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Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
 


"The Facts of Life" spun off of popular tv show "Diff'rent Strokes" and debuted in August of 1979.

School Dietian at Eastland Academy Mrs. Edna Garrett (Charlotte Rae) mentored and guided 4 girls:

The snobby-rich Blair Warner (Lisa Whelchel)

Gossiping 'Tootie' Ramsey (Kim Fields)

Impressionable Natalie Green (Mindy Cohn)

Street-wise Jo Polniaczech (Nancy McKeon)



After somewhat of a slow start, the show found it's audience and became one of the longest running sitcoms of the 1980's.

As all sitcoms get older, they evolve over time. The girls graduated from Eastland Academy. Mrs. Garrett opened her own gourmet food shop 'Edna's Edibles' which later evolved into the 1950's style malt shop called, 'Over Our Heads.'

In 1986, Charlotte Rae, decided to leave the show feeling that the girls had out grown Mrs. Garrett's advice. Her replacement was Cloris Leachman; who played her energetic and not so wise sister, Beverly Ann Stickle.



Many other cast additions included: Molly Ringwald, Geri Jewell, Pamela Segall, Sherrie Krenn, George Clooney, and Mackenzie Astin.

In 1988 the show was cancelled. However in November 2001, the cast reunited to star in ABC's two hour The Facts of Life Reunion Movie.
 

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Posted by logan5 (Member # 1467) on :
 
I've only seen some bits of this on Youtube, but I liked what I saw. Something very cosy about US sitcoms from the 80's.
 

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Posted by Ronnie (Member # 465) on :
 
this is one of my favorite tv shows of all time.

i actually liked the earlier seasons, (except season 1)...i didn't see that until way later because i was born the year it aired hehe.

i loved the show around the time, that they helped run the edna's edibles all the way to when beverly ann & her nephew were there, and they had the other shop, over our heads.

my favorite character was always Jo. loved how her character changed overtime. she started out rough but got more girly as time went on.

i am glad that they FINALLY released season 4 on dvd this fall. now i am waiting on the next season...hope it doesn't take years like it took for season 4!!
 

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Posted by Ronnie (Member # 465) on :
 
just remembered...one of my favorite episodes is where the nephew, andy, enters the girls in a singing contest to win a chance to record with el debarge, and gives them the name "sexy lingerie." haha! george clooney was also in that episode.

[ 14. December 2010, 07:14: Message edited by: Ronnie ]
 

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Posted by pettyfan (Member # 2260) on :
 
I actually liked the first season best of all. I didn't watch it after Mrs. Garrett left. I have season one on DVD but that's it. I thought it was a good show, but I didn't like it enough to buy all the seasons of it.
 

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Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
 
I'm with Ronnie with regard to Jo being my fav character. She had that tough exterior personality, but underneath it all was a really great person.
 

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Posted by Crash (Member # 7484) on :
 
A dissenting viewpoint: The Facts of Life represents everything terrible in bad 80s sitcoms. You have every stereotype in Teleplay Writing 101: rich b****, tomboy, obese girl, girl of color... Dreadful, hackneyed writing... Spotty acting... I always despised when Charlotte Rae would do that little lip quiver and tear up before saying something really sappy at the end. And don't get me started on those phony "very special" episodes--Jo nearly gets assaulted, Natalie loses her virginity, etc.--attempts to make a witless kids' show profound. It is fun to spot future stars walking through--hi, Clooney--but beyond that, you can keep this show.

Flame away. I have the flame-retardant suit on. :-)
 

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Posted by Ronnie (Member # 465) on :
 
sorry to hear you loathe the show, crash.
but you take the good, you take the bad.... j/k

valley, i just read that season 5 IS available. i had no idea, so this makes me happy, of course.

i know cable used to air re-runs a long time ago, wish they still would. it seems like the same shows are in syndication?
 

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Posted by Crash (Member # 7484) on :
 
Aggggggghhhh, that Alan Thicke theme!!! It's like cancer for the ears!

