Interesting facts from Charlotte's book - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

FOL-FAN-ITA · 03-14-2020, 03:08 PM

From both Diff'rent Strokes and The Facts of Life

1. When she decided to leave Facts, the writers wanted Mrs. Garrett to marry a doctor while Charlotte asked if she could leave to join the Peace Corps. They compromised and Edna married a doctor who was going to Africa with the Peace Corps.

2. Dana Plato's parents had divorced and she seemed very hungry for a father. She was always trying to get attention from the men on the set.

3. Todd Bridges' parents had split because his father had an affair with his assistant.

4. Edna Garret was named after Edna Brubaker, a friend of Charlotte. Garret was the name of a housekeeper that DS director Herbert Kenwith had had.

5. Charlotte was very nervous during her last episodes on DS because she thought they were going to fire her. She called an old friend from AA who visited her on the set. As soon as Dana saw him, she jumped on his lap. Charlotte never got any support from him.

6. When the producers offered her her own show, they spoke to her <with no emotion, no sense of affection or camaraderie>.

7. Rowland Barber pitched an idea two years before the spin off and he got robbed. He was then hired to write an episode of the first season.

8. <<We wanted to make Mrs. Garrett a liberated woman, wise and courageous and I thought it was important that she not be from New York or some other big city>>.

9. Al Burton's daughter was a graduate of Westlake School.

10. <<John Bowab's background really impressed me and I wanted to do whatever I could to bring him on board>>.

11. She thinks that the first episodes were chaotic and nerve-racking but they did some good work that season. The first year was stressful but it was also very exciting.

12. The network thought there were too many girls. She had no idea how anyone decided which characters to cut from the show. She thinks they kept Mindy and Kim and Lisa because they stood out from the rest. She also thinks the Lost Girls were very professional because they came back after the Cast Purge

13. She hired a nutritionist between the first and second seasons. She insisted that the producers upgrade the food on the set and they were more than happy to accommodate.

14. She bought an apartment building during her second season.

15. Her sisters appeared during the opening scenes of Paris movie.

16. By season five, she dreaded going to work. She cried when it was time to start up another season. But she didn't want to leave the show until she was sure the girls could succeed without her.

17. If the girls saw her with a cigarette, they'd yank it out and crumple it into the trash.

18. Her assistant dumped her to work for Zsa Zsa Gabor

RetroGuy2000 · 03-14-2020, 10:39 PM

Thanks for the facts!

Quote:

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

From both Diff'rent Strokes and The Facts of Life

1. When she decided to leave Facts, the writers wanted Mrs. Garrett to marry a doctor while Charlotte asked if she could leave to join the Peace Corps. They compromised and Edna married a doctor who was going to Africa with the Peace Corps.

Quote:

2. Dana Plato's parents had divorced and she seemed very hungry for a father. She was always trying to get attention from the men on the set.

This does not surprise me.

Quote:

7. Rowland Barber pitched an idea two years before the spin off and he got robbed. He was then hired to write an episode of the first season.

Thanks for the name!

Quote:

12. The network thought there were too many girls. She had no idea how anyone decided which characters to cut from the show. She thinks they kept Mindy and Kim and Lisa because they stood out from the rest. She also thinks the Lost Girls were very professional because they came back after the Cast Purge

I have always felt the same way, as well. Nice to know they were recognized by someone, for their efforts.

Quote:

18. Her assistant dumped her to work for Zsa Zsa Gabor

I have heard nothing but bad things about this assistant. Geri also said Charlotte's assistant was terrible.

FOL-FAN-ITA · 03-15-2020, 01:45 PM

I didn't know! What did she say about this assistant?

RetroGuy2000 · 03-15-2020, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

I didn't know! What did she say about this assistant?

It's been a while since I read it, but Geri said something along the lines of the assistant came between Charlotte and her, was rude, and lied to Charlotte about Geri.

(Hope you are still doing well there in Italy. We've heard horror stories. 21,000 infected. Thousands dead. What a nightmare.

)

FOL-FAN-ITA · 03-15-2020, 03:28 PM

Definitely a nightmare! Today died more than 300 people. The virus is everywhere, North and South Italy

RetroGuy2000 · 03-15-2020, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

Definitely a nightmare! Today died more than 300 people. The virus is everywhere, North and South Italy

So, so sorry to hear this.

valentina warner · 03-15-2020, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

Definitely a nightmare! Today died more than 300 people. The virus is everywhere, North and South Italy

You must be terrified living in Italy with the CORONA VIRUS lol!

Lorimar Television · 03-15-2020, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

Definitely a nightmare! Today died more than 300 people. The virus is everywhere, North and South Italy

Stay safe!

umfan87 · 03-21-2020, 11:53 PM

yes stay safe everyone the place i work at has been shut down to april 13th !

umfan87 · 03-21-2020, 11:54 PM

i've been wanting to purchase charlotte's book for some time but keep putting it off is it good ? im sure it is it's mrs. garrett after all lol i also want to purchase kim fields's book.

