Why Charlotte Rae??? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

tvshowsrock · 06-21-2010, 05:55 PM

Questions that come to mind when thinking about The Facts of Life

1 Why Charlotte Rae of all talents to do a spin off
2 She did not have much of a speaking role of Different Strokes
3 Did Nbc know Facts would be such a hit?
4 Why spin off Diff Strokes when many shows could have been spun off during this period?

NBC must have had something on the brain when creating this show because it lasted as long as Diff Strokes but never got as dull as Diff Strokes after many yeats and never got dropped by a network just to be picked up again to be changed. In my oppinion Facts was way better than Strokes by a long shot but did NBC know this would happen because it happen perfectly with a person who was not even a star of the previous show she as on. Amazing NBC thanks for bringing us The Facts of Life that show taught me so much about life and a close knit family. I truly felt the emotions those girls went through and my mother felt Mrs Garrett who was a friend who would love so hard but would give you heck if you stepped out of line. When Facts went off I was upset and felt like apart of me was missing but when dvd sets were being released of the show those old memories came back with the same 25 minute lessons that got butchered by syndication.

PS: I will admit that I was not very impressed by the last 2 seasons but they had their own route to go considering the girls were grown and did not need an older person who would treat them like kids. Even with the change it watched the show but from a different perspective

Marvo301 · 06-21-2010, 07:30 PM

Well the fact that Charlotte Rae wasn't a star on Diff'rent Strokes made her the perfect character to spin off. They could move her over to "Facts" without doing any significant damage to "Strokes" where she could easily be replaced with another housekeeper.(which she was!) Also her one season on "Strokes" proved that she was good at working with kids which was the most important quality needed for the role on "Facts". That's why.

Warm & Fuzzy · 06-28-2010, 09:42 PM

Rae just LOOKS the part of Mrs. Garrett. :-)

Kasey · 06-29-2010, 11:46 AM

In response to your 4th question, NBC was in the ratings toilet at this point. Those born after 1975 probably would not be aware of this and remember NBC as a ratings champion in the '80s with Cosby, Golden Girls, Miami Vice, Cheers, etc. but it was not always this way.

Hit sitcoms flourished on CBS and ABC during this period, but NBC could not seem to get a sitcom hit to save its life, until along came "Diff'rent Strokes".

It only made sense that they would want to capitalize on its success as much as they could. They even tried to boost another of their faltering sitcoms "Hello Larry" by trying to convince viewers Larry and Mr. Drummond were old buddies, or something to that effect.

They milked the success of "Diff'rent Strokes" for all it was worth, though I doubt they initially expected "Facts" to have an even longer, successful run.

PlayOn · 06-29-2010, 08:47 PM

I think the better question is: why NOT Charlotte Rae? She's awesome. Her playing Mrs. G was a God send.

Johnny be good! · 10-01-2010, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PlayOn

I think the better question is: why NOT Charlotte Rae? She's awesome. Her playing Mrs. G was a God send.

I second that.

senrab · 10-01-2010, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasey

In response to your 4th question, NBC was in the ratings toilet at this point. Those born after 1975 probably would not be aware of this and remember NBC as a ratings champion in the '80s with Cosby, Golden Girls, Miami Vice, Cheers, etc. but it was not always this way.

Hit sitcoms flourished on CBS and ABC during this period, but NBC could not seem to get a sitcom hit to save its life, until along came "Diff'rent Strokes".

It only made sense that they would want to capitalize on its success as much as they could. They even tried to boost another of their faltering sitcoms "Hello Larry" by trying to convince viewers Larry and Mr. Drummond were old buddies, or something to that effect.

They milked the success of "Diff'rent Strokes" for all it was worth, though I doubt they initially expected "Facts" to have an even longer, successful run.

Didn't the guy from MASH leave that show for Hello Larry?

Sammy Reed · 10-04-2010, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by senrab

Didn't the guy from MASH leave that show for Hello Larry?

