I've finished watching the series... and.... - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Schmoopie · 07-15-2019, 03:19 AM

This probably isn't a good place to be saying this since most if not all of us who are even posting here are fans of the show, but then again, I may have company in my opinion.

So I just finished watching the series finale (ugh... just awful) and it took me from June 8-July 14th to watch the whole series beginning to end. Granted I know there are eps that I missed thanks to the stations skipping them all together and I still need to watch the Down Under one and the Reunion Show, but all in all I am not impressed with this show whatsoever.

There are a handful of episodes I liked but mostly it felt like a 'chore having to watch them. That might be why it took me so long. There are other 80's shows that are so much better and funnier. The writing for Facts of Life left a lot to be desired. And the character of Tootie got on my nerves the entire series. I think she was even worse in the later seasons with her whining and being such a busybody. She was way too old for that in Season 8-9 so I don't know why they wrote her the way they did. I lost count of the number of times that I wanted to smack her.

The only bright spot in this series was Jo. As I've said before she was the most down to earth and Nancy McKeon is a great actress.

I'm sorry to be such a "killjoy" as my husband used to say, but now that I've seen the whole series I wanted to share my opinion. Don't get me wrong it does have it's good moments, but there were some episodes that I fast-forwarded through out of boredom. It's a shame too because I hadn't seen this show in forever and I was looking foreword to getting reacquainted.

'80sSitcoms · 07-15-2019, 09:41 AM

Hey, how feel is how you feel. You can't help if you enjoy a show or not.

Frankly, since you don't care for the show much at all, I think you're a trooper for going through all 9 seasons! I mean---wow!

I dearly love this show. It is a part of my DNA. And I think it had *terrific* writing and wonderful humor, especially in seasons 2 through 5.

I find it interesting you feel Tootie gets more annoying as the show goes on. For most people who find Tootie annoying, they seem to enjoy her in season 1, then find her annoying the next couple of years, then kind of "mellow out" on her. Tootie was my favorite when I was a kid, partly because I was the youngest in the family and so I identified with her in that respect.

Well, even though it was (sadly) a big disappointment for you, kudos for sticking it through to the very end!

Lorimar Television · 07-15-2019, 09:56 PM

It only took you a little over a month I wouldn't call that long at all. It took me almost 5 months to watch from start to finish

Christopher · 07-15-2019, 11:47 PM

It's a shame you didn't enjoy the show. I think one problem you may have had is seeing the show again in syndication. The episodes originally range between 24 to 25 minutes. In syndication, you only get to see nowadays about 19 to 20 minutes (if that). They cut out a lot of crucial scenes for the episodes to make sense. That's why I'm grateful Shout released the complete series with only one minor cut, Tootie's singing in The Graduate.

As for Tootie, she never got on my nerves. Of the main 4, I think Mindy was my least favorite. Season 1, she was just as bad as Molly with her acting. She became better in season 2 and throughout the series. Lisa and Kim remain my favorites though of the 4.

rusty spike · 07-16-2019, 02:09 AM

I grew up watching FOL the first time it aired. I did not enjoy it as much after Charlotte left and Cloris arrived (no fault to Cloris, but her character was dull and lacked purpose). I think the show lost direction and grossly drifted away from its roots. The last season is very hard to watch. However, I think the show did great to deeply draw upon its brilliant character development. My favorite seasons were the Eastland years.

Schmoopie · 07-16-2019, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Hey, how feel is how you feel. You can't help if you enjoy a show or not.

Frankly, since you don't care for the show much at all, I think you're a trooper for going through all 9 seasons! I mean---wow!

I dearly love this show. It is a part of my DNA. And I think it had *terrific* writing and wonderful humor, especially in seasons 2 through 5.

I find it interesting you feel Tootie gets more annoying as the show goes on. For most people who find Tootie annoying, they seem to enjoy her in season 1, then find her annoying the next couple of years, then kind of "mellow out" on her. Tootie was my favorite when I was a kid, partly because I was the youngest in the family and so I identified with her in that respect.

Well, even though it was (sadly) a big disappointment for you, kudos for sticking it through to the very end!

Thanks for the compliment. I probably wouldn't have stuck with it had they not been in my DVR. It was a nice feeling to watch them all and have them all cleaned out. More space for other things!

