Welcome to The Facts of Life Online, devoted to one of the most entertaining and popular sitcoms of
the 1980's.
The Facts of Life Online - all Facts of Life, all the time...
Established: September 26th, 1999
Featured in the March 30th, 2001 issue of Entertainment Weekly!
The Facts of Life on DVD:
The Facts of Life - The Complete First and Second Seasons was released on
May 9, 2006.
A spin-off of the tremendously popular show "Diff'rent Strokes," The Facts of Life
is the hilarious series that follows housemother Mrs. Edna Garrett (Charlotte Rae)
and her mission to instill values in the girls of Eastland School.
The large first season cast included John Lawlor, Jenny O'Hara, Lisa Whelchel,
Felice Schachter, Julie Piekarski, Kim Fields, Molly Ringwald,
Julie Anne Haddock and Mindy Cohn. By the second season, the show focused
on Mrs. Garrett and just four Eastland girls - spoiled Blair, gossipy Tootie,
wise-cracking Natalie, and newcomer to the group, rebellious Jo (Nancy McKeon).
Under Mrs. Garrett's guidance, these four go from wide-eyed school girls to mature
young women...all while learning The Facts of Life! Guest stars include
the cast of "Diff'rent Strokes," Helen Hunt and Richard Dean Anderson
of TV's "MacGyver."
Special Features:
• Featurette: Remembering the Facts of Life
Purchase The Facts of Life - The Complete First and Second Seasons on DVD
The Facts of Life - The Complete Third Season was released on
October 24, 2006.
Blair, Jo, Tootie, Natalie and Mrs. Garrett return to DVD on October 24 when Sony Pictures Home Entertainment debuts The Facts of Life: The Complete Third Season. The three-disc set of 24 episodes from the popular, long-running series tackles issues that still face teenagers today: alcohol, romance, competition, and breaking the rules. As Mrs. Garrett, the ultimate den mother, Charlotte Rae was nominated for an Emmy® for her work in this season.
The Facts of Life also stars Lisa Whelchel as Blair, the snooty rich girl who ultimately demonstrates that she’s not as perfect as she appears; Nancy McKeon as Jo, the rebellious girl from the wrong side of the tracks who frequently shows a softer side beneath her hard shell; Mindy Cohn as Natalie, the perky comedienne in the group who always has a funny line in any situation; and Kim Fields as Tootie, the youngest member of the group who often gets herself into trouble over her love of spreading gossip.
The third season finds the characters in myriad dilemmas: Tootie (Fields) gets drunk for the first time, as well as developing a crush on her favorite singer (Jermaine Jackson of “The Jackson 5); Natalie (Cohn) gets mugged after coming home from a party and develops a fear of going outside; Jo (McKeon) falls out of love with her fiancée (played by ‘80s heartthrob Clark Brandon) and in love with the man who’s playing her husband in a simulated marriage project for a class; Blair (Whelchel) learns her grandfather is a member of a Ku Klux Klan; and Mrs. Garrett has her hands full when she rekindles an old romantic fling.
Purchase The Facts of Life - The Complete Third Season on DVD
The Facts of Life - The Complete Fourth Season was released on
May 4, 2010.
Blair (Lisa Whelchel), Tootie (Kim Fields), Natalie (Mindy Cohn) and Jo (Nancy McKeon), are back in school under the guiding hand and watchful eye of their dietitian, Mrs. Garrett (Charlotte Rae), at the Eastland Academy for Girls.
Season Four highlights include a marriage proposal for Mrs. Garrett, an eye-opening lesson in drunk driving for the girls, and Blair and Jo heading off to college! Dishing out quick-witted humor and big laughs, the girls literally grew up right in front of millions of viewers each week.
A spin-off of Dif'rent Strokes, The Facts of Life aired from 1979-1988 and remains one of the most loved sitcoms of the '80s.
Special Features:
• The Facts of Life Goes to Paris
Purchase The Facts of Life - The Complete Fourth Season on DVD
Last Updated: August 6th, 2018
• Featurette: After Facts
Read our review of The Facts of Life - The Complete First and Second Seasons on DVD
Read our review of The Facts of Life - The Complete Third Season on DVD
• Know The Facts: Trivia Game
Read our review of The Facts of Life - The Complete Fourth Season on DVD
The Facts of Life - The Complete Fifth Season was released on November 2, 2010.
Blair, Natalie, Tootie and Jo - the girls are back in business in Season Five... literally.
Season Five finds Mrs. Garrett (Charlotte Rae) opening her own gourmet shop, Edna's Edibles, with some help from the girls. Meanwhile Blair (Lisa Whelchel) pledges a sorority, Tootie (Kim Fields) gets into an intense battle with her mother, Natalie (Mindy Cohn) experiences an unexpected death in the family, and Jo (Nancy McKeon) starts dating a rich kid! As the girls grow, so do the story lines and characters, making every season a unique chapter in each of their lives.
A spin-off of Diff'rent Strokes, The Facts of Life aired from 1979-1988, securing it a prime-time spot as one of the most adored sitcoms of all time.
Purchase The Facts of Life - The Complete Fifth Season on DVD
Read our review of The Facts of Life - The Complete Fifth Season on DVD
The Facts of Life - Season Six was released on June 9, 2015.
A classic sitcom - and that's a Fact! Mrs. Garrett and her girls - Blair, Natalie, Tootie and Jo - are back with another batch of freshly baked episodes filled with humor and heart in the sixth season of The Facts of Life. Featuring Charlotte Rae, Lisa Whelchel, Mindy Cohn, Kim Fields and Nancy McKeon, The Facts of Life: Season Six is another terrific outing from one of America's most adored situation comedies, and a must-have for fans.
