80s TV Ladies Podcast: The Facts Of Life with Writer-Producer Margie Peters

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https://www.80stvladies.com/episode/...ters----part-1

Susan and Sharon are excited to talk with legendary 80s TV Lady -- and writer/producer of 80 episodes of The Facts of Life -- Margie Peters!

The Conversation

• SECRET SITCOM WRITER: How Margie wrote a sitcom pilot "Under One Roof" based on her life at night -- while spending her days being a mother, a housewife, AND a journalist!
• Hollywood writer/producer Bernie Orenstien (That Girl!, Sanford & Son) reads it and calls her with these magical words: “I think you could have a career out here.” Two weeks later she’s on a plane to Hollywood!
• INSTANT CHEMISTRY: Actress Linda Marsh teams with Margie and a writing partnership begins…
• SPEAK YOUR TRUTH: Their first meeting at Facts of Life: “Why are the girls wearing hot pants and cut-off tops -- in New England? In winter?!? It’s kiddie porn!”
• Margie & Linda stay on Facts of Life from Season 2 through Season 6 -- working their way up from Staff Writers to Show Runners!
• THE ONE THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING: Margie & Linda write S2:EP3 “Double Standard” -- showrunners Jerry Mayer and Jack Elinson tell them: “You have found the soul of the show”.
• THE ONE WHERE NATALIE’S FATHER HAS AN AFFAIR: “We loved the actor but we hated the character. So we killed him.”
• WORKING WITH THE GIRLS: Working with Charlotte Rae, Lisa Whelchel, Mindy Cohn, Kim Fields, Nancy McKeon and Geri Jewell.
• Lisa Whelchel balked when the writers pitched Blair losing her virginity. So Mindy Cohn said: “I’ll do it!”
• WHAT'S NEXT? The day came when Linda Marsh said, “I’m done.” But Margie kept going…Then Marcy Carsey called: “We’d like to bring you on ‘A Different World’”!
• THINKING IN THE CAR: How the award-winning “No Means No” episode came to be -- and almost didn’t happen at all!
• "MAKE DWAYNE THE HERO" - How to solve the producer notes when tackling a story on campus rape in "No Means No"

So join Susan and Sharon -- and Margie -- as they talk Mary Tyler Moore, Terri Hatcher, Jason Bateman, Asaad Kelada, Susan Fales Hill, Neema Barnette, HBCs, Cagney & Lacey, reinventing yourself, working for diversity… and saying “No” to Norman Lear!

STAY TUNED IN TWO WEEKS FOR THE FACTS OF LIFE WITH MARGIE PETERS - PART 2!

[80s Dude]

Thanks for posting these interviews. Amazing at how many new interviews by the cast and production staff from the show we have had in the recent years.

[BestTVever]

I really enjoyed this. I put it on as I was cleaning my room and was fascinated by it. One of the reasons Facts of Life was so good and so successful was the writing. The writing was incredible. They were friends but learned many life lessons with each other even when they fought. The writer brings up some excellent points why the first season was not going to work and they needed changes. Just brilliant writing and revamping the show.

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Episode 317: Writing The Facts of Life and A Different World | Writer-Producer Margie Peters -- Part 2”

Susan and Sharon continue their conversation with legendary 80s TV Lady -- and The Facts of Life writer/producer -- Margie Peters! In Part 2, the conversation turns to the challenges of making comedy out of date rape and toxic masculinity; “comedy sparring” in the Different World writer’s room with Debbie Allen, Thad Mumford and Susan Fales-Hill; the creative opportunities for “women of a certain age”; and the lasting impact of the cruel moniker “The FATS of Life”.

The Conversation

• “YOU’VE GOT SPUNK!” -- How watching The Mary Tyler Moore Show gave Margie the chutzpah to try her hand at TV writing!
• Margie shows off her 1989 IMAGE Award from Planned Parenthood for the “No Means No” episode of A Different World (S2; EP20): “It’s in the living room next to my television.”
• The time Debbie Allen explained to Margie that Duane calling a girl “Big Butt Brenda” is a compliment -- not an insult!
• The joys of working with Valerie Harper on Valerie. And the charm of Jason Bateman.
• The Facts of Life Go To Paris -- everyone got to spend three heavenly weeks filming in France!
• Dinner on the Seine River Boat with Tootie, Natalie, Blair and Jo! (Blair faces down a plateful of fried sardines -- and wins!)
• When two busloads of French high school girls chased The Facts of Life cast down the streets of Paris!
• The respect and adoration Margie has for all the girls: Charlotte Rae, Lisa Whelchel, Mindy Cohn, Kim Fields and Nancy McKeon.
• WHAT DO YOU MISS THE MOST? “Sitting down with a team and coming up with something that is way bigger than the sum of its parts.”
• LEAVING LOS ANGELES: What do you do when you leave behind a life of writing in Hollywood? A lot! Reinvent your life and make it count.

So, join Susan and Sharon -- and Margie -- as they talk Bonnie Franklin, A Man on the Inside, Sally Struthers, Fame, Gladys Knight, 13 Queens Blvd, Eileen Brennan, Jerry Van Dyke -- and dressing up as The Flying Nun!

['80sSitcoms]

So great to have an in-depth MP interview. Even if she does sound like an overprotective stick in the mud in Paris. I mean, I get it, watch over the girls, yes, but at the same time, this was the only chance for some Paris folks to meet them. Hopefully they got to do a civilized meet-and-greet or two.