The show should have ended when Ms. Garret left the show

[TVFactFan]

Whem Ms. Garret left the FOL, that should have been the end of the show. Why go on? It wasn't like the show was ever in the top 10 or 15. Plus by that time, all the girls were grown women. So why bring in a replacement for Ms. Garret when the girls wasn't young anymore. The years the show was on the air after Ms. Garret left was a waste.

[*Melissa*]

I agree. After all, it was Mrs. Garrett's show to a point. When they made the Facts of Life as a spinoff, Mrs. Garrett was supposed to be the star since she was on Diff'rent Strokes. Of course, as the show grew, the rest of the girls got equal billing as the show's stars. But still, Mrs. Garrett was a major part of the show. I definitley think they shouldn't have brought in a replacement for Mrs. G. As you said, the girls were grown women by that time and probably didn't need someone to babysit them anymore. I did enjoy a few of the episodes after the Mrs. G years, but IMO the Mrs. G years were more enjoyable.

[TVFactFan]

Originally posted by Slayer Faith
I agree. After all, it was Mrs. Garrett's show to a point. When they made the Facts of Life as a spinoff, Mrs. Garrett was supposed to be the star since she was on Diff'rent Strokes. Of course, as the show grew, the rest of the girls got equal billing as the show's stars. But still, Mrs. Garrett was a major part of the show. I definitley think they shouldn't have brought in a replacement for Mrs. G. As you said, the girls were grown women by that time and probably didn't need someone to babysit them anymore. I did enjoy a few of the episodes after the Mrs. G years, but IMO the Mrs. G years were more enjoyable.

I personally never watched an entire episode after Ms. Garret left-probably because there were more characters added to the FOL along with the lady who Beverly Ann

[Kay Scarpetta]

I never even liked B.A......

[TVFactFan]

Originally posted by Kay Scarpetta
I never even liked B.A......

I know B.A did suck-i just don't think a show who has a main character for 7 years, should be replaced-Ms. Garret was a main character for so many years and it would have been impossible to get used to another person.

[MrsGarrettRocksMySocks]

amen! lol...well, ya know...

They should've just offered to write Mrs. G out of some episodes so Charlotte would've had time to do other stuff besides FOL... Then, they could've kept Mrs. Garrett, she just wouldn't have been in every episode...maybe the show would've lasted LONGER than nine seasons...hm...well, I guess we'll never know...


BTw, I agree with all of you, B.A. sucked!!

[TVFactFan]

Originally posted by Charlotte Rae Fan
amen! lol...well, ya know...

They should've just offered to write Mrs. G out of some episodes so Charlotte would've had time to do other stuff besides FOL... Then, they could've kept Mrs. Garrett, she just wouldn't have been in every episode...maybe the show would've lasted LONGER than nine seasons...hm...well, I guess we'll never know...


BTw, I agree with all of you, B.A. sucked!!

I think the episodes without Ms. Garret should not be shown in syndication.

[*Melissa*]

Originally posted by SOLOMON


I think the episodes without Ms. Garret should not be shown in syndication.

Well, Hallmark seems to be pro-B.A (they didn't even mention poor Mrs. G. on their site), so I doubt that will happen. Some of the B.A episodes are OK, like "Seven Little Indians," so I like to see them air the B.A episodes every once in awhile. When Nick-at-Nite had the show, they stuck to the Mrs. G. episodes after awhile.

[TVFactFan]

Originally posted by Slayer Faith


Well, Hallmark seems to be pro-B.A (they didn't even mention poor Mrs. G. on their site), so I doubt that will happen. Some of the B.A episodes are OK, like "Seven Little Indians," so I like to see them air the B.A episodes every once in awhile. When Nick-at-Nite had the show, they stuck to the Mrs. G. episodes after awhile.

N@N made a good choice by only showing the pre B.A episodes

[DarleneIllyria]

Originally posted by SOLOMON


I think the episodes without Ms. Garret should not be shown in syndication.

I disagree with that. If they didn't show the Beverly Ann episodes, we would all complain about them not showing them.

I can't honestly speak about the B. A years because I haven't seen any of the B. A episodes. Let's do a comparison: Happy Days and FOL. Happy Days rocked during the Ron Howard years, but then when he left it all went down the toilet. That's a prime example of a show that should've folded the cards when Ron pulled out. We had all these cast changes in the show (mainly crappy characters too). Then we have FOL, Charlotte Rae left. She was the main actress, but they continued on w/o her. If we had Kim Fields and Nancy McKeon leaving the show with CR, then I would say it was time to fold the show. Lisa and Mindy are wonderful actresses, but they would try that add more characters crap like HD did and the show would become a total joke.

I know what everybody is thinking that FOL did add some crappy characters sometimes. The Kelly character is a prime example. Do we have any Kelly fans in here? I'm sure we have some that thinks Andy was a totally useless character, but I kind of like the kid. He brought some flavor to the show. We may have some that think the George character sucked. Personally, I liked the George and Andy characters. I won't go into the Pippa or B. A characters because I haven't seen any episodes with them in it. jmo

[TVFactFan]

Originally posted by Jenny


I disagree with that. If they didn't show the Beverly Ann episodes, we would all complain about them not showing them.