Season Six finds the girls dividing their time between working at Mrs. Garrett's gourmet food shop, Edna's Edibles, and exploring an ever-expanding world and all the challenges that lie ahead as they launch themselves into young adulthood. Through it all - from a hurricane-battered spring break in Fort Lauderdale to a memorable night of cruising in Peekskill - Mrs. Garrett's four young charges learn that the one thing you can always count on is friendship and sisterhood.
Purchase The Facts of Life - Season Six on DVD
The Facts of Life - Season Seven was released on October 20, 2015.
Garrett's girls are back! Join Blair, Natalie, Tootie, Jo, and Mrs. G for 24 Fact-astic episodes of laughs and life lessons in The Facts of Life: Season Seven. Every Facts fan knows that big changes are always in store for our heroines, but Season Seven knocks the girls for a loop when they return home from summer vacation and find that Edna's Edibles has been destroyed in a fire!
Employing the services of hunky contractor George Burnett (Academy Award winner George Clooney {2005: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: Syriana; 2013: Best Picture (Producer): Argo} in an early role), they set out on a bold new business model, and from the ashes of Edna's Edibles rises the gift shop, Over Our Heads! Featuring Charlotte Rae, Lisa Whelchel, Mindy Cohn, Kim Fields and Nancy McKeon, The Facts of Life: Season Seven delivers all the heart and hilarity fans have come to expect from a sitcom classic that became a cultural touchstone for any young adult of the eighties.
Purchase The Facts of Life - Season Seven on DVD
The Facts of Life - Season Eight was released on January 26, 2016.
Blair, Natalie, Tootie, and Jo say goodbye to their beloved Mrs. G...and things will never be the same again in The Facts of Life: Season Eight.
When Edna Garrett finds love, the girls are understandably overjoyed-but it turns bittersweet when they realize that their longtime friend and mentor will be leaving them. Edna's sister Beverly Ann (Academy Award winner Cloris Leachman [Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, The Last Picture Show, 1971]) steps in to keep an eye on them, but as the year passes and graduation from Langley College looms for Blair and Jo, it appears that the winds of change that haven't finished blowing just yet.
Other highlights of Season Eight include a rockin' trip back to the 1960s, an Eastland girls reunion featuring some familiar faces for longtime fans of the series, guest appearances by George Clooney and pop star Stacey Q., and a surprising, hilarious murder mystery in which no one-and we mean no one- is truly safe. Continue your collection of one of your all-time favorite sitcoms with The Facts of Life: Season Eight.
Purchase The Facts of Life - Season Eight on DVD
"You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have The Facts of Life..."
Mrs. Garrett and her girls are ready to make you laugh - and make you think - all over again with The Facts of Life: The Complete Series! Join Blair (Lisa Whelchel), Tootie (Kim Fields), Natalie (Mindy Cohn), and Jo (Nancy McKeon) as they experience the highs and lows that we all experience on the road to adulthood. With the ever-developing friendship of our four young heroines, the gentle wisdom of Mrs. Garrett, and enough Very Special Episodes to make Blossom blush, The Facts of Life engaged audiences for eight seasons, and remains a favorite for countless fans to this day.
From Eastland School for Girls to Edna's Edibles...from Cousin Geri to George Burnett...all 209 episodes of this quintessential 1980s sitcom are available in one convenient package for the first time on DVD. Who says "the world never seems to be living up to your dreams?" Nobody who adds The Facts of Life: The Complete Series to their collection!
Special Features
"The Girls School" - Diff'rent Strokes episode debuting Mrs. Garrett and the girls of Eastlake Academy
The Facts of Life Goes To Paris - TV Movie
The Facts of Life Down Under - TV Movie
Remembering The Facts of Life - Featurette
After The Facts - Featurette
Know The Facts: Trivia Game
Cast Reunion At The Paley Center (September 2014 event)
Purchase The Facts of Life - The Complete Series on DVD from Amazon.com or Shout! Factory
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What's New:
Please visit our message board regularly for the most up-to-date news, articles and cast updates.
Charlotte Rae -- Mrs. Garrett from TV's 'The Facts of Life,' 'Diff'rent Strokes' -- dies at 92
Charlotte Rae, Mrs. Garrett on Facts of Life and Diff’rent Strokes, dies at 92
Charlotte Rae on Wikipedia / IMDB
Share your memories on our message board.
The Facts of Life reunion show with actresses Charlotte Rae, Lisa Whelchel and Kim Fields; actress and comedian Geri Jewell; Lisa Whelchel cooks a Mexican corn bread; DIY blinged roller skates; how to achieve Blair's fabulous hair from "The Facts of Life"; a prep school inspired fashion show; singer Gloria Loring performs "The Facts of Life" theme song; how to make a personalized DIY diary.
Charlotte Rae has released her book, "The Facts of My Life."
The Facts of Life, an American television situation comedy, broadcast on NBC for nearly nine years, making the series one of the longest-running of the 1980s. Edna Garrett, played by Charlotte Rae, served as mother hen at an all-female boarding school, yet no one knew that Charlotte’s personal story of triumph over tragedy spanned more twists and turns than any screenwriter could ever imagine.
Charlotte Rae’s career spans more than seventy years, from the Golden Age of television to Shakespeare in the Park, the New York Cabaret scene of the late 1940s and 1950s to her hit series, The Facts of Life, and well beyond.
