who were your favorite first season girls - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

nightowl · 09-08-2000, 04:22 PM

After seeing Felice(Nancy) on the E special i was wondering if she was still acting? i know she played Scott Baio's girlfriend in the film zapped which came out right after 16 candles did, i think they were trying to capitalize on Ringwald's success after the fol by giving felice a leading role. They didn't say what the first season girls are doing now, not even molly. the girl that played Sueann got alot of airtime that first season but when she was brought back they treated her like an extra. Also cindy and jo would of had alot in common since they were both tomboys.

jleff · 09-08-2000, 08:35 PM

The best thing Facts of Life creators did was bring in Nancy McKeon. The dynamics between the characters of "Jo" and "Blair" really made the show especially funny. The first season, "Sue Ann" was the opposite of "Blair", but it really did not work.

I remember watching the first episode of the 2nd season, and I was REALLY disppointed that they cut out Molly, Sue Ann, Cindy, and Nancy as I was watching the opening credits. But I will have to say, as I watched more and more episodes that season, the character of "Jo" really grew on me. The producers of FOL took a big chance, and it worked.

Of the 3 actresses from the original seven that they picked to continue on, I think they picked the best three.

I liken it to "Cheers". When the character of "Diane" left, and "Rebecca" replaced her, the show got a helluva lot better

09-09-2000, 08:49 AM

I still think the other "girls" are better than the first season. It helps not to have too many.

09-09-2000, 06:43 PM

I thought they should of also included Nancy since she was blair's age and friend, since natalie and tootie were alot younger. She could of been the level headed one between blair and jo since she wasn't rich and spoiled or from the wrong side of the tracks.

KarenTj24 · 09-15-2000, 01:22 PM

One of the first season girls, Julie Piekarski, is now the mother of 3 kids and is married to a dentist.

Jo Polniaczek · 10-01-2000, 07:59 PM

I don't like any of the first season girls, except Natalie & Tootie. Jo was the best thing to happen to the show. The relationship, love/hate, between Jo and Blair is great. It made the show so much better.

nightowl · 10-02-2000, 04:34 PM

The show improved when the format changed and they downsized the cast,but that's no reason to dislike the first season girls just because the writing was bad before jo came to the school. I thought they complemented the show and made it more vibrant after they were brought back on occasion, it made eastland seem more real as a girls school having the orig girls appear from time to time.

Jo Polniaczek · 10-02-2000, 07:08 PM

Nightowl,
I'm sorry for what I said. The firts season girls did make the show seem more realistic. They were ok. I did like Nancy, she was the best out of the first season girls.

ThomasE · 10-03-2000, 10:06 PM

Another thing. I read a message on the board about the first season not being good. Not true. The first season dealt with things that preteens and teenagers deal with on the daily basis:

Cindy being confused about her sexuallity(Episode 1)

Molly coping with parent's divorce
(Episode 12)

Natalie revealing that she is adopted.
(Episode 10)

Sueanne and Cindy's competing to be the best almost ruining their friendship.
(Episode 9)

Blair and Sueanne being exposed to drugs
(Episode 8)

Blair's integrity being put to the test when she deals with plagerism.
(Episode 5)

These are just some of the things that young people deal with. In the second season, it got even better with tackling issues such as teenage marriage, theft, choosing who your friends should be(racially speaking) and Mrs. Garrett was there to advise them all the way. I have to admit, I always learn something from the show because there is always a lesson to be learned. The Facts of Life is an excellent piece of work.

[This message has been edited by ThomasE (edited 10-03-2000).]

[This message has been edited by ThomasE (edited 10-03-2000).]

nightowl · 10-05-2000, 02:44 PM

Thomas,

After seeing the episode where cindy was questioning her sexuality? That was pretty risque for a sitcom in 1979, especially a show about a prestigous girls school! Even though it was light hearted, im surpised the network could actually get away with doing something like that. Also there was an episode that was missing from nick@nite that focused on Nancy when her parents couldn't afford her to stay at eastland, mrs.garret helped convince the school board to set up a scholarship fund for her. Do you remeber that episode?

