August 24, 1979 - May 7, 1988
NBC Situation Comedy - 209 Filmed Episodes
Cast:
| Edna Garrett: | Charlotte Rae |
| Blair Warner: | Lisa Whelchel |
| Dorothy "Tootie" Ramsey: | Kim Fields |
| Natalie Green: | Mindy Cohn |
| Jo Polniaczek: | Nancy McKeon |
| Nancy Olson: | Felice Schachter |
| Sue Ann Weaver: | Julie Piekarski |
| Steven Bradley, Headmaster: | John Lawlor |
| Molly Parker: | Molly Ringwald |
| George Burnett: | George Clooney |
| Mr. Charles Parker: | Roger Perry |
| Geri Warner: | Geri Jewell |
| Andy Moffet: | MacKenzie Astin |
| Charlie Polniaczek: | Alex Rocco |
| Beverly Ann Stickle: | Cloris Leachman |
This spin-off from the popular NBC comedy Diff'rent
Strokes originally focused on Mrs. Garrett, who had
been the Drummonds' housekeeper prior to taking a job
as housemother at the prestigious Eastland school for
young women. Mrs. Garrett was kind and understanding,
serving as both confidante and surrogate parent to
the girls in her charge, who at the start of the
series ranged in age from 11 to 15. Blair, 15, was
wealthy, attractive, and spoiled; Nancy, 14, was
well-rounded; Sue Ann, 14, was cute and boy-crazy;
Tootie, 11, was the resident gossip; and Natalie, the
other principal student, was plump and impressionable.
The headmaster at Eastland was Mr. Bradley.
As the seasons passed, the series evolved. In 1980 Jo,
a 16-year-old street kid from the Bronx joined the
cast. In 1983 Mrs. Garrett left Eastland and opened
her own gourmet food shop in nearby Peekskill, New
York, called "Edna's Edibles". Blair and Jo (who were
now attending college) and Tootie and Natalie (still
at Eastland) moved in with her. In 1985 fire destroyed
the shop and Mrs. Garrett and the girls rebuilt it
into a completely new business, an updated version
of a 1950s malt shop called "Over Our Heads."
It was the perfect hangout for students at Langley,
and the girls were all partners. Young Andy was the
errand boy, and George the good-looking young carpenter
who helped with the rebuilding. The following year Mrs.
Garrett remarried and tearfully moved away; she was
replaced by her chatterbox sister, Beverly Ann, who
became the new "housemother" and stepmother to Andy.
By 1987-1988 the "girls" had become young women.
It was announced that this would be The Facts of Life's
last season, and each of the regulars was seen embarking
on adult life, each in her own way. Natalie, the aspiring
author, got her first taste of a writer's life in New
York City, and was also the first to lose her virginity
when she spent the night with her boyfriend Snake.
Shortly thereafter Jo, who was headed for a business
career, was married to freewheeling musician Rick.
Tootie, who was engaged to Jeff, planned to become an
actress, and enrolled at the prestigious Royal Academy
of Dramatic Arts in London. But the most surprising was
wealthy Blair, by now enrolled at Langley Law School.
Watching in despair as her alma mater Eastland went
steadily downhill, she decided to do something about it.
Putting all her assets on the line, she bought the
school and assumed the position of headmistress,
planning major changes--including a coed student
body--to put Eastland back on the map.
Click HERE to download theme song.
(Theme song provided by Todd Fuller's Sitcoms Online.)
Click HERE to purchase TV books and videos!
Look for The Facts of Life on Nick at Nite.
Episode Guide
From EpGuides.com
Facts of Life Message Board
From Todd Fuller's Sitcoms Online
The Facts of Life Online
By Todd Fuller
Beyond the facts of Life
Fan Site / Author Unknown
Eastland Academy for Girls
By Unknown
The Facts of Life
From The Internet Movie Database
The Facts of Life
By Mollie
The Facts of Life
From TV.com
The Facts of Life
From TVGuide.com
The Facts of Life
From Wikipedia
The Facts of Life Photo Gallery
Fan Site / Author Unknown
The Facts of Life Site
From TelevisionHits.com
Liz's Officially Unofficial Facts of Life Site
By Liz
Official Web Page of Lisa Whelchel
By Velma French
These links were last tested January 2001.
Check out this classic TV Guide cover...