Off stage and screen, Charlotte’s life has been one of joy and challenge, raising an autistic son, coming to terms with alcoholism, the heartache of a broken marriage, the revelation of a gay husband, and the sudden challenge of facing middle age with financial and emotional uncertainties—a crisis she ultimately turned into the determination that brought her stardom.
The Facts of My Life is the first opportunity for Charlotte’s fans to explore the fascinating story of her extraordinary life: poignant and hilarious, a story of courage and triumph, one that speaks for a generation of women breaking barriers, taking on challenges, overcoming personal tragedy, and paving the way for others.
Purchase "The Facts of My Life" by Charlotte Rae and Larry Strauss
"Tootie!" Yep, Mrs. Garrett and the girls from Eastland are going to spend Labor Day with you all. The Facts of Life is coming to TV Land and will launch with a Labor Day marathon on Monday, Sept. 7 from 9am-8pm! But wait, there's more! The Facts of Life will also air regularly on TV Land every weekday from 6-8pm following Gilligan's Island at 5. No other schedule changes will be made, except Gilligan's evening slot moves to 5-6pm instead of 6-8pm, cutting Bonanza by an airing. The Facts of Life has been airing on Viacom for some months now on sister network Logo, where it has done pretty well...and it will continue to also air on Logo as well. So it's double the fun for The Facts of Life! The series aired from 1979-1988 on NBC and starred Charlotte Rae, Lisa Whelchel, Kim Fields, Mindy Cohn and Nancy McKeon. Stay with us for continued updates!
Purchase The Facts of Life - The Complete Series on DVD from Amazon.com or Shout! Factory
You Take the Good, You Take the Bad...
The Facts of Life: The Complete Series
Available on DVD January 13, 2015
Holiday Delivery Guaranteed for Orders from ShoutFactory.com
You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have: The Facts of Life: The Complete Series! On January 13th, 2015, Mrs. Garrett and her girls are ready to make you laugh - and make you think - all over again with Shout! Factory's release of the beloved sitcom as a complete series DVD set for the first time! The Facts of Life: The Complete Series contains all 201 episodes of this quintessential 80s show as originally aired, as well as a disc of bonus features including the new-to-DVD 2014 Paley Center cast reunion event!
Fans who order the 26-DVD set through ShoutFactory.com will receive free shipping, as well as early delivery of their sets by December 16th, 2014.
Join Blair (Lisa Whelchel), Tootie (Kim Fields), Natalie (Mindy Cohn), and Jo (Nancy McKeon) at their exclusive girls school as they experience the highs and lows that we all experience on the road to adulthood. With the ever-developing friendship of our four young heroines, the gentle wisdom of Mrs. Garrett (Charlotte Rae), and enough "Very Special Episodes" to make viewers blush, The Facts of Life remains a favorite for countless fans to this day. From Eastland School for Girls to Edna's Edibles...from hilarious Cousin Geri (Geri Jewell) to hunky George Burnett (George Clooney), who says "the world never seems to be living up to your dreams?"
Spinning off from the hit show Diff'rent Strokes, The Facts of Life debuted in August of 1979 and aired on NBC for nine seasons. Featuring guest stars including George Clooney, Cloris Leachman, Mayim Bialik, Seth Green and Juliette Lewis, the Primetime Emmy nominated series went on to becomes one of the longest running sitcoms of all time and is firmly entrenched in 80's pop culture.
The Facts of Life: The Complete Series Bonus Features
"The Girls School" - Diff'rent Strokes episode debuting Mrs. Garrett and the girls of Eastlake Academy
Purchase The Facts of Life - The Complete Series on DVD from Amazon.com or Shout! Factory
The Lisa Whelchel and Kim Fields movie For Better or For Worse will premiere Saturday, July 19 at 9/8c pm on Hallmark Channel.
Opposites attract when Wendy (Lisa Whelchel), a wedding coordinator, and Marco (Antonio Cupo), a divorce attorney, find their lives suddenly intertwined. Wendy is finally settling into the single life after struggling with the death of her husband. After a difficult season of grief, she's taken over the family business of coordinating the town's most beautiful and memorable weddings with the help of her friend and co-worker Roseanne (Kim Fields). Wendy's business and values are challenged, however, when the charming and incredibly irritating Marco opens shop as a divorce attorney right next to her wedding chapel. Although Wendy will stop at nothing to promote her marriage business over Marco's divorce business, she must form an alliance with Marco after her son Collin (Edward Ruttle) announces his unexpected engagement to Marco's daughter Sophia (Alicia Josipovic). As Wendy grows closer to Marco, she begins to realize that if she shields herself from the pain of love lost, she may prevent herself from experiencing true love in the future. Will Wendy open up to a second chance at love?
"For Better or For Worse" is based on the novel of the same name, by best-selling author Diann Hunt.
Lisa Whelchel and Kim Fields Talk Show Appearances:
Tuesday, July 15 - Lisa will be on Home & Family on Hallmark Channel at 10am ET/PT.
12/16/13: Seven Questions with Lisa Whelchel
We have a special "Seven Questions" interview with the very likeable & nice Lisa Whelchel, who of course played Blair Warner on the hit '80s sitcom The Facts of Life from 1979-88. In 2012, she tied for second place and was voted fan favorite on Survivor: Philippines. This month (Dec. 13), she now co-stars in Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas, in theatres nationwide. She is also promoting a new workout DVD: Lisa Whelchel's Everyday Workout for the Everyday Woman. It is the first workout DVD from the popular Facts of Life star, Survivor runner-up, author, and mom of three. With the help of her trainer, Lisa leads two inspiring and accessible total-body workouts geared towards beginners with a friendly, encouraging vibe and modifications for ALL levels plus useful personal training tips. The DVD is from Acacia and can be ordered today (since Dec. 3).
