What happened to the early cast? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

01-01-2001, 12:16 PM

What happened to the first cast, as in the really old ones? They seemed pretty good! And why did in the later episodes of TFOL, Mrs. Garret left? Who was the other lady who replaced her?

iluvfacts14 · 01-01-2001, 12:53 PM

At the start of the filming of the second season two new writers were hired and they decided the cast was too big, so they fired four of the girld and hired Nancy McKeon. Mrs. Garrett left to be with her *brand new hudband*, Bruce. She followed him to Africa and joined the Peace Corps. The character Beverly Ann Stickle (played by Cloris Leachman) was Mrs. G.'s sister and came to stay witht he girls after Mrs. G. left.

I hope that clears up your questions.

------------------

Mr. Bradley: .....and that girls is the thrill of victory!

Tootie: Or the agony of DA FEET!

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Natalie: Who wants to be a skinny pencil? I'd rather be a happy magic marker!

Nat's Fan 07 · 01-01-2001, 01:23 PM

Were you talking about when she left for Africa or when she left Eastland?

TVaddict · 01-01-2001, 10:39 PM

Anyone else ever wonder how they went about who they kept and who they didn't? It was fairly obvious they LOVED Blair, she got more screen time than anyone, even when the episode wasn't all about her. Nancy got like nothing, so it's no wonder they got rid of her. Not that it was her fault, they just never did anything with her. And in all honesty, why do you think they kept Natalie? I mean, I LOVE Nat, but she just wasn't an actress yet. She turned into one though. Just wondering what you all thought.

Factsamillion · 01-01-2001, 10:46 PM

They kicked out the old girls because nobody really liked them. And when jo came the show got 10 times better

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"Tootie" I just like saying that. "Tootie"

Tootie: "No way, if I die, I'm going to roll through those pearly gates!"

The Obsolete Man · 01-01-2001, 10:50 PM

I Was wondering about that too, TVAddict. Here's all I could come up with.

I figured that they gave Sue Ann's rivalry with Blair to Jo, and did away with Sue Ann.

Natalie was given interesting baggage (the Adoption angle), so they kept her.

Tootie was the cuteness of the show, so they made her something other than a plot device.

Nancy actually became more interesting after she was dumped from the cast.

Cindy and Molly were just... there.

Michele35 · 01-01-2001, 11:10 PM

It was almost liked they wrapped Cindy and Sue Ann into one character(Jo) to fight with Blair. I agree with you guys about Nancy... seems like they didn't really use her except to talk about Roger. I'm unclear if they dumped Molly Ringwald or if she left on her own because of her budding film career.

I didn't understand why they dumped Mr. Bradley if they were going to replace him with another headmaster, anyway. Maybe they wanted to diminish the role so they didn't need anyone on contract for the headmaster and just brought on a recurring actor for that role.

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Tootie: Muffy? Her name is Muffy? What kind of person is named Muffy?

Jo: Beats me, Tootie.

jayman75 · 01-01-2001, 11:22 PM

I just wonder also if the reason they kept Tootie was because she was black. I mean, it brought another angle to the "group:"

-young blonde, rich, beautiful
-neurotic, comedic best friend
-rough punk from the streets
-the kid who kind of bugged everyone

Just a thought...

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80's Sitcoms Rock!!

rocknroll7777 · 01-02-2001, 01:57 PM

Okay I have been reading on this and here is what happened...

the first season almost ((seriously)) killed the weak network of NBC at the time... it was getting low ratings and bad reviews....they realized the show was about nothing and they thought the cast was too big.

They figured there were four pretty girls: Cindy, Blaire, Sue Ann and Nancy

Blaire was the odvious one to keep.

Then they decided to keep Nat because u can do some angles on fat adopted girl stories.

Then it was down to the two cutsies Tootie and Molly...they choose Tootie cuz she was black and they wanted a DIVERSE group of girls...

hope this helps

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If "The Facts Of Life" were all about you, why weren't u ever on the show?

02-11-2001, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Michele35:
It was almost liked they wrapped Cindy and Sue Ann into one character(Jo) to fight with Blair. I agree with you guys about Nancy... seems like they didn't really use her except to talk about Roger. I'm unclear if they dumped Molly Ringwald or if she left on her own because of her budding film career.
I didn't understand why they dumped Mr. Bradley if they were going to replace him with another headmaster, anyway. Maybe they wanted to diminish the role so they didn't need anyone on contract for the headmaster and just brought on a recurring actor for that role.

as far as the mr. bardley in my prespective he was the best headmaster of them all. they should have kept him.

Jo Polniaczec · 02-11-2001, 06:20 PM

yeah

02-11-2001, 11:14 PM

"There's no 'E' in Blair."
She is very sensitive about this.

BlairW_1 · 02-13-2001, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by spark:
"There's no 'E' in Blair."
She is very sensitive about this.

You took the words right out of my mouth! BTW, I LOVED that episode!

