Felice Schachter (Nancy Olson) interview, circa 2013

['80sSitcoms]

I don't know if this has ever been shared before, but here is an interview with Felice (from a former metal head's blog, go figure, lol).

Here are the "Facts"-related parts:


gJg: I want to ask you about some of your earlier roles.

FS: Sure!

gJg: How did you get your start with “The Facts of Life”?

FS: “The Facts of Life” actually started out as an episode on “Diff’rent Strokes”. That episode was a pilot and from there it went on to become its own series.

gJg: There was a rumor that you had actually auditioned for Kimberly on “Diff’rent Strokes”. Was that true?

FS: I not only auditioned but I actually had the part. I did the presentation for NBC but they decided that they wanted someone who was more “wholesome”. So the role went to Dana Plato.

gJg: Were you originally to have much larger role on “Facts of Life” as well?

FS: Yes, it started out that way but then they minimized it, and ultimately my character was taken off.

gJg: What do you suppose was the reason for that?

FS: I think it was because there were too many girls and it became a bit too confusing. They decided to go with just four strong characters. I was supposed to return to do recurring appearances, but at that point, I had decided that I wanted to go to college and dropped acting for a while.

gJg: What was the chemistry like with all the girls that first season of “Facts of Life”?

FS: We had a lot fun together. We all went to school together. I remember that we all used to go around the lot on roller skates. Even though Tootie was the one who wore them on the show, we all used to skate around the lot on them.

[DJM77]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

FS: I not only auditioned but I actually had the part. I did the presentation for NBC but they decided that they wanted someone who was more “wholesome”. So the role went to Dana Plato.

Sad and ironic that Dana Plato was considered more "wholesome" given the way that she turned out.

['80sSitcoms]

I see what you mean DJM, but as Kimberly she was as wholesome as you could get; that's why I was completely stunned to learn what paths Dana took in real life.

[RetroGuy2000]

Great find, '80s!

There is another FOL-related question:

gJg: What was the chemistry like with all the girls that first season of “Facts of Life”?

FS: We had a lot fun together. We all went to school together. I remember that we all used to go around the lot on roller skates. Even though Tootie was the one who wore them on the show, we all used to skate around the lot on them.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by DJM77

Sad and ironic that Dana Plato was considered more "wholesome" given the way that she turned out.

True.

RIP, Dana.

Just imagine if Felice had gotten the part on DS. There would have been no "Diff'rent Strokes" curse, because it would just have been "Todd Bridges is in trouble".

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

I was supposed to return to do recurring appearances, but at that point, I had decided that I wanted to go to college and dropped acting for a while.

This is kinda phrased weirdly, considering Felice did do guest appearances for two seasons, and in fact made more guest appearances (six) than any of the other Lost Girls.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Great find, '80s!

There is another FOL-related question:

Oo! Good eye, Retro---thanks, I've updated my original post to include that How fun!

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Just imagine if Felice had gotten the part on DS. There would have been no "Diff'rent Strokes" curse, because it would just have been "Todd Bridges is in trouble".

Well, Gary didn't have a great life, either. I actually just finished Todd's autobiography the other day. It was an interesting read! He mentioned "Facts" a bit, but about its start, he said "Mrs. Garrett left to open a girls' school", lol. Not quite!

And how about Felice having won the role of Kimberly? I knew she auditioned for it, but I didn't realize she actually sealed the part; until the producers unsealed it and took it away from her!

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

This is kinda phrased weirdly, considering Felice did do guest appearances for two seasons, and in fact made more guest appearances (six) than any of the other Lost Girls.

(I knew you would comment on this!) I know, right?? I couldn't believe that either when I read it. Perhaps she meant she was supposed to continue to do guest appearances, and decided to stop doing them, to attend college. But she was born in Nov. '63, so if her senior year was '81-'82 (considering she didn't turn 18 until November of '81), then that would put her at "leaving" right after season 3, if season 3 filmed in the summer of '82, and then she went off to college.

So RetroGuy, if you think about it, maybe the producers would have had to have kept Felice recurring all along (thanks to her apparently amazing agent!), and she would have graduated on screen with Blair and Jo after all!

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Well, Gary didn't have a great life, either.

No, true.

