I'm a newbie with a question

[Nat's #1 Fan]

Hi everyone! :wave: I'm new to the forum and I'd just like to say first off that this place is awesome. It's the first time I found a forum related to The Facts of Life and it's great to find other fans who are just as obsessed about this show as I am (and have been since I was 11; I'm 18 now). As you can tell by my name here, Natalie is my favorite character :) .
Anyway, I've been lurking around for about a couple of weeks and finally decided to join because I have a question that maybe someone could answer. I was on that Jump The Shark site a couple of days ago and was reading people's comments about why FOL jumped the shark and I found at least 7 or 8 people talking about an episode where Tootie gets her first period and panics because she thinks she's dying (because apparently her mom was always too busy to explain what it was to her) and Mrs. Garrett helps her through it and explains what's going on and then the other girls talk about what happened to them when they got it and Natalie makes Tootie feel better when she tells her she got her period just a few days before. From what I read, it happened in the first season and was supposedly a very heavy subject for its time (and as one poster pointed out, one of the best pre-Jo episodes), however I never heard of it nor is it on my DVD so I just have to ask; was this an actual episode or is this just something that someone made up (it wouldn't surprise me if it was because people say a lot of BS on that site)? And if it is an actual episode, what's the name of it and what actually happened in it? I went so far as to search it on yahoo answers and all I got out of that and JTS was that it was an episode they "vaguely remember seeing" and that's it. Judging by the threads here it looks like you all know what you're talking about so I figured this was the best place to ask :) . Any answer is appreciated, even if it's just "I don't know". I'll be happy with anything, thanks! Can't wait to post here! :)

[Mikado]

I just read through a list of first season eps and it's not there, plus, it's the kind of ep that would more likely have been in later seasons, after FOL stopped being a "jiggle show"...frankly, Tootie would have been a little young to hit puberty in the first season, anyway.

[Ireneparalegal]

That happened in the movie CARRIE. ;) Not on FOL.

[Mikado]

:eek:

[Nanc and Lisa!]

It was an episode but like you said, since that was a heavy topic, the episode was taken off the air not too long after it was put on the air if i'm not mistaken. I still wish they'd bring it back though. correct me if i'm wrong facts of lifer's but this is my understanding of it.

[pfeifferobsessed]

ive never heard any actual facts about this...my guess would be that they were wrong or mixing it up with another show! then again, it could have been a possibilty for an ep...but like i said ive never read any legitimate things about this! ive done more than my far share of searching on "facts"! :D

[Stuck In The '70's]

I've seen every episode of FOL and I've never seen it or heard about it before.

[Ireneparalegal]

I seen FOL when it first debuted and I NEVER seen such an episode.

Me thinks the poster got some bad information from JTS board or they came here simply to mock the show.

[Mikado]

no shes not here to mock it, as she said, theres a big thing about it on Jump the shark, but, it seems to be a hoax as thats the only place online that even mentioned it

[Ireneparalegal]

JTS is as bad as the TVland board. Full of nonsense and sometimes some stupid people who post anything knowing some people take it as the truth.

[Nvr_Sk_to_Tll]

Okay, there was no episode of Facts, season one or otherwise, dealing with this...
There is an awful lot of mockery on JTS about all kinds of shows, although as some have pointed out, this could be confusion with another show, as this would have been the kind of 'very special episode' that was huge in the 80s...

[Nat's #1 Fan]

It was an episode but like you said, since that was a heavy topic, the episode was taken off the air not too long after it was put on the air if i'm not mistaken. I still wish they'd bring it back though. correct me if i'm wrong facts of lifer's but this is my understanding of it.
No, I don't think you're wrong because I did read that not long after they aired the episode, they took it off. I guess it makes sense due to the topic, although it is ironic that they completely wiped it out of their season, yet left the Dope episode and The Facts of Love episode in, which deals with topics just as heavy. Now I wish it would've been included on the DVD as an extra because it sounds like a good episode and probably one I would've been able to relate to since I was only ten when I started and reacted in a similar way because my mom thought I was going to start at 12 or 13 and didn't explain much to me. Plus, it's more acceptable now to talk about something like that on TV. Oh well, thanks to you and everyone who answered :) . Just so everyone knows, I never would've asked this question if I knew from the get-go that it was complete crap. The posters that were describing it seemed to have their facts accurate and sounded like they were really describing an episode (i.e. they weren't like the 50+ posters that just talked about how fat the girls were and that the show JTS when they got too big for their TV screens :rolleyes: ) that aired. So I figured I'd ask the question here to get some real answers from fans since I knew I couldn't completely trust that site.
Oh and one more thing: I've been a fan of FOL ever since it came on N@N in 2000, back when I was in 5th grade. I've never had anything bad to say about this show, nor will I ever have anything bad to say about it that would make me want to join here just to mock. I have better values than that :) .

[WaterLoo]

I've been over at JTS myself and saw alot on this supposed "episode". I have to admit I never really watched the first season of the show until I purchased the DVD's. While I was surprised to see that there were some pretty serious subjects dealt with during the first season despite its bad rap (eating disorders, teen sex and drugs), I never once saw an episode where Tootie gets her period.
I think this is all a hoax just like that supposed "Diff'rent Strokes" episode where Mr. Drummond is caught peeking in on Kimberly while she's taking a bath.

