Facts of Life Intro - March 1988

ALL NEW! Here is the intro to facts of Life from very late in its run (During Day-By-Day week on NBC) followed by plugs for Wendys, Calgon, and Lectric Shave.

[@tbone24100]

This was my Saturday Night on NBC!!!!

[@rudyiraheta80]

natalie: whoa! patty: hey, hey, hey. natalie: patty, what are you tryin' to do, give me a heart attack? patty: you need a heart before you can have an attack. natalie: i know that, by the way, do you got the will? patty: of course. we got the will. question is, do you have the way? 'cause I can tell you now, it ain't gonna come cheap. natalie: you got a lot of brass, coming up here by yourself. patty: who said i'm here by myself? natalie: gimme that will. patty: i told you i have it. natalie: i wanna see it now. 'how do I love thee? let me count the ways'? this supposed to be a joke? patty: no, this is. get up. come on. natalie: what are you gonna do to me, patty? patty: i'm gonna listen to you spin the weemawee scenario, the facts of life and death, with the scenes that we don't like, i'm gonna edit out. natalie: you got it all wrong. i'm a advertising editor, not a murderer. patty: we all have a hobby. natalie: oh, stop it. stop it. stop it. the truth is, we had a chance to sell our studio, and weemawee wouldn't buy our property unless tepperman sold 'em hers. the stubborn shows red wouldn't sell. i was going email tepperman with pictures of her and the student's husband. email, that's all. i've been around characters all my facts of life. i didn't want to see 'em destroyed. patty: characters destroyed? why? natalie: if i tell ya, i'm a dead girl. patty: you're a dead girl if you don't tell me. natalie: unless tepperman's will shows by midnight tonight, eastland's gonna be land for the free and---- ouch!

[@jwilliams7554]

Cloris Leachman even got first billing before the NBC In Stereo logo. Impressive. Lol

[@smill1985]

RIP to her now.

[@henryfarrell7211]

I heard Cloris passed away she was a good actress and will be missed

[@tj.espygil4544]

She took over from the former star Charlotte Rae.

[@552mustang]

This is the definitive version I remember the best. I was born in 79, so I do remember the earlier versions of this, but 88-89 I remember as the prime years of my remembrance. The golden age of sitcoms, by the end of the 80s they were still cheesy but also a little cooler than the early 80s. I even love the NBC Stereo graphic haha memories, nostalgia

[@ryanb9304]

I always wanted to ask 70s kids which version of the theme song they most identify with 1979-1980 Season One 1980 - 1986 S2 - 6 Or 1986 - 1988 7 - 9? 🤗🤔🤔🤔

[@topherlucas88]

I was born in 73 I miss them years the 80s was the best 😊😊

[@MuckyPup115]

Yuck. This is the last and worst iteration of the show. After charlotte rae, enter Cloris leachman, that kid and geo. Clooney all in the new store… no thanks.

[@nyracingfan]

@@ryanb93041980-1985. The final version was 1985-1988.

[@michaela.mccracken4461]

The man who co-wrote the "The Facts Of Life" theme was also the star of "Growing Pains". R.I.P. Allan Thicke

[@henrybucholtz8430]

😂😂😂❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@ericgollahon6138]

And it was his wife at the time Gloria Loring who sung it

[@drenewstv]

RIP Mrs. Garrett 👼

[@smill1985]

And now, Cloris Leachman.

[@jwilliams7554]

Damn, what an excuse to stay in Saturday night. Now networks don't even bother. They just play reruns

[@vincesmith2499]

That's because nobody watches TV on Saturday anymore. That wasn't always the case.

[@jameshenderson4349]

I missed when networks actually cared about Saturday night programming.

[@antonyblalock2696]

James Henderson now it’s all about football and snl.

[@LogoMan7777]

@@antonyblalock2696 That's Sunday Night Football.

[@antonyblalock2696]

@@LogoMan7777 college football on Saturday nights

[@MrCraigblaze]

@@antonyblalock2696 In the fall months.

