Natalie was terrible

[cfr1970]

I don't know if she improved in later seasons, but in the early ones her acting is atrocious. She can't do a scene without stifling a laugh or a smile and it looks ridiculous when she's supposed to be doing a scene of anger or sadness.

She definitely could've benefited from an acting coach during those early seasons. Makes me wonder if the director was aware of this but just didn't bother to do anything.

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by cfr1970

I don't know if she improved in later seasons, but in the early ones her acting is atrocious. She can't do a scene without stifling a laugh or a smile and it looks ridiculous when she's supposed to be doing a scene of anger or sadness.

She definitely could've benefited from an acting coach during those early seasons. Makes me wonder if the director was aware of this but just didn't bother to do anything.

Obviously you don't know the history behind Natalie. She was not a professional actress. She was a boarding school student.

[cfr1970]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

Obviously you don't know the history behind Natalie. She was not a professional actress. She was a boarding school student.

Well I guess that explains her atrocious acting then. Thanks.

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by cfr1970

Well I guess that explains her atrocious acting then. Thanks.

And to think they fired the future 80s teen queen and kept Natalie.

[cfr1970]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

And to think they fired the future 80s teen queen and kept Natalie.

It does seem strange they would choose to keep the weakest actress when they did their cast cutting. Even the other 2 girls that were let go along with Molly Ringwald were better than Mindy Cohn.

I don't mean to be insensitive, but perhaps they just wanted to keep the "fat girl" to keep the characters different?

I mean, you had the tomboy, the glamour girl, the black girl, and the fat girl. All pretty distinctive characters from each other. I guess in comparison the other 3 were too similar to each other to keep?

['80sSitcoms]

I don't think Mindy was "atrocious." Julie Piekarski, "Sue Ann", was the one who needed more acting lessons. And I always see Mindy's smiling through her jokes as part of the character of Natalie---she was the "class clown" of the girls.

[cfr1970]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

I don't think Mindy was "atrocious." Julie Piekarski, "Sue Ann", was the one who needed more acting lessons. And I always see Mindy's smiling through her jokes as part of the character of Natalie---she was the "class clown" of the girls.

The thing is, it's not the jokes she's smiling through. In scenes where she's supposed to be angry or upset with one of the other girls or a situation, she'll blurt out the angry or sad line but have that grin on her face like she's trying her best to stifle a laugh or smile.

It is atrocious especially since this goes on well into the 3rd season where the actress should've known how to correctly emote for a particular scene by then.

Maybe she gets better as the seasons progress, but I can see why she did nothing substantial acting wise after the show ended.

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by cfr1970

The thing is, it's not the jokes she's smiling through. In scenes where she's supposed to be angry or upset with one of the other girls or a situation, she'll blurt out the angry or sad line but have that grin on her face like she's trying her best to stifle a laugh or smile.

It is atrocious especially since this goes on well into the 3rd season where the actress should've known how to correctly emote for a particular scene by then.

Maybe she gets better as the seasons progress, but I can see why she did nothing substantial acting wise after the show ended.

I have to say i strongly disagree with you: MINDY COHN was one of the best actresses (at least the best on season 1 along with LISA WHELCHEL) despite the fact that she didn't even have any acting experience!
In fact, i couldn't imagine FOL without NATALIE in it: she is the one who cracked of us all with her sharp answers and funny jokes! I'd say she was a barrel of laughs and always managed to keep the 'gang' together.
NAT & MRS G were always the positive ones, who knew as well how to be emotional when the right moment was there...
Love FOL!:

[Wawwie]

IMO, Nancy McKeon was the best actress out of the four. Then Lisa, Kim and Mindy last. JMO

[cfr1970]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

I have to say i strongly disagree with you: MINDY COHN was one of the best actresses (at least the best on season 1 along with LISA WHELCHEL) despite the fact that she didn't even have any acting experience!
In fact, i couldn't imagine FOL without NATALIE in it: she is the one who cracked of us all with her sharp answers and funny jokes! I'd say she was a barrel of laughs and always managed to keep the 'gang' together.
NAT & MRS G were always the positive ones, who knew as well how to be emotional when the right moment was there...
Love FOL!:

I completely agree on Lisa Whelchel, who's acting from the start was great and throughout the series displayed a wide range of emotions flawlessly. Mindy Cohn as one of the best in season 1? I can't see how on earth you came to that conclusion unless you're solely basing it on her lack of professional experience.

The last time I watched the series through to the end was in it's original run, and from that long ago memory, I do think Mindy got better in later seasons and was able to do serious scenes without stifling that grin or laugh. But in the first few seasons it's quite apparent how bad she was at the serious parts of the show.

They should've forced her to work with a personal acting coach during those early seasons.

[cfr1970]

Originally Posted by Wawwie

IMO, Nancy McKeon was the best actress out of the four. Then Lisa, Kim and Mindy last. JMO

Totally agree on that order. Nancy McKeon was really good with the dramatic scenes and stood out from the rest. But Lisa & Kim are a close second & third.

[Lorimar Television]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

I don't think Mindy was "atrocious." Julie Piekarski, "Sue Ann", was the one who needed more acting lessons. And I always see Mindy's smiling through her jokes as part of the character of Natalie---she was the "class clown" of the girls.

How could you Eights????








but seriously I think Mindy improved by the end of s1, and Julie was a good actress by her return in s2.

[Lorimar Television]

Id say the best actress order in s1 was: Lisa, Kim, Julie Anne, Julie, Felice, Molly, Mindy

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by cfr1970

The thing is, it's not the jokes she's smiling through. In scenes where she's supposed to be angry or upset with one of the other girls or a situation, she'll blurt out the angry or sad line but have that grin on her face like she's trying her best to stifle a laugh or smile.

I've never gotten that impression.

Originally Posted by cfr1970

Nancy McKeon was really good with the dramatic scenes and stood out from the rest.

She did a really bad job with one line in the Miko episode. It's when Miko has returned to Eastland and is telling Jo about wrecking her bike, and Jo is walking toward one side and says "I don't wanna hear anymore" but then she spins around and yells "THEN WHAT HAPPENED?!?"---that moment is way too over the top, IMO.

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

Id say the best actress order in s1 was: Lisa, Kim, Julie Anne, Julie, Felice, Molly, Mindy

They all had a clunker moment here and there, but Lisa was definitely the best. About the only moment off the mark I can think of is in "Flash Flood" where she looks out the stable window and then turns back to Tootie with, "Oh no!"---she just hits a false acting note there.

[Lorimar Television]

I think Kim nailed her stuff