We talked to her about the The Facts of Life experience obviously, her Survivor experience, what motivated her to make this workout DVD, if she keeps in touch with her Facts of Life co-stars, how she almost took a role on Hello, Larry instead, and getting back in the acting game, including wanting to get back on a sitcom. Calling all studios and networks, Lisa wants to be on a sitcom! TV Land? ABC? Anyone? Lisa is busier than ever, so let's get right to another installment of "Seven Questions!"
Read our interview here:
08/21/12: Lisa Whelchel to Appear on Survivor: Philippines
Lisa Whelchel, who played Blair Warner on The Facts of Life from 1979-1988, has been named as one of the 18 castaways of Survivor: Philippines. She has been a superfan of the show since the first episode. Last October, she started a viral campaign on her Twitter feed by posting a video asking for support to help her get on the show. She got her wish to compete this season.
The 25th season of the Emmy Award-winning series will premiere with a special 90-minute edition on Wednesday, September 19 at 8:00pm ET/PT on CBS. They have announced 15 of the 18 castaways who will compete for a million dollars. Three of the 18 castaways, to be revealed later this week, are former players who were medically evacuated from the game and are returning to finish what they started. Former MLB player and National League MVP (and star of ABC's 2009 edition of The Superstars) Jeff Kent will also be among the contestants. View the full cast here.
Can she outwit, outplay and outlast the others to be Sole Survivor? We're sure she can come up with another one of her brilliant ideas. We'll be rooting for her. Go Lisa!
03/19/12: The Hub April 2012 Schedule With Facts of Life, Mork & Mindy
The Hub TV network, a destination for kids and their families, will add fan-favorite classic sitcoms Sabrina The Teenage Witch, The Facts of Life and Mork & Mindy, as we previously announced, to the network's lineup beginning Monday, April 2 from 9-10:30 p.m. ET, with encore presentations in late night and on weekends. The popular half-hour series will be presented back-to-back, Mondays through Thursdays. With strong and devoted fan bases for all three of the shows, the newly acquired series build on The Hub's successful strategy of presenting programming based on beloved properties in the kids and family entertainment space.
Read more:
03/08/12: The Facts of Life Coming to TeenNick
Late last week, The Hub acquired three sitcoms to air in primetime beginning in April and one of them was The Facts of Life. That is still happening and we can't wait for that, but if you can't wait another month or so, TeenNick will ALSO air that totally '80s sitcom! Oooh, there's gonna be troubbbbbbbble! OK no, there's no trouble of two networks airing a show, as we all know. TeenNick will begin airing the Diff'rent Strokes spin-off on Monday (March 12, 2012) bright and early every weekday morning at 7:00am. It's early in the morning and just a half-hour, but it is certainly better than nothing! Facts of Life will replace one half-hour of Big Time Rush, which remains at 7:30am. Facts of Life will follow a block of Full House which airs weekday mornings from 5-7am. No other schedule changes are occurring on TeenNick besides this one. As of now, no other special marathons or airings of Facts of Life besides the weekdays at 7am slot. I guess 'you take the good and you take the bad.' Mmm hmm! Stay with us for continued updates!
Read more:
03/02/12: The Facts of Life Coming to The Hub in April
The Hub had its upfront presentation yesterday and the big highlight for us was the acquisition of three sitcoms for its primetime sitcom block! The Hub announced the acquisitions of the popular classic TV sitcoms The Facts of Life, Mork & Mindy and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. All three series are currently not airing anywhere, as Sabrina was last seen on ABC Family in early 2011. Mork & Mindy was last seen in marathons on Syfy from about 2008-2011 from time to time. And The Facts of Life has not been on US cable since Nick at Nite and marathons on TV Land a decade ago.
The three sitcoms will join the line-up tentatively in April. More info will come in the coming weeks, so stay with us, as we can't release it yet. What will happen to the current sitcoms (Family Ties, The Wonder Years, Doogie Howser, Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley and Batman)? Will some leave or will they all stay? You'll have to come on back for the actual schedule. View The Hub upfront press release.
Read more:
04/12/11: 'The Facts of Life' Cast Reunites on 'GMA'
Charlotte Rae speaks with the cast of 'Facts of Life' on stage during the 2011 TV Land Awards show on Sunday, April 10, 2011 in New York. The show was given the 'Fan Favorite' award. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes)
Celebrity icons from television, film and music joined TV Land last night for the taping of the 2011 TV Land Awards, which, for the first time in the award show's nine-year history, was held in New York. The show, which premieres on TV Land on Sunday, April 17 at 9pm ET/PT, kicked off with a surprise performance by legendary entertainer Liza Minnelli, who performed her rendition of the classic tune "New York, New York."
Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves and Wendie Malick – the stars of TV Land's Hot in Cleveland – presented The Facts of Life cast, including Charlotte Rae, Mindy Cohn, Kim Fields, Nancy McKeon, Lisa Whelchel, Cloris Leachman and Geri Jewell, with The Pop Culture Award. Their memorable characters along with that catchy theme song made The Facts of Life soar to pop culture status in the 1980s.