[@vincesmith2499]

Saturday night is the least watched night for TV, so networks aren't going to bother anymore. So they air the cheapest to make shows like 48 Hrs., Dateline, and repeats. Sports are a good idea too because you got people in sports bars on Saturday. Viewer habits changed, so the networks changed.

[@jamespatton8847]

In stereo where available...oh i remember the peacock walkman logo brings back memories

[@smill1985]

For sure. Me too, James. 😊

[@hadihatab3126]

I miss when the later seasons of tv intros would show the cast as they aged throughout the series.

[@coreygrant2038]

This was my favorite beginning of the facts of life. When they had all of them growing up.

[@purplehello98]

Facts of Life and Golden Girls, two legendary shows!

[@EJFSanchez2]

It's like I went back to 1988. This is exactly what I remember seeing on tv back then. Thanks for uploading with commercials.

[@marcus813]

That's my favorite variation of the theme song!

[@CJODell12]

“The Facts of Life” was still easily winning its time slot, and NBC had planned to renew the show for Season 10.

[@jaywad8876]

Yeah

[@vincesmith2499]

So why didn't it?

[@Asukenick]

​@@vincesmith2499Mindy and Nancy didn't want to do the show anymore.

[@zt1053]

I’m in the minority, but I like the later seasons, starting with the opening of Edna‘s edible versus the early seasons. While the show was past its peak, the last season is 10 times better than the awful first season with the awful characters like Nancy, Suzy Cindy, and Molly.

[@Asukenick]

I liked when it was less serious. Lisa did too.

[@TheRosemontag]

1:43 There's nothing like a hot M.I.L.F. before bed time.

[@abinashmishra329]

RIP Alan Thicke :-(

[@cityhawk]

Cloris has had one interesting career, that's for certain.

[@edpor68]

Brian OSullivan been around since the 1950s- Lassie! Wow

[@nassauguy48]

Unfortunately, she has taken on too many roles that have diminished her seriousness as an actress. Facts Of Life was one of them, and, my God, the crazy old giant alligator loving lady in Lake Placid 2. For an Oscar winner, she has cheapened her career in the later years.

[@smill1985]

RIP Cloris.

[@matthewrivera5923]

the best version of the Facts of Life theme song in my opinion!

[@SooperStar100]

Why was NANCY MCKEON last though?

[@aussieburn777]

​@@SooperStar100last but not least she was an important anchor and was the last cast member to join back in 1980 81. She was fantastic her and Blair major protagonists.

[@AdrianBush049]

0:21 Happy 45th Anniversary The Facts Of Life 1979-1988

[@scooby279]

the last 4 seasons are the best!! Beverly Ann was funny!! Over Our Heads was the best too!! the show is at its best and funniest in seasons 6-9!!

[@Asukenick]

Beverly Ann was great but season 8 is the last good season.

[@ljoker3006]

The best season was season 1. Long live the lost girls!

[@Asukenick]

@@ljoker3006 Its not Facts of Life without Jo.

[@Asukenick]

One thing I liked about the later years is that they stopped doing so many special episodes.

[@nassauguy48]

@@Asukenick Oh God, especially those attempted spin offs that never materialized. Tootie's aunt and her white husband, Jo's Italian relatives in New Jersey, and the TWO episodes about the boys' military school. Those were all pretty lame.

[@henryfarrell7211]

This is the final season of the series and a good one to watch and I wish it was on DVD.

[@henryfarrell7211]

+John McMillin Thank you I will try to get it.

[@zt1053]

It’s streaming on tubi

[@jopickett4613]

Thak Goodness For This Intro It Features Australia's Sherrie Austin

[@don312000]

I actually met her at a concert quite a few years ago!!

[@MrCraigblaze]

1987-88 Good stuff !! Gosh..Day by day. I just wonder if Douglas Sheen would leave Knots Landing again ?? Thanks for the Upload 👍 !! XD

[@WREYtube]

Yup! She was a co-star of Day-By-Day before her Seinfeld days... :)

[@GenXorcist1976]

RIP, Beverly Ann

[@henryfarrell7211]

I am glad that Amazon is finally releasing the final season of the series on DVD next month I can't wait to order it.

