Jo was the Karen of Facts of Life

[80s Dude]

Jo was definitely the Karen of the Facts of Life. Always butting her nose into other people's business. Going postal over stuff that doesn't concern her such as when they found out that Cliff was a male stripper.

Ironically, as a young adult Nancy McKeon looks a lot like a friend of mine whose name is Karen, but is no Karen.

['80sSitcoms]

I see what you're saying, but I still can't think of her as "a Karen." To me, Karens are obnoxious, privileged, rich white ladies ready to make public employees' days hell.

[Chocolate Moose]

Correct. That is not the definition of a Karen.

[A.C.]

Jo is worse than any real life Karen. She was an annoying bully whose fall back was to threaten physical violence against Blair. I would have liked an episode where she copped her attitude against the wrong girl and got her clock cleaned. I wish this character had never set foot in Eastland.

[Smartboy]

Originally Posted by A.C.

Jo is worse than any real life Karen. She was an annoying bully whose fall back was to threaten physical violence against Blair. I would have liked an episode where she copped her attitude against the wrong girl and got her clock cleaned. I wish this character had never set foot in Eastland.

In my opinion, you are being a little hard on Jo. Even though she was a tough cookie, she had some redeeming qualities.

[Wawwie]

Originally Posted by Smartboy

In my opinion, you are being a little hard on Jo. Even though she was a tough cookie, she had some redeeming qualities.

Yeah, like slenderizing her teacher who was forced to resign. There's also the time she publicly embarrassed her boyfriend Bill and his family all because they had the audacity to be wealthy and who could forget the time she punched Blair in the face because Blair had the nerve to question the existence of god. Yes, Jo has bunches of redeeming qualities.

[A.C.]

Originally Posted by Wawwie

Yeah, like slenderizing her teacher who was forced to resign. There's also the time she publicly embarrassed her boyfriend Bill and his family all because they had the audacity to be wealthy and who could forget the time she punched Blair in the face because Blair had the nerve to question the existence of god. Yes, Jo has bunches of redeeming qualities.

This!

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by Wawwie

Yeah, like slenderizing her teacher who was forced to resign. There's also the time she publicly embarrassed her boyfriend Bill and his family all because they had the audacity to be wealthy and who could forget the time she punched Blair in the face because Blair had the nerve to question the existence of god. Yes, Jo has bunches of redeeming qualities.

Jo is a Mafia princess. Her father gives off that mobster vibe. Perhaps because he was one in real life.

[Wawwie]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

Jo is a Mafia princess. Her father gives off that mobster vibe. Perhaps because he was one in real life.

I don't see her as a mafia princess. I see her as an annoying bully with a huge chip on her shoulder, also someone who punches like a wimp.

[opus]

Originally Posted by Wawwie

who could forget the time she punched Blair in the face because Blair had the nerve to question the existence of god

Jo punched Blair in the face!?! I thought I’d seen every episode of this. You’d think I’d remember that one. Which ep? Is it online?

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by opus

Jo punched Blair in the face!?! I thought I’d seen every episode of this. You’d think I’d remember that one. Which ep? Is it online?

Best Sister, part 2. The episode that had Eve Plumb play the role of Blair's sister.

Look at the 9:00 mark and beyond in this video.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x834bhd

This was not the first time Blair got punched out. Sue Ann also punched Blair (though by accident) in Running. In Best Sister, they also recycled the part of Tootie joking about Blair getting hit.

[opus]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

Best Sister, part 2. The episode that had Eve Plumb play the role of Blair's sister.

Look at the 9:00 mark and beyond in this video.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x834bhd

This was not the first time Blair got punched out. Sue Ann also punched Blair (though by accident) in Running. In Best Sister, they also recycled the part of Tootie joking about Blair getting hit.

Thanks. I had remembered Eve Plumb being on, did not remember Jo coldcocking Blair. Nice left hook.

[Yong Fang]

I havent seen the show since the 1980's when I was a teen, but I remember at least in the beginning that Blair was not a nice person at all and was the antogonist but of course the character mellowed out and became much more likable.

If the show was on now, would Jo be a lesbian? She (at least her character) was very masculine to me, maybe it was her New York accent. I think her character was working class so she made a good foil for spoiled and vaguely southern Blair.

Lastly, and I complain about this all over the internet, but I HATE the term Karen. I looked up once on Google that about 1.1 million people (I take it 99.999999 women) have this name, and now their name is a slur? How would you like it if this was your name? Think about that.

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

I havent seen the show since the 1980's when I was a teen, but I remember at least in the beginning that Blair was not a nice person at all and was the antogonist but of course the character mellowed out and became much more likable.

If the show was on now, would Jo be a lesbian? She (at least her character) was very masculine to me, maybe it was her New York accent. I think her character was working class so she made a good foil for spoiled and vaguely southern Blair.

Lastly, and I complain about this all over the internet, but I HATE the term Karen. I looked up once on Google that about 1.1 million people (I take it 99.999999 women) have this name, and now their name is a slur? How would you like it if this was your name? Think about that.

There was serious talk about making talk of making Cindy a lesbian, but they got cold feet of making a 14 year old charcter played by a 14 year old actress a lesbian. Julie Anne Haddock and her parents were OK going with it.

Blair was a NYer too. That southern thing was Lisa's accent slipping though her character.

You would be surprised at how many Karens turn out to be a Karen.

[BestTVever]

The short answer is no, I dont think Jo was a "Karen." Each of the girls was cast as a very different character that thrived off the interaction and conflict of each other. The interaction dynamic between Blair and Jo was hysterical and led to the popularity of the show. It was great casting and good writing for most of the show with all the main characters. When the mid 80s came around Jo started wearing designer clothes and seemed to lose her working class roots. But everyone was glam in the 80s.