~*Danielle*~

01-01-2001, 12:16 PM	#1
JBTN@TFOL Guest Posts: n/a	What happened to the early cast? What happened to the first cast, as in the really old ones? They seemed pretty good! And why did in the later episodes of TFOL, Mrs. Garret left? Who was the other lady who replaced her?
JBTN@TFOL Guest Posts: n/a

02-11-2001, 06:20 PM	#11
Jo Polniaczec Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 30, 2001 Posts: 338	yeah
	Last edited by Jo Polniaczec; 08-01-2011 at 12:11 PM.

02-11-2001, 11:14 PM	#12
spark Guest Posts: n/a	"There's no 'E' in Blair." She is very sensitive about this.
spark Guest Posts: n/a

01-01-2001, 12:53 PM	#2
iluvfacts14 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 23, 2000 Location: Eastland School for Girls, Peekskill, NY, U.S.A. Posts: 256	At the start of the filming of the second season two new writers were hired and they decided the cast was too big, so they fired four of the girld and hired Nancy McKeon. Mrs. Garrett left to be with her brand new hudband, Bruce. She followed him to Africa and joined the Peace Corps. The character Beverly Ann Stickle (played by Cloris Leachman) was Mrs. G.'s sister and came to stay witht he girls after Mrs. G. left. I hope that clears up your questions. ------------------ Mr. Bradley: .....and that girls is the thrill of victory! Tootie: Or the agony of DA FEET! -------------* Natalie: Who wants to be a skinny pencil? I'd rather be a happy magic marker!

01-01-2001, 01:23 PM	#3
Nat's Fan 07 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 13, 2000 Posts: 45	Were you talking about when she left for Africa or when she left Eastland?

01-01-2001, 10:39 PM	#4
TVaddict Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 30, 2000 Location: NH Posts: 562	Anyone else ever wonder how they went about who they kept and who they didn't? It was fairly obvious they LOVED Blair, she got more screen time than anyone, even when the episode wasn't all about her. Nancy got like nothing, so it's no wonder they got rid of her. Not that it was her fault, they just never did anything with her. And in all honesty, why do you think they kept Natalie? I mean, I LOVE Nat, but she just wasn't an actress yet. She turned into one though. Just wondering what you all thought.

01-01-2001, 10:46 PM	#5
Factsamillion Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 31, 2000 Location: Factsland USA Posts: 12	They kicked out the old girls because nobody really liked them. And when jo came the show got 10 times better ------------------ "Tootie" I just like saying that. "Tootie" Tootie: "No way, if I die, I'm going to roll through those pearly gates!"

01-01-2001, 10:50 PM	#6
The Obsolete Man Member Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 18, 2000 Location: Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, Earth Prime Posts: 567	I Was wondering about that too, TVAddict. Here's all I could come up with. I figured that they gave Sue Ann's rivalry with Blair to Jo, and did away with Sue Ann. Natalie was given interesting baggage (the Adoption angle), so they kept her. Tootie was the cuteness of the show, so they made her something other than a plot device. Nancy actually became more interesting after she was dumped from the cast. Cindy and Molly were just... there.

01-01-2001, 11:10 PM	#7
Michele35 Jazz Girl Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 08, 2000 Location: Los Angeles,CA Posts: 804	It was almost liked they wrapped Cindy and Sue Ann into one character(Jo) to fight with Blair. I agree with you guys about Nancy... seems like they didn't really use her except to talk about Roger. I'm unclear if they dumped Molly Ringwald or if she left on her own because of her budding film career. I didn't understand why they dumped Mr. Bradley if they were going to replace him with another headmaster, anyway. Maybe they wanted to diminish the role so they didn't need anyone on contract for the headmaster and just brought on a recurring actor for that role. ------------------ Tootie: Muffy? Her name is Muffy? What kind of person is named Muffy? Jo: Beats me, Tootie.

01-01-2001, 11:22 PM	#8
jayman75 I Love the 80s! Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 27, 2000 Location: THE GREAT UNITED STATES Posts: 3,809	I just wonder also if the reason they kept Tootie was because she was black. I mean, it brought another angle to the "group:" -young blonde, rich, beautiful -neurotic, comedic best friend -rough punk from the streets -the kid who kind of bugged everyone Just a thought... ------------------ 80's Sitcoms Rock!!

01-02-2001, 01:57 PM	#9
rocknroll7777 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 30, 2000 Posts: 98	Okay I have been reading on this and here is what happened... the first season almost ((seriously)) killed the weak network of NBC at the time... it was getting low ratings and bad reviews....they realized the show was about nothing and they thought the cast was too big. They figured there were four pretty girls: Cindy, Blaire, Sue Ann and Nancy Blaire was the odvious one to keep. Then they decided to keep Nat because u can do some angles on fat adopted girl stories. Then it was down to the two cutsies Tootie and Molly...they choose Tootie cuz she was black and they wanted a DIVERSE group of girls... hope this helps ------------------ If "The Facts Of Life" were all about you, why weren't u ever on the show?