[@abinashmishra329]

RIP Cloris Leachnan (1926-2021)

[@zackgoraj6163]

EVERY ICONIC SERIES THAT RUNS A LONG RUN HAS IT DOWNFALL YEAR'S AND MOMENTS, THIS WAS CERTAINLY IT WITH THE FACTS OF LIFE.....

[@Mxyzptlksac]

Zack Goraj it was doing well in the rating but the writers were having trouble having reasons keeping them together.

[@SuperMarioBrosIII]

@@Mxyzptlksac Jo gets married in one of the last episodes and in the very next episode she is back at the dorm with the other girls in her P.J.s LOL!🤔🤗🤨🤷

[@zt1053]

@@SuperMarioBrosIII because her husband was booked for an overseas gig right after the wedding

[@SuperMarioBrosIII]

@@zt1053 O.K. Thanks! I forgot about that LOL!🤗🎸🙏🙋

[@Asukenick]

​@@zt1053Also those episodes were produced before the wedding.

[@zt1053]

When they decided to close over our heads, the kitchen setting was implemented. Even though it was several episodes in You only saw overheads in that one episode where they decided to close it

[@brooklynbabe7896]

I was around 10 years old at the time wow that's crazy now I'm 44 where has the time gone

[@rudyiraheta80]

the facts of life, the facts of life, that's the way they became the facts of life.

[@michaellaflore669]

I like how Kim Fields changed

[@megankumamoto3645]

same with Mackenzie Astin

[@Asukenick]

The show was gonna get a 10th season but Mindy and Nancy didn't want to do it anymore.

[@nassauguy48]

Mindy was hoping that her attempted spin off as a struggling writer living in New York with a whole bunch of crazy roommates would succeed. It never even got to first base, and she went on to become the voice of Velma in the new Scooby Doo cartoons. (OUCH). Nancy obviously had a better career, as she was already doing other projects.

[@robinorlowski9045]

@Marty McFly II They basically did over parts of an episode from the second season. Obviously they ran out of ideas. Having gone to a historically all girls school which went coed, I can now relate. I think they needed episodes where the alumni protested this decision. They kinda just let Blair do this. And they needed to bring in at least one of the 'Mr. Garrett's (Edna's sons) as opposed to that teacher)

[@kidnplay3978]

@@nassauguy48 What do you mean "Ouch"? Mindy Cohn actually had a very good run as Velma that started in the early 00's and that she recently retired from only a couple of years ago. Scooby-Doo is still very much a huge property and I'm sure she earned a very good salary from the numerous TV iterations (What's New Scooby-Doo?/Mystery Incorporated, etc.) and direct to dvd/Blu Ray movies. And mind you, while she's out spending over ten years voicing Velma and able to retire, what are the other girls doing, besides joining the damn housewives of Atlanta? Not only that, but Mindy's snarky, sarcastic version of Velma was literally the best we'd ever gotten in the entire series history.

[@michaelj.richard8353]

Facts of Life Finale (1988)

[@jonathanwashington6083]

"With Pippa, the Australian Dingo Bimbo.

[@nassauguy48]

The show was stupid to be inserting all these new characters, especially after it fired so many original cast members after Season 1. Remember Pamela Segall (the "rehabilitated" juvenile delinquent whose character did not even last out the season she was brought in) and, my God, what a waste, George Clooney. Mackenzie Astin was also a waste, and frankly, why was the character of Beverly Ann (Cloris Leachman) needed to watch over four grown up young women?

[@PioneerGrrrl]

@@nassauguy48 I would have added Mrs' Garrett's two sons--the Carpenter and the accountant if they just HAD to go back and add new characters. They should never added I think her name was kelly. Yes they managed to do something with Andy okay fine. But they did not need Beverly Ann. .

