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The Facts of Life

NBC (Ended 1988)

Show Score

 
8.6 Great
723 votes

Your Score

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The Facts of Life ranks 1,142 out of the 18,225 shows on TV.com.

The 505 users who count themselves as The Facts of Life fans have written a total of 28 reviews.

Show Summary

The Facts of Life began in August of 1979 and aired on NBC. It was a spin-off to the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes on... more »

Show Summary [edit]

The Facts of Life began in August of 1979 and aired on NBC. It was a spin-off to the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes on which Charlotte Rae played Mrs. Garrett, housekeeper to Philip Drummond's household. In The Facts of Life, Mrs. Garrett has become headmistress to an exclusive girls school, Eastland. Although the series had a rocky start, including low ratings and a cast overhaul. The series went on to becomes one of the longest running sitcoms of the 80's. In the first season the stories revolved around Mrs. Garrett and her adjustment to her new job. The first season also introduced to us seven girls, Nancy, Blair, Sue Ann, Cindy, Molly, Natalie and Tootie. At the beginning of the second season, the cast was trimmed down to Mrs. Garrett and four primary girls, Blair, Tootie, Natalie and a new girl, Jo. These four girls would remain until the end of the series with Mrs. Garrett re-marrying and leaving in 1986 and Cloris Leachman coming in to play Mrs. Garrett's sister, Beverly Ann from 1986-1988. On November 18, 2001, ABC aired The Facts of Life Reunion, in which Mrs. Garrett, Natalie, Blair and Tootie reunite. First Telecast: August 24, 1979 Last Telecast: September 10, 1988 Episodes: 209 Color Episodes Theme Song: "The Facts of Life" Written by: Alan Thicke, Gloria Loring and Al Burton Sung by: Charlotte Rae (Season 1) and Gloria Loring (Seasons 2-9) Spin-off of : Diff'rent Strokes NBC Broadcast History August-September 1979----Fridays----8:30 p.m. March-May 1980----Fridays----8:30 p.m. June-July 1980----Wednesdays----9:30 p.m. August-October 1980----Fridays----8:30 p.m. November 1980-October 1981----Wednesdays----9:30 p.m. October 1981-August 1985----Wednesdays----9:00 p.m. September 1985-June 1986----Saturdays----8:30 p.m. June 1986-May 1987----Saturdays----8:00 p.m. June-July 1987----Wednesdays----9:00 p.m. July 1987-September 1988----Saturdays----8:00 p.m. Nielsen Ratings: (Top 35 or Better) #26 in the 1980-1981 Season #24 in the 1981-1982 Season #24 in the 1983-1984 Season #32 in the 1984-1985 Season #27 in the 1985-1986 Season
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Status

Ended

Ended

September 10, 1988

Cast and Crew

STARS

  • Person Score
    7.5
    0 Reviews
    Role: Edna Garrett (1979-1986)

    Charlotte Rae was born and raised on a farm in Wisconsin just as her character Edna Garrett was. Being the middle child, she never felt as though she fit in....her older sister Beverly was very se... Read More »

  • Person Score
    8.2
    0 Reviews
    Role: Blair Warner

    Lisa Whelchel was born on May 29 in Littlefield, Texas. At age 13, her first professional acting experience was as a Mouseketeer for "The New Mickey Mouse Club." Ms. Whelchel is perhaps best known ... Read More »

  • Person Score
    6.3
    0 Reviews
    Role: Natalie Green

    Mindy Cohn practically grew up on Facts of Life , the hit TV show she co-starred in, along with Lisa Whelchel, Nancy McKeon, Kim Fields, and Charlotte Rae. She played the part of a happy-go-lucky... Read More »

  • Person Score
    7.9
    1 Review
    Role: Dorothy "Tootie" Ramsey
  • Person Score
    8.3
    4 Reviews
    Image of
    Role: Molly Parker (1979-1980)

    Molly Ringwald is an original Brat Pack member having starred in hit movies such as "The Breakfast Club", "Sixteen Candles", and "Pretty in Pink". Molly was born Roseville, California on February 1... Read More »

  • Person Score
    7.9
    0 Reviews
    Role: Nancy Olson (1979-1980)

    Mother: Suzanne Father: Alexander Siblings: Simone and Janine Felice studied ballet since the age of three and went on to study at The George Ballanchine's School of Ballet at age 8. At age 6 ... Read More »

  • Person Score
    6.5
    0 Reviews
    Role: Cindy Webster (1979-1980)
  • Person Score
    7.8
    0 Reviews
    Role: Sue Ann Weaver (1979-1980)

    From The NEW Mickey Mouse Club Funbook Julie, born on January 2, 1963, in St. Louis, Missouri, is the daughter of Jeanette and Bernard Piekarski. She has been taking dancing lessons since she wa... Read More »

  • Person Score
    7.5
    0 Reviews
    Role: Miss Emily Mahoney (1979)
  • Person Score
    6.8
    0 Reviews
    Role: Steven Bradley (1979-1980)
  • Person Score
    8.2
    1 Review
    Role: Joanne "Jo" Polniaczek (1980-1988)

    Nancy McKeon was born in Westbury, New York on April 4, 1966. Her only sibling is an older brother named Philip, who is also an actor. She was born to Barbara and Don McKeon. The "Big Break" tha... Read More »

  • Person Score
    8.7
    2 Reviews
    Image of
    Role: Kelly Affinado (1983-1984)

    Pamela Adlon (born in 1966 in New York City, New York) provides voices of many famous characters of memorable kids' shows. She is best known for providing the voice of Bobby Hill on the animated se... Read More »

  • Person Score
    3.2
    1 Review
    Role: Kevin Metcalf (1985)

    Ryan John Cassidy was born February 23, 1966, in Santa Monica, California. He is the youngest of the Cassidy brothers and, as he has been known to point out, the one few people know about or rememb... Read More »

  • Person Score
    6.3
    0 Reviews
    Role: Andy Moffet (1985-1988)

    MacKenzie Alexander Astin is the child of actress Patty Duke and actor/writer/director John Astin of The Addams Family fame. His older brother is Sean Astin who starred in Peter Jackson's the Lord ... Read More »

  • Person Score
    9.3
    21 Reviews
    Image of
    Role: George Burnett (1985-1986)

    As the nephew of the late singer Rosemary Clooney , and the son of a TV newscaster, you might think George Clooney had a leg up in showbiz. However, it's George's powers of suave dapperness that h... Read More »

  • Person Score
    8
    0 Reviews
    Image of
    Role: Beverly Ann Stickle (1986-1988)

    Cloris Leachman was born in Des Moines, Iowa, to Buck and Cloris Leachman. She majored in drama at Northwestern University, and competed in Miss America as Miss Chicago 1946. There she won a schola... Read More »

  • Person Score
    4.4
    0 Reviews
    Role: Pippa McKenna (1987-1988)

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