Photos from the 2011 TV Land Awards / More Photos and Discussion
The Facts of Life Cast: Where Are They Now? (ABC) / (TV Land)
Born with cerebral palsy, Geri Jewell inspired a generation of young people when she became the first person with a disability to appear in a recurring role on prime-time television, with her groundbreaking character, Cousin Geri, on the NBC sitcom The Facts of Life.
The book's title — I’m Walking As Straight As I Can — has a double meaning, referring to both Jewell's sexuality and her extraordinary struggle growing up with cerebral palsy. This candid memoir details her experiences from her traumatic birth in Buffalo, New York, to her rise to stardom as a stand-up comic to becoming a television star. She documents the harsh realities of show business by recounting the relentless discrimination and abuse she suffered at the hands of people she trusted. Her experiences in the shark-infested waters of Hollywood led her on a journey from the Comedy Store to the White House, followed by a downward spiral, tax problems, drug addiction, marriage, and an accident that nearly claimed her life.
When Deadwood creator David Milch recognized Jewell at a pharmacy, he offered her a role in his new HBO series on the spot, and she began to find hope and happiness once again. I'm Walking As Straight As I Can is an inspiring story, told with grace and self-deprecating humor, one that gives readers a rare glimpse of true courage and perseverance.
Purchase I'm Walking as Straight as I Can: Transcending Disability in Hollywood and Beyond
More of television's most beloved and iconic stars will be honored at the 2011 TV Land Awards. The wildly popular '80s comedy series The Facts of Life will receive the Pop Culture Award at the annual awards show which tapes for the very first time in New York City at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on Sunday, April 10 and airs on TV Land on Sunday, April 17, 2011 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Additionally, Mr. Kotter himself, Gabe Kaplan, and Robert Hegyes, "Sweathog" Juan Epstein, will join the rest of the cast of Welcome Back, Kotter as the show receives the 35th Anniversary Award with every main cast member. They will join Golden Globe-winner and two-time Academy Award-nominee John Travolta (Vinny Barbarino), Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs (Freddie "Boom Boom" Washington), Ron Palillo (Arnold Horshack) and Marcia Strassman (Mrs. Julie Kotter).
As for The Facts of Life, Mindy Cohn (Natalie), Kim Fields (Tootie), Nancy McKeon (Jo), Lisa Whelchel (Blair) and the beloved Mrs. Garrett, Charlotte Rae, will reunite for the first time in over 20 years to accept the Pop Culture Award for The Facts of Life, a coming-of-age sitcom that ran on NBC from 1979-1988. Set in Peekskill, NY, The Facts of Life ran for nine seasons and was a spin-off of the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes featuring the Drummonds' housekeeper Edna Garrett (Charlotte Rae) as she becomes a housemother at Eastland School, a prestigious all-female boarding school.
Discuss - Cast Reunites for the Pop Culture Award at the 2011 TV Land Awards, April 17, 2011!
The 4-disc set will include The Facts of Life Goes to Paris and all 24 episdoes from Season 4. The release date is May 4, 2010.
Discuss the news on our message board
Finally Bio TV has some new specials this month that are interesting. First on Tuesday (Oct. 13) at 10pm, they are airing Cast Confessions: The Facts of Life. This special takes you behind the scenes to reveal everything you never knew about one of our favorite sitcoms...The Facts of Life. Revisit this classic comedy as back-stage secrets and hidden drama are revealed through exclusive footage and interviews with original cast members, writers and network executives. Sounds interesting!
A Facts of Life Online Annual Tradition: we present to you the Christmas songs
from the episode 'Christmas in the Big House':
Charlotte Rae (Mrs. G) singing O' Holy Night
Mindy Cohn and Nancy McKeon (Natalie and Jo) singing We Need a Little Christmas
Kim Fields (Tootie) singing Jingle Bell Rock
Lisa Whelchel (Blair) singing I'll Be Home for Christmas
Geri Jewell will be appearing at the The Hollywood Collectors & Celebrities Show in Burbank, CA in October.
Still no news on when Season 4 will be coming on DVD. If you haven't already bought Seasons 1-3, it
probably wouldn't hurt.
The Facts of Life is still airing on Comcast's On Demand Tube Time Channel. They are currently airing the third season.
Diff'rent Strokes airs
on BET weekdays at 9-10AM and 3-4PM ET/PT.
A Facts of Life Online Annual Tradition, we present to you the Christmas songs
from the episode 'Christmas in the Big House':
Charlotte Rae (Mrs. G) singing O' Holy Night
Mindy Cohn and Nancy McKeon (Natalie and Jo) singing We Need a Little Christmas
Kim Fields (Tootie) singing Jingle Bell Rock
Lisa Whelchel (Blair) singing I'll Be Home for Christmas
Lisa Whelchel and Julie Piekarski-Probst were recently interviewed on the E! True Hollywood Story on
The New Mickey Mouse Club.
To all of the people have been asking about when season 4 will be released on DVD, sorry we haven't heard
anything about it.
Some things you might have missed over the last few months:
The Facts of Life Related Video Clips on You Tube and other sites
Nancy McKeon's Lifetime Series "The Division" Returns on October 20th
Charlotte Rae appears in a commercial for the Trivial Pursuit Totally 80s Edition Game
Nancy McKeon was interviewed on the Michael J. Fox E! True Hollywood Story, which first aired on September 4th.
Lisa Whelchel details her NYC reunion with the FOL girls in May
DVD Teaches 'The Facts Of Life''
VH1'S "Top 100 Teen Stars" - Nancy McKeon was #81, Mindy Cohn was #43, Lisa Whelchel was #30 and Kim Fields was #23
The Facts of Life left Comcast's On-Demand Service on July 31st. They were offering uncut
episodes from the 4th season. Diff'rent Strokes was also available.
