dickinson", "Dieting" and "Running" are from the first season. Cindy is second only to Jo and Blair as my favorite "Facts" character and I also like Sue Ann, Nancy and Molly as well. The first season is one of my favorites among the seven seasons.

As Justwondering correctly pointed out, it really is just a matter of personal opinion. I know that many "Facts" fans don't much care for the first season but that will not stop me from loving it less.

gidgetgrape · 12-19-2006, 01:06 AM

I like the episodes with Molly, Sue Anne, Cindy, and Nancy too! Those episodes have more of the boarding school vibe.

Justwondering · 12-19-2006, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gidgetgrape

I like the episodes with Molly, Sue Anne, Cindy, and Nancy too! Those episodes have more of the boarding school vibe.

Gidgetgrape is absolutely right! That first season certainly did have more a boarding school vibe. It was utterly lost when the writers needed a reason to put the 4 girls together in close quarters and created the premise of their working off the debt in the school cafeteria.

By Season 2, notice how often the cafeteria was empty when the girls did their scenes. They were either cleaning up or preparing for a meal during most episodes. If the girls weren't in the cafeteria, then the scene usually took place in their dorm room.

These two place settings so isolated the cast from the rest of the "supposed school," that I really believe it lost the boarding school vibe. There simply wasn't enough interaction between the girls and other students, the way it would be at a boarding school.

Robert 13 · 12-19-2006, 12:46 PM

I liked them a lot! But the show was different in the first season. The writing was different. It had an overall different feel to it. I did like that they incorporated some of the cast during portions of Season 2. Like when Molly was in the cafeteria with Margo and when Nancy was trying to find someone to talk to about Roger. I think they were trying to keep some of the cast but it just worked better for the 30 minute timeslot to have Blair, Jo, Natalie and Tootie.

canuckkidd · 12-19-2006, 03:45 PM

I still love popping in my first season DVD and watching the first season episodes. I do agree that there was too many characters for a half hour show and that the show was stronger because of the cutdown in characters, but I wish all 4 could have made more guest appearances past season 2 & 3. I am a big fan of Cindy, Sue Ann, and Molly and would have love to have seen them grow up. However, it was nice that Cindy, Sue Ann, and Nancy made an appearance in the season 8 episode "The Little Chill" to update fans of season 1 on what they have been up to.

Troi Tribble · 12-19-2006, 09:37 PM

I wish Molly could have been in that ep. "The Little Chill"! I wish the "Forgotten 4" were all on the reunion movie! Does the FOL season 1 & 2 have interviews w/ any of the "Forgotten 4"?

Nighthawk76 · 12-19-2006, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Troi Tribble

I wish Molly could have been in that ep. "The Little Chill"! I wish the "Forgotten 4" were all on the reunion movie! Does the FOL season 1 & 2 have interviews w/ any of the "Forgotten 4"?

Yeah, both Julie Anne Haddock and Felice Schachter are interviewed along with Lisa, Kim and Mindy.

Sammy Reed · 12-19-2006, 10:02 PM

I guess I'll talk about this here now.
I made a parody on the Amiright website about the 1st-year girls. I originally thought of this as a "theme song" to a proposed fanfic I may or may not ever get around to writing, where the 4 girls are in some parallel world they got zapped to when Jo showed up at Eastland.

Here it is:
http://www.amiright.com/parody/70s/t...yblues17.shtml

Troi Tribble · 12-19-2006, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blair's Number #1 Fan

Yeah, both Julie Anne Haddock and Felice Schachter are interviewed along with Lisa, Kim and Mindy.

thanks!

Troi Tribble · 12-19-2006, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sammy Reed

I guess I'll talk about this here now.
I made a parody on the Amiright website about the 1st-year girls. I originally thought of this as a "theme song" to a proposed fanfic I may or may not ever get around to writing, where the 4 girls are in some parallel world they got zapped to when Jo showed up at Eastland.

Here it is:
http://www.amiright.com/parody/70s/t...yblues17.shtml

I will look!

edit: I saw it, it's pretty good!!!!!

gidgetgrape · 12-20-2006, 12:54 AM

I wish we could have seen Nancy's boyfriend Roger!

Troi Tribble · 12-20-2006, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gidgetgrape

I wish we could have seen Nancy's boyfriend Roger!

