I absolutely loved season 1. I thought it was amazing. I was really sad when they switched writers and the show was cut down to four girls. It just didn't feel the same to me. I think season 1 was the only season I really liked....
shareThe writers cut down the number of girls out of necessity because there were simply too many characters to focus on and try to develop in a 30 minute (22 if you cut out the commercials) show.
shareThen they later added characters (Beverly, Pippa, the boy whose name I forgot) and it was crowded again.
shareThis was to 'refresh' the series and Charlotte Rae had left. It really did not work because it was cancelled shortly after.
sharePointless, annoying characters. If the girls "didn't need Mrs. Garrett" they didn't need some stranger coming in and supervising them. It would have been better just focusing on the girls getting ready to go their separate ways and starting their new lives.
shareDidn't say it was necessary. In hindsight it looks awkward since they're 'career' women in the 1980's.
shareI've been watching Facts Of Life again on the MeTv channel, and a week or so ago they played the series finale episode, and then started over with season one on Thursday or Friday I believe. Now, just Thursday of the following week were almost done with season 1 because they play two episodes a day, five days a week. So Friday or Monday I believe they start over with the Jo years. It really shows you how short season 1 really was.
shareAs much as I liked the earlier years of the show, I don't really bother watching much now. Too many scenes cut to add too many commercials. It's just not worth watching.
It's interesting re fashion/hair etc. Some of the choices outside of the eastland uniform make me cringe--I have to remember it's 1979/1980!
Saw the ep with Molly's dad and his new fashion sense post-divorce....hmm. He looks more decked out for clubbing in downtown New York than visiting his daughter at an elite private school. Wonder if he did any nitrous oxide before coming to see her??
Think they should have at least kept Mr Bradley around as head master. He seemed less crotchety than Mr. Parker. But they probably needed tension/drama in the series.
I agree. They should have kept Mr Bradley instead of that new guy. Mr Bradley was cool.
shareI adored Season 1 too. Not that I didn't enjoy the more trimmed down show but I feel the show would have been better had they kept the full cast. With all of the other girls, it felt like a real boarding school. With just the four girls it always felt more like a boarding "house".
shareI completely agree with you. I loved all the cast members from season 1. It was nice to see a few of them return for a couple episodes in seasons 2 and 3 but, it just wasn't the same. My favorite of the girls were Sue Ann and Nancy....
shareThe only cast member I did not like from season one was Miss Mahoney--ick. Whoever dreamed her up? I know the late 1970's/1980's had a quasi Victorian/prairie thing going on, but she acts like 19th century. Ewww.
Hilarious how Bradley lets high school girls go out--and Miss Mahoney says she is in bed early.
Irony was later on they added extra characters after all with Andy, George, Pippa etc....so they could have kept Mr. Bradley on. He was much more laid back than Mr. Parker. And far nicer to Mrs. Garrett. She would have perhaps stayed with him.
But then there would have been the issue of what to do re 'girls' Implausible to keep the same cast together forever so they would have had to rotate people out. Would have been a different show. Could have been a different universe too--like where you could reasonably do that bc there were so few network (at least until early 1990's).