Lisa Whelchel on “A&E Biography: The Facts of Life” (2004)

[@chrismazz75]

There was one Natalie fat joke that I remember offhand.. she said, who wants to be a skinny pencil, i'd rather be a happy magic marker!

[@jeanniecopeland7937]

JO was my idol. My dad even said I was sarcastic like her. Years later, bought a motorcycle and replied to Nancy's Instagram. She replied back❤❤❤

[@ricofresh22]

Blair and Jo just have great chemistry they all did with each other

[@otisroseboro5613]

Rip to a beautiful gorgeous woman Charlotte Rae we still miss you

[@LovesDavidCassidy]

She made a guest appearance on the partridge family on one of the episodes

[@tbam73]

Just started rewatching season 1 on Tubi. As cheesy as season 1 was, it wasn't cringy and still holds up. They were actually teenagers who were able to portray teenagers. But most importantly actual teenage girl issues with no judgement. They were allowed to be imperfect teenage girls

[@MrDLOC11]

Blair having another one of her brilliant ideas was hysterical; her eventual humility & friendship with Jo was the best character growth on the whole series.....

[@rick90604whittier]

I know, right? Who would have thought that Blair would end up being Jo's maid of honor?

[@TheRedDivaTv]

I grew up with that show, Literally!! Senior class of '89! So every episode and lesson fit perfectly to where my life was experiencing at the time. I will always have fond memories of this show, the stories and the characters. ❤😊

[@joewalshMasterOfTheUniverse]

Lisa is still as beautiful as ever, Ive loved her since the 80's

[@preciousjey]

I loved when Natalie tried not to laugh on camera. Either by a small smile or covering her mouth.

[@raea3588]

It's hard to say which character is my favorite because they were all my favorite at different times but over all I loved Natalie because she represented me and all of the others out there who were just themselves, didn't take themselves too seriously and had great friends and a fun teenage-hood even though they didn't wear the most popular trends and weren't skinny 🙂

[@farrellmcnulty909]

Sometimes if you say something glib, as Natalie was known to do, you would giggle or chuckle at it, no point in hiding it. She irritated the hell out of me at first, but then she grew on me, and looking back on it, she was a great character.

[@rosemarywoodhouse4832]

I *still* remember how hard I laughed when she was wearing the hat with the lighting bolts.

[@LightnLife3]

My son and I are watching the full series. We're in Season 7 right now. We both have and are enjoying it so much!

[@rosemarywoodhouse4832]

I loved this show from beginning to end. It never got stale and always had a lot of heart.

[@yamil.343]

You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have..the facts of life.. god I miss the 80s.

[@clicvillanueva7967]

I love the FACTS OF LIFE … when I was in Philippines I wasn’t able to watch it because we only have 1 television, now that I’m here in America I bought the whole series 😂 …. I enjoy watching it … Thank you for having this kind of show …. I love all of them … Thank you very much for making us happy …. I LOVE YOU ALL ❤️❤️❤️

[@davidlestervoice8914]

Whenever the critics don't like it, that usually means it's better than their opinions.

[@jenniferwellman5311]

Everything changed in season 2. Oh my god It got so much better, Nancy McKeon made the show so much better. Like 100 times better.. best idea to bring her on board.

[@Mr.EmeraldTheGreen]

I am I bit younger than the four girls, but I vividly remember watching this show and LUV LUV LUV LOVING it!!! I was bullied relentlessly in school, and my parents both abandoned me when I was quite young. I was a “Latch-key kid” and when I wasn’t in foster care I was alone at home. The girls on The Facts of Life became my best friends. I would pretend they were my friends, and That I was there with them in Eastland School and Edna’s Edibles, and Over Our Heads.......I was in love with all of them, and pretended Mrs. G was my “House Mother” as well. I was very very different and related with Cousin Jeri even tho I didn’t have cerebral palsy. And I LOVED Beverley Ann!!! She cracked me up to no end! And although I’m in my mid 50’s now,,,, I still watch and LOVE this show!! I own the whole series on DVD, and watch and rewatch it again and again. The show has such warmth and heart and love. I’ll go to my grave still pretending these are my best friends!! ❤❤❤

