Mrs. Garrett and Season Five - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

LoveMrsG · 07-25-2008, 10:29 PM

Hey guys.
I was just thinking about something and I wanted to put a question to you. As I'm sure you all may have noticed, Mrs. Garrett is my favorite character. I do adore her for taking the time to be the REAL parent to those four girls since their own parents obviously weren't doing the job. (Sending them to boarding school, then summer camp in the summers, spending...what? Two whole weeks out of the year with them?!?! In the words of Jo, gimme a break! And for the record, I am sooooo NOT talking about Jo. I completely understand why Jo's mom started working her tail off to get Jo in a better school and neighborhood after she started getting into trouble in the Bronx.)

Anyway, it's been such a long time since I've seen a lot of the Edna's Edibles episodes (THANKS, Sony!!!

) but to me, it seems like the character of Mrs. Garrett loses a lot of her strength and authority in season 5 when Edna's Edibles is born. I'll always prefer seasons 2-4 over the others anyway, but in the Eastland years when Jo comes in and Mrs. Garrett is put in charge of the foursome, Mrs. Garrett is seen as the ultimate authority. The girls understandably worship the ground she walks on (who doesn't???) and her word is obviously law. But in season 5 when Mrs. Garrett starts sharing the responsibility of Edna's Edibles with Jo, whom she sets up as a "watchdog" for the shop, is it just me or is it almost like Mrs. Garrett loses some of her...I don't know the right word....energy? Authority, maybe...strength, power. It's almost as if, in season 5, it could go either way....Mrs. Garrett's word OR Jo's word is law, and I for one hate that. I do love it in the episode where this deli in town starts trying to run Edna's Edibles out of business and Jo gets on a computer and hacks into the deli's owner's computer system and messes up his recipes, and when Mrs. Garrett finds out what happens and tells Jo that they're going over to his store to apologize, Jo starts out with this speech, "I had rather...blah, blah, blah" and Mrs. Garrett interrupts..."I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU'D RATHER DO! I'M IN CHARGE HERE!" Yay!!! Good for Mrs. G. Jo was getting way too big for her britches, to use a very Southern expression, and it was high time Mrs. G. yanked her back down to size. I don't know...maybe it was the fact that Blair and Jo were in college and were considered adults now and Nat and Tootie were growing up too and they all felt they didn't need to go to Mrs. Garrett every time they faced a problem. Maybe I need to hush and go to bed!!!!!!

But seriously, do I have a point or am I just wacko tonight???

ZeldaGilroy · 07-25-2008, 10:44 PM

I can see where you are coming from, but I never really saw Jo taking authority over Mrs. Garrett. Mrs. G. did seem less authoritative when they left Eastland, but she wasn't really in a position of authority over their whole lives anymore. She was their boss in the store and to quote Blair in the season 6 episode Working It Out, she was their "landlady." (I wanted to smack her when she said that!)

I think they respected her, but were trying to make their own way in the world and we all know that kids who are trying to spread their wings often go against the authority of their parents (or their Mrs. Garrett's as the case may be.) I think one of the nice things about the show is that Mrs. G. did turn out to be right and the girls learned she was right (like in The Chain Letter when they cause such a mess Mrs. Garrett nearly gets shut down and fires all of them or in the episode you mentioned where she makes Jo apologize for hacking into the computer system.)

Mrs. Garrett may not have been in charge of their lives, but like any good parent she was still there for them if and when they needed her. That's what makes Mrs. G. special. That's why we all love her!

Nighthawk76 · 07-26-2008, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FactsFan

She was their boss in the store and to quote Blair in the season 6 episode Working It Out, she was their "landlady." (I wanted to smack her when she said that!)

Anyone who wants to smack Blair has to get by me first, sister.

Nighthawk76 · 07-26-2008, 12:48 AM

This is an interesting topic and one I've never really considered before. I guess once Jo and Blair graduated high school in 1983 and Tootie and Natalie became a little older as well, they simply didn't need Mrs. Garrett to watch over them as much as in the earlier seasons. I still think she was very much a parental figure to them though. However, I never considered Jo to ever be the boss. If anyone was the "leader" of the four girls I think it would have been Blair.