Loathe it? Did I come off that strong? :-) C'mon now. There has to be someone with me that The Facts of Life is terrible? Anybody? Anybody?

[ 15. December 2010, 13:47: Message edited by: Crash ]
 

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Posted by Bernie_Lomax (Member # 8571) on :
 
I used to think that Blair on the show was so hot and then after the show went for a few years all the girls got fat and ugly and started wearing old ladies clothing. A bit weird.
 

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Posted by Bernie_Lomax (Member # 8571) on :
 
I learnt the facts of life by watching the facts of life
 

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Posted by Crash (Member # 7484) on :
 
I learned from The Facts of Life that any problem, no matter how complex or difficult can be solved in 22 minutes and overacting from Charlotte Rae. ;-)

[ 23. December 2010, 11:10: Message edited by: Crash ]
 

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Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Crash:
I learned from The Facts of Life that any problem, no matter how complex or difficult can be solved in 22 minutes and overracting from Charlotte Rae. ;-)

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Actually I learned that problems thing from Mike Brady from "The Brady Bunch".. but I enjoyed that show as a kid too.

Hey Ronnie.. did you know..

During the last season of Facts Of Life, David Spade was in an episode that was supposed to be spun-off into a series called "Big Apple Blues" about college roommates living in New York City, but it never happened.

The original idea for Facts Of Life was that Edna Garrett, (the housekeeper on "Diff'rent Strokes"), would become the headmistress at the school that Kimberly Drummond (Dana Plato) attended. But after the pilot was shot, the producers decided to keep Plato on "Diff'rent Strokes".
 

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Posted by Ronnie (Member # 465) on :
 
val dude - i remember charlotte rae being on different strokes and knew about the spin-off. which is why we see young arnold in seasons 1 & 2 of facts of life.

i really don't remember the last season of facts of life. that is why i am waiting for the dvds to be able to see what happened. i hope to finish all of season 5 while my daughter is still on winter break.
 

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Posted by kevdugp73 (Member # 5978) on :
 
I didn't really watch this one as a kid, but it's one of my wife's favs. She has season 1-3 on DVD, so I've seen a few episodes here and there, but mostly remain uninterested.....
 

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Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
 
kev.. tell your wife we'd love to hear her thoughts on why she enjoys "The Facts of Life".. and ask her which season is her fav.
 

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Posted by Bernie_Lomax (Member # 8571) on :
 
Crash's comment about Charlotte Ray needs some applause. I ****ed myself when I read that cos it's so true.
 

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Posted by Bernie_Lomax (Member # 8571) on :
 
Oh yeah sorry Crash I am with ya. It was more than terrible and that theme song sucked.
 

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Posted by Crash (Member # 7484) on :
 
For I am not alone... "The Facts of Life" haters unite!
:-)

Thanks, Bernie. <bowing to you>
 

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Posted by Secret Admirer (Member # 3574) on :
 
The Facts Of Life is one of my favs and is very entertaining. Sweet and funny characters getting into and out of mischief. I enjoy it.
 

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Posted by cindymancini (Member # 679) on :
 
I almost bought Season 5 today. It's one of my FAVORITES. Nuff said !
 

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Posted by cindymancini (Member # 679) on :
 
No, you know what? You know how much I like this show? So much that I bought the same damn Steinberg print of 9th Avenue that Blair had hanging next to her bed, for pretty much the entire series, for my new house!! Yep, that's right !! Love it!!


 

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Posted by Secret Admirer (Member # 3574) on :
 
You just scored some awesome points with that one, Cindy.
 

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Posted by Crash (Member # 7484) on :
 
One plus point for set decoration on "The Facts of Life"... I should pick some really bad show that I like and try to defend it against you rabble. And no, it's not going to be "Small Wonder," a show that makes "The Facts of Life" seem like "Twin Peaks."
:-)
 

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Posted by Ronnie (Member # 465) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by cindymancini:
No, you know what? You know how much I like this show? So much that I bought the same damn Steinberg print of 9th Avenue that Blair had hanging next to her bed, for pretty much the entire series, for my new house!! Yep, that's right !! Love it!!