RetroGuy2000 · 03-21-2020, 11:57 PM

I can definitely recommend Kim's book, as well as Geri's. There are plenty of FOL facts in both of them.

I haven't read Charlotte's book yet.

umfan87 · 03-21-2020, 11:59 PM

thanks so much !

cfr1970 · 03-22-2020, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I can definitely recommend Kim's book, as well as Geri's. There are plenty of FOL facts in both of them.

I haven't read Charlotte's book yet.

I had no idea Kim wrote a book. Just went to it's Amazon page and now I want to read it. My library website says all locations closed until further notice. Ugh...when they reopen i'm definitely picking it up.

RetroGuy2000 · 03-22-2020, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfr1970

I had no idea Kim wrote a book. Just went to it's Amazon page and now I want to read it. My library website says all locations closed until further notice. Ugh...when they reopen i'm definitely picking it up.

It is excellent. I learned many things.

Yeah, sadly my libraries here are closed, as well. Stupid Coronavirus!

cfr1970 · 03-22-2020, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

It is excellent. I learned many things.

Yeah, sadly my libraries here are closed, as well. Stupid Coronavirus!

It's only $5 bucks used for the hardcover at Amazon. I may just buy it next week. It's the perfect time to catch up on lots of reading.

03-14-2020, 03:08 PM	#1
FOL-FAN-ITA Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 29, 2019 Location: Italy Posts: 1,473	Interesting facts from Charlotte's book From both Diff'rent Strokes and The Facts of Life 1. When she decided to leave Facts, the writers wanted Mrs. Garrett to marry a doctor while Charlotte asked if she could leave to join the Peace Corps. They compromised and Edna married a doctor who was going to Africa with the Peace Corps. 2. Dana Plato's parents had divorced and she seemed very hungry for a father. She was always trying to get attention from the men on the set. 3. Todd Bridges' parents had split because his father had an affair with his assistant. 4. Edna Garret was named after Edna Brubaker, a friend of Charlotte. Garret was the name of a housekeeper that DS director Herbert Kenwith had had. 5. Charlotte was very nervous during her last episodes on DS because she thought they were going to fire her. She called an old friend from AA who visited her on the set. As soon as Dana saw him, she jumped on his lap. Charlotte never got any support from him. 6. When the producers offered her her own show, they spoke to her <with no emotion, no sense of affection or camaraderie>. 7. Rowland Barber pitched an idea two years before the spin off and he got robbed. He was then hired to write an episode of the first season. 8. <<We wanted to make Mrs. Garrett a liberated woman, wise and courageous and I thought it was important that she not be from New York or some other big city>>. 9. Al Burton's daughter was a graduate of Westlake School. 10. <<John Bowab's background really impressed me and I wanted to do whatever I could to bring him on board>>. 11. She thinks that the first episodes were chaotic and nerve-racking but they did some good work that season. The first year was stressful but it was also very exciting. 12. The network thought there were too many girls. She had no idea how anyone decided which characters to cut from the show. She thinks they kept Mindy and Kim and Lisa because they stood out from the rest. She also thinks the Lost Girls were very professional because they came back after the Cast Purge 13. She hired a nutritionist between the first and second seasons. She insisted that the producers upgrade the food on the set and they were more than happy to accommodate. 14. She bought an apartment building during her second season. 15. Her sisters appeared during the opening scenes of Paris movie. 16. By season five, she dreaded going to work. She cried when it was time to start up another season. But she didn't want to leave the show until she was sure the girls could succeed without her. 17. If the girls saw her with a cigarette, they'd yank it out and crumple it into the trash. 18. Her assistant dumped her to work for Zsa Zsa Gabor

03-15-2020, 01:45 PM	#3
FOL-FAN-ITA Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 29, 2019 Location: Italy Posts: 1,473	I didn't know! What did she say about this assistant?

03-15-2020, 03:28 PM	#5
FOL-FAN-ITA Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 29, 2019 Location: Italy Posts: 1,473	Definitely a nightmare! Today died more than 300 people. The virus is everywhere, North and South Italy

03-21-2020, 11:53 PM	#9
umfan87 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 05, 2017 Location: waterloo, iowa Posts: 87	yes stay safe everyone the place i work at has been shut down to april 13th !

03-21-2020, 11:54 PM	#10
umfan87 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 05, 2017 Location: waterloo, iowa Posts: 87	i've been wanting to purchase charlotte's book for some time but keep putting it off is it good ? im sure it is it's mrs. garrett after all lol i also want to purchase kim fields's book.

03-21-2020, 11:57 PM	#11
RetroGuy2000 Julie,Julie Anne,&Felice 4Ever Forum Star Join Date: Dec 27, 2013 Posts: 16,914	I can definitely recommend Kim's book, as well as Geri's. There are plenty of FOL facts in both of them. I haven't read Charlotte's book yet.

03-21-2020, 11:59 PM	#12
umfan87 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 05, 2017 Location: waterloo, iowa Posts: 87	thanks so much !