Pamela Segall (Kelly on FOL) appeared on the HBO sitcom, Lucky Louie, this summer.
Nancy McKeon's Hallmark TV Movie, “Wild Hearts,” delivered the fifth-highest household rating in network history, a 2.8. It also finished first in its timeslot on basic cable. The movie
aired on July 15th.
Charlotte Rae's Rare 1955 Solo Album, "Songs I Taught My Mother," Gets a CD Life
Lisa Whelchel was on the "Primetime Princesses" episode of "Child Star Confidential" on E!
Molly Ringwald will be performing in Sweet Charity at the Pantages in L.A. in October
As of now, the show is on two locals. ME-TV in Chicago (weekdays at 3:00 p.m. CT as of 09/18) and WSFJ in Columbus, OH. CTS in Canada also airs the show weeknights at 7:30 p.m..
You Take the Good, You Take the Bad,
Emmy® Nominee Charlotte Rae, with Nancy McKeon, Lisa Whelchel,
Kim Fields, and Mindy Cohn Return to DVD October 24
CULVER CITY, CALIF. (August 14, 2006) – Blair, Jo, Tootie, Natalie and Mrs. Garrett return to DVD on October 24 when Sony Pictures Home Entertainment debuts The Facts of Life: The Complete Third Season. The three-disc set of 24 episodes from the popular, long-running series tackles issues that still face teenagers today: alcohol, romance, competition, and breaking the rules. As Mrs. Garrett, the ultimate den mother, Charlotte Rae was nominated for an Emmy® for her work in this season. The set will be priced at $29.95 SRP.
The Facts of Life also stars Lisa Whelchel (Where the Red Fern Grows) as Blair, the snooty rich girl who ultimately demonstrates that she’s not as perfect as she appears; Nancy McKeon (TV’s “The Division”) as Jo, the rebellious girl from the wrong side of the tracks who frequently shows a softer side beneath her hard shell; Mindy Cohn (TV’s “The Help”) as Natalie, the perky comedienne in the group who always has a funny line in any situation; and Kim Fields (TV’s “Living Single”) as Tootie, the youngest member of the group who often gets herself into trouble over her love of spreading gossip.
The Facts of Life first aired on NBC August 24, 1979, as a spin-off from the network’s culturally popular sitcom “Diff'rent Strokes,” lasting 9 seasons and 209 episodes. After its somewhat slow start, The Facts of Life found its niche and became a success, ultimately becoming one of the longest-running sitcoms on television, despite numerous timeslot changes over the course of its run.
The third season finds the characters in myriad dilemmas: Tootie (Fields) gets drunk for the first time, as well as developing a crush on her favorite singer (Jermaine Jackson of “The Jackson 5); Natalie (Cohn) gets mugged after coming home from a party and develops a fear of going outside; Jo (McKeon) falls out of love with her fiancée (played by ‘80s heartthrob Clark Brandon) and in love with the man who’s playing her husband in a simulated marriage project for a class; Blair (Whelchel) learns her grandfather is a member of a Ku Klux Klan; and Mrs. Garrett has her hands full when she rekindles an old romantic fling.
DVD Special Features Include:
Broadcast Year: 1981 – 1982
DVD Catalog # 16262
UPC Code: 0-43396-16262-4
Order Date: 9/21/06
SLP: $29.95
About Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Entertainment Tonight has an article on their segment, and you can view a short 1 minute
clip on their website here.
3 Photos of Nancy McKeon and Lisa Whelchel on CNN American Morning
You can view the CNN Showbiz Tonight segment here or
here.
CNN Showbiz Tonight Transcript
If you missed the Today show segment, you can watch it here.
Click here for
some photos from the Showbiz Tonight interview.
80s NBC Stars - Where Are They Now?
Former tv star finds answers in religion
Lisa Whelchel's latest book "Taking care of the Me in Mommy" is out. It's
available on amazon.com and
at an introductory (reduced) price of $15
on Lisa's website at http://www.lisawhelchel.com/shopping.htm
Nancy McKeon Movie "Wild Hearts" To Premiere In July on the Hallmark Channel
Saturday, July 15th, 2006 at 9-11 PM
Here is a schedule of their known appearances. If anybody hears of any others, please
post them on the message board.
Tuesday, May 9
Wednesday, May 10
Monday, May 22
Tuesday, May 9 (9-10 a.m.): "The Facts of Life" cast members Nancy McKeon, Lisa Whelchel, Kim Fields, and Mindy Cohn reunite. Clare Staples talks about the book "Everything I Know About Men I Learned From My Dog."
All 4 FOL girls (yes, even Nancy... although she wasn't interviewed for the special features) will be on NBC's Today to promote the DVD set.
