There was also other spinoffs that they were looking into making. They were looking into making a boys version of the show that took place at the military Academy that was nearby Eastland. Another one was supposed to be about Joe’s extended family. They were also looking into making a spin off with Blair and Joe during her college years.
NBC had some kind of agenda to make John P Nathan a sitcom star. They tried with the aborted military school spinoff. He finally starred in Jennifer Slept Here in that grease fire of a fall where every NBC show crashed and burned, after which the network must have given up.
I really loved season one but I was like 7 years old. It was like a big slumber party. When I watch the show as an adult I think it was a really smart call. Great show from our childhood😀
For me, when they had Geri Jewel on was an episode I loved because I too have Cerebral Palsy (although my C.P. is more mild than hers) and having the girls (especially Blair) learning that people who have disabilities are no different then her and that we should all be treated the same as everyone else.
I don’t remember those spin off episodes ENC. But I do remember another spin off episode with Richard Dean Anderson as part of an interracial couple called Brian and Sylvia. Sylvia was Tootie’s aunt. Other Facts about Facts: 1. Lisa Whelchel said she was also up for the part of Rachel on Friends. There would have been 2 Facts actresses on Friends! 2. Charlotte Ray saw Mindy Cohn at a real boarding school. She had no acting experience but thought she had great comic timing. She helped her get on the show. 3. Molly Ringwald said at the time that Nancy McKean stole her part. 4. Lisa Whelchel was a Christian and married to a minister. 5. Cloris Leachman and Rae went to college together at Northwestern. Thank you ENC . I loved the show. I felt the character of Blair was a lot more risqué in season 1 lol.
If Lisa Whelchel had taken any of the lead roles on FRIENDS, she certainly would've had to give up her prinicipled opposition to premarital sex, as all 6 of the Friends engaged in it w/ each other & many other people.
Cloris Leachman was just 8 days younger than Charlotte Rae, which helps explain why they were classmates. Ms. Leachman was also just 5 days older than another classmate, Paul Lynde, and they all knew each other in college.
Another fun fact - Going into the second season when they were searching for a tougher tomboy character to play the part of Jo, one of the people who auditioned for that part was Kari Michaelsen, who later became known as Katie Kanisky on the show Gimme A Break!. They elected to have Nancy McKeon to fill that spot, the real life sister of Phillip McKeon from the show Alice.
It seems to me that as the series progressed, the characters of Tootie and Natalie were "aged up" to more match the ages of Blair and Jo. The storyline of Natalie losing her virginity was originally written for Blair.
@@retrocereal And the series is the first to have someone with a disiblity to have a starring role on a sitcom. Geri Jewell. She portrayed Blairs cousin.🤗📺📼👍
Another fun fact about this episode is that Lisa refused to be on the set when it was filmed. It's the only episode she didn’t appear on. Because of her religious beliefs, she was very vocal about not being right and rejected to be a part of it.
It was my understanding that Nancy McKeon was considered for Monica on Friends, while Lisa Whelchel was considered for Rachel. Also, Fonzie might have been a partial inspiration for the Jo character, but there’s an interview here on UA-cam with several of the original writers/producers who explain that Kristy McNichols’ streetwise character in the 1980 movie Little Darlings was an inspiration, as was the character of Jo in Little Women, which is also where they got the idea for her name.
@@retrocereal Jo said no to The Facts Of Life reunion tv movie! Molly Ringwald did return for one episode in season 2 and it was the only time that Nancy McKean and Ringwald appeared on screen together. 🏫🎒📚👩🎓
one of the big episodes that tackled issues at the time was the date rape of natalie green. this episode was highly publisized and had its fair share of "laundry" that went along with it. Probably the biggest was that the original actress that the issue was going to fall on was Blair however, she was very adament about not doing it. so after careful consideration they decided to have the least likely one to play the role and it fell onto Mindy Cohn to carry the part.