I can't honestly speak about the B. A years because I haven't seen any of the B. A episodes. Let's do a comparison: Happy Days and FOL. Happy Days rocked during the Ron Howard years, but then when he left it all went down the toilet. That's a prime example of a show that should've folded the cards when Ron pulled out. We had all these cast changes in the show (mainly crappy characters too). Then we have FOL, Charlotte Rae left. She was the main actress, but they continued on w/o her. If we had Kim Fields and Nancy McKeon leaving the show with CR, then I would say it was time to fold the show. Lisa and Mindy are wonderful actresses, but they would try that add more characters crap like HD did and the show would become a total joke.

I know what everybody is thinking that FOL did add some crappy characters sometimes. The Kelly character is a prime example. Do we have any Kelly fans in here? I'm sure we have some that thinks Andy was a totally useless character, but I kind of like the kid. He brought some flavor to the show. We may have some that think the George character sucked. Personally, I liked the George and Andy characters. I won't go into the Pippa or B. A characters because I haven't seen any episodes with them in it. jmo

So after Ms. Garret left, besides Andy and Beverly Ann, who else was added to the show?

[jayman75]

Originally posted by SOLOMON


I know B.A did suck-i just don't think a show who has a main character for 7 years, should be replaced-Ms. Garret was a main character for so many years and it would have been impossible to get used to another person.

I'm so tired of everyone griping about Beverly Ann. First of all, Cloris Leachman was put into a very difficult position -- replacing a character that was a center to the rest of the show. I'm sure she didn't just walk in and feel like a part of the series. She is quite an accomplished actress, for those of you who don't know.

Second -- in replacing Mrs G, they had to make Beverly Ann different. If she was the same as Mrs. G (mannerisms, views, background, etc), then everyone would have said that. Then, it would have looked REALLY bad because it would have said to viewers, critics, etc that the writers sucked so bad that they couldn't come up with another type of character.

Third -- the girls may have been "grown up," but you're never too old for advice. These four women were going to college, going into the "real world," getting married, etc etc. Their parents weren't the stars of the show -- Mrs G was -- a woman who helped them figure things out. That was the point of the show -- advice. Who would they get advice from once Mrs G left, GEORGE??

Yes, FOL did Jump the Shark when Mrs G left, but get over it people. If you don't like those last two seasons, you would have lost two other seasons of FOL. That would have pulled it from being one of the longest running sitcoms in history. That would have given us two less years of Jo, Blair, Natalie, and Tootie. That would have also taken away from the powerful Saturday night lineup that NBC had. So, just appreciate the fact that they were able to continue as long as they did. The show ran longer than All in the Family, Golden Girls, The Jeffersons and several other popular series.


It deserves a lot more respect than "Beverly Ann sucked."

[DarleneIllyria]

Originally posted by SOLOMON


So after Ms. Garret left, besides Andy and Beverly Ann, who else was added to the show?

Andy was added before Mrs. Garrett left.

[TVFactFan]

Originally posted by Jenny


Andy was added before Mrs. Garrett left.

Who else was added along with Beverly Ann?

[KimFieldsFan637]

Originally posted by jayman75


I'm so tired of everyone griping about Beverly Ann. First of all, Cloris Leachman was put into a very difficult position -- replacing a character that was a center to the rest of the show. I'm sure she didn't just walk in and feel like a part of the series. She is quite an accomplished actress, for those of you who don't know.

Second -- in replacing Mrs G, they had to make Beverly Ann different. If she was the same as Mrs. G (mannerisms, views, background, etc), then everyone would have said that. Then, it would have looked REALLY bad because it would have said to viewers, critics, etc that the writers sucked so bad that they couldn't come up with another type of character.

Third -- the girls may have been "grown up," but you're never too old for advice. These four women were going to college, going into the "real world," getting married, etc etc. Their parents weren't the stars of the show -- Mrs G was -- a woman who helped them figure things out. That was the point of the show -- advice. Who would they get advice from once Mrs G left, GEORGE??

Yes, FOL did Jump the Shark when Mrs G left, but get over it people. If you don't like those last two seasons, you would have lost two other seasons of FOL. That would have pulled it from being one of the longest running sitcoms in history. That would have given us two less years of Jo, Blair, Natalie, and Tootie. That would have also taken away from the powerful Saturday night lineup that NBC had. So, just appreciate the fact that they were able to continue as long as they did. The show ran longer than All in the Family, Golden Girls, The Jeffersons and several other popular series.


It deserves a lot more respect than "Beverly Ann sucked."

Yeah, I have to agree. True the show wasn't the same without Mrs. Garrett and I'm sure everyone would of loved her to stay, but Cloris Leachman shouldn't be put down because of a decision that Charlotte Rae made. It's not like they kicked Charlotte Rae out of the show because they wanted to replace her with Cloris Leachman, this was her decision. I give Cloris a lot of credit for taking the character of Beverly Ann, I'm sure she knew that their were a lot of Mrs. Garrett fans out there, but someone had to be there for the girls! All I'm trying to say is either way Charlotte Rae would of left, if Cloris Leachman would be added as Beverly Ann or not...