Actor who played Natalie's date in Sex Symbol posted in a FOL Facebook group.

[80s Dude]

The actor (Dan Spector) who played Natalie's date Neil in Sex Symbol post in a Facts of Life Facebook group today. He had some interesting things to say.

- He was 25 when he played Natalie's date. My commentary: What is it about this show that had 20 something males play the dates or boyfriends to girls who are in their early to mid teens? Can't they find teenage male actors to fill these parts?

- Since this was an episode where the Lost Girls sans Molly appeared, he said that all the 7 girls were a very tight knit group off camera. They didn't really associate with him when the cameras were not rolling (He could understand with his age) and that he ate lunch by himself.

- The subject of Happy Days came up. He said the Ron Howard treated him nicely and they still bump into one another once in a while and chit chat. He, however said that Henry Winkler and Scott Baio froze him out.

- He has been more involved in real estate rather than Hollywood in recent years.

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

The actor (Dan Spector) who played Natalie's date Neil in Sex Symbol post in a Facts of Life Facebook group today. He had some interesting things to say.

- He was 25 when he played Natalie's date. My commentary: What is it about this show that had 20 something males play the dates or boyfriends to girls who are in their early to mid teens? Can't they find teenage male actors to fill these parts?

- Since this was an episode where the Lost Girls sans Molly appeared, he said that all the 7 girls were a very tight knit group off camera. They didn't really associate with him when the cameras were not rolling (He could understand with his age) and that he ate lunch by himself.

- The subject of Happy Days came up. He said the Ron Howard treated him nicely and they still bump into one another once in a while and chit chat. He, however said that Henry Winkler and Scott Baio froze him out.

- He has been more involved in real estate rather than Hollywood in recent years.

I'm not at all surprised to hear that: this guy looked visibly older than NATALIE!!!!

But i'm surely glad to hear the 'lost girls' were still close to the 'Core of 4' off set!

['80sSitcoms]

Wow, cool...but 25?? I never would've guess that.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

The actor (Dan Spector) who played Natalie's date Neil in Sex Symbol post in a Facts of Life Facebook group today. He had some interesting things to say.

- He was 25 when he played Natalie's date. My commentary: What is it about this show that had 20 something males play the dates or boyfriends to girls who are in their early to mid teens? Can't they find teenage male actors to fill these parts?

Yeah, all of the guys were soooo old: Steve, Neil, Eddie, Arvid... all of the ones I can think of, anyway. Until Andy. Guess they were making up for having much older guys for so long by finally getting a much younger guy!

- Since this was an episode where the Lost Girls sans Molly appeared, he said that all the 7 girls were a very tight knit group off camera.

Oh, that IS SO COOL! I'm glad the Cast Purge didn't frazzle anyone, even temporarily... except for Molly, of course, who felt it was her worst job EVAR. Tight-knit, guys. Did you hear that? Even in Season Two! They were "tight-knit". Because, as we know, "all of us" were hanging out at the McKeons' house in Burbank, when they weren't taping.

They didn't really associate with him when the cameras were not rolling (He could understand with his age) and that he ate lunch by himself.

Sorry Neil had to sit by himself, but the Superlative Seven were probably just across the road, eating at La Denny's!

- The subject of Happy Days came up. He said the Ron Howard treated him nicely and they still bump into one another once in a while and chit chat. He, however said that Henry Winkler and Scott Baio froze him out.

Did he say why?

- He has been more involved in real estate rather than Hollywood in recent years.

Glad he stopped by! That's really cool to get his insight!

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

i'm surely glad to hear the 'lost girls' were still close to the 'Core of 4' off set!

Me too! I mean, I suspected as much, based on what Julie Pie had said about hanging out with Nancy and Philip at their house in Burbank, but still, it is nice to have it at last confirmed.

[80s Dude]

The other Lost Girls were older and probably had a better understanding of the business. If they blamed someone, it was management and not Nancy McKeon.

I still say they should have teamed Molly with at least one of the other Lost Girls in the New Girl, Part 2. To leave a 12 year old child by themself isolated from their former social circle, confused, and angry was cruel.

Of course, the writers could have learned from the Molly debacle and decided to have the remaining 7 girls hanging out together licking stamps and stuffing envelopes in "Gossip".

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

The other Lost Girls were older and probably had a better understanding of the business. If they blamed someone, it was management and not Nancy McKeon.

I still say they should have teamed Molly with at least one of the other Lost Girls in the New Girl, Part 2. To leave a 12 year old child by themself isolated from their former social circle, confused, and angry was cruel.

That's showbiz. (Not excusing it, just stating what we all know: the heads of the industry don't care, as we have network executives, even decades later, making up fictional numbers as a way of justifying the Cast Purge.) I'm sure they thought they were doing her a favor.

I don't doubt Felice knew who was to blame; she said herself in 2006 that so many promises had been broken, but that good things had occurred because of it. When she says "so many" promises were broken, she's not talking about anything Nancy McKeon did, as Nancy had no control over anything, at that point. It wouldn't be until much later that any of the girls could flex their star power, as we saw Nancy do this in Season Six with her taping boycott.

Of course, the writers could have learned from the Molly debacle and decided to have the remaining 7 girls hanging out together licking stamps and stuffing envelopes in "Gossip".

If they learned their lesson, why did they then have Felice by herself in "Pretty Babies", "Dear Me", and "Green-Eyed Monster"? No, no lesson was learned.

80s Dude, do you have a link to the Facebook page?

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

That's showbiz. (Not excusing it, just stating what we all know: the heads of the industry don't care, as we have network executives, even decades later, making up fictional numbers as a way of justifying the Cast Purge.) I'm sure they thought they were doing her a favor.

I don't doubt Felice knew who was to blame; she said herself in 2006 that so many promises had been broken, but that good things had occurred because of it. When she says "so many" promises were broken, she's not talking about anything Nancy McKeon did, as Nancy had no control over anything, at that point. It wouldn't be until much later that any of the girls could flex their star power, as we saw Nancy do this in Season Six with her taping boycott.



If they learned their lesson, why did they then have Felice by herself in "Pretty Babies", "Dear Me", and "Green-Eyed Monster"? No, no lesson was learned.

80s Dude, do you have a link to the Facebook page?

Here is the link. You have to apply to get in.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/559690410778614/

[80s Dude]

Dan Spector now says on the Happy Days set, Mrs. C. (Marion Ross/Cunningham) came over and had lunch with him.

[Lorimar Television]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

I still say they should have teamed Molly with at least one of the other Lost Girls in the New Girl, Part 2. To leave a 12 year old child by themself isolated from their former social circle, confused, and angry was cruel.

Very good point, the other lost girls had each other, but Molly was stuck with a random guest star.

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

Very good point, the other lost girls had each other, but Molly was stuck with a random guest star.

Yes: MARGO the evil queen!!!

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

Very good point, the other lost girls had each other, but Molly was stuck with a random guest star.

They did with "Gossip", but after that Nancy was there on her own a lot. Maybe they felt sorry about casting her first/firing her first and decided to let her shine.

[Lorimar Television]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

They did with "Gossip", but after that Nancy was there on her own a lot. Maybe they felt sorry about casting her first/firing her first and decided to let her shine.

Yes but that was after appearing twice with the other lost girls and or the core four.