[Ireneparalegal]

First of all, welcome to the board. :wave: I am sure you will have fun here on the FOL board. ;)

Back to the topic at hand, there was never an episode regarding Tootie having her period.

Having grown up in the 70's and watching shows from Norman Lear which dealt with much worse topics such as rape, race relations, religious clashes, drugs, teen pregnancy, alcoholism, etc. the subject of a girl having her period, which is a very natural thing, is NOT A HEAVY TOPIC. It can be an embarrassing topic for young girls to discuss, but in no way was any episode made abt a girl having her period deemed so heavy or "deep" that it had to be removed.

You must be mistaken or you are taking the word of people on the JTS board who have a habit of spreading rumors, lies and mocking shows. One reason I no longer visit that site.

[Nanc and Lisa!]

i dont know but i still think that it was an episode that got taken off the air.

[Stuck In The '70's]

i dont know but i still think that it was an episode that got taken off the air.
If it was taken off the air it would have aired in syndication. Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Avengers and The New Dick Van Dyke show filmed episodes that the network wouldn't air. When they all went into syndication they were included. If their had been such an episode the cast would have talked about it by now. I've never heard anybody talk about it before. I watched the show when it originally aired and I don't remember seeing any show like this.

[Nat's #1 Fan]

Thanks for the welcome :) . I'm sure I'll have a great time posting here.
Anyway back to the topic, I definitely don't think the subject of a girl having her period is too heavy a topic at all. It's a natural thing for girls to go through. I just meant that maybe for its time it was too heavy of a topic to talk about on TV like way back when you couldn't show a pregnant woman on TV (before Lucy did it) or show a man and a woman in bed together (back in the days of separate beds). Do I myself think that the period topic is too heavy? Absoultely not, but maybe it was for that time. That's why when I read on JTS that the episode was never shown again due to the topic it could very well have been true. But I know now that this has to be something someone made up, no matter how many people talked about it because it would be mentioned in the episode guide and most likely talked about on other sites. And why people would mock shows on JTS and make up crap about them is beyond me; that totally ruins the point of that site.
And WaterLoo, I read about that supposed DS episode too. Definitely total hoax. However, that one episode where Kimberly decides to be immature and take a picture of Arnold's butt in the shower was definitely not a hoax :lol: .

[Stuck In The '70's]

Thanks for the welcome :) . I'm sure I'll have a great time posting here.
Anyway back to the topic, I definitely don't think the subject of a girl having her period is too heavy a topic at all. It's a natural thing for girls to go through. I just meant that maybe for its time it was too heavy of a topic to talk about on TV like way back when you couldn't show a pregnant woman on TV (before Lucy did it) or show a man and a woman in bed together (back in the days of separate beds). Do I myself think that the period topic is too heavy? Absoultely not, but maybe it was for that time. That's why when I read on JTS that the episode was never shown again due to the topic it could very well have been true. But I know now that this has to be something someone made up, no matter how many people talked about it because it would be mentioned in the episode guide and most likely talked about on other sites. And why people would mock shows on JTS and make up crap about them is beyond me; that totally ruins the point of that site.
And WaterLoo, I read about that supposed DS episode too. Definitely total hoax. However, that one episode where Kimberly decides to be immature and take a picture of Arnold's butt in the shower was definitely not a hoax :lol: .
Welcome to the board :wave:

Back in 1979-1980 television was changing. Daytime soaps were showing men and women in bed...nighttime shows like Dallas were already pushing the limit. Television back then was putting more risque shows on the air. It started with All in the Family and the other Norman Lear shows. TC and Soap came out in 1977 and they pushed the envelope even more. Soap was such a controversial show that many ABC affiliates actually only aired it late at night. By 1979-1980 this subject probably wouldn't have been that controversial. The only thing I could think of why it might have been was because the show did appeal to a younger crowd. But as I said above, if it was made we would have heard about it by now and it would have been sold with the other episodes in syndication. :)

[Nat's #1 Fan]

Thanks :) . And that's a good point; if there were such an episode it would've been seen in syndication and most definitely would've been included in the season 1 and 2 DVD and also the cast probably would've talked about it by now. I just find it odd that so many people talked about it on that site like there really was such an episode. I probably would've shrugged it off if just one person talked about it because most people were making stuff up but with the way it was flowing, I figured I'd ask here to be sure because I knew I'd get a straight answer here. Thanks everyone for answering :) .

[Jude The Obscure]

There is no such episode. I'm one of FOL's biggest fans and I would know if some "lost" episodes didn't make the reruns. For instance, Nick at Nite would always skip over the suicide episode and also, the abortion episode.

[painmakeyourway]

I've seen every episode of FOL and I've never seen it or heard about it before.

same here

[Janice]

No matter how many times TJ tells you to lay off the newbies, you just can't help yourself. Don't bother directing me to your belated welcome post either. It's this rude post that's WRONG. How many new members do you have to drive away before it sinks in? Fortunately, it didn't happen in this case, but it could have. There are many newbies who would just wouldn't come back, after being accused of coming here to mock a show. Nat's #1 Fan's first post was obviously genuine, full of sincerity and smileys. In return, gets a wisecrack from you, then an accusation. For the record, TJ was displeased with this as well. I told him I'd handle it. If you take issue with this warning, take it up with him. For the last time, lay off the newbies. Welcome them or don't, but don't give them a hard time.