ZeldaGilroy · 07-26-2008, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy for Blair

Anyone who wants to smack Blair has to get by me first, sister.

I knew I shouldn't have said that! I'm in trouble now.

LoveMrsG · 07-26-2008, 01:02 AM

BLAIR the leader???????????? Of WHAT....hairstyling??????????

LoveMrsG · 07-26-2008, 01:05 AM

Sorry, Crazy for Blair....couldn't resist!

pfeifferobsessed · 07-26-2008, 04:24 AM

okay, no smacking blair...thats a no, no...and yes, she was the leader of the group...at least, thats how ive always seen it!

LoveMrsG · 07-26-2008, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pfeifferobsessed

okay, no smacking blair...thats a no, no...and yes, she was the leader of the group...at least, thats how ive always seen it!

I repeat...of WHAT? HAIRSTYLING???

Nighthawk76 · 07-26-2008, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FactsFan

I knew I shouldn't have said that! I'm in trouble now.

You sure are!

Nighthawk76 · 07-26-2008, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoveMrsG

BLAIR the leader???????????? Of WHAT....hairstyling??????????

Those are fighting words.

LoveMrsG · 07-26-2008, 06:29 PM

Bring it on, Mike! FactsFan and I can take ya!!!

Jude The Obscure · 07-26-2008, 06:32 PM

I think there was already a thread discussing who was the leader of the Facts girls.... some very funny insights on it too.

painmakeyourway · 07-26-2008, 06:47 PM

I think it's because all the girls were getting older. but that's just my opinion.

as far as Blair being the leader...maybe? Never actually thought about it. But now that I do, everyone seemed to listen pretty attentively to Jo. I think I would have to say Jo was the leader...but again, that's opinion

Jude The Obscure · 07-26-2008, 06:50 PM

When it came to tough situations, moral dilemmas, etc, Nat and Toot went to Jo (or Mrs G)......for fashion and dating advice, Blair (or Mrs G)

07-25-2008, 10:29 PM	#1
LoveMrsG Future Emmy-Winning Writer Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 27, 2008 Location: In Mrs. G.'s mind: "Hmm, maybe I didn't know as much as I thought!" Posts: 783	Mrs. Garrett and Season Five Hey guys. I was just thinking about something and I wanted to put a question to you. As I'm sure you all may have noticed, Mrs. Garrett is my favorite character. I do adore her for taking the time to be the REAL parent to those four girls since their own parents obviously weren't doing the job. (Sending them to boarding school, then summer camp in the summers, spending...what? Two whole weeks out of the year with them?!?! In the words of Jo, gimme a break! And for the record, I am sooooo NOT talking about Jo. I completely understand why Jo's mom started working her tail off to get Jo in a better school and neighborhood after she started getting into trouble in the Bronx.) Anyway, it's been such a long time since I've seen a lot of the Edna's Edibles episodes (THANKS, Sony!!! ) but to me, it seems like the character of Mrs. Garrett loses a lot of her strength and authority in season 5 when Edna's Edibles is born. I'll always prefer seasons 2-4 over the others anyway, but in the Eastland years when Jo comes in and Mrs. Garrett is put in charge of the foursome, Mrs. Garrett is seen as the ultimate authority. The girls understandably worship the ground she walks on (who doesn't???) and her word is obviously law. But in season 5 when Mrs. Garrett starts sharing the responsibility of Edna's Edibles with Jo, whom she sets up as a "watchdog" for the shop, is it just me or is it almost like Mrs. Garrett loses some of her...I don't know the right word....energy? Authority, maybe...strength, power. It's almost as if, in season 5, it could go either way....Mrs. Garrett's word OR Jo's word is law, and I for one hate that. I do love it in the episode where this deli in town starts trying to run Edna's Edibles out of business and Jo gets on a computer and hacks into the deli's owner's computer system and messes up his recipes, and when Mrs. Garrett finds out what happens and tells Jo that they're going over to his store to apologize, Jo starts out with this speech, "I had rather...blah, blah, blah" and Mrs. Garrett interrupts..."I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU'D RATHER DO! I'M IN CHARGE HERE!" Yay!!! Good for Mrs. G. Jo was getting way too big for her britches, to use a very Southern expression, and it was high time Mrs. G. yanked her back down to size. I don't know...maybe it was the fact that Blair and Jo were in college and were considered adults now and Nat and Tootie were growing up too and they all felt they didn't need to go to Mrs. Garrett every time they faced a problem. Maybe I need to hush and go to bed!!!!!! But seriously, do I have a point or am I just wacko tonight???
	__________________ Mrs. Garrett: "Get the h*ll out of here or I'll beat you with my frying pan!"