I think Tootie just annoyed me from the beginning so it kind of stayed with me. Maybe if I were younger she might not bother me so much. But at least I've seen them all now. I tried watching the reunion movie and didn't really care for it so maybe I'll watch the Australia movie next since I've actually been there. At the very least I'll see some of the sights I saw when I was there.

'80sSitcoms · 07-16-2019, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christopher

Of the main 4, I think Mindy was my least favorite. Season 1, she was just as bad as Molly with her acting.

It's funny how different people are. I don't have a problem with Mindy at all in season 1. And I admit Molly could sometimes do better than she did, but for me Julie Piekarski did the worst acting---not all the time, but overall my sister and I think she was the most "obvious" in her acting, and when that happened, it didn't come off well.

When Charlotte says in documentaries all those girls were so good, I always think, "Are you sure? Did you watch Julie?" lol...again, she did have good moments, but she did have some awfully bad ones (apologies to Lorsie and Retro for reading this, sorry, it's how I feel! lol).

RetroGuy2000 · 07-16-2019, 10:08 PM

No need to apologize for that, '80s! For me, there is some bad acting from all the actresses during their first few years, and Julie Pie is certainly no worse than the girl who didn't know what 'upstage' and 'downstage' meant, or the 'Zits!' girl badly singing songs.

For me, it's more believable to have seven or eight girls at a girls' school than it is to have random people like Pippa, Beverly Ann, and Andy living together with four young ladies from Langley College.

TVFactFan · 07-16-2019, 11:13 PM

I was a fan of the show and feel the best seasons were the ones between 81 and 86. Never liked the 1st season, too many girls and the era after Mrs, garret left

Lorimar Television · 07-17-2019, 06:22 PM

Julie Pie definitely overacted at times, which is probably why they decided to ultimately cut her.

'80sSitcoms · 07-18-2019, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

For me, there is some bad acting from all the actresses during their first few years, and Julie Pie is certainly no worse than the girl who didn't know what 'upstage' and 'downstage' meant, or the 'Zits!' girl badly singing songs.

Ah. See, for me, she is, lol. But I also think Molly is so cute wanting to make all things better with her guitar (I know, we've disagreed on this a year or 4 ago, lol).

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

For me, it's more believable to have seven or eight girls at a girls' school than it is to have random people like Pippa, Beverly Ann, and Andy living together with four young ladies from Langley College.

Yes, I would definitely take Sue Ann over Pippa and Andy any day!

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Julie Pie definitely overacted at times, which is probably why they decided to ultimately cut her.

I wonder? I dunno, after all, Charlotte said "they were all so good"---what if the producers saw all the girls through "Eastland-colored glasses" as well? lol

RetroGuy2000 · 07-20-2019, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

I also think Molly is so cute wanting to make all things better with her guitar

She's certainly adorable.

Quote:

Yes, I would definitely take Sue Ann over Pippa and Andy any day!

Right on!

RetroGuy2000 · 07-20-2019, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

I was a fan of the show and feel the best seasons were the ones between 81 and 86. Never liked the 1st season, too many girls and the era after Mrs, garret left

Too many girls? At a girls' school? When Just the Ten of Us had eight kinds in a single family? No way!

TVFactFan · 07-20-2019, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Too many girls? At a girls' school? When Just the Ten of Us had eight kinds in a single family? No way!

season 1 it was like 45 girls lol Versus just 4 starting with season 2

Lorimar Television · 07-21-2019, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

season 1 it was like 45 girls lol Versus just 4 starting with season 2

It was 7 girls and 3 adults for the 1st 4 eps, then only 2 adults for the remainder of the season.

