The First Time vs. My Boyfriend's Back

[Dean Winchester]

I watched MBB the other night (I recently acquired a good chunk of the episodes, so I've been watching them, most I hadn't seen since Nick At Nite) and I find it surprising that Lisa refused to do The First Time, but didn't really have any major objections to My Boyfriend's Back.

Granted, Tootie did not have sex with Jeff in the episode, but she had made up her mind she was going to, before Jeff shot her down. Keep in mind, Kim Fields was 15 when this episode was made, Mindy Cohn was 21-22 when The First Time was made and she DID have sex. I think a 15 year old losing their virginity, or at least arriving to the idea that they're ready would be more alarming to most people than a 21 year old who figured it's time. Granted, both are "sins" to most Christian beliefs, but My Boyfriend's Back did not have an anti-sex message, Jeff just happened to break up with her because he felt they grew apart (granted, he came back). So why did Lisa have no moral objection to My Boyfriend's Back like she did The First Time?

[friendsfan77]

I watched both episodes tonight and I do agree that MBB is more "alarming" in any sense.

I thought of something. Earlier in the scene on MBB when Tootie's talking to Natalie about her date and how things have changed, Blair is in the same scene in the bedroom trying to sleep and talks to the two of them. But later on when Tootie talks to Natalie about possibly having sex with Jeff, not a peep is heard from Blair, and she's not in the later part of that scene.

Maybe I'm overanalyzing things, but that's how I saw it.

[Dean Winchester]

Originally Posted by friendsfan77

I watched both episodes tonight and I do agree that MBB is more "alarming" in any sense.

I thought of something. Earlier in the scene on MBB when Tootie's talking to Natalie about her date and how things have changed, Blair is in the same scene in the bedroom trying to sleep and talks to the two of them. But later on when Tootie talks to Natalie about possibly having sex with Jeff, not a peep is heard from Blair, and she's not in the later part of that scene.

Maybe I'm overanalyzing things, but that's how I saw it.

I noticed that too. Maybe that's what Lisa should've done in The First Time, just not appear in the scenes where the topic is discussed.

I just find it funny that The First Time gets so much controversy and to this day is a hotbed of discussion for the show, even twenty years later, but the content talked about in My Boyfriend's Back is much more taboo and controversial since Tootie was 15 there, compared to Natalie being an adult woman who decided it was time in The First Time. It's almost like the Jamie Lynn Spears controversy today, she's 16 and pregnant and it's so shocking, but if she was 22 and unmarried and got pregnant, it wouldn't be as big a deal.

[JoPol_wannabe]

I remember reading in Lisa's Fact's of life and other lessons my father taught me book, she said that in the earlier years she did allot more controversial stuff and didn't really think much of it but that it was just part of her job. Then in the last 3 years of the show she started thinking maybe I shouldn't promote this kind of stuff they want my character to do because it's against her religion and she didn't want viewers to see that she can portray that cause then they might not think it's that bad.

[Dean Winchester]

I always felt like Lisa should've agreed to do The Last Time (but not losing her virginity) and used the episode to express her two cents on the matter instead of just cutting the episode completely.

Plus, The First Time was handled very delicately and classy and not in a way that would be too offensive for kids who watched other episodes, it was hardly a Sex And The City episode where Natalie would be playing the Samantha part talking about how good the sex was with her friends over brunch.

[ABlairican Pie]

This is really strange though, for as much sexual inuendo and all else on the show, that Lisa would only object to one thing at the end of the series twenty years ago, but remain strangely silent about all else going on for the rest of the time. It's also strange that she said nothing about Tootie about to pursue a sexual encounter with Jeff in her mid-teens while chastising Natalie for having one with Snake when both were of legal age and responsible, consenting young adults.

I've never understood this whole idea that someone would object to The First Time simply because "it was against MY religion." How do you sell that prohibition to another person who does not share the same religious views? It's almost like a superstition, if you will, like God will send a lightning bolt through the window to punish people partaking of "the forbidden fruit". If she could say something like, "I am against this episode because impressionable youngsters will be watching and get the idea that something is okay which may possibly affect them for the rest of their lives, i.e., pregnancy, etc.", rather than "The Book of Ephesians in the New Testament says it is wrong", etc., than it would make more sense. My pastor told me over twenty years ago that religious rules from the New Testament didn't apply because they were not written for people outside the church.

What does Lisa feel about a young person like Jaimie Lynne Spears getting pregnant at her age in the first place?

[RoryGilmore]

As she got older he morals changed, look back to the Ep. "The Facts of Love" in the first season

[Dean Winchester]

I honestly think sometimes people need to realize their moral beliefs aren't everyones. Granted, losing virginity without a wedding band might not be a "fact of life" to Lisa, but it's something that happens more and more, whether you like it or not. Lisa really should've used that episode to express her stand on the issue instead of just backing out of the episode as if someone was asking her to appear in a porno.

Plus, the content of The First Time isn't any more offensive than most of what airs on Disney Channel these days. I could maybe understand the objection if Natalie and Snake filmed a sex tape and showed it off to their friends.

[RoryGilmore]

I agree with you and not trying to be rude but at that time Lisa didnt want anything to do with it so thats what happened THE END

[Dean Winchester]

Originally Posted by Jo/Blair Fan

I agree with you and not trying to be rude but at that time Lisa didnt want anything to do with it so thats what happened THE END

it was probably a good thing she abandoned acting when she did. Because even shows like Touched By An Angel and 7th Heaven had "questionable" episodes in their runs. I always wonder how Lisa's career might've turned out if she was a little less devout and stayed in the industry, she had the looks and charisma that she easily would've had a career well into the 90's and could've made it into film or had another hit show or two, if only she tried to separate the actor from the character (since there are a lot of actors who play characters who do things they personally wouldn't do).