Tuesday, May 9th
Associated Press - Mar 05 George Clooney won the supporting-actor Academy Award on Sunday for "Syriana," in which he effaced his glamor-boy looks behind the bearded, heavyset facade of a CIA patriot who grows jaded over U.S. policy in the Middle East. The win capped a remarkable year for Clooney, who made Oscar history by becoming the first person nominated for acting in one movie and directing another. Along with performing in the oil-industry thriller "Syriana," Clooney directed the Edward R. Murrow tale "Good Night, and Good Luck," which earned him directing and writing nominations and was among the best-picture contenders. "All right, so I'm not winning director," Clooney joked, adding that an Oscar win always would be synonymous with his name from then on, including in his obituary. "Oscar winner George Clooney, sexiest man alive 1997, `Batman,' died today in a freak accident." Clooney also lauded Oscar voters for their daring. "This group of people gave Hattie McDaniel an Oscar in 1939 when blacks were still sitting in the back of theaters," Clooney said, referring to the supporting-actress winner from "Gone With the Wind," the first black performer to receive an Oscar. Clooney was one of the marquee names among a lineup of acting nominees heavy on lesser-known performers. And with a best-picture field of lower-budgeted films that drew smaller audiences than the commercial flicks that often dominate the Oscars, the question was whether Hollywood's big awards night could lure TV viewers.
Charlotte Rae, Nancy McKeon, Lisa Whelchel, Molly Ringwald, Kim Fields, and Mindy Cohn Star in…. THE FACTS OF LIFE - THE COMPLETE FIRST AND SECOND SEASONS Arriving on DVD May 9 in a Four-Disc Set Guest Stars include Oscar® Winner Helen Hunt, Gary Coleman, Todd Bridges CULVER CITY, CALIF. (February 27, 2006) – Mrs. Garrett and the girls from Eastland Academy make their DVD debut on May 9 when Sony Pictures Home Entertainment releases The Facts of Life: The Complete First and Second Seasons. The collection of 29 episodes from the popular, long-running series featuring an outstanding ensemble cast of young women will be available in a four-disc set and priced at $39.95 SLP. The Facts of Life stars Charlotte Rae (TV’s “Diff’rent Strokes”), along with the young women who were every girl’s ideal and every boy’s first crush: Lisa Whelchel (Where the Red Fern Grows), Nancy McKeon (TV’s “The Division”), Mindy Cohn (TV’s “The Help”), Kim Fields (TV’s “Living Single”), Molly Ringwald (Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink), Felice Schachter (Zapped!), Julie Piekarski (TV’s “Best of Times”), and Julie Anne Haddack (The Great Santini). Guest stars the first and second seasons include Conrad Bain, Todd Bridges, Gary Coleman and Dana Plato from “Diff’rent Strokes,” Helen Hunt (TV’s “Mad About You,” As Good As It Gets, Twister), Richard Dean Anderson (TV’s “MacGyver,” “Stargate SG-1”), Zsa Zsa Gabor (Touch of Evil, Queen of Outer Space), Robert Alda (Rhapsody in Blue, Imitation of Life), Alex Rocco (The Wedding Planner), and comedienne Geri Jewell. Jewell is particularly notable because she was the first person with a visible disability to become a recurring character on a primetime sitcom. During her long run on the show, Jewell broke important new ground by addressing issues of disability awareness. Set in an exclusive East Coast boarding school, The Facts of Life never shied away from tackling tough subjects facing teenage girls during its 209 episode run. In the first two seasons alone, the series included storylines that dealt with dieting, adoption, athletic competition, divorce, drugs, shoplifting, teenage marriage, gossip, teen suicide, and plagiarism. The Facts of Life first aired on August 24, 1979, on NBC as a spin-off from the network’s phenomenally-popular sitcom “Diff'rent Strokes” on which Charlotte Rae played Mrs. Garrett, housekeeper to Philip Drummond's household. On The Facts of Life, Mrs. Garrett becomes a dorm housemother at Eastland, an exclusive girl’s boarding school, where she acts as confidante and surrogate parent to the girls in her charge. The first season involved Mrs. Garrett adjusting to her new job and featured storylines involving the numerous issues besetting ‘tweens. Needing to sharpen its broad focus, in the second season Mrs. Garrett became the school’s nutritionist and the series concentrated its attention on four girls in Mrs. Garrett’s charge: the wealthy and spoiled debutante Blair (Whelchel), the wisecracking Natalie (Cohn), the sassy Tootie (Fields) and the newly-introduced character of working class tough girl Jo (McKeon), who offered a dynamic counterpoint to the other upper-class teens and gave the series renewed energy and life. After its somewhat slow start, The Facts of Life found its niche and became a success, ultimately becoming the longest-running sitcom of its time on television, despite numerous timeslot changes over the course of its nine seasons. The show also inspired the TV movies The Facts of Life in Paris (1982), The Facts of Life Down Under (1987) and The Facts of Life Reunion (2001).
DVD Special Features Include: The Facts of Life: The Complete First and Second Seasons episodes include:
First Season
Second Season The Facts of Life: The Complete First and Second Seasons is from the broadcast years of 1979 – 1981, has a run time of approximately 707 minutes and is not rated. Visit Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on the Web at www.SonyPictures.com.
You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have THE FACTS OF LIFE...! A spin-off of the tremendously popular "Diff'rent Strokes," THE FACTS OF LIFE is the hilarious series that follows Mrs. Edna Garrett (Charlotte Rae) and her mission as housemother to instill values in the girls of Eastland School. The large first season cast included John Lawlor, Jenny O’Hara, Lisa Whelchel, Felice Schachter, Julie Piekarski, Kim Fields, Molly Ringwald, Jullie Anne Haddock, and Mindy Cohn. By the second season, the show focused on Mrs. Garrett and just four Eastland girls - spoiled Blair, gossipy Tootie, wise-cracking Natalie, and rebellious Jo (Nancy McKeon) joins the cast. Under Mrs. Garrett's guidance, these four go from wide-eyed school girls to mature young women...all while learning THE FACTS OF LIFE! Guest stars include the cast of "Diff'rent Strokes," Helen Hunt and Richard Dean Anderson of TV's "MacGyver"! Includes all 29 laugh-packed episodes from Seasons One and Two!
