Todd Bridges says he and Janet dated off screen during Diff'rent Strokes - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

LondonBRIDGES · 06-17-2008, 08:39 AM

In this video at about 3:05 in. It's a Q&A session of Diff'rent Strokes he was hosting.
http://www.youtube.com/v/dGjR39b8uD8&hl=en
An audience member actually asked him if they had sex! LOL. But he was a real gentlemen and declined to answer but he did it very graciously. He says they dated from age 15 to 17 and then he broke things off cause he wanted to be wild. He then says she got angry and got back at him by marrying James Debarge a MONTH after their break-up

Now personally I see a few holes in this story because I've never heard Janet reference a relationship. Or any other outlet for that matter. They simply refer to her as Willis' love interest on the show. Also he says they broke up at 17 but Janet wed in 84. Todd Bridges was born in '65 so that would have made him 19 at the time. When he says they dated for two years I find it interesting that it actually coincides with her time on the show (Two seasons). Not only that but I don't believe Janet would marry someone after only knowing them for a month. So either Todd is lying or she was dating both of them simultaneously.

Anyway, I read somewhere that Janet actually met James when she was 13.

In this other segment,http://www.youtube.com/v/rf7cf5snRmA&hl=en, at 6:06, he details how she came to be on the show. He admits to having had a huge crush on her since her days on Good Times and demanded she be brought on as his love interest. Everyone has always said he liked her more than she liked him. But then he paints a picture that she was so torn up by their break-up that she dives headfirst into a "secret" marriage.

Don't get me wrong, I love Todd Bridges, but I find some of his show recollections suspect. Particularly by going public with his sexual relationship with Dana Plato when she was no longer around to defend herself.

But does anyone actually remember hearing about them dating while the show was originally on the air? I'm sure the rumor mill would have been jumping in the early 80's.

Oh and I recommend you watch all five segments of the Q&A, all available on youtube. Very enlightening about the things that went on behind the scenes. He says Gary wants nothing to do with him these days and really hates his guts now.

MikeLutton · 06-17-2008, 09:44 AM

wow that shocking stuff wonder why gary dont like todd anymore

LondonBRIDGES · 06-17-2008, 09:50 AM

And I just thought about something. I didn't see the movie so does anyone who did remember what age he claimed to have slept with Dana? Because it seems like it would have coincided with his "relationship" with Janet.

catlover79 · 06-17-2008, 11:38 AM

^ It sounds very fishy to me.

Brieannas21 · 06-17-2008, 03:04 PM

I could believe it, it's not out of the ordinary for teens who work together or in this case who works on the same set, to start dating. So yeah I can see that happening. So yes I could see how that could happen.

desilu #1 · 06-18-2008, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeL

wow that shocking stuff wonder why gary dont like todd anymore

It sounds like Gary dislikes everyone including himself.

kenj28 · 06-28-2008, 04:00 AM

The fact is Janet has not refuted anything Todd said.It's not that hard to believe as another poster said. Why would Dana Plato have to "defend "herself about dating Todd.The Behind the Camera producers researched the show and found out about Todd and Dana. He simply acknowledged it when the movie aired.No one else from the show has said " gee I never knew about that"
The Brady Bunch,Partridge Family,Happy Days,90210 and several other shows and movies have had backstage romances.Mary Wilson of the Supremes has stated "everybody at Motown dated each other"!Todd loved Dana , he's not going to lie on her like that.

MikeLutton · 06-28-2008, 05:27 AM

gary leads such a sad sad life wish he get some help before we loose the poor guy

LondonBRIDGES · 06-30-2008, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenj28

The fact is Janet has not refuted anything Todd said.It's not that hard to believe as another poster said. Why would Dana Plato have to "defend "herself about dating Todd.The Behind the Camera producers researched the show and found out about Todd and Dana. He simply acknowledged it when the movie aired.No one else from the show has said " gee I never knew about that"
The Brady Bunch,Partridge Family,Happy Days,90210 and several other shows and movies have had backstage romances.Mary Wilson of the Supremes has stated "everybody at Motown dated each other"!Todd loved Dana , he's not going to lie on her like that.