[@vivianavasquez7902]

it was time to end it,ran its course

[@CrossmanTV1]

NBC originally planned for a 10th Season but Nancy McKeon and Mindy Cohn wanted out. I think the show ran it's course after the Edna's Edibles burned down and the opened the new store. Mrs. Garrett was seldomly seen before actually left the show for good in 1986

[@SuperMarioBrosIII]

@@CrossmanTV1 Yes, and that's why they brought in a young George Clooney to help fill the void as Charotte Rae's role had become greatly reduced until she left at the start of season 8. 🤔📺👍☕

[@jaywad8876]

​​@@CrossmanTV1and what about Kim Fields and Lisa Whelchel?

[@stacystoltz8722]

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@susanfit47]

In the 9th and final season (1987-88), the series aired on NBC's Saturday lineup at 8 pm, NBC still had confidence in the series, making it the 8 p.m. anchor, kicking off the network's second-highest rated night (after Thursdays). For the February Nielsen rating sweeps, the writers created a controversial storyline in this season for the episode titled "The First Time". Natalie became the first of the girls to lose her virginity. Lisa Whelchel refused this storyline that would have made her character, not Natalie, the first among the four young women in the show to lose her virginity. Having become a Christian when she was 10, Whelchel would not say the lines because of her religious convictions. Whelchel appeared in every episode of the show but asked to be written out of "The First Time". The episode ran a parental advisory before it began and placed 22nd in the ratings for the week. With the show still easily winning its timeslot, NBC had made plans to renew The Facts of Life for a 10th season (1988-89) but two castmates-Mindy Cohn and Nancy McKeon-chose to leave at the conclusion of season nine. A 2-part story, titled “The Beginning of the End” and “The Beginning of the Beginning”, served not only as the finale for The Facts of Life but also as potential spin-off called Blair, for the Lisa Whelchel character Blair Warner. The pilot would have that Balir has become the new headmistress of the fictional Eastland School - and say goodbye to her three cast mates in the process. If the pilot had been picked up as a show, its title may have been The Facts of Life: The Next Generation. However, writer Irma Kalish said that they didn’t think for enough ahead to come up with a title for the potential show. According to Ms Kalish, the inspiration for the Natalie spin-off as well as the Blair spin-off came from NBC and from the desire of Mindy Cohn and Lisa Whelchel to further their careers. As to why neither of those pilots became to series, Ms. Kalish remarks, “Networks have their, of which Reason knows nothing…” The idea that Blair was to be the headmistress of Eastland was the basis of a proposed spin-off that NBC decided not to turn into a series.

[@vincesmith2499]

The final season. 1987-8.

[@WREYtube]

... and had Empty Nest not been in development, FOL probably would have seen another season (albeit probably either with multiple departures or in the form of Blair taking over the school as seen in the season finale, or a hybrid of both) with the ratings they were still pulling in... :)

[@RealDaveTalk]

Well from what I here they were going to do a fact spin-off the facts of life the next generation. It would be Blair who in the final episode brought Eastland made it to co-Ed which allow boys in the school for the first time. She will also be playing the Mrs. Garrett role. This is how the 10 season continued

[@SuperMarioBrosIII]

@@RealDaveTalk True and it was actually Nancy McKean and Mindy Cohn who refused to return if the series were to be picked up for a season 10. NBC wanted a 10th season as I recall. 😉🤔📺👍

[@zt1053]

Wasn’t a spin-off about Natalie in Ny also considered?

[@CJODell12]

@@SuperMarioBrosIIIThe show was still easily winning its time slot even in its final season.

[@travisjames3517]

Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s plays the same kind of character in every series she is in.

[@vincesmith2499]

Yeah. A total witch, which she's like in real life too.

[@pcno2832]

There were no wall-covering flat panel TVs in the 1980s, so it's a wonder that NBC managed to fit so many giant lesbians on a 25" screen. I've always wondered if they made everything else in the room at 4/5th scale just to make these gals look bigger.