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Here is a look at the cover art:
The Facts of Life - Seasons 1 and 2 Tentatively Scheduled on DVD in June 2006
I received an e-mail this morning from Sony and they let me in on their plans to release The Facts of Life on DVD. I'm sure many of you will find this news as no suprise because of the several signs that Sony has expressed throughout the years. But like many of you though, you are thrilled and excited about the news as I was when I recieved the e-mail. Therefore, I thought I'd spread my joy for it by showing you the e-mail. Which should give you authentic and valid proof that this news is in 'fact' not a rumor or joke that I have made up. With that said, the e-mail should answer all of your questions on Sony's motives as to how (and when) they will release it. "I work for Sony Entertainment, and just wanted to let you know that a release for Facts of Life on DVD is tentatively scheduled for June of this year. Right now, it's planned to be a combination of the first two seasons, with all 29 episodes from those first two years. Since the first season of 'Facts' is radically different from the successful later version of the show, they didn't want to release just the first season and risk lower sales. I'll keep you posted as I get information on an official release date." To the Facts of Life fans reading this, your voting at TVShowsOnDVD.com and the Sony on DVD has paid off, you have given Sony a reason to release The Facts of Life on DVD! A Facts of Life Online Annual Tradition, we present to you the Christmas songs from the episode 'Christmas in the Big House': Charlotte Rae (Mrs. G) singing O' Holy Night Mindy Cohn and Nancy McKeon (Natalie and Jo) singing We Need a Little Christmas Kim Fields (Tootie) singing Jingle Bell Rock Lisa Whelchel (Blair) singing I'll Be Home for Christmas
NANiversary!
Wednesday, June 22 The same "Shoplifting" episode will also air on TV Land as part Nick at Nite’s 20th Anniversary on Sunday, June 26th at 10:00PM ET/PT (and repeated at 4:00AM ET/PT)
The Facts of Life airs on ME-TV in Chicago as of June 6th, Monday-Friday at 2PM CT The Facts of Life TV Show Facts Kim Fields Black History Month Promos on TV Land and Nick@Nite aired in February The Facts of Life Promo Commercial from Sony Pictures E! ranked Blair Warner #13 on "The 50 Most Wicked Women of Primetime"
NEW YORK, June 9 /PRNewswire/ -- VH1 has crowned Gary Coleman, of "Diff'rent Strokes" fame, the number one kid star. Macaulay Culkin, Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen, Jodie Foster, Drew Barrymore, Emmanuel Lewis, Ron Howard, Corey Feldman, Maureen McCormick and Danny Bonaduce round out the top ten on the list. Premiering on Monday, June 13 at 9 P.M.* and hosted by Christopher Knight, "100 Greatest Kid Stars" is a five-night special that follows the tradition of VH1's successful "100 Greatest ... " franchise. VH1 has assembled the definitive list of child stars, and counts them down using new, exclusive interviews with many of the stars themselves and that golden footage from way back when ...
VH1 "100 GREATEST KID STARS"
A Facts of Life Online Annual Tradition, we present to you the Christmas songs from the episode 'Christmas in the Big House': Charlotte Rae (Mrs. G) singing O' Holy Night Mindy Cohn and Nancy McKeon (Natalie and Jo) singing We Need a Little Christmas Kim Fields (Tootie) singing Jingle Bell Rock Lisa Whelchel (Blair) singing I'll Be Home for Christmas
Category 6: Day of of Destruction (Official Site)
Actress Kim Fields Pitches In To Help Hurricane-Ravaged Caribbean Vancouver actor enjoyed work with Jo from Facts of Life
The E! True Hollywood Story reairs on September 13th at 8AM ET/PT ABC Family airs the Reunion movie again on September 26th at 2PM ET/PT
Nancy McKeon's Lifetime series The Division has been canceled after 4 seasons. She will star in a disaster-themed miniseries with Brian Dennehy, Dianne Wiest, Randy Quaid, and Thomas Gibson that CBS is quietly putting together for next season. Lisa Whelchel appeared on Good Morning America on August 24th to discuss “Creative Correction” and, more specifically, her suggestion to apply a tiny drop of hot sauce on the tip of a child’s tongue to discipline for lying, profanity, and other mouth offenses. Kim Fields will be a guest host for "Good Day Live" on Friday, August 27th. Mindy Cohn was also recently interviewed on that program recently.
The Facts of Life pilot episode (The Girls School aka Garrett's Girls) will be available on DVD when Diff'rent Strokes - The Complete First Season is released on September 14th
The Real Facts — and Fun!— of Life (Lisa Whelchel article)
Felice Schachter recently appeared on the VH1 Child Star Babylon special. She was on for probably 10 seconds or less and said she didn't want to do anything that she didn't want to end up in the newspaper. They showed a few other Facts of Life related photos in the show and had a clip of Felice on FOL near the end. http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/babylon/76741/episode.jhtml
Photo of Lisa Whelchel with her children and Cloris Leachman
Some photos from the event:
Lisa Whelchel and Charlotte Rae Mindy Cohn Returns to TV in 'The Help' Nancy McKeon and her husband have reportedly (according to some posts on The Division message board) had their first child, a baby girl named Aurora born on March 6th. Congratulations! Lisa Whelchel did an online chat in February, you can read a transcript of it here
The Facts of Life Mailing List:
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The Facts of Life WebRing:
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