No. I think his first show after "MASH" was 1976's ill-fated "McLean Stevenson Show."

candycandy · 11-03-2012, 07:12 PM

CHARLOTTE RAE was made for the MRS. G character (no other person could have played her so good) & the writers must have realized it too, after all, she was more of a personality in DIFFERENT STROKES than MR. DRUMMOND himself (he was weak in comparison)....
She also had such a good sense of humour + the greatest chemistry with GARY OLDMAN, LISA WHELCHEL + NANCY MCKEON!

06-21-2010, 05:55 PM	#1
tvshowsrock Banned Banned!! Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 18, 2008 Posts: 198	Why Charlotte Rae??? Questions that come to mind when thinking about The Facts of Life 1 Why Charlotte Rae of all talents to do a spin off 2 She did not have much of a speaking role of Different Strokes 3 Did Nbc know Facts would be such a hit? 4 Why spin off Diff Strokes when many shows could have been spun off during this period? NBC must have had something on the brain when creating this show because it lasted as long as Diff Strokes but never got as dull as Diff Strokes after many yeats and never got dropped by a network just to be picked up again to be changed. In my oppinion Facts was way better than Strokes by a long shot but did NBC know this would happen because it happen perfectly with a person who was not even a star of the previous show she as on. Amazing NBC thanks for bringing us The Facts of Life that show taught me so much about life and a close knit family. I truly felt the emotions those girls went through and my mother felt Mrs Garrett who was a friend who would love so hard but would give you heck if you stepped out of line. When Facts went off I was upset and felt like apart of me was missing but when dvd sets were being released of the show those old memories came back with the same 25 minute lessons that got butchered by syndication. PS: I will admit that I was not very impressed by the last 2 seasons but they had their own route to go considering the girls were grown and did not need an older person who would treat them like kids. Even with the change it watched the show but from a different perspective

06-21-2010, 07:30 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	Well the fact that Charlotte Rae wasn't a star on Diff'rent Strokes made her the perfect character to spin off. They could move her over to "Facts" without doing any significant damage to "Strokes" where she could easily be replaced with another housekeeper.(which she was!) Also her one season on "Strokes" proved that she was good at working with kids which was the most important quality needed for the role on "Facts". That's why.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

06-28-2010, 09:42 PM	#3
Warm & Fuzzy Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 02, 2001 Posts: 10,254	Rae just LOOKS the part of Mrs. Garrett. :-)
	__________________ "To the world, you may be one person, but to one person, you may be the world." ~Unknown

06-29-2010, 08:47 PM	#5
PlayOn ADHD: what I have not who I am Senior Member Join Date: Jun 17, 2006 Location: I'll never tell. :p Posts: 2,745	I think the better question is: why NOT Charlotte Rae? She's awesome. Her playing Mrs. G was a God send.
	__________________ Have you heard the ? Jesus saves!!!

11-03-2012, 07:12 PM	#9
candycandy Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 26, 2012 Location: Austria Posts: 245	Why Charlotte Rae? CHARLOTTE RAE was made for the MRS. G character (no other person could have played her so good) & the writers must have realized it too, after all, she was more of a personality in DIFFERENT STROKES than MR. DRUMMOND himself (he was weak in comparison).... She also had such a good sense of humour + the greatest chemistry with GARY OLDMAN, LISA WHELCHEL + NANCY MCKEON!

06-29-2010, 11:46 AM	#4
Kasey Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 22, 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,143	In response to your 4th question, NBC was in the ratings toilet at this point. Those born after 1975 probably would not be aware of this and remember NBC as a ratings champion in the '80s with Cosby, Golden Girls, Miami Vice, Cheers, etc. but it was not always this way. Hit sitcoms flourished on CBS and ABC during this period, but NBC could not seem to get a sitcom hit to save its life, until along came "Diff'rent Strokes". It only made sense that they would want to capitalize on its success as much as they could. They even tried to boost another of their faltering sitcoms "Hello Larry" by trying to convince viewers Larry and Mr. Drummond were old buddies, or something to that effect. They milked the success of "Diff'rent Strokes" for all it was worth, though I doubt they initially expected "Facts" to have an even longer, successful run.