The actor/actress most like and least like their characters.

[80s Dude]

The actor/actress most like and least like their characters.

Most: Molly/Molly: Molly's social media accounts read almost exactly what you would think her character would say. All of her props are part of her real life. The camera, the ham radio, even her guitar. She posted a picture on Instagram last year of a guitar that was very similar to the one on the show that is in her living room.

Least: Nancy M./Jo: Hard to decide between them and Lisa/Blair. Nancy M. is not a tomboy. She is not mechanically inclined and doesn't ride motorcycles. She doesn't wear her hair like Jo in the beginning. The only thing that Nancy M. and Jo have in common is that NYC accent in which Nancy M. has lost over the years.

[PracTz]

Most: I'd say Mindy Cohn was most like Natalie- especially since the character originally was based on Miss Cohn herself as she appeared to Miss Rae and the show's producers. Most if not all everything Natalie said and did were things one could imagine what Miss Cohn might have said or done under the circumstances.

Least: I'd say Nancy McKeon since Jo seemed far more bombastic and aggressive than Miss McKeon who, at the time, seemed remarkably shy and polite despite being able to give outstanding comedic and dramatic performances. Plus, Miss McKeon has said she knows NOTHING whatsoever about motorcycles and only reluctantly got on one ONCE at the urging of her husband well into adulthood.

[FOL-FAN-ITA]

Most: As PracTz said before me, Natalie shared a lot with Mindy. And Mrs. Garrett was based on Charlotte, too.


Least: Blair was the complete opposite of Lisa. Blair was an Atheist while Lisa is a Christian and many other things

[RetroGuy2000]

Most: Julie Anne, Julie Pie, Molly, Felice, Mindy.

Least: Lisa and Nancy M.

['80sSitcoms]

That's funny you all are saying Mindy as one of the most alike, because Mindy says that Natalie is not much like her, that they really grew apart as the show went on. So she would school you on that, in her opinion.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

That's funny you all are saying Mindy as one of the most alike, because Mindy says that Natalie is not much like her, that they really grew apart as the show went on. So she would school you on that, in her opinion.

They definitely grew apart as time went on... but Felice/Nancy and Julie Pie/Sue Ann and Julie Anne/Cindy also grew apart: in later years, Sue Ann approved of living together while unmarried, which 1979 Sue Ann likely would have frowned upon. Nancy had an unplanned pregnancy, which Felice did not have. And Cindy was making the cover of major fashion magazines while Julie Anne was retreating from the limelight.

Even Molly had some differences from her character: Molly Parker never would have approved of the inappropriate sexual behavior seen in Sixteen Candles... and Molly looks back now and regrets that that project hasn't aged so well. But the facts is that Molly Ringwald went along with some scripts that Molly Parker would have been screaming about, calling them "flesh parades" and whatnot.

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

They definitely grew apart as time went on... but Felice/Nancy and Julie Pie/Sue Ann and Julie Anne/Cindy also grew apart: in later years, Sue Ann approved of living together while unmarried, which 1979 Sue Ann likely would have frowned upon. Nancy had an unplanned pregnancy, which Felice did not have. And Cindy was making the cover of major fashion magazines while Julie Anne was retreating from the limelight.

Even Molly had some differences from her character: Molly Parker never would have approved of the inappropriate sexual behavior seen in Sixteen Candles... and Molly looks back now and regrets that that project hasn't aged so well. But the facts is that Molly Ringwald went along with some scripts that Molly Parker would have been screaming about, calling them "flesh parades" and whatnot.

Now you have Molly's youngest daughter who acts like Molly Parker.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

in later years, Sue Ann approved of living together while unmarried, which 1979 Sue Ann likely would have frowned upon.

Maybe she didn't know. Did we know Nancy and Roger were "keeping house" out of wedlock?

But if she did know, she probably smiled and was still her friend while secretly judging her on the inside (and to her folks back home in Kansas City, Kansas, lol).

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Maybe she didn't know. Did we know Nancy and Roger were "keeping house" out of wedlock?

But if she did know, she probably smiled and was still her friend while secretly judging her on the inside (and to her folks back home in Kansas City, Kansas, lol).

No, Sue Ann actually says she approves of living together outside of wedlock! Nancy says she's been living with Roger, and Sue Ann says she approves!

Now, I don't doubt that Sue Ann wasn't secretly judging Nancy, and I'm SURE the next time she went home to "mummy and daddy" back in Kansas City, Kansas, she reported all of this to her parents, Tiger, and anyone else who would listen! That Sue Ann!

['80sSitcoms]

But Sue Ann does not say "I approve!"

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

But Sue Ann does not say "I approve!"

She says, "Big deal. This is the '80s. I mean, so what if people jump the gun on their wedding night? I mean, it's not exactly front page news."

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

She says, "Big deal. This is the '80s. I mean, so what if people jump the gun on their wedding night? I mean, it's not exactly front page news."

Ooohh, I thought you mean she said the words, "I approve!"

That's not Sue Ann though, that's Molly. That's strange they had Sue Ann say that (maybe it was meant for Molly in the original before they'd contacted Molly, and they gave it to Sue Ann).

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Ooohh, I thought you mean she said the words, "I approve!"

That's not Sue Ann though, that's Molly. That's strange they had Sue Ann say that (maybe it was meant for Molly in the original before they'd contacted Molly, and they gave it to Sue Ann).

Maybe so.

Or maybe "Big City, Major VP, Bergdorf's-shopping" Sue Ann thought that was something she should say. She was, after all, portraying herself as a big-time VP in the 1980s, and not the gofer she actually was.

Or maybe she was trying to be supportive of a decision her old friend Nancy had made. That would be very Sue Ann.

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Ooohh, I thought you mean she said the words, "I approve!"

That's not Sue Ann though, that's Molly. That's strange they had Sue Ann say that (maybe it was meant for Molly in the original before they'd contacted Molly, and they gave it to Sue Ann).

Molly had a big head start about non-married couples living together. She thought that Mr. and Mrs. Garrett should just live together early in the "Return of Mr. Garrett".

[Lorimar Television]

I don’t think Nancy was ever like this..