Charlotte Rae releases memoirs: "The Facts of My Life"

['80sSitcoms]

I'm surprised no one's posted about this yet; Charlotte Rae has written her memoirs in a book that was released on September 7th! Then again, with such little fanfare of the book's release (a close friend and myself are HUGE "Facts" fans and even we didn't know about it until just now), maybe it's not surprising that no one's heard of it---which is a shame.

But that's why I'm posting, so all "Facts" here will know about it!

Charlotte Rae: The Facts of My Life - BearManor Media

Charlotte Rae: The Facts of My Life - Amazon

I cannot wait to get my own copy of Charlotte's memoirs and read it cover to cover!

[Coffeecup]

I hope she talks about her days when she appeared on Car 54.

[gidgetgrape]

I had no idea Ms. Rae had a book out!Thanks for the info '80sSitcoms! I'm going to go order a copy.

['80sSitcoms]

You're welcome gidgetgrape, I'm excited too! However, be forewarned, "Facts" fans...this is from an Amazon review:

"While the cover of the book shows The Facts Of Life: The Complete Series cast, only a small part of the book is about that show, because only a small part of her life was spent as Mrs. Garrett."

Since I love "Facts" SO much, this is disappointing, but, I'm glad I know this ahead of time so I'll know not to expect much about the show.

[JR1]

You can read some 'Facts" stuff by using the "Look inside" feature (have to be logged in to see all the pages).

By the start of the fifth season, she said she dreaded going to work, and cried in the summer, before the show was set to resume. I understand, though- as she writes, the girls were growing up and "needing" her less than they had. And the writers wanted to focus more on them than Mrs. G.

['80sSitcoms]

^---Please put "Spoilers" if you're going to mention anything in the book, thanks (I'm avoiding info inside it, or from previews/excerpts online, until I read it)

[RetroGuy2000]

Is the book worth it? Are there enough FOL revelations in it to make it worth buying?

['80sSitcoms]

RetroGuy, this is coming from you?? It's Charlotte Freaking Rae, of course it is worth buying! I can't wait to get my hands on my own copy and read this cover to cover...I'll be interested to read about her entire career (I wonder if she'll muse on her brief time as Molly the Mail Lady on Sesame Street)? But yes, I do wish there were more on FOL in the book than what apparently is.

[JR1]

Sorry, '80sSitcoms- will be mindful for the future.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

RetroGuy, this is coming from you?? It's Charlotte Freaking Rae, of course it is worth buying!

I just asked because I know people who bought Molly Ringwald's "Getting the Pretty Back" book (which, admittedly, is not a memoir), and who were horribly disappointed when there apparently was almost nothing about her past life in the book, and her writing was all about Parisian scarves, French cheese, and fine wine. Or so they said. (The Amazon reviews are pretty scathing, and seem to support the idea that MR's book isn't very deep, and could have been written by anyone).

I don't want to be disappointed by a book written by "Mrs. G."

I can't wait to get my hands on my own copy and read this cover to cover...I'll be interested to read about her entire career (I wonder if she'll muse on her brief time as Molly the Mail Lady on Sesame Street)? But yes, I do wish there were more on FOL in the book than what apparently is.

Alright, I'm convinced.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by JR1

Sorry, '80sSitcoms- will be mindful for the future.

Thanks JR1

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I just asked because I know people who bought Molly Ringwald's "Getting the Pretty Back" book (which, admittedly, is not a memoir), and who were horribly disappointed when there apparently was almost nothing about her past life in the book, and her writing was all about Parisian scarves, French cheese, and fine wine. Or so they said. (The Amazon reviews are pretty scathing, and seem to support the idea that MR's book isn't very deep, and could have been written by anyone).

I don't want to be disappointed by a book written by "Mrs. G."

Well frankly, IMO, how could you be disappointed? Okay, I understand how we can be disappointed that there allegedly isn't that much about "Facts" in the book, but unlike Ms. Ringwald who wrote apparently a "Cosmo"-like book (I'm not insulting "Cosmo", I'm just saying it's apparently about beauty tips and fashion/culture stuff---if you think about it I guess she wrote a book more like "by Blair Warner" ), Ms. Rae has written her memoirs about her life and her career. And that is sure to be a fascinating read.