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that's really cool cindy! great dedication.

i can't wait to watch season 5.
 

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Posted by logan5 (Member # 1467) on :
 

quote:

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You just scored some awesome points with that one, Cindy.

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quote:

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I should pick some really bad show that I like and try to defend it against you rabble.

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quote:

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And no, it's not going to be "Small Wonder," a show that makes "The Facts of Life" seem like "Twin Peaks." :-)

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I never thought I see the day when someone would actually cause me to invoke clause # 437:

"No show starring someone who has appeared in a summer camp movie may be likened to Twin Peaks in any way."

I'm sorry Crash, it's a real rule. 'Poison Ivy' renders your comparison inadmissible as evidence. Might I recommend some kind of substitution?
 

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Posted by Crash (Member # 7484) on :
 
I snorted ginger ale through my nose!

Seriously, I need a new guilty pleasure show. It has to be objectively terrible, yet oddly and compellingly defensible. And then I will use my skill of persuasion to convert those to the new cult.

[ 30. December 2010, 00:42: Message edited by: Crash ]
 

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Posted by Muffy Tepperman (Member # 1551) on :
 
OMG Logan you just scored loads of awesome points!!

The doorbell put you over the top! hahaha that was awesome!



and i'm really surprised how many photos there are when you google search "facts of life drag"

I've always loved FOL!
 

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Posted by Pittsburghgirl (Member # 7514) on :
 
Crash and BernieLomax- your comments just about made me spew my coffe, I laughed so hard! Yeah, I rarely watched it when the girls got fat, moved to that other place and started wearing all of those huge blazers with the even huger shoulder pads. I thought it went downhill when they left their prep school.
 

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Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
 
Ronnie and Cindy.. while I'm not quite as dedicated to "The Facts of Life" as you both seem to be.. it was such an entertaining show that generates some great memories for me. And you have both given me so many great suggestions in the past that you know I'll watch anything you recommend.

Logan.. that posting above was just beyond brilliant .. well, until I realized that you might actually be serious.

Crash.. I'm starting to understand why you do so well with the ladies and watch mostly foreign flicks.

Bernie Lomax.. great name you picked there

We all have different things that we enjoy .. there are things I love and things I hate .. and I'll often be stunned when a good friend doesn't see things the same as me. But I still respect their opinion as long as they respect mine.. and that's the facts of life.
 

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Posted by cindymancini (Member # 679) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Valley:


We all have different things that we enjoy .. there are things I love and things I hate .. and I'll often be stunned when a good friend doesn't see things the same as me. But I still respect their opinion as long as they respect mine.. and that's the facts of life.

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Valley, all I'm going to say is "class", it's always been your thing !

On that note, I'm off to shop at Over Our Heads...I'm going to get you an inflatable turquoise palm tree and a ceramic Charlie Chaplin decorative mask for your wall!


 

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Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
 
Thanks Cindy.. I've learned to appreciate the finer things in life. I even travel with my own wine. You never know the quality you may encounter at a soiree.

[takes a swig out of the wine bottle] Mm-hmm. I'm into class. It's my new thing.

Quinton is in.. let the fun begin!
 

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Posted by Bernie_Lomax (Member # 8571) on :
 
Crash (bowing to you too)

By the way the comment I made saying that I learnt the facts of life from watching the facts of life was a quote from the Chip Douglas in the cable guy. But you're comment after that had me in tears. So funny.

I still think the blondie on the show was hot as but only early on...They all got blimpy after a couple of seasons.
 

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Posted by Bernie_Lomax (Member # 8571) on :
 
At Valley....Just noticed that comment. Thanks for the compliment. Weekend at Bernies was a childhood favourite. I still love it so much. A very quotable movie.
 

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Posted by Crash (Member # 7484) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Valley:
Crash.. I'm starting to understand why you do so well with the ladies and watch mostly foreign flicks.

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