Eastland was introduced in the final episode of DIFF'RENT STROKES, Season 1, "The Girls' School". Blair was the only 1 of the 4 main girls who appeared in it, though some of the other Season 1 girls were there too. I guess I related best to Natalie, other than to the loss of her virginity. I disliked Molly Parker the most of all the girls from the series, though I was happy for Molly Ringwald's later success in movies.
Such an iconic show! I still remember the very special episode in which Natalie finally lost her virginity to her boyfriend Snake, who was actually played by Robert Romanus (aka Mike Damone from Fast Times at Ridgemont High). What's interesting is that it was originally going to focus on Blair. However, Blair's actress Lisa Whelchel, who grew up in a conservative Christian family, declined to appear in the episode because she didn't want to promote premarital s3x. I would honestly agree with Whelchel's decision, but it is what it is. Thanks for sharing, Ean, and keep on doing what you do! 😉😄 I have another special suggestion for you. Can I please suggest you do a "5 Things You Didn't Know" spotlight on The X-Files in a future video?
Good content Ean. I don't remember the later episodes with David Spade, Mayim, and Juliette. I think Facts Of Life is a better title than Garrett's Girls simply because that was what the show was about....the ins and out of the girls at Eastland High School. I don't know how Charlotte Rae felt about it, but would think she would not have wanted Mrs. Garrett's name stuck to the title of the spinoff.
it was a good show but they abandoned serious storylines like there was no tommorow. For example , Mrs Garrett was going to marry and old bf in one episode and that was the last we ever heard of it
Sue Ann and Cindy seemed similar as they were both blondes and around the same heights. I would have kept Cindy over Sue Ann. Sue Ann was just from the Midwest, I think. Cindy had the first story of the series. Molly could have been kept as she was her own character. Nancy's character was just another Blair but not blonde. Out of all the girls, I would have just cut Sue Ann and Nancy and added Jo for season 2. All the spinoffs were awful in the earlier seasons. The last 2 spinoffs in the end, they should have at least done them, especially the last episode one. Even if it was just for one more season. In the reunion movie, Blair had sold the school at some point. The last 2 season's, Garrett's Girls wouldn't have sounded that good anymore. Blair could have done one more season. She was dating that guy but it seems they were pushing her to be paired with that teacher at Eastland in the last episode. By the reunion movie, she has married some other guy named Tad with the same last name. I feel Geri could have stuck around longer. At least into the end of "Edna's Edibles" before the show got into its final seasons. Geri wasn't needed full time, but it was nice to see her at times, and she was there during the early to mid seasons. I feel by the later ones she would have been cut though as they had too many new characters by season 7/8. It would have been nice had they ended her character with her getting discovered and getting her own series in Los Angeles, maybe even her own spinoff, but they cut her too soon.
Season one is the TRUE Facts of LIfe. The concept sold to NBC. The retooled watered down version featuring Jo was never as good. Jo was a wretched obnoxious character. Sue Ann should have been kept as Blair's foil.
I remember how hip I thought Mrs. Garrett was because she drove a Volkswagen--a yellow 1970 Beetle Convertible, to be precise.
George Clooney's first TV role was on The Facts Of Life. He was cast as George the handyman at Eastland.
yes indeed
@@retrocereal Nope not his first role! Clooney was on a sitcom titled E/R back in 1984 before the drama ER a decade later LOL!🤗🏥🩺📺
There was a whole very special r@pe episode where Nat was almost SA’d and they learned self defense.
There was also other spinoffs that they were looking into making.
They were looking into making a boys version of the show that took place at the military Academy that was nearby Eastland.
Another one was supposed to be about Joe’s extended family.
They were also looking into making a spin off with Blair and Joe during her college years.
NBC had some kind of agenda to make John P Nathan a sitcom star. They tried with the aborted military school spinoff. He finally starred in Jennifer Slept Here in that grease fire of a fall where every NBC show crashed and burned, after which the network must have given up.
Spin-offs would not have worked out
I really loved season one but I was like 7 years old. It was like a big slumber party. When I watch the show as an adult I think it was a really smart call. Great show from our childhood😀
Yes! Thank you for commenting!
