The Facts of Life

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they were supposed to be wealthy boarding school girls, so that is what they were going for.

Jo wasn't wealthy.

I don't remember thinking Natalie was from a wealthy family. Was she somehow related to the "Dorm mom"? Mrs. Garrett???

Blair was definitely from a privileged family.

Can't remember about Tootie's family status.

Tootie was black and it was the 80's, so obviously she had to have been a scholarship kid, right?

I am pretty sure her father was a doctor.

Jo was the scholarship kid. I know you were trying to be funny but Geez!

Tootie's mom was a lawyer; she wasn't scholarship or poor.

Yes, Tootie came from a privileged, well-heeled background. Jo was from the streets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they were supposed to be wealthy boarding school girls, so that is what they were going for.

that doesn't explain frumpy.

OP - I've watched a little and natalie and tootie were really short and didn't carry weight well. jo and blair exspecially looked decent. i think blair or the real life actress may have battled an eating disorder IIRC.

anywho i loved this show growing up and this show did not age well but i love it for that. (i'm the hart to hart poster

I always thought Jo was a lesbian.

Can't say much about a fictional character but Jo had romances with men while on the show, especially toward the end. She even dated her college professor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They dressed the way the style was back in the 80s. The 80s were totally frump. I should know, I was a produce of that era. I think it was the pendulum swinging back from the 60s and 70s where girls wore mid drifts and short shorts.

The word was "preppy" not frumpy. But yes, it's a fine line.

Yes, a very fine line. I'm a product of that era as well and remember the thick, wool sweaters (monogrammed, of course), LLBean duck shoes, turtlenecks, "mom" jeans, etc. Very frumpy/preppy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they were supposed to be wealthy boarding school girls, so that is what they were going for.

that doesn't explain frumpy.

OP - I've watched a little and natalie and tootie were really short and didn't carry weight well. jo and blair exspecially looked decent. i think blair or the real life actress may have battled an eating disorder IIRC.

anywho i loved this show growing up and this show did not age well but i love it for that. (i'm the hart to hart poster

I always thought Jo was a lesbian.

Can't say much about a fictional character but Jo had romances with men while on the show, especially toward the end. She even dated her college professor.

Didn't Jo have a big romance with a biker dude from her neighborhood in the Bronx or wherever she was from? Or am I thinking of Mallory from Family Ties Loved both of those shows!

[Anonymous]

My favorite episodes: 1) the one where Tootie goes batshit for Jermaine Jackson. 2) Blair reads Natalie's diary. 3) the all night study session.

[Anonymous]

I can't believe we made it to page 3 with no mention of Clooney? Of course, the show jumped the shark by the time he joined the cast.

I agree with the all night study session being one of my all time faves. I also loved the inclusion of cousin Geri in several episodes. They dressed the way I remember everyone dressing in the 80s, and they certainly weren't overweight (aside from Natalie).

[Anonymous]

I was just going to mention that even George Clooney wasn't attractive on the show.
The 80's were awful for hair and fashion.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, Clooney has aged VERY well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My favorite episodes: 1) the one where Tootie goes batshit for Jermaine Jackson. 2) Blair reads Natalie's diary. 3) the all night study session.

Yessss the Jermaine Jackson episode might be my favorite too. Tootie was the original Stan

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, Clooney has aged VERY well.

He can thank his surgeons for that, mostly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The camera adds pounds. I bet they weren't as "fat" as everyone is saying.

This! If you've see a famous actor in person - one who looks "normal sized" on screen, you'll see they are teeny tiny in person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They dressed the way the style was back in the 80s. The 80s were totally frump. I should know, I was a produce of that era. I think it was the pendulum swinging back from the 60s and 70s where girls wore mid drifts and short shorts.

The word was "preppy" not frumpy. But yes, it's a fine line.

Yes, a very fine line. I'm a product of that era as well and remember the thick, wool sweaters (monogrammed, of course), LLBean duck shoes, turtlenecks, "mom" jeans, etc. Very frumpy/preppy.

Exactly. Even the purses looked like old lady handbags. Did you have a Bermuda purse, PP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First season when there were a lot of girls was the best.

Yes, it went downhill from there. Plus, they had Molly Ringwald.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First season when there were a lot of girls was the best.

Yes! Molly Ringwald!

PP is right though. The show doesn't age well at all. The story lines are horribly trite. Family Ties and Growing Pains are much more enduring.

Wow I must have watched a different show. I thought the show was unwatchable until Jo joined in season 2. Molly Ringwald's acting was God-awful in that first seasons. And I can't believe you think the storylines were trite. Did you miss the episode where Tootie was almost turned out by a pimp??

Hhahahahaha! I forgot about that one. Amazing stuff. There was an attempted date rape, and the one wear Blair had a crush on the dean or whoever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They dressed the way the style was back in the 80s. The 80s were totally frump. I should know, I was a produce of that era. I think it was the pendulum swinging back from the 60s and 70s where girls wore mid drifts and short shorts.

The word was "preppy" not frumpy. But yes, it's a fine line.

Yes, a very fine line. I'm a product of that era as well and remember the thick, wool sweaters (monogrammed, of course), LLBean duck shoes, turtlenecks, "mom" jeans, etc. Very frumpy/preppy.

Exactly. Even the purses looked like old lady handbags. Did you have a Bermuda purse, PP?

That was so chic.