07-15-2019, 03:19 AM	#1
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	I've finished watching the series... and.... This probably isn't a good place to be saying this since most if not all of us who are even posting here are fans of the show, but then again, I may have company in my opinion. So I just finished watching the series finale (ugh... just awful) and it took me from June 8-July 14th to watch the whole series beginning to end. Granted I know there are eps that I missed thanks to the stations skipping them all together and I still need to watch the Down Under one and the Reunion Show, but all in all I am not impressed with this show whatsoever. There are a handful of episodes I liked but mostly it felt like a 'chore having to watch them. That might be why it took me so long. There are other 80's shows that are so much better and funnier. The writing for Facts of Life left a lot to be desired. And the character of Tootie got on my nerves the entire series. I think she was even worse in the later seasons with her whining and being such a busybody. She was way too old for that in Season 8-9 so I don't know why they wrote her the way they did. I lost count of the number of times that I wanted to smack her. The only bright spot in this series was Jo. As I've said before she was the most down to earth and Nancy McKeon is a great actress. I'm sorry to be such a "killjoy" as my husband used to say, but now that I've seen the whole series I wanted to share my opinion. Don't get me wrong it does have it's good moments, but there were some episodes that I fast-forwarded through out of boredom. It's a shame too because I hadn't seen this show in forever and I was looking foreword to getting reacquainted.
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

07-15-2019, 09:56 PM	#3
Lorimar Television Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 06, 2007 Posts: 7,034	It only took you a little over a month I wouldn't call that long at all. It took me almost 5 months to watch from start to finish
	__________________ Some of my favorite theme songs: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-e...89CsiJpV_irnNw

07-16-2019, 10:08 PM	#8
RetroGuy2000 Julie,Julie Anne,&Felice 4Ever Forum Star Join Date: Dec 27, 2013 Posts: 16,914	No need to apologize for that, '80s! For me, there is some bad acting from all the actresses during their first few years, and Julie Pie is certainly no worse than the girl who didn't know what 'upstage' and 'downstage' meant, or the 'Zits!' girl badly singing songs. For me, it's more believable to have seven or eight girls at a girls' school than it is to have random people like Pippa, Beverly Ann, and Andy living together with four young ladies from Langley College.
	__________________ The Facts of Life's "Lost Girls" Tribute to Julie Piekarski, Eastland Girl Join "The Group", Sitcoms Online's Facts of Life group!

07-15-2019, 09:41 AM	#2
'80sSitcoms Member Forum Star Join Date: Jan 30, 2013 Posts: 12,474	Hey, how feel is how you feel. You can't help if you enjoy a show or not. Frankly, since you don't care for the show much at all, I think you're a trooper for going through all 9 seasons! I mean---wow! I dearly love this show. It is a part of my DNA. And I think it had terrific writing and wonderful humor, especially in seasons 2 through 5. I find it interesting you feel Tootie gets more annoying as the show goes on. For most people who find Tootie annoying, they seem to enjoy her in season 1, then find her annoying the next couple of years, then kind of "mellow out" on her. Tootie was my favorite when I was a kid, partly because I was the youngest in the family and so I identified with her in that respect. Well, even though it was (sadly) a big disappointment for you, kudos for sticking it through to the very end!

07-15-2019, 11:47 PM	#4
Christopher The OG Core Four Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 15, 2001 Posts: 14,833	It's a shame you didn't enjoy the show. I think one problem you may have had is seeing the show again in syndication. The episodes originally range between 24 to 25 minutes. In syndication, you only get to see nowadays about 19 to 20 minutes (if that). They cut out a lot of crucial scenes for the episodes to make sense. That's why I'm grateful Shout released the complete series with only one minor cut, Tootie's singing in The Graduate. As for Tootie, she never got on my nerves. Of the main 4, I think Mindy was my least favorite. Season 1, she was just as bad as Molly with her acting. She became better in season 2 and throughout the series. Lisa and Kim remain my favorites though of the 4.

07-16-2019, 02:09 AM	#5
rusty spike Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 08, 2015 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,124	I grew up watching FOL the first time it aired. I did not enjoy it as much after Charlotte left and Cloris arrived (no fault to Cloris, but her character was dull and lacked purpose). I think the show lost direction and grossly drifted away from its roots. The last season is very hard to watch. However, I think the show did great to deeply draw upon its brilliant character development. My favorite seasons were the Eastland years.

07-16-2019, 11:13 PM	#9
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,065	I was a fan of the show and feel the best seasons were the ones between 81 and 86. Never liked the 1st season, too many girls and the era after Mrs, garret left

07-17-2019, 06:22 PM	#10
Lorimar Television Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 06, 2007 Posts: 7,034	Julie Pie definitely overacted at times, which is probably why they decided to ultimately cut her.