"The Eastland 'Ensider' " - Mrs. Garrett LACKS for SLACKS!

['80sSitcoms]

This edition of The Eastland 'Ensider', headed by that journalistic team of Molly Parker and Natalie Green, takes a look at a fascinating element of television's The Facts of Life: Mrs. Garrett's legwear!

Have you realized that Mrs. Edna Garrett, in her 7+ seasons on the show, only wore slacks in THREE* episodes?!? Eleswhere she's in her trademark Mrs. Garrett skirts, from the dorm to the '80s shop.

That's right! Mrs. Garrett only ever wore pants in the first three produced episodes of season 2:

• The New Girl: Part I (201)
• The New Girl: Part II (202)
• Shoplifting (203)

[numbers are show production numbers, in order of taping]

*(it could be argued she wore pants in only two episodes, as "The New Girl" was a "to be continued" two-parter, but technically that story was two separate episodes)

After this astounding brief moment of Mrs. Garrett wearing pants, in the fourth episode filmed that season, "Double Standard", she is immediately back in a skirt in the opening scene.

I realize I am in the 0.00000001% population on this, but I find this utterly fascinating. Honestly. This raises so many questions for me:

• WHY, after two years of skirts (DS and FOL season 1), did they suddenly put Mrs. Garrett in slacks?
• WHO decided Edna should go from skirts to slacks? Was it the costume designer, Lee Smith? Did Charlotte suddenly feel young and "sassy" for a few episodes?
• Was it to celebrate her new-found weight loss?
• Regardless, WHY did they then go back to putting her in skirts forever after only a couple of episodes later?
• Did viewership increase when Mrs. Garrett wore slacks?? Did Eastland's ratings go through the roof?? Was it the most culturally important moment of the 1980s?? (okay so three two questions aren't as sincere, haha)

Now, because she actually begins the season 2 premiere episode in a skirt, and then appears in slacks for the second half of the episode, it makes this mystery (not meat) that much deeper...

But, yes, because they only dressed her in slacks for THREE episodes immediately after her weight loss, it does have me earnestly questioning this moment in television history.

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[Lorimar Television]

Well they did draw attention to the fact Mrs G lost weight in the premiere. Maybe they wanted some sex appeal for her newly skinny body.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

Well they did draw attention to the fact Mrs G lost weight in the premiere. Maybe they wanted some sex appeal for her newly skinny body.

Haha, get those over-50 men tuning in, va-va-va-voooom!

But, if they wanted to "show off" her weight loss by giving her two complete separate legs (haha), why not continue to do so throughout season 1, instead of only the first 3 episodes?? It's incredible!

[RetroGuy2000]

Nice find, '80s!

I never noticed that Mrs. Garrett only wears skirts, outside of those three episodes. I echo Lorimar's theory that they must have wanted to highlight Mrs. G's weight loss, befitting her new position as school dietician. After they established that she'd lost weight, they could put her back in her traditional skirts, which she'd worn for two years (one on DS).

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Nice find, '80s!

I never noticed that Mrs. Garrett only wears skirts, outside of those three episodes.

I always noticed on a subconscious level. I "sensed" she was outside of her "traditional" Mrs. G look, being in those pants, I just never scrutinized it until now.

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I echo Lorimar's theory that they must have wanted to highlight Mrs. G's weight loss, befitting her new position as school dietician. After they established that she'd lost weight, they could put her back in her traditional skirts, which she'd worn for two years (one on DS).

I find that so interesting! "You've lost half of yourself, so we're gonna show off your legs individually in tailored pants!"---[3 episodes tape]---"Okay, the pants were great, people see how fit you are---now here are some smaller skirts for you!---forever!" lol

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

I always noticed on a subconscious level. I "sensed" she was outside of her "traditional" Mrs. G look, being in those pants, I just never scrutinized it until now.

I understand what you mean. Something definitely felt "off", especially in "Shoplifting".

I find that so interesting! "You've lost half of yourself, so we're gonna show off your legs individually in tailored pants!"---[3 episodes tape]---"Okay, the pants were great, people see how fit you are---now here are some smaller skirts for you!---forever!" lol

Haha!

I did actually already find a fourth episode where Mrs. G. wears pants:

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I did actually already find a fourth episode where Mrs. G. wears pants:

Oh, good catch! I forgot about her "wogging pants"!

Also:

Her "flood pants"! WOW, so that's 2 more episodes, like, a "6th and a 1/2" of season 1 episodes!

Now, granted, these are extenuating wardrobe circumstances, and not her "everyday wear", but still, yeah, it is neat to see, lol.

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[RetroGuy2000]

Aha! So it's more common than we thought! Still rare, though...

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Aha! So it's more common than we thought! Still rare, though...

Yeah, I wouldn't say "common" (except for "room"---ha!), but it "happened" more than we thought---but yes, exceedingly rare!

[Lorimar Television]

LOL tbh I never noticed Mrs G's outfits. I didnt keep track of her choice of leggings.