[@Elad_40]

אז הסטריאו בטלוויזיה שהתחיל כאן בסביבות שנת 2,000 התחיל באמריקה כבר ב-1986?

[@JRIJR75]

What episode is the group shot at 0:30 from? What about Blair in black at 0:35?

[@coreygrant2038]

She looked attractive in that. Especially with the hair. I had to keep rewinding on that part. 😍😍🥰🥰

[@stacystoltz8722]

🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@tiffanymorgan6562]

Cloris Leachman passed away last week

[@NickCMedia]

@James Greek Not necessarily. Ratings were still going strong in its last year.

[@MamacitasBikini]

TVLubber true. The facts of life had its highest rated show ever in Season 9

[@MASTERDX11]

How come Tootie pic says the same season 6-9? Everyone intro pic changes

[@henryfarrell7211]

Tootie pic says the same seasons 7-9 season 6 has a different one

[@snoopy64116]

I agree that they should have changed the photo of Kim Fields. I also feel that they should have changed Cloris Leachman's photo during this season, especially since her hair was a lot different.

[@jwgreek8606]

When I first heard Calgon I thought it was Ancient Chinese Secret!

[@vincesmith2499]

I don't remember Day by Day, so I guess it flopped.

[@chuckles1972]

The Facts of Life was ending anyway the girls were going off in their own directions they wanted to spin the show off with Blair being the new dean of Hillman. But it never developed. The show had ran it’s course it is very rare that a spinoff sitcom last on the air longer than it’s predecessor.

[@SooperStar100]

HILLMAN? Do you mean EASTLAND lol...HILLMAN was a Different World

[@jmjfanss]

Although the last season was still a ratings hit.

[@megankumamoto3645]

they should have done a spin off with Andy and pippa

[@brianfrank7022]

I never understood that after seven seasons, Nancy Mckeon has last billing. 🤔🤔🤔

[@dhs7853]

Why wouldn't she?

[@SuperMarioBrosIII]

@@dhs7853 This also cleverly but not planned forshadowing of Nancy not appearing the in Facts Of Life reunion movie!🤔📺🧐👍

[@zt1053]

Usually the and implies something bigger. Mr t was the last one credited in the ateam

[@michaelhambrook8200]

I heard that Charlotte Rae sang the Facts of Life theme song when she was on the show. Did Cloris Leachman sing the theme of the shows she was on, or is that still Charlotte Rae?

[@joedavis7200]

Neither. It was sung by Gloria Loring. Charlotte Rae only sang the theme song during season one.

[@LogoMan7777]

+Joe Davis Part of the theme.

[@LogoMan7777]

+Joe Davis Part of the theme.

[@snoopy64116]

I loved her on that show!

[@jwgreek8606]

I agree they should have let the show die without Mrs. Garrett. Just like they should have let TPIR die without Bob Barker.

[@simonmarshall19]

Pippa was in love with George Bernard

[@TDTam11]

Never understood why Nancy McKeon (Jo) got special attention in the credits?

[@nassauguy48]

Because she literally was brought in to save the show after the terrible Season 1 ratings and the firing of four of the original FOL girls. Her character was unique as a poor girl from The Bronx enrolled at an exclusive prep school. The producers were purposely highlighting her character so as to save the show in Season 2, and because that task was accomplished, they stuck with the special attention until the very end.

[@SuperMarioBrosIII]

@@nassauguy48 It's true we do see more clips of her in the intro and yet she is credited last? However it does forshadow her not appearing in the Facts Of Life Reunion tv movie and recent live reboot!🤔📺👍🙄

[@davidgivargidze7465]

J Joe Michael the boy wonder 43 19 79 holly shit that was Elian from sinfield in that clip j

[@nassauguy48]

This is what I do not understand. The show was completely retooled after Season 1 because the producers thought there were too many characters, and so a lot of cast members were let go. Yet, in the later years, it began to add characters almost up to the number of Season 1!

