What *really* happened in the summer of 1980?

['80sSitcoms]

By mid-1980 season 1 had finished airing and was in re-runs, with planning/production for season 2 getting underway.

But the cast went from 7 girls to just 4---what happened?

We know some of the obvious details---Nancy McKeon was seen crying in a Hallmark commercial by NBC and they snagged her for the 2nd season.

"Mr. Bradley" was let go.

4 of the girls were let go, apparently* in this order:

Felice
Julie
Molly
Julie Anne

*I say "apparently" because this is the order stated in one documentary, but elsewhere we hear it mixed up a bit differently (such as the implication that Molly was the last let go). But I like to think of the above order indeed being fact, because I'm such a Julie Anne fan---I like thinking that they were hard-pressed to let her go and held onto her until the very end, lol.

Now, Lisa claims that she and Mindy and Kim had "no idea" about the severe paring down of the cast until they got to the table read. I believe Mindy even says that they walked in "and it's like, okay, where is ev'rybody??" (it's been ages since I've seen the various FOL documentaries, so I'm going on memory here)

But you have 7 girls with numerous parents among them, and agents/managers. And some of these girls forged friendships; even if that weren't a fact, there is still that bond of "family" in a TV cast. With all of these girls and all of these people in their lives connected to the show, would 3 of the girls really have not heard anything from anyone at all during the whole summer before the show returned? Could they really get to the table read having no idea there was such a butchering of the cast? Did none of them exchange phone #s after filming the last season 1 episode and keep in touch over the summer, or even get together at all if any of them lived within close proximity?

Not according to Lisa and Mindy, but if they and Kim really were that completely sheltered from word of the show, I find that amazing and almost unbelievable. I just find it very hard to believe that once Felice, Julie, Molly, and Julie Ann were let go, that phone calls didn't start flying around to everyone with "Did you hear??" "Is your girl still on the show??" "Have you heard what the show's doing??", etc.

Not only that, but if Lisa and Mindy are correct in their memories, that seems very unfair to those two and to Kim. I mean think of the astounding shock at "going back home" to your show to find that 1) the sets are completely different), 2) over half of your cast is gone, and 3), NO ONE TOLD YOU, lol...I mean, that is harsh! Had I been connected to one of the girls as an agent or what-have-you I would definitely have wanted to call them up or meet with them and let them know, "Okay, you're not going to believe this, but there have been lots of changes made to the show", and gently easy them into it. That would be much nicer than a cold walk-in to a completely different world and situation.

"The summer of 1980"---definitely an unforgettable one for the FOL family---and boy, wouldn't that make a great TV movie! lol

[RetroGuy2000]

I don't believe no-one knew. Felice has said she got a call while she was in the basement, over the summer, and there were newspaper articles reporting on the news that some cast members were being axed. Molly says she was told, too, but that the producers changed their minds and hired Nancy McKeon.

Of course they knew. But cast revamps one of the realities of Hollywood, and I don't think anyone blames Lisa, Kim, Charlotte or Mindy for continuing on: the show must go on, is the expression.

['80sSitcoms]

Oo, great point about the newspaper articles! See? How could 3 of these girls show up to the first table read and be "completely surprised" wondering where everyone was?? lol

[RetroGuy2000]

Yes, exactly.

I do, however, believe that the producers weren't forthcoming with details: that is consistent with what many of the girls say.

['80sSitcoms]

Yeah, I agree with that as well.

Poor girls...here it is summertime, the flower of the year for youths and maidens, and these 4 girls are told they're kicked off a TV show. Ouch.

[RetroGuy2000]

At least they had the opportunity to enjoy parts of the summer, without having to worry about learning their lines, or keeping off "the weight".

I remember the summer of 1980, and it was a fun summer. We watched Facts reruns, and caught lightning bugs in jars in the evenings. I hope Felice, Molly, and the Julies could enjoy that summer, too!

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I remember the summer of 1980, and it was a fun summer. We watched Facts reruns, and caught lightning bugs in jars in the evenings.

Now that would be a fantastic way of lighting the cafeteria for a summer dinner event at Eastland!

['80sSitcoms]

Perhaps this is the reaction among Lost Girls when they were first told they were being cut from the show [*sniff*] :

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[RetroGuy2000]

..

['80sSitcoms]

Hahaha, poor Nancy!

She should change her name to "Felice Schafter" because she really got the "shaft"!

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Hahaha, poor Nancy!

She should change her name to "Felice Schafter" because she really got the "shaft"!

Wouldn't a schafter be giving the shaft?

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Wouldn't a schafter be giving the shaft?

That's the cruel twist!

['80sSitcoms]

This imagining is well after 1980, but on topic...last night I started re-watching Molly Ringwald's 1988 movie For Keeps, and I forgot that it co-stars the actor who played Eastland's 3rd headmaster, Mr. Harris in "Gossip"!

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[RetroGuy2000]

Aahahahaha! So funny!!!!!!

I had no idea Mr. Harris was in that!

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Aahahahaha! So funny!!!!!!

I had no idea Mr. Harris was in that!

Right? I had completely forgotten! (I've only seen the film once before, several years ago)

I'm finishing it right now as we speak---"Mr. Harris" is very good in his part!