Did 'The Facts of Life' Get an Improper Send-Off? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 04-11-2012, 06:27 PM

I've been reading comments on YouTube regarding the final episode in which Blair buys Eastland, which was in danger of being closed down. Apparently, this was a meant to be a back-door pilot in which Blair would become the Mrs. Garrett-type figure to a new generation of Eastland students (among them Seth Green, Mayim Bialik, and Juliette Lewis). I guess, my point is that did NBC kind of screw TFOL over by not given it a proper farewell episode? Natalie isn't even in the final shot and of course, if they were actually going to do a farewell episode, it would've been logical to bring Charlotte Rae back.

I brought this particular issue over on IMDb and I was told that the then impending 1988 writers strike really hampered the writing quality. This was mainly because they were rushing to end the season. In the process, several spin-offs were being considered such as one about Natalie moving to Manhattan and living with a bunch of bohemian types.

Ihavealife2uknow · 04-12-2012, 12:42 PM

I don't think the finale was a good one. I think it should have just been about the 4 girls saying goodbye with maybe a good final shot. I think it was way too rushed. I don't mind that Blair bought Eastland but I think the finale should have included more of the other characters, especially Natalie. Of course the reunion movie didn't even tell us what Blair did with Eastland which I thought they should have touched up on. She talked about Eastland like she hadn't seen it in years.

FOL1 · 04-12-2012, 02:45 PM

it bothered me so much! that guy in a chicken suit or something in the final shot? really? and no natalie? they should have all said goodbye at least. I recently saw it for the first time and was very disappointed.

Jude The Obscure · 04-12-2012, 04:10 PM

The reunion movie did have Blair stating that she had sold Eastland.
The last season was a sort of...ok, let's keep up the hilarity and then....wait, Nancy's (Jo) not coming back next year so let' get her quickly married off (to a guy she barely knew--couldn't they have least brought back a previous flame such as the college teacher or her Paris' amour?) and then, wait, let's spin off the others--uhm let's set up Natalie in ANOTHER roommate situation and let's make Blair the star of Facts of Life: The Next Generation, where it is convenient to have Pippa tag along since she was already at Eastland.

ZeldaGilroy · 04-15-2012, 09:39 PM

The last episode is a huge letdown. I like to pretend like it didn't even happen.

hch · 04-30-2012, 12:49 PM

it would have been great if they had brought back Mrs. Garrett because it was almost her time to come back from the Peace Corps anyway (2 years), if maybe just to be in the final scene. Oh well, what could have been

hawkeye123 · 05-28-2012, 11:34 PM

I don't think, I ever got to see the last one.I have read up on it though and, There was supposed to be a spin off ,With Blaire that didn't happen which sucks and ,I think had they known. There wasn't going to be a spin off. They would of done things differently.

Johnny be good! · 08-19-2012, 11:17 PM

I have mixed feelings about it.

FOL85NatandMrsGRock · 08-30-2012, 10:25 PM

I definitely think that they dropped the bomb on this. When i first found FOL (wow... almost 12 years ago!) and saw the finale, i was incredibly disappointed. So, i wrote a fanfic. It would have been extremely easy with this series to end it because obviously all of the girls cannot stay living in this house in Peekskill, NY. They should all leave the town... natalie pursuing the writing thing in NYC, Tootie heading to Hollywood to pursue acting. Jo, being married, can leave to follow her husband and blair, if she wanted to buy eastland, fine... but mrs. garrett should come back, maybe she adopted a kid while over there, beverly ann and andy (haha... sounds like ragedy ann and andy) could move somewhere else too... just, everybody could have said goodbye and had one last hurrah before parting ways, maybe Tootie's wedding to Jeff or something, but if only what could have been

Latinoxtc · 11-02-2012, 08:27 PM

I think the show got screwed because they were trying to spin off the show. The finale was basically one of the many spin off attempts on this show. They tried to end things with Jo getting married, Tootie going to acting school in London, Natalie moving to New York to pursue her writing career and Blair buying Eastland. But they kind of just left us hanging. I think they depended on Blair's spin off to be picked up but when it wasnt loyal FOL fans were just screwed out of a proper goodbye.

Nighthawk76 · 11-03-2012, 02:23 AM

In many ways I think the entire last season was a diappointment. Especially considering that in season 8 the show was as good as ever. There were a couple of good episodes in season 9 but it really did feel like they had gone back to the well one time too many. The series finale was simply a disappointing conclusion to a pretty unmemorable season. With the exception of Blair, none of the other characters really had anything to do in that episode.

Dr. Thong · 11-03-2012, 10:46 AM

You'd think they would have brought back Mrs. Garrett for one final appearance. The show was really built around her and the girls and it wasn't the same show once she left.

Actually, I think once they left Eastland as the locale for the show, it was over.

Latinoxtc · 11-03-2012, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

You'd think they would have brought back Mrs. Garrett for one final appearance. The show was really built around her and the girls and it wasn't the same show once she left.

Actually, I think once they left Eastland as the locale for the show, it was over.

Well that's the thing. I think if they knew that it was going to be the final episode then maybe Mrs. Garrett wouldve returned. But no one was sure what was going to happen with the show after season 9. Then poof it was gone.

04-11-2012, 06:27 PM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,305	Did 'The Facts of Life' Get an Improper Send-Off? I've been reading comments on YouTube regarding the final episode in which Blair buys Eastland, which was in danger of being closed down. Apparently, this was a meant to be a back-door pilot in which Blair would become the Mrs. Garrett-type figure to a new generation of Eastland students (among them Seth Green, Mayim Bialik, and Juliette Lewis). I guess, my point is that did NBC kind of screw TFOL over by not given it a proper farewell episode? Natalie isn't even in the final shot and of course, if they were actually going to do a farewell episode, it would've been logical to bring Charlotte Rae back. I brought this particular issue over on IMDb and I was told that the then impending 1988 writers strike really hampered the writing quality. This was mainly because they were rushing to end the season. In the process, several spin-offs were being considered such as one about Natalie moving to Manhattan and living with a bunch of bohemian types.
	Last edited by TMC; 04-11-2012 at 07:00 PM.

