Guest Author - Amy Ralston Young

In 1979, NBC introduced one of its most popular mid-season replacements, “The Facts of Life.” The show, a “Diff’rent Strokes” spin-off, focused on Mrs. Garrett, the Drummonds’ housekeeper, as she left the comforts of the penthouse to play housemother at the Eastland School for Young Women.

Mrs. Edna Garrett, played by Charlotte Rae, served as a mother figure and friend to the girls under her roof. When the series began, the girls in her care ranged in age from 11 to 15 years old. The youngest was Tootie (Kim Fields), a gossip who wore roller skates everywhere. Just a year older, Natalie (Mindy Cohn) was her naive and pudgy best friend. Blair (Lisa Whelchel), the wealthy, attractive, spoiled daughter of divorced parents, was the oldest student in the house. These three comprised the main cast, with Molly Ringwald, Julie Piekarski, and Felice Schachter rounding out the rest of the house.

Season 2 started and so did the changes. Nancy McKeon joined the cast as Jo Polniaczek, a 16 year-old street kid from the Bronx attending Eastland on scholarship. With the introduction of Jo, the principal cast was complete and the other characters seemed to fade into the background. By the start of season three, the headmaster even seemed to disappear from the school-based comedy.

In 1983, Mrs. Garret’ son, an accountant, bought a run-down store in Peekskill, New York for his mother, who was tired of dealing with the new, ornery headmaster and the low pay she was receiving for all of her hard work. Blair, Jo, Tootie, and Natalie moved in with their former housemother ,and after renovations, opened Edna’s Edibles, a gourmet food store. Two seasons later the store burned down and they had to rebuild. This time, George Clooney joined the cast as a carpenter helping with the repairs. Mackenzie Astin also came aboard as Andy Moffet.

Mrs., Garrett eventually remarried and left the store and the girls. Although she was sad to say goodbye, Mrs. Garrett sent her sister Beverly Ann (Cloris Leachman) to take over her duties. Beverly Ann stayed until the show ended in September 1988.

When the show went off the air, the characters were all moving on to bigger and better things. Tootie was engaged and heading to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London to become and actress, Natalie moved to New York to pursue her dreams of becoming a writer, Jo married a musician and wanted to become a businesswoman, and Blair decided to leave law school to revive her beloved Eastland school.

In 2001, the cast, with the exception of McKeon, returned to television for a reunion movie. Jo’s portrayer opted out of the reunion, but her fictional daughter and husband came in her place.

Dealing with issues such as physical handicaps, parents’ divorces, lack of communication from parents, death, love, and growing up, “The Facts of Life” had an episode anyone could relate too. Blair’s cousin Gerri wanted to be a successful comedienne and didn’t let cerebral palsy stand in her way. The stories were touching and comical. No matter what though, they could always count on each other as they made their way through high school, college, and first loves.