For me, when they had Geri Jewel on was an episode I loved because I too have Cerebral Palsy (although my C.P. is more mild than hers) and having the girls (especially Blair) learning that people who have disabilities are no different then her and that we should all be treated the same as everyone else.
I liked those episodes wither her in it too!
I don’t remember those spin off episodes ENC. But I do remember another spin off episode with Richard Dean Anderson as part of an interracial couple called Brian and Sylvia. Sylvia was Tootie’s aunt. Other Facts about Facts:
1. Lisa Whelchel said she was also up for the part of Rachel on Friends. There would have been 2 Facts actresses on Friends!
2. Charlotte Ray saw Mindy Cohn at a real boarding school. She had no acting experience but thought she had great comic timing. She helped her get on the show.
3. Molly Ringwald said at the time that Nancy McKean stole her part.
4. Lisa Whelchel was a Christian and married to a minister.
5. Cloris Leachman and Rae went to college together at Northwestern.
Thank you ENC . I loved the show. I felt the character of Blair was a lot more risqué in season 1 lol.
Very interesting fact. I really hope I did not blow it on the Monica Frinds thing. But I could swar I remember it being Monica
If Lisa Whelchel had taken any of the lead roles on FRIENDS, she certainly would've had to give up her prinicipled opposition to premarital sex, as all 6 of the Friends engaged in it w/ each other & many other people.
Cloris Leachman was just 8 days younger than Charlotte Rae, which helps explain why they were classmates. Ms. Leachman was also just 5 days older than another classmate, Paul Lynde, and they all knew each other in college.
@@jehobden vrery interesting
Interesting!
Another fun fact - Going into the second season when they were searching for a tougher tomboy character to play the part of Jo, one of the people who auditioned for that part was Kari Michaelsen, who later became known as Katie Kanisky on the show Gimme A Break!. They elected to have Nancy McKeon to fill that spot, the real life sister of Phillip McKeon from the show Alice.
It seems to me that as the series progressed, the characters of Tootie and Natalie were "aged up" to more match the ages of Blair and Jo.
The storyline of Natalie losing her virginity was originally written for Blair.
Very true. Good point!
@@retrocereal And the series is the first to have someone with a disiblity to have a starring role on a sitcom. Geri Jewell. She portrayed Blairs cousin.🤗📺📼👍
Another fun fact about this episode is that Lisa refused to be on the set when it was filmed. It's the only episode she didn’t appear on. Because of her religious beliefs, she was very vocal about not being right and rejected to be a part of it.
RetroCereal, saying “People with Disabilities” or “Disabled People” are not ‘dirty’ words. I, myself, prefer the latter because it flows better.
Thank you. It's just people get so sensitive these days its hard to know.
It was my understanding that Nancy McKeon was considered for Monica on Friends, while Lisa Whelchel was considered for Rachel.
Also, Fonzie might have been a partial inspiration for the Jo character, but there’s an interview here on UA-cam with several of the original writers/producers who explain that Kristy McNichols’ streetwise character in the 1980 movie Little Darlings was an inspiration, as was the character of Jo in Little Women, which is also where they got the idea for her name.
Yeah! I messed up on that.
@@retrocereal I wasn’t scolding you. More like adding to your information.
@@EastSide-qc5oy I did not take it that way at all. 👍👍👍.
@@retrocereal Jo said no to The Facts Of Life reunion tv movie! Molly Ringwald did return for one episode in season 2 and it was the only time that Nancy McKean and Ringwald appeared on screen together. 🏫🎒📚👩🎓
one of the big episodes that tackled issues at the time was the date rape of natalie green. this episode was highly publisized and had its fair share of "laundry" that went along with it. Probably the biggest was that the original actress that the issue was going to fall on was Blair however, she was very adament about not doing it. so after careful consideration they decided to have the least likely one to play the role and it fell onto Mindy Cohn to carry the part.
Interesting! Thank you!
Another special episode was when their schoolmate was found dead in one of the dorms. The girls were somber and sad.
8:28 Mayim Bialik is actually pronounced MY-him Bee-ALL-lick
Thank you!