04-15-2012, 09:39 PM	#5
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	The last episode is a huge letdown. I like to pretend like it didn't even happen.
	__________________ *Formerly FactsFan* "I always carry a spare wedding ring. A single girl never knows when lightning may strike." ~Zelda Gilroy

04-30-2012, 12:49 PM	#6
hch Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 07, 2001 Location: Montross, VA 22520 Posts: 983	it would have been great if they had brought back Mrs. Garrett because it was almost her time to come back from the Peace Corps anyway (2 years), if maybe just to be in the final scene. Oh well, what could have been
	__________________ "You don't own the rights or the patent on scuffling!" Willona from "Good Times"

08-19-2012, 11:17 PM	#8
Johnny be good! Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 18, 2007 Location: Westland, Michigan Posts: 1,633	I have mixed feelings about it.
	__________________ Alex Bogue

08-30-2012, 10:25 PM	#9
FOL85NatandMrsGRock The Lovable Sarah Senior Member Join Date: Nov 07, 2000 Location: Wisconsin (Same Place Charlotte's From and where That 70's Show takes place!) .... Wish I was in Mayfield USA! Posts: 1,770	I definitely think that they dropped the bomb on this. When i first found FOL (wow... almost 12 years ago!) and saw the finale, i was incredibly disappointed. So, i wrote a fanfic. It would have been extremely easy with this series to end it because obviously all of the girls cannot stay living in this house in Peekskill, NY. They should all leave the town... natalie pursuing the writing thing in NYC, Tootie heading to Hollywood to pursue acting. Jo, being married, can leave to follow her husband and blair, if she wanted to buy eastland, fine... but mrs. garrett should come back, maybe she adopted a kid while over there, beverly ann and andy (haha... sounds like ragedy ann and andy) could move somewhere else too... just, everybody could have said goodbye and had one last hurrah before parting ways, maybe Tootie's wedding to Jeff or something, but if only what could have been
	__________________ Lorelai: (on the phone to Luke) So where are you anyways? Luke: I'm somewhere near if I lived here I'd shoot myself Lorelai: Oh I hear it's lovely there this time of year Gilmore Girls Eric: This guy's no good, I'm telling you, I have a 5th sense about these things! Jack: You mean a 6th sense? Eric: No, that's smell! You gotta be lucky to get that one! Boy Meets World

04-12-2012, 12:42 PM	#2
Ihavealife2uknow Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 01, 2005 Posts: 325	I don't think the finale was a good one. I think it should have just been about the 4 girls saying goodbye with maybe a good final shot. I think it was way too rushed. I don't mind that Blair bought Eastland but I think the finale should have included more of the other characters, especially Natalie. Of course the reunion movie didn't even tell us what Blair did with Eastland which I thought they should have touched up on. She talked about Eastland like she hadn't seen it in years.

04-12-2012, 02:45 PM	#3
FOL1 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 27, 2010 Posts: 69	it bothered me so much! that guy in a chicken suit or something in the final shot? really? and no natalie? they should have all said goodbye at least. I recently saw it for the first time and was very disappointed.

04-12-2012, 04:10 PM	#4
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	The reunion movie did have Blair stating that she had sold Eastland. The last season was a sort of...ok, let's keep up the hilarity and then....wait, Nancy's (Jo) not coming back next year so let' get her quickly married off (to a guy she barely knew--couldn't they have least brought back a previous flame such as the college teacher or her Paris' amour?) and then, wait, let's spin off the others--uhm let's set up Natalie in ANOTHER roommate situation and let's make Blair the star of Facts of Life: The Next Generation, where it is convenient to have Pippa tag along since she was already at Eastland.

05-28-2012, 11:34 PM	#7
hawkeye123 Member Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2012 Posts: 1,390	I don't think, I ever got to see the last one.I have read up on it though and, There was supposed to be a spin off ,With Blaire that didn't happen which sucks and ,I think had they known. There wasn't going to be a spin off. They would of done things differently.

11-02-2012, 08:27 PM	#10
Latinoxtc Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 15, 2004 Location: HOUSTON Posts: 182	I think the show got screwed because they were trying to spin off the show. The finale was basically one of the many spin off attempts on this show. They tried to end things with Jo getting married, Tootie going to acting school in London, Natalie moving to New York to pursue her writing career and Blair buying Eastland. But they kind of just left us hanging. I think they depended on Blair's spin off to be picked up but when it wasnt loyal FOL fans were just screwed out of a proper goodbye.
	__________________ Vote for The Facts of Life to be released on DVD at www.tvshowsondvd.com

11-03-2012, 02:23 AM	#11
Nighthawk76 Rachel Berry Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 28, 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 23,254	In many ways I think the entire last season was a diappointment. Especially considering that in season 8 the show was as good as ever. There were a couple of good episodes in season 9 but it really did feel like they had gone back to the well one time too many. The series finale was simply a disappointing conclusion to a pretty unmemorable season. With the exception of Blair, none of the other characters really had anything to do in that episode.

11-03-2012, 10:46 AM	#12
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	You'd think they would have brought back Mrs. Garrett for one final appearance. The show was really built around her and the girls and it wasn't the same show once she left. Actually, I think once they left Eastland as the locale for the show, it was over.
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."