I also loved that the book got an incidental plug on The Wendy Williams Show last week when Kim Fields was on! Wendy brought it up, go Wendy!

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

I'm just saying it's apparently about beauty tips and fashion/culture stuff---if you think about it I guess she wrote a book more like "by Blair Warner"

Bwahaha! Second time tonight that you made me laugh, '80s! Thanks for keeping me in stitches! It does seem like Molly Ringwald wrote Blair's autobiography.

Imagine this being read in Blair's voice:

In the dead of winter, ten of my closest friends and I bundled up in our layers and trundled over to Artisanal, a famous cheese and wine bar in New York City, and ordered bowls of fondue. I made sure I wore my red dress under my winter coat, drank delicious red wine, ate amazing gooey French cheese, and laughed with my friends...

*Jo interrupts* Please, gimme a break! French cheese?!

Ms. Rae has written her memoirs about her life and her career. And that is sure to be a fascinating read.

Good point!

I also loved that the book got an incidental plug on The Wendy Williams Show last week when Kim Fields was on! Wendy brought it up, go Wendy!

Well, that will help sell a few copies, I bet!

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Bwahaha! Second time tonight that you made me laugh, '80s! Thanks for keeping me in stitches!

My pleasure! I feel so "accomplished"! lol


Nice Blair/Jo text, LOL! Love our Eastland girls!

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Well, that will help sell a few copies, I bet!

I really think so, and I really hope so! It's a small publishing company that finally published Ms. Rae's book (a friend of mine said it flew under our radar most likely because no budget for publicity); she had been shopping it around for quite some time, but no one would publish it---can you believe that?? That is ludicrous!

On The Wendy Williams Show when Kim Fields was on, Wendy said (paraphrasing here), "Now, Charlotte Rae has just released a book, and in it she says that the producers had a scale on the Facts of Life set and would make you all weigh in? Is that true??" and of course Kim confirmed it since we big fans know it's true, and Wendy acted amazed at this "secret" that is now out (which we big fans know is no secret, lol).

Wendy's show is seen in 53 countries and has become an extremely popular show, so I do indeed hope Wendy's indirect plug has caused people to look into Ms. Rae's book and drive lots more business that company's way, making them print MANY more copies by demand!

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Nice Blair/Jo text, LOL! Love our Eastland girls!

Even though that text is perfect for Blair... it's... I hate to say this... an exact copy and paste from Molly Ringwald's book. Eeeek! :/

It's a small publishing company that finally published Ms. Rae's book (a friend of mine said it flew under our radar most likely because no budget for publicity); she had been shopping it around for quite some time, but no one would publish it---can you believe that?? That is ludicrous!

You're right. That's absolutely ludicrous. And yet, these "reality" stars with nothing to say can write "autobiographies" (obviously ghost written) and make huge amounts of money from them.

On The Wendy Williams Show when Kim Fields was on, Wendy said (paraphrasing here), "Now, Charlotte Rae has just released a book, and in it she says that the producers had a scale on the Facts of Life set and would make you all weigh in? Is that true??" and of course Kim confirmed it since we big fans know it's true, and Wendy acted amazed at this "secret" that is now out (which we big fans know is no secret, lol).

Glad Charlotte's book was mentioned. Of course, we've known for many years about the weigh-ins, but it's good that that outrageous behavior by the producers still shocks people after all these years. This would have never happened on a show with five male characters as the stars.

['80sSitcoms]

Here's a page from the publisher about Ms. Rae's book, with photos from a couple of book signings. You may recognize some acting faces if you look closely---Cousin Geri and the Drummonds' Pearl, anyone? And Laugh-In's Jo Anne Worley!

Charlotte Rae Book Signing

How wonderful that Ms. Rae is getting some well-deserved attention and love for her book.

I myself ordered and received it last week, and have been eagerly reading it at home at night and on breaks at work. It's so interesting reading so far about her upbringing and her early career; a thoroughly enjoyable read.