I actually just finished Todd's autobiography the other day. It was an interesting read! He mentioned "Facts" a bit, but about its start, he said "Mrs. Garrett left to open a girls' school", lol. Not quite!

"Open"? Heh. It's funny how people remember things.

And how about Felice having won the role of Kimberly? I knew she auditioned for it, but I didn't realize she actually sealed the part; until the producers unsealed it and took it away from her!

Sounds like it wasn't the producers but the network who unsealed the deal, and that the producers wanted her.

(I knew you would comment on this!) I know, right?? I couldn't believe that either when I read it. Perhaps she meant she was supposed to continue to do guest appearances, and decided to stop doing them, to attend college. But she was born in Nov. '63, so if her senior year was '81-'82 (considering she didn't turn 18 until November of '81), then that would put her at "leaving" right after season 3, if season 3 filmed in the summer of '82, and then she went off to college.

So RetroGuy, if you think about it, maybe the producers would have had to have kept Felice recurring all along (thanks to her apparently amazing agent!), and she would have graduated on screen with Blair and Jo after all!

That would have been really cool. Too bad it didn't happen.

It's funny how a good agent can really make a difference. Felice's agent was Irv Schechter. Julie's agent was Mary Ann Grady (mother of Lani O'Grady, from Eight is Enough). Julie Anne's agent was out of some little company called TDA (or something). Felice probably could have kept doing guest appearances, if she had wanted to.

It's really too bad the producers didn't think to have the girls back for the graduation episode. They could have at least been in the auditorium scene, when the girls are talking to classmates we've never seen before.

And, yeah, Felice must have meant she decided to stop doing the appearances, rather than they never happened.

[DJM77]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Well, Gary didn't have a great life, either. I actually just finished Todd's autobiography the other day. It was an interesting read! He mentioned "Facts" a bit, but about its start, he said "Mrs. Garrett left to open a girls' school", lol. Not quite!

Yeah, I read his book too and he got quite a few details about things wrong. I like Todd, but I think all of the drugs has messed up his memory.

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

No, true.



"Open"? Heh. It's funny how people remember things.



Sounds like it wasn't the producers but the network who unsealed the deal, and that the producers wanted her.




That would have been really cool. Too bad it didn't happen.

It's funny how a good agent can really make a difference. Felice's agent was Irv Schechter. Julie's agent was Mary Ann Grady (mother of Lani O'Grady, from Eight is Enough). Julie Anne's agent was out of some little company called TDA (or something). Felice probably could have kept doing guest appearances, if she had wanted to.

It's really too bad the producers didn't think to have the girls back for the graduation episode. They could have at least been in the auditorium scene, when the girls are talking to classmates we've never seen before.

And, yeah, Felice must have meant she decided to stop doing the appearances, rather than they never happened.

I think this was where I read that they wanted to bring Felice (who at that point did the most episodes of any of the Lost Girls) back for the 4th season, but she declined.

Felice actually graduated in 1981. Nancy O. had the highest IQ on FOL. Felice probably had the highest IQ of all the cast members. There was some article at the time that said Felice's IQ was in the 160 range.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

I think this was where I read that they wanted to bring Felice (who at that point did the most episodes of any of the Lost Girls) back for the 4th season, but she declined.

Felice actually graduated in 1981. Nancy O. had the highest IQ on FOL. Felice probably had the highest IQ of all the cast members. There was some article at the time that said Felice's IQ was in the 160 range.

I do remember reading the Felice IQ article.

[Lorimar Television]

Nancy has the highest IQ but she wasn’t as smart as Sue Ann or probably Jo

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

Nancy has the highest IQ but she wasn’t as smart as Sue Ann or probably Jo

Nancy O. became a psychiatrist. Jo a police officer. Both important positions, but one generally is regarded as a higher IQ than the other.

[80s Dude]

I wonder would they have brought the Julies back for season 4 if Felice agreed to come back for Season 4.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

I wonder would they have brought the Julies back for season 4 if Felice agreed to come back for Season 4.

That's a good question. Felice's agreement would have had nothing to do with Julie Pie or Julie Anne, and yet, with Felice going to Brown University, the Julies didn't appear. Was Julie Pie too busy at UCLA? Was Julie Anne busy with Boone?