Yeah, they never showed him! Even Jenny Picolo was shown on the last season of Happy Days, or was it just before the last season?

Troi Tribble · 12-23-2006, 09:46 AM

Yeah, Cindy was cool. They all were.

12-18-2006, 11:01 PM	#1
Troi Tribble Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 19, 2006 Posts: 316	The "Forgotten 4" from 1st season FOL! Is it just me, or am I the *ONLY* fan of the 4 first season FOL girls--Molly, Sue Anne, Cindy, and Nancy--that left?

12-18-2006, 11:38 PM	#2
Justwondering Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 04, 2006 Posts: 103	You are definitely not alone. Back in May when the first season came out on DVD, there were a multitude of posts on this board from individuals who swore (and still do) that the first season's cast was superior. Let's face it: It's simply a matter of opinion. There is no right or wrong on the matter. The only reason the cast was trimmed was to allow for greater character development. The producers felt 4 girls were sufficient when writing a half-hour show. Sue Anne, Cindy, and Nancy made a handful of small guest appearances over the course of the series. Molly Ringwald's appearances were certainly fewer because after she became a household name in 1984 with "Sixteen Candles," you can imagine that she was not going to belittle herself with an insignificant guest spot. (Though, I suspect the FOL writers, at that point, would have loved to write an episode or two for her.)

12-19-2006, 12:27 AM	#3
Nighthawk76 Rachel Berry Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 28, 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 23,254	I certainly have not forgotten the first season or the first season girls. Some of my favorite episodes like "Rough Housing", "Emily Dickinson", "Dieting" and "Running" are from the first season. Cindy is second only to Jo and Blair as my favorite "Facts" character and I also like Sue Ann, Nancy and Molly as well. The first season is one of my favorites among the seven seasons. As Justwondering correctly pointed out, it really is just a matter of personal opinion. I know that many "Facts" fans don't much care for the first season but that will not stop me from loving it less.

12-19-2006, 01:06 AM	#4
gidgetgrape Forever Gidget Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 20, 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 3,504	I like the episodes with Molly, Sue Anne, Cindy, and Nancy too! Those episodes have more of the boarding school vibe.

12-19-2006, 12:46 PM	#6
Robert 13 Member Senior Member Join Date: May 10, 2006 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,521	I liked them a lot! But the show was different in the first season. The writing was different. It had an overall different feel to it. I did like that they incorporated some of the cast during portions of Season 2. Like when Molly was in the cafeteria with Margo and when Nancy was trying to find someone to talk to about Roger. I think they were trying to keep some of the cast but it just worked better for the 30 minute timeslot to have Blair, Jo, Natalie and Tootie.

12-19-2006, 03:45 PM	#7
canuckkidd :) Senior Member Join Date: Oct 02, 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 1,065	I still love popping in my first season DVD and watching the first season episodes. I do agree that there was too many characters for a half hour show and that the show was stronger because of the cutdown in characters, but I wish all 4 could have made more guest appearances past season 2 & 3. I am a big fan of Cindy, Sue Ann, and Molly and would have love to have seen them grow up. However, it was nice that Cindy, Sue Ann, and Nancy made an appearance in the season 8 episode "The Little Chill" to update fans of season 1 on what they have been up to.

12-19-2006, 09:37 PM	#8
Troi Tribble Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 19, 2006 Posts: 316	I wish Molly could have been in that ep. "The Little Chill"! I wish the "Forgotten 4" were all on the reunion movie! Does the FOL season 1 & 2 have interviews w/ any of the "Forgotten 4"?

12-19-2006, 10:02 PM	#10
Sammy Reed Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 19, 2003 Posts: 403	I guess I'll talk about this here now. I made a parody on the Amiright website about the 1st-year girls. I originally thought of this as a "theme song" to a proposed fanfic I may or may not ever get around to writing, where the 4 girls are in some parallel world they got zapped to when Jo showed up at Eastland. Here it is: http://www.amiright.com/parody/70s/t...yblues17.shtml

12-20-2006, 12:54 AM	#13
gidgetgrape Forever Gidget Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 20, 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 3,504	I wish we could have seen Nancy's boyfriend Roger!

12-23-2006, 09:46 AM	#15
Troi Tribble Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 19, 2006 Posts: 316	Yeah, Cindy was cool. They all were.