That's just it. I've never heard her mention anything about it. Not during any of her biography shows, etc. And just when did she have the time to meet and marry James Debarge if she was with Todd? (since the two wed only a month after their break-up, according to him)

kenj28 · 07-03-2008, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LondonBRIDGES

That's just it. I've never heard her mention anything about it. Not during any of her biography shows, etc. And just when did she have the time to meet and marry James Debarge if she was with Todd? (since the two wed only a month after their break-up, according to him)

I don't know when Janet met James Debarge . However her brother Jermaine is the one who discovered the group Switch which contaiined two of the Debarge Brothers. Todd does not have to make up romances does he? This guy was one of the biggest child stars /teen idols ever.I don't get all the skepticism about Todd and Janet or Todd and Dana. Linda Blair of the Exorcist dated Rick James. Niether of them revealed it until years later .It happens.Scott Baio and Erin Moran were discreet about their romance while their show was on too.David Cassidy waited to discuss his fling with Susan Dey until years later.

Scoobiedoo30 · 07-08-2008, 02:16 PM

Idid not know that Janet and Tood off Screen

06-17-2008, 09:44 AM	#2
MikeLutton Mike Lutton DVD Legend! Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 05, 2005 Location: usa pennsyvania Posts: 6,886	wow that shocking stuff wonder why gary dont like todd anymore
	__________________ Tv And DVD Addict got over a hundred dvds in my collection more than anyone in the neighborhood. also huge Animal lover family man

06-17-2008, 11:38 AM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	^ It sounds very fishy to me.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

07-08-2008, 02:16 PM	#11
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	Idid not know that Janet and Tood off Screen
	__________________ Who Dat

06-17-2008, 08:39 AM	#1
LondonBRIDGES Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 15, 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 59	Todd Bridges says he and Janet dated off screen during Diff'rent Strokes In this video at about 3:05 in. It's a Q&A session of Diff'rent Strokes he was hosting. http://www.youtube.com/v/dGjR39b8uD8&hl=en An audience member actually asked him if they had sex! LOL. But he was a real gentlemen and declined to answer but he did it very graciously. He says they dated from age 15 to 17 and then he broke things off cause he wanted to be wild. He then says she got angry and got back at him by marrying James Debarge a MONTH after their break-up Now personally I see a few holes in this story because I've never heard Janet reference a relationship. Or any other outlet for that matter. They simply refer to her as Willis' love interest on the show. Also he says they broke up at 17 but Janet wed in 84. Todd Bridges was born in '65 so that would have made him 19 at the time. When he says they dated for two years I find it interesting that it actually coincides with her time on the show (Two seasons). Not only that but I don't believe Janet would marry someone after only knowing them for a month. So either Todd is lying or she was dating both of them simultaneously. Anyway, I read somewhere that Janet actually met James when she was 13. In this other segment,http://www.youtube.com/v/rf7cf5snRmA&hl=en, at 6:06, he details how she came to be on the show. He admits to having had a huge crush on her since her days on Good Times and demanded she be brought on as his love interest. Everyone has always said he liked her more than she liked him. But then he paints a picture that she was so torn up by their break-up that she dives headfirst into a "secret" marriage. Don't get me wrong, I love Todd Bridges, but I find some of his show recollections suspect. Particularly by going public with his sexual relationship with Dana Plato when she was no longer around to defend herself. But does anyone actually remember hearing about them dating while the show was originally on the air? I'm sure the rumor mill would have been jumping in the early 80's. Oh and I recommend you watch all five segments of the Q&A, all available on youtube. Very enlightening about the things that went on behind the scenes. He says Gary wants nothing to do with him these days and really hates his guts now.

06-17-2008, 09:50 AM	#3
LondonBRIDGES Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 15, 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 59	And I just thought about something. I didn't see the movie so does anyone who did remember what age he claimed to have slept with Dana? Because it seems like it would have coincided with his "relationship" with Janet.

06-17-2008, 03:04 PM	#5
Brieannas21 Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 05, 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 9,792	I could believe it, it's not out of the ordinary for teens who work together or in this case who works on the same set, to start dating. So yeah I can see that happening. So yes I could see how that could happen.

06-28-2008, 04:00 AM	#7
kenj28 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 07, 2006 Location: Cleveeland,Ohio Posts: 27	The fact is Janet has not refuted anything Todd said.It's not that hard to believe as another poster said. Why would Dana Plato have to "defend "herself about dating Todd.The Behind the Camera producers researched the show and found out about Todd and Dana. He simply acknowledged it when the movie aired.No one else from the show has said " gee I never knew about that" The Brady Bunch,Partridge Family,Happy Days,90210 and several other shows and movies have had backstage romances.Mary Wilson of the Supremes has stated "everybody at Motown dated each other"!Todd loved Dana , he's not going to lie on her like that.

06-28-2008, 05:27 AM	#8
MikeLutton Mike Lutton DVD Legend! Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 05, 2005 Location: usa pennsyvania Posts: 6,886	gary leads such a sad sad life wish he get some help before we loose the poor guy