This website has been open since November 28th, 1998 and is my tribute to the American Sitcom The Facts of Life; which, was produced for the NBC Network from 1979 to 1988 and is currently distributed by Sony Pictures Television. Long-time visitors have seen the site undergo many changes since it's inception, and in that time has aquired over 330,000 visitors since its launch. In a world where internet sites come and go every second, we are proud to have existed over thirteen years. We are currently the largest and #1 source for The Facts of Life anywhere!
THE FACTS OF LIFE
spun off of Diff'rent Strokes and debuted on August 24th, 1979. School Dietian Mrs. Edna Garrett, played by actress Charlotte Rae, mentored and guided 4 girls: the snobby-rich Blair Warner (Lisa Whelchel), gossiping 'Tootie' Ramsey (Kim Fields), impressionable Natalie Green (Mindy Cohn), and street-wise Jo Polniaczek (Nancy McKeon) at the all exclusive private boarding school, Eastland Academy. After somewhat of a slow start, the show found it's audience and became a definitive popular culture icon of the 1980's. In television history, it was the first show to feature an all-female-cast.
It was the longest-running sitcom of that era and evolved 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.' The show tackled many issues such as: infidelity, abortion, rape, homosexuality, divorce, sex, drugs, and suicide. Although the show covered many social issues, it never had the status of being an 'issue' show since comedy was added to the formula. After 209 episodes, nine seasons, several spin-off attempts, cast additions/changes, and two movies the show was cancelled on September 24th, 1988.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012 'THE FACTS OF LIFE' WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
(Source: YAHOO!) You've probably heard the news this week that Lisa Whelchel, who played Blair on "The Facts of Life" in the '70s and '80s, is going to try and keep her torch lit longer than 17 other castaways on "Survivor: Philippines." The former actress told Yahoo! TV that although she's not a fan of reality shows, she considers this more of an adventure. It got us thinking about the rest of the "Facts of Life" cast and what they've been up to.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012 Blair from ‘Facts of Life,’ a.k.a Lisa Whelchel, will compete on ‘Survivor: Philippines’
(Source: Washington Post; Jen Chaney) Lisa Whelchel — who spent many years outwitting and outlasting Jo and Mrs. Garrett on the NBC sitcom “The Facts of Life” — will compete on the next iteration of “Survivor,” “Survivor: Philippines.”
The roster of immunity necklace seekers was revealed Monday and includes two names previously known outside of the “Survivor” world: former Major League Baseball player Jeff Kent and Whelchel, who made a name for herself in the ‘80s by showing off her flowing blond locks and snobby attitude as Blair Warner on “The Facts of Life.”
Many may have responded to this news by asking the obvious question: “How come they didn’t pick Tootie? That girl can roller skate.” The answer, according to Entertainment Weekly, is that Whelchel, 49, campaigned via Twitter to be chosen for this, the reality show’s 25th (!!) season.
“I’ve watched it from the very first episode, and had ‘Survivor’ parties with my family,” she tells the magazine.
Well, there’s the answer to the question I ask myself on a regular basis: Who still watches “Survivor”? Clearly based on its ratings and the fact that CBS continues cranking out new seasons, people do. I just don’t know any of them.
Now it’s obvious what the problem is: I have not been spending enough time talking TV with Whelchel and her family.
Whelchel’s inclusion in the cast is the rare instance of a celebrity competing on the Jeff Probst-hosted series. But before you think she’ll be way too coddled to last 39 days eating bugs on an isolated island, just watch this clip from “Facts of Life,” in which she argues that God is dead, takes a punch on the chin from Jo and just shakes it off.
No, people. Do not count out Blair Warner.
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