The Facts of Life: An Oral History

[TMC]

http://www.ew.com/microsites/longform/facts/

Mindy Cohn and Kim Fields didn't want to participate.

During the late ‘70s and into the early ‘80s, NBC was, by and large, not the place to be: “Must-See TV” was still more than a decade away, and thanks to big-budget flops (Supertrain) and misguided variety show concepts (Pink Lady), the network’s ratings were floundering. Yet in the midst of myriad disappointments, a show premiered that would go on to become the network’s longest-running sitcom to that point: The Facts of Life.

Revolving around the goings-on at a private girls’ school in Peekskill, New York, The Facts of Life premiered on August 24, 1979. While always a comedy at heart, the series wasn’t afraid to get serious, featuring episodes that tackled racism, abortion, adoption, drug abuse, alcoholism, rape, and suicide at various points. Over the course of its nine-season run, viewers watched Lisa Whelchel, Mindy Cohn, Kim Fields, and—beginning with season 2—Nancy McKeon take their respective characters of Blair, Natalie, Tootie, and Jo from teenagers to adults, moving from high school to college and into the workforce. Along the way, they learned valuable lessons and took heartfelt advice from their oft-flustered housemother, Edna Garrett, played by Charlotte Rae. When Rae departed the series at the beginning of season 8, the vacuum was filled by Mary Tyler Moore and Mel Brooks cohort Cloris Leachman, who played Mrs. Garrett’s sister, Beverly Ann Stickle.

Although the series ended its 200-plus episode run on May 7, 1988, The Facts of Life remains in the public consciousness, aided by the recent arrival of a complete-series set from Shout Factory. In conjunction with the set’s release, members of the series’ cast and creative team spoke with EW about how it all began, the series’ evolution over the course of its run and its enduring fandom.

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Originally Posted by TMC

http://www.ew.com/microsites/longform/facts/

Mindy Cohn and Kim Fields didn't want to participate.

Yea, that was the ONLY flaw in that, otherwise, good read.