07-26-2008, 06:47 PM	#14
painmakeyourway Daydream Believer Forum Regular Join Date: May 20, 2008 Location: Facts of Life Land Posts: 577	I think it's because all the girls were getting older. but that's just my opinion. as far as Blair being the leader...maybe? Never actually thought about it. But now that I do, everyone seemed to listen pretty attentively to Jo. I think I would have to say Jo was the leader...but again, that's opinion
	__________________ Jo Polniaczek's philosophy on how to get guys: Step 1: If you like a guy, grab him and tell him he drives you out of your tree. Step 2: Just call and tell him, 'Hey Al, you dance with me in the contest or you'll never dance again.' Pretty effective, hey?

07-25-2008, 10:44 PM	#2
ZeldaGilroy Dobie and Zelda Forever!!! Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 14, 2000 Location: I don't know...I'm probably lost! Posts: 4,144	I can see where you are coming from, but I never really saw Jo taking authority over Mrs. Garrett. Mrs. G. did seem less authoritative when they left Eastland, but she wasn't really in a position of authority over their whole lives anymore. She was their boss in the store and to quote Blair in the season 6 episode Working It Out, she was their "landlady." (I wanted to smack her when she said that!) I think they respected her, but were trying to make their own way in the world and we all know that kids who are trying to spread their wings often go against the authority of their parents (or their Mrs. Garrett's as the case may be.) I think one of the nice things about the show is that Mrs. G. did turn out to be right and the girls learned she was right (like in The Chain Letter when they cause such a mess Mrs. Garrett nearly gets shut down and fires all of them or in the episode you mentioned where she makes Jo apologize for hacking into the computer system.) Mrs. Garrett may not have been in charge of their lives, but like any good parent she was still there for them if and when they needed her. That's what makes Mrs. G. special. That's why we all love her!

07-26-2008, 12:48 AM	#4
Nighthawk76 Rachel Berry Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 28, 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 23,254	This is an interesting topic and one I've never really considered before. I guess once Jo and Blair graduated high school in 1983 and Tootie and Natalie became a little older as well, they simply didn't need Mrs. Garrett to watch over them as much as in the earlier seasons. I still think she was very much a parental figure to them though. However, I never considered Jo to ever be the boss. If anyone was the "leader" of the four girls I think it would have been Blair.

07-26-2008, 01:02 AM	#6
LoveMrsG Future Emmy-Winning Writer Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 27, 2008 Location: In Mrs. G.'s mind: "Hmm, maybe I didn't know as much as I thought!" Posts: 783	BLAIR the leader???????????? Of WHAT....hairstyling??????????

07-26-2008, 01:05 AM	#7
LoveMrsG Future Emmy-Winning Writer Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 27, 2008 Location: In Mrs. G.'s mind: "Hmm, maybe I didn't know as much as I thought!" Posts: 783	Sorry, Crazy for Blair....couldn't resist!

07-26-2008, 04:24 AM	#8
pfeifferobsessed Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 24, 2008 Location: Oh, how I wish I lived in Peekskill Posts: 684	okay, no smacking blair...thats a no, no...and yes, she was the leader of the group...at least, thats how ive always seen it!

07-26-2008, 06:29 PM	#12
LoveMrsG Future Emmy-Winning Writer Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 27, 2008 Location: In Mrs. G.'s mind: "Hmm, maybe I didn't know as much as I thought!" Posts: 783	Bring it on, Mike! FactsFan and I can take ya!!!

07-26-2008, 06:32 PM	#13
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	I think there was already a thread discussing who was the leader of the Facts girls.... some very funny insights on it too.

07-26-2008, 06:50 PM	#15
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	When it came to tough situations, moral dilemmas, etc, Nat and Toot went to Jo (or Mrs G)......for fashion and dating advice, Blair (or Mrs G)