Graduation episode - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TV Guy · 11-16-2017, 10:19 PM

MeTV aired this two-part episode the past two days. It’s really well done, hitting all the right nostalgic notes. I remember in its original airing, NBC aired a brief commercial before the closing credits with the cast teasing the new season. They made comments like “How are we going to stay together now?” And “Oh, we’ll be together, but we don’t have time to tell you right now.” And the NBC announcer said, “Facts of Life - returning this fall”. It’s as if they needed to reassure the audience that the show wasn’t over.

I wonder how the show would have played out if they had done a spinoff with Blair and Jo at college, as once proposed, with two new girls joining Natalie and Tootie working for Mrs. Garrett at Eastland (Princess Alex would have been the “new” Blair).

Wildchats · 11-20-2017, 08:27 PM

Princess Alex would have been the new Blair and that thief played by Pamela Segal, or whoever, would have been the new Jo. But I think the show would have been cancelled a season later as would have the spin-off with Blair and Jo. I think they did the right thing NOT making a spinoff.

'80sSitcoms · 11-21-2017, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Guy

MeTV aired this two-part episode the past two days. It’s really well done, hitting all the right nostalgic notes. I remember in its original airing, NBC aired a brief commercial before the closing credits with the cast teasing the new season. They made comments like “How are we going to stay together now?” And “Oh, we’ll be together, but we don’t have time to tell you right now.” And the NBC announcer said, “Facts of Life - returning this fall”. It’s as if they needed to reassure the audience that the show wasn’t over.

Oo, that's awesome!

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Guy

I wonder how the show would have played out if they had done a spinoff with Blair and Jo at college, as once proposed, with two new girls joining Natalie and Tootie working for Mrs. Garrett at Eastland (Princess Alex would have been the “new” Blair).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wildchats

Princess Alex would have been the new Blair and that thief played by Pamela Segal, or whoever, would have been the new Jo. But I think the show would have been cancelled a season later as would have the spin-off with Blair and Jo. I think they did the right thing NOT making a spinoff.

Ugh, so glad that didn't happen...I absolutely despise Alex and Kelly. They would not have joined Natalie and Tootie and Mrs. Garrett at Edna's Edibles if I had anything to say about it. It would have been Cindy and Molly instead.

TV Guy · 11-24-2017, 11:49 AM

If they had moved aheads with the Blair/Jo spinoff idea, I believe the parent show would have stayed at Eastland, with the two new girls working in the cafeteria with the others.

I’m watching the Edna’s Edibles episodes now. Definitely a decline in quality. They’re not bad but the dynamic is definitely different. I don’t buy that Blair gave up the sorority house to live above and work at Edna’s Edibles. They seemed to be setting up the season for Blair to live apart from the others, but that lasted all of one episode. College is supposed to be about new experiences, but Blair and Jo seem to regress with their living situation.

The Boots “character” is a complete cariacature. It seems beneath the show to go for such cheap laughs - kind of like what Saved by the Bell would do.

And what’s with Lisa Whelchel’s title card in the opening credits? Most of the other title cards have clips of the cast talking , in scenes from episodes. But poor Lisa Whelchel has to stare directly into the camera, smiling uncomfortably (with bad hair). Charlotte Rae gets the same treatment, but at least she looks at ease. I seem to remember their replacing Whelchel’s title card midseason.

Christopher · 11-25-2017, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Guy

I’m watching the Edna’s Edibles episodes now. Definitely a decline in quality. They’re not bad but the dynamic is definitely different. I don’t buy that Blair gave up the sorority house to live above and work at Edna’s Edibles. They seemed to be setting up the season for Blair to live apart from the others, but that lasted all of one episode. College is supposed to be about new experiences, but Blair and Jo seem to regress with their living situation.

Jo had no choice in her living situation. They were hinting back in the previous season how Jo's financial situation would impact her going to Langley. It made sense why Jo went to live with Mrs. Garrett. I feel it also made sense for Blair as well. The girls and Mrs. Garrett are like family to Blair. She wanted to stay with them. I think the story in the beginning episodes of season 5 are perfect quality because it shows how tight they all are. Remember in season 4 when Blair says to Jo she can admit their friends even if Jo can't? Blair almost risked her stay at Langley to allow Jo to stay the night with her in her dorm. Blair cares a lot about them and her actions showed just as much as her words so it makes sense she went to live with them instead of staying at the dorms or the sorority house.

TV Guy · 11-25-2017, 09:47 PM

You can care about people and still move on and grow. This is the beginning of the show getting really contrived.

That said, I do buy the reason for Jo living with Mrs. G and the other girls. I just don’t buy it for Blair.

11-16-2017, 10:19 PM	#1
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	Graduation episode MeTV aired this two-part episode the past two days. It’s really well done, hitting all the right nostalgic notes. I remember in its original airing, NBC aired a brief commercial before the closing credits with the cast teasing the new season. They made comments like “How are we going to stay together now?” And “Oh, we’ll be together, but we don’t have time to tell you right now.” And the NBC announcer said, “Facts of Life - returning this fall”. It’s as if they needed to reassure the audience that the show wasn’t over. I wonder how the show would have played out if they had done a spinoff with Blair and Jo at college, as once proposed, with two new girls joining Natalie and Tootie working for Mrs. Garrett at Eastland (Princess Alex would have been the “new” Blair).

11-20-2017, 08:27 PM	#2
Wildchats Me Senior Member Join Date: Jul 15, 2001 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,076	Princess Alex would have been the new Blair and that thief played by Pamela Segal, or whoever, would have been the new Jo. But I think the show would have been cancelled a season later as would have the spin-off with Blair and Jo. I think they did the right thing NOT making a spinoff.
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11-25-2017, 09:47 PM	#6
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	You can care about people and still move on and grow. This is the beginning of the show getting really contrived. That said, I do buy the reason for Jo living with Mrs. G and the other girls. I just don’t buy it for Blair.
	Last edited by TV Guy; 01-13-2018 at 01:45 PM.

11-24-2017, 11:49 AM	#4
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	If they had moved aheads with the Blair/Jo spinoff idea, I believe the parent show would have stayed at Eastland, with the two new girls working in the cafeteria with the others. I’m watching the Edna’s Edibles episodes now. Definitely a decline in quality. They’re not bad but the dynamic is definitely different. I don’t buy that Blair gave up the sorority house to live above and work at Edna’s Edibles. They seemed to be setting up the season for Blair to live apart from the others, but that lasted all of one episode. College is supposed to be about new experiences, but Blair and Jo seem to regress with their living situation. The Boots “character” is a complete cariacature. It seems beneath the show to go for such cheap laughs - kind of like what Saved by the Bell would do. And what’s with Lisa Whelchel’s title card in the opening credits? Most of the other title cards have clips of the cast talking , in scenes from episodes. But poor Lisa Whelchel has to stare directly into the camera, smiling uncomfortably (with bad hair). Charlotte Rae gets the same treatment, but at least she looks at ease. I seem to remember their replacing Whelchel’s title card midseason.