The T · 10-05-2000, 08:23 PM

WEll if I HAD to pick I would pick cindy. but like Jo said I think Jo is the best thing that happened to the show. She brought more excitement to the show and just made it Alot better! I just love her as you all probably know by now! How can you not?!?!?!

------------------
See ya~The T
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Richie: Rally! Everybody Rally!

Fonz: The Fonz don't Rally.

Richie: Your chipping away at my leadership Fonz.

Fonz: everybody rally!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

LaverneShirley · 10-07-2000, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nightowl:
Also there was an episode that was missing from nick@nite that focused on Nancy when her parents couldn't afford her to stay at eastland, mrs.garret helped convince the school board to set up a scholarship fund for her. Do you remeber that episode?

I've never seen it, but I was at a FOL website, and it says it was the pilot, originally aired as a Diff-rent Strokes episode, which would be why it wasn't on N@N

------------------
"Well, Laverne is sort of childish"

"Childish? Childish? COming from a grown woman who throws tea parties for her stuffed cat!"

"Well at least I don't sew L's on everything I wear!"

"Well that would be pretty stupid considering your name's Shirley!"

ThomasE · 10-10-2000, 12:37 AM

I thought it was a Different Strokes episode too. It's been so long since i've seen it.

daisygirlee · 11-01-2000, 04:18 AM

I think from first season the girl who played cindy was good. She was a tomboy from the core but deep down was a girly girl. It wouldve been nice to see her grow up like we saw the others

llbean · 11-14-2000, 11:17 PM

I loved season 1. I think the chemistry between the girls was more real than the other seasons. Just to give a big compliment, this board is so much nicer that the one I was on before.It was soo mean!! This board is full of dolls, Bless you all for being sweet, what a nice change!! Keep it up!!

XXX.OOO

09-08-2000, 04:22 PM	#1
nightowl Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 08, 2000 Location: pgh, pa Posts: 37	who were your favorite first season girls After seeing Felice(Nancy) on the E special i was wondering if she was still acting? i know she played Scott Baio's girlfriend in the film zapped which came out right after 16 candles did, i think they were trying to capitalize on Ringwald's success after the fol by giving felice a leading role. They didn't say what the first season girls are doing now, not even molly. the girl that played Sueann got alot of airtime that first season but when she was brought back they treated her like an extra. Also cindy and jo would of had alot in common since they were both tomboys.

09-09-2000, 08:49 AM	#3
Ryu Bateson Guest Posts: n/a	I still think the other "girls" are better than the first season. It helps not to have too many.
Ryu Bateson Guest Posts: n/a

09-09-2000, 06:43 PM	#4
kyle Guest Posts: n/a	I thought they should of also included Nancy since she was blair's age and friend, since natalie and tootie were alot younger. She could of been the level headed one between blair and jo since she wasn't rich and spoiled or from the wrong side of the tracks.
kyle Guest Posts: n/a

09-08-2000, 08:35 PM	#2
jleff Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 05, 2000 Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA Posts: 5	The best thing Facts of Life creators did was bring in Nancy McKeon. The dynamics between the characters of "Jo" and "Blair" really made the show especially funny. The first season, "Sue Ann" was the opposite of "Blair", but it really did not work. I remember watching the first episode of the 2nd season, and I was REALLY disppointed that they cut out Molly, Sue Ann, Cindy, and Nancy as I was watching the opening credits. But I will have to say, as I watched more and more episodes that season, the character of "Jo" really grew on me. The producers of FOL took a big chance, and it worked. Of the 3 actresses from the original seven that they picked to continue on, I think they picked the best three. I liken it to "Cheers". When the character of "Diane" left, and "Rebecca" replaced her, the show got a helluva lot better

09-15-2000, 01:22 PM	#5
KarenTj24 Club77 Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 07, 2000 Posts: 180	One of the first season girls, Julie Piekarski, is now the mother of 3 kids and is married to a dentist.