It's good that Lisa didn't want to lose her virginity before she got married and says a lot about the strength of her character (especially since she was 25 by then and was a huge TV star who could've had any man she wanted), but she could've been a little less judgmental about the fact that there are countless people that do. Natalie was 21 at the time of the episode, a 21 year old who isn't yet married but has had sex before isn't exactly earthshattering news.

[RoryGilmore]

Exactly

And sorry I was kinda bitchy in my last post in a fight with the bf so I'm in a mood

[ABlairican Pie]

Originally Posted by Jo/Blair Fan

As she got older he morals changed, look back to the Ep. "The Facts of Love" in the first season

In the past few years before the end of show, probably by the middle of the series' run by 1984, she had become fully aware of her stature as a 'celebrity Christian'--she was most
likely one of the few who started that whole trend by the early/mid-80's. She was aware that there was so much pressure on her by the Religious Right and the Christian media to be a "good example" to others, and that is where Lisa and Blair pretty much became one and the same. But surprisingly, she didn't turn down any episodes which may have had "objectionable" content, i.e., the Doo Wop episode with El Debarge where Andy named the girls' band Sexy Lingerie, and the episode where during a job interview at a taco restaurant, Natalie asks trick questions about Blair's possible sexual activity (which was hilarious!! ).

I don't think her "morals changed" so much as she found others expecting her to behave in a certain way, or portray her role in a more "wholesome" manner.

[JoPol_wannabe]

Originally Posted by ABlairican Pie

In the past few years before the end of show, probably by the middle of the series' run by 1984, she had become fully aware of her stature as a 'celebrity Christian'--she was most
likely one of the few who started that whole trend by the early/mid-80's. She was aware that there was so much pressure on her by the Religious Right and the Christian media to be a "good example" to others, and that is where Lisa and Blair pretty much became one and the same. But surprisingly, she didn't turn down any episodes which may have had "objectionable" content, i.e., the Doo Wop episode with El Debarge where Andy named the girls' band Sexy Lingerie, and the episode where during a job interview at a taco restaurant, Natalie asks trick questions about Blair's possible sexual activity (which was hilarious!! ).

I don't think her "morals changed" so much as she found others expecting her to behave in a certain way, or portray her role in a more "wholesome" manner.

I think that is why I like Blair so much because even thought she was rich and spoiled rotten she still had good morals like the ep when Casey wanted to live with Blair and Blair didn't want to live with him she wanted to be married before she did that. And the fact that Blair was willings to take over as mother to her sister when her mom was freaking out about being pregnant and being a mom again at her age.

I think Lisa did such a good job at creating that character and her religious beliefs played a big role in that facter and I like that. I look up to Lisa so much for standing by her beliefs and not being scared to bring them out in her works when she was an actress and the fact that she goes out and preaches about her beliefs and isn't scared to write about it on the internet even when some people disapprove.

[ABlairican Pie]

Originally Posted by JoPol_wannabe

I think that is why I like Blair so much because even thought she was rich and spoiled rotten she still had good morals like the ep when Casey wanted to live with Blair and Blair didn't want to live with him she wanted to be married before she did that. And the fact that Blair was willings to take over as mother to her sister when her mom was freaking out about being pregnant and being a mom again at her age.

I think Lisa did such a good job at creating that character and her religious beliefs played a big role in that facter and I like that. I look up to Lisa so much for standing by her beliefs and not being scared to bring them out in her works when she was an actress and the fact that she goes out and preaches about her beliefs and isn't scared to write about it on the internet even when some people disapprove.

Blair was not the "saint" that she would later become when she first starred on the show back in 1979. In the first season, she seemed to get a little sexually aggressive with one hunky guy in a van who turned her down. Blair was not a Christian, she in fact had a crisis in belief in God when her parents divorced in 1973. She apparently reconciled it a bit in 1985 when her sister Bailey was born, beginning with a halting prayer to God, whom she had not long prayed to in ages. Blair's reticence to accept a "living together" relationship with Casey was not because of "sneaking in Lisa's religious beliefs", but because Blair always liked to have the pomp and pageantry of a big wedding. She also wanted her "first time" to be special as well, something lasting. It was a matter of doing things consistent with the character of Blair, rather than her being a Trojan Horse (no pun intended ) for Lisa's evangelical beliefs.

Do Christians ever feel like they live in tension with what they read and watch, thinking, "well, what if the main character were a Christian, they would have no problem at all, because they would pray to God and all would turn out okay!!"

[RoryGilmore]

Originally Posted by JoPol_wannabe

I think that is why I like Blair so much because even thought she was rich and spoiled rotten she still had good morals like the ep when Casey wanted to live with Blair and Blair didn't want to live with him she wanted to be married before she did that. And the fact that Blair was willings to take over as mother to her sister when her mom was freaking out about being pregnant and being a mom again at her age.

I think Lisa did such a good job at creating that character and her religious beliefs played a big role in that facter and I like that. I look up to Lisa so much for standing by her beliefs and not being scared to bring them out in her works when she was an actress and the fact that she goes out and preaches about her beliefs and isn't scared to write about it on the internet even when some people disapprove.

I totally agree with you, and thats about all I can say without repeating what you said