The Facts of Life(NBC)
Premiere: August 24, 1979
End: May 7, 1988
The Facts of Life revolved around a group of students at an all-girl boarding school in New York State. They were watched over by Mrs. Edna Garrett(Charlotte Rae). They included: rich girl Blair Warner(Lisa Whelchel), tough girl Jo Polniaczek(Nancy McKeon), aspiring author Natalie Green(MIndy Cohn), and avid roller skater and aspiring actress Tootie Ramsey, played by Kim Fields(Don't worry, Tootie was a nickname. Her real name? Dorothy.) Other characters later joined, including delivery boy Andy(Mackenzie Astin) and Cloris Leachman was brought aboard as Mrs. Garrett's sister, Beverly Ann, when Mrs. Garrett married and moved to Africa. The show dealt with a lot of heavy topics over the years, but the main message was clear: It's important to have friends while you're dealing with the challenges of growing up.
End: May 7, 1988
The Facts of Life revolved around a group of students at an all-girl boarding school in New York State. They were watched over by Mrs. Edna Garrett(Charlotte Rae). They included: rich girl Blair Warner(Lisa Whelchel), tough girl Jo Polniaczek(Nancy McKeon), aspiring author Natalie Green(MIndy Cohn), and avid roller skater and aspiring actress Tootie Ramsey, played by Kim Fields(Don't worry, Tootie was a nickname. Her real name? Dorothy.) Other characters later joined, including delivery boy Andy(Mackenzie Astin) and Cloris Leachman was brought aboard as Mrs. Garrett's sister, Beverly Ann, when Mrs. Garrett married and moved to Africa. The show dealt with a lot of heavy topics over the years, but the main message was clear: It's important to have friends while you're dealing with the challenges of growing up.
Center: Charlotte Rae(Mrs. Edna Garrett). Clockwise, from left: Nancy McKeon(Jo Polniaczek), Lisa Whelchel(Blair Warner), Mindy Cohn(Natalie Green), and Kim Fields(Tootie Ramsey).
Best Episodes:
Season 2, Episode 1 "The New Girl"
The new school year begins, and with it comes new girl Jo Polniaczek, a motorcycle-riding streetwise girl from the tough streets of New York City, who immediately clashes with prim, proper Blair. She dares the other girls to do something rebellious, so she hot-wires the school van and the four girls take a ride across town and sneak into a bar. But when a good-looking guy turns out to be an undercover cop, the girls find themselves thrown in jail. Now, after being arrested, the girls face possible expulsion. They can avoid it, Mrs. Garrett says, if they work together in the kitchen to pay off their damages.
The new school year begins, and with it comes new girl Jo Polniaczek, a motorcycle-riding streetwise girl from the tough streets of New York City, who immediately clashes with prim, proper Blair. She dares the other girls to do something rebellious, so she hot-wires the school van and the four girls take a ride across town and sneak into a bar. But when a good-looking guy turns out to be an undercover cop, the girls find themselves thrown in jail. Now, after being arrested, the girls face possible expulsion. They can avoid it, Mrs. Garrett says, if they work together in the kitchen to pay off their damages.
Season 2, Episode 5 "Cousin Geri"
The girls are immediately charmed by Blair's cousin Geri-a sweet, quick-witted standup comedian. But Geri also has cerebral palsy, a fact not lost on Blair, who makes it clear that she is uncomfortable with her cousin's disability and the fact that she is so open about it.
The girls are immediately charmed by Blair's cousin Geri-a sweet, quick-witted standup comedian. But Geri also has cerebral palsy, a fact not lost on Blair, who makes it clear that she is uncomfortable with her cousin's disability and the fact that she is so open about it.
Season 4, Episode 23-24 "Graduation"
Jo and Blair face a flurry of preparations for their Eastland graduation Natalie and Tootie are worried that they will not be able to say goodbye to them and that they will lose them as friends. Jo and Blair must face their bickering parents, and Mrs. Garrett is charge of the whole thing. But finally the graduation goes as planned, and Jo and Blair reassure Tootie and Natalie that they will not lose them as friends as they realize just how much they learned at Eastland-and not all of it related to academics.
Jo and Blair face a flurry of preparations for their Eastland graduation Natalie and Tootie are worried that they will not be able to say goodbye to them and that they will lose them as friends. Jo and Blair must face their bickering parents, and Mrs. Garrett is charge of the whole thing. But finally the graduation goes as planned, and Jo and Blair reassure Tootie and Natalie that they will not lose them as friends as they realize just how much they learned at Eastland-and not all of it related to academics.
Season 8, Episode 1-2 "Out of Peekskill"
Mrs. Garrett accepts a proposal from an old Peace Corps acquaintance, Bruce Gaines. She decides to rejoin the Peace Corps and join him in Africa following their wedding. But when they find out the boat will leave in less than 24 hours, the girls throw together a shotgun wedding. Things only get crazier when Mrs. Garrett's sister, Beverly Ann, runs over the minister. A distraught Beverly Ann gets consoled by Mrs. Garrett and the girls at the trailer park where she is staying. After almost falling off a cliff, Mrs. Garrett and Bruce finally marry and leave for Africa. Beverly Ann moves in to take over the store.
Mrs. Garrett accepts a proposal from an old Peace Corps acquaintance, Bruce Gaines. She decides to rejoin the Peace Corps and join him in Africa following their wedding. But when they find out the boat will leave in less than 24 hours, the girls throw together a shotgun wedding. Things only get crazier when Mrs. Garrett's sister, Beverly Ann, runs over the minister. A distraught Beverly Ann gets consoled by Mrs. Garrett and the girls at the trailer park where she is staying. After almost falling off a cliff, Mrs. Garrett and Bruce finally marry and leave for Africa. Beverly Ann moves in to take over the store.
Season 9, Episode 19 "Til Marriage Do Us Part"
Rick Bonner proposes to Jo, who, after initial hesitation, accepts. Her friends throw themselves into planning her wedding. However, on her wedding day, Rick says they can't get married because he is leaving to go on tour with his orchestra. Jo says they'll get married anyway, and the wedding goes off without a hitch, making Jo the first one of the girls to be married.
Rick Bonner proposes to Jo, who, after initial hesitation, accepts. Her friends throw themselves into planning her wedding. However, on her wedding day, Rick says they can't get married because he is leaving to go on tour with his orchestra. Jo says they'll get married anyway, and the wedding goes off without a hitch, making Jo the first one of the girls to be married.