I think Garrett's Girls would have been okay. I don't think it would have changed it very much though.
Eastland was introduced in the final episode of DIFF'RENT STROKES, Season 1, "The Girls' School". Blair was the only 1 of the 4 main girls who appeared in it, though some of the other Season 1 girls were there too.
I guess I related best to Natalie, other than to the loss of her virginity. I disliked Molly Parker the most of all the girls from the series, though I was happy for Molly Ringwald's later success in movies.
I like it, but the theme song would've needed heavy rework!
@@nickimontie Molly returned for one episode in season 2!🤗📺📼🙋
Another great episode
Thanks!
Such an iconic show! I still remember the very special episode in which Natalie finally lost her virginity to her boyfriend Snake, who was actually played by Robert Romanus (aka Mike Damone from Fast Times at Ridgemont High). What's interesting is that it was originally going to focus on Blair. However, Blair's actress Lisa Whelchel, who grew up in a conservative Christian family, declined to appear in the episode because she didn't want to promote premarital s3x. I would honestly agree with Whelchel's decision, but it is what it is. Thanks for sharing, Ean, and keep on doing what you do! 😉😄 I have another special suggestion for you. Can I please suggest you do a "5 Things You Didn't Know" spotlight on The X-Files in a future video?
Thank you. I do plan on doing one on x files real soon. It might even be the next one.
@@retrocereal 😊
Joan Rivers was very cruel she was the one who came with the concept of the Fats of Life
Interesting!
Good content Ean. I don't remember the later episodes with David Spade, Mayim, and Juliette. I think Facts Of Life is a better title than Garrett's Girls simply because that was what the show was about....the ins and out of the girls at Eastland High School. I don't know how Charlotte Rae felt about it, but would think she would not have wanted Mrs. Garrett's name stuck to the title of the spinoff.
I think you are right!
I like the one about The Fonze the best but they are all fun facts.
Thank you my dear
I remember being sad as a kid after S1 when they let all those cast members go... As a result, I never liked the character, Jo.
Ho no!
I enjoyed the video Ean and i like the show when they brought the character jo in to meet blair.
That was a really good part
Wow people can be so mean.
Cool
Thanks!
Another great episode!!!
Thanks!
All really great facts!
Thanks!
Love David spade
Great video!!!!
Thanks!
I vote in favor of "Garrett's Girls".
I know some people wanted that
it was a good show but they abandoned serious storylines like there was no tommorow. For example , Mrs Garrett was going to marry and old bf in one episode and that was the last we ever heard of it
Good comment!
😊⚽️☻great
Thanks!
Love Joe and blar
Blair & Jo
Great episode!
Thanks!
Sue Ann and Cindy seemed similar as they were both blondes and around the same heights. I would have kept Cindy over Sue Ann. Sue Ann was just from the Midwest, I think. Cindy had the first story of the series. Molly could have been kept as she was her own character. Nancy's character was just another Blair but not blonde. Out of all the girls, I would have just cut Sue Ann and Nancy and added Jo for season 2. All the spinoffs were awful in the earlier seasons. The last 2 spinoffs in the end, they should have at least done them, especially the last episode one. Even if it was just for one more season. In the reunion movie, Blair had sold the school at some point. The last 2 season's, Garrett's Girls wouldn't have sounded that good anymore. Blair could have done one more season. She was dating that guy but it seems they were pushing her to be paired with that teacher at Eastland in the last episode. By the reunion movie, she has married some other guy named Tad with the same last name. I feel Geri could have stuck around longer. At least into the end of "Edna's Edibles" before the show got into its final seasons. Geri wasn't needed full time, but it was nice to see her at times, and she was there during the early to mid seasons. I feel by the later ones she would have been cut though as they had too many new characters by season 7/8. It would have been nice had they ended her character with her getting discovered and getting her own series in Los Angeles, maybe even her own spinoff, but they cut her too soon.
Season one is the TRUE Facts of LIfe. The concept sold to NBC. The retooled watered down version featuring Jo was never as good. Jo was a wretched obnoxious character. Sue Ann should have been kept as Blair's foil.