10-01-2000, 07:59 PM	#6
Jo Polniaczek Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 01, 2000 Location: San Antonio,TX Posts: 57	I don't like any of the first season girls, except Natalie & Tootie. Jo was the best thing to happen to the show. The relationship, love/hate, between Jo and Blair is great. It made the show so much better.

10-02-2000, 04:34 PM	#7
nightowl Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 08, 2000 Location: pgh, pa Posts: 37	The show improved when the format changed and they downsized the cast,but that's no reason to dislike the first season girls just because the writing was bad before jo came to the school. I thought they complemented the show and made it more vibrant after they were brought back on occasion, it made eastland seem more real as a girls school having the orig girls appear from time to time.

10-02-2000, 07:08 PM	#8
Jo Polniaczek Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 01, 2000 Location: San Antonio,TX Posts: 57	Nightowl, I'm sorry for what I said. The firts season girls did make the show seem more realistic. They were ok. I did like Nancy, she was the best out of the first season girls.

10-03-2000, 10:06 PM	#9
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	Another thing. I read a message on the board about the first season not being good. Not true. The first season dealt with things that preteens and teenagers deal with on the daily basis: Cindy being confused about her sexuallity(Episode 1) Molly coping with parent's divorce (Episode 12) Natalie revealing that she is adopted. (Episode 10) Sueanne and Cindy's competing to be the best almost ruining their friendship. (Episode 9) Blair and Sueanne being exposed to drugs (Episode 8) Blair's integrity being put to the test when she deals with plagerism. (Episode 5) These are just some of the things that young people deal with. In the second season, it got even better with tackling issues such as teenage marriage, theft, choosing who your friends should be(racially speaking) and Mrs. Garrett was there to advise them all the way. I have to admit, I always learn something from the show because there is always a lesson to be learned. The Facts of Life is an excellent piece of work. [This message has been edited by ThomasE (edited 10-03-2000).] [This message has been edited by ThomasE (edited 10-03-2000).]

10-05-2000, 02:44 PM	#10
nightowl Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 08, 2000 Location: pgh, pa Posts: 37	Thomas, After seeing the episode where cindy was questioning her sexuality? That was pretty risque for a sitcom in 1979, especially a show about a prestigous girls school! Even though it was light hearted, im surpised the network could actually get away with doing something like that. Also there was an episode that was missing from nick@nite that focused on Nancy when her parents couldn't afford her to stay at eastland, mrs.garret helped convince the school board to set up a scholarship fund for her. Do you remeber that episode?

10-05-2000, 08:23 PM	#11
The T Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 22, 2000 Location: Baraboo, WI US Posts: 1,108	WEll if I HAD to pick I would pick cindy. but like Jo said I think Jo is the best thing that happened to the show. She brought more excitement to the show and just made it Alot better! I just love her as you all probably know by now! How can you not?!?!?! ------------------ See ya~The T ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Richie: Rally! Everybody Rally! Fonz: The Fonz don't Rally. Richie: Your chipping away at my leadership Fonz. Fonz: everybody rally! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

10-10-2000, 12:37 AM	#13
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	I thought it was a Different Strokes episode too. It's been so long since i've seen it.

11-01-2000, 04:18 AM	#14
daisygirlee Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 01, 2000 Location: coral springs,florida usa Posts: 54	I think from first season the girl who played cindy was good. She was a tomboy from the core but deep down was a girly girl. It wouldve been nice to see her grow up like we saw the others

11-14-2000, 11:17 PM	#15
llbean Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 14, 2000 Location: Schererville,IN usa Posts: 29	I loved season 1. I think the chemistry between the girls was more real than the other seasons. Just to give a big compliment, this board is so much nicer that the one I was on before.It was soo mean!! This board is full of dolls, Bless you all for being sweet, what a nice change!! Keep it up!! XXX.OOO