[@robinorlowski9045]

I think they were trying to save once again sagging ratings---try 'something else'

[@SuperMarioBrosIII]

@@robinorlowski9045 True they bring in Andy in 1985 I think season 6. Then George aka George Clooney in 1985 also season 6. A few years before that they brought in Blairs cousin Geri whom is credited as the very first person with a disability to have a regular role on a primetime tv series. Then in the final season they bring in Sherrie Austin as Pippi McKenna. 🤗📺🤠👍

[@PungiFungi]

@@SuperMarioBrosIII you forgot Kelley and Ryan. None of the characters other than Andy lasted … they should’ve brought back Sue Ann.

[@SuperMarioBrosIII]

@@PungiFungi I agree, they did have a reunion episode with the original girls in 1986!

[@PungiFungi]

@@SuperMarioBrosIII I know, and I saw even in that episode, Sue Ann was the center of the plot. They really should've brought her back and mix things up, instead of lame asses like Kelly and Pippa.

[@rudyiraheta80]

aah un hambugesa de wendy's para los facts of life

[@stormgirl09]

I have an online friend who is from Aussie who I talk to on skype and she even came to visit me two summers ago for 2 weeks. She talks nothing like Pippa from Facts of Life! I know a few others online from Aussie who dont talk like her either! They have an accent of course and they call certain things by different names(like they call ketchup tomato sauce and baby stroller a pram etc.) but besides that they talk like anyone else .They dont use those weird euphemisms and jargon like Pippa or other Aussies from TV shows do. Im sure if i used the expressions that Pippa used to talk to my friend from Aussie she'd have no clue what the hell im talking about and think i was smoking something....lol!

[@robinorlowski9045]

it was the whole Crocodile Dundee fetish in the late 1980's--also why we got "Rescuers Down Under" as a Disney move.

[@SuperMarioBrosIII]

@@robinorlowski9045 Makes sense!🤔

[@PungiFungi]

@@robinorlowski9045 Pippa was just a stereotype of what Americans thought Aussies were like....in other words, a parody of the real thing.

[@WREYtube]

I disagree on both counts. Quality-wise, Facts of Life was better overall as a series than it was earlier in it's run. And the TPIR franchise is bigger than any host (Even one as legendary as Bob Barker)... it deserved to be given a shot without him.... while not quite the same as it was (Heck, it was even the same as it was during the last 10 years of Bob's run), it's still a serviceable show! :)

[@rudyiraheta80]

as for the ninja turtles

[@jwgreek8606]

FOL jumped the shark after Mrs. Garrett left

[@justinjuerakhan7934]

Don't like it when Jo wears skirts and dresses

[@WREYtube]

:)

[@patrickbloodgood6382]

When it's my time i hope they take Either Michael Bolton, or the one who wrote that Horrible Facts of life theme.

[@abinashmishra329]

no! Not Jason Seaver!

[@jwgreek8606]

Yup, Alan is the one who wrote the theme.

[@abinashmishra329]

patrick bloodgood talk about making bad wishes...your wish came true, you fool! RIP Alan Thicke

[@05steelersrule08]

SERIOUSLY did. This show was spun off by way of her character leaving Diff'rent Strokes, and she was the foundation upon which TFOL was laid. When she left, the show should've just ended right there. Her flighty sister wasn't anywhere CLOSE to filling her shoes.

[@michaellaflore669]

Mindy Cohn is Gay in real Life

[@SuperMarioBrosIII]

@Michael LaFlore despite all the rumors of this Mindy herself has denied this fact and claims that she's straight! And simply likes to keep her private life, private.

[@michaellaflore669]

@@SuperMarioBrosIII I know she said this many things Mrs but it's called being down low she was the only one not to get married or have kids how convenient Jo, Blair and Tootsie all have relationships and kids except Nadly

[@joshualazenby1387]

The pilot episode dealt with sexual orientation. The word lesbian was avoided. It's called, "Rough Housing" and is available in its entirety on KZbin.