[@latoshawhite8495]

I love Blair and jo when they but heads with each other but they learn how to get along with each other when they was older and I still watch the show All the time and I love lisa

[@josephmarkland1953]

Still watching ♥️♥️♥️♥️ 2023

[@JasonBender-mo6qv]

God bless you for bringing this to my attention I love The facts of Life on Saturday I remember when they were on Wednesday nights God bless the show that brought an issues that were very delicate and very important to the young people God bless you actors and Charlotte Ray she was an excellent I loved her in car 54 God bless every actor that they made the right decisions and then squander their money and they are very stable in reunions and and thank you for the memories Wisconsin😊

[@valorik]

I remember Jo and Natalie being my favorite characters on this show. I was also glad when Jo stopped wearing the ponytail.

[@Scott-ri2sy]

Met Lisa down to earth person

[@irememberla6460]

Loved the Facts of Life especially the earlier seasons

[@shorty7363]

This was my favorite show as a kid. Thanks for the upload.💜

[@carolecarr5210]

Thanks for this video. I was a middle aged woman who loved that show. I started watching when there were 4 girls only, and of course Mrs. Garret. When the " handicapped Cousin was on that was sheerly phenomenal. What a cast, WOW!

[@IndieAnnieJones1]

Love watching this hadn't seen this when it first came out i loved this show when I was a preteen - and now the stark reality that the Girls from the Facts of Life are the same age today as the Golden Girls!

[@cupidhart-james4277]

This show made me want to attend boarding school. Which I finally did, and those were some of the best years of my life.

[@1967velvet]

I loved that show , never missed an episode .

[@Lisa-MarieG]

Charlotte Rae 🙏Rest in Paradise 🙏

[@yvettemaldonado3725]

I loved the first season of the show. All the girls were great together .

[@shanalittle3703]

i love the 80's classic

[@juneberry1982]

This was one of my favorite shows growing up. I preferred the later years over the early ones, but part of that was because of the major crush I had on Andy Moffitt/ Mackenzie Astin! 😍💜😁

[@danamischlich4827]

Loved seeing Lisa on Survivor!

[@donnamifflin9870]

Still love the show and all the cast

[@debrakildau9288]

Love loved loved this program🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@simonmarshall19]

I loved Jo cause she had a Sensitive side on her . Season 3 she got emotional

[@susanfaulkner2304]

This show was wonderful. I enjoyed it. Each character was spot on. No problems here❤. 😊

[@juliemcarthur3004]

I loved the first season

[@farrellmcnulty909]

No, I don't think it was anything until Jo came on the scene.

[@frederickcombs8661]

This was one of many hit NBC comedies with a sweet theme in the early 1980s.

[@preciousjey]

The best in the 80s. My childhood in front of the Telly. The critics underated The Facts (9 Seasons). But if not for The Facts there would not be Silver Spoons, Gimme a Break, Golden Girls and 227.

[@suzettecampbell1144]

I loved this show!

[@mrquenya]

little did they know that NBC would dominate the 80s and 90s with legendary sitcoms

[@vegasstoker9647]

Love that theme song

[@teresawilson3893]

Was a good show those were good times tv was great now it all sucks!

[@nassauguy48]

I disagree about there being too many cast members in Season 1. The Brady Bunch was a half hour show with nine characters, and was a smash hit. And, in the end (LOL), what did the FOL producers do? They added more characters in the later seasons, pretty much the same number as when they started in Season 1!

[@raea3588]

I loved the OG FOL characters. I think the reason it didn't work in the beginning and the difference between FOL and the Brady Bunch was established characters, room for scenes and an overall difference in what the shows were about. You didn't have to watch the Brady from day one to know what it was about or who the characters were. It was explained in the theme song. There was mom, dad, funny housekeeper and the kids' personalities were reflected in where they were placed throughout the family from oldest to youngest. They also had many sets to film scenes for their storyline and could focus on just one or two characters while making you believe the whole family was present even if they weren't. When FOL premiered there were these girls everywhere, of course, it was a school but the set was pretty much their den living area or a bedroom... How do you focus on individual story lines and let them form relationships with viewers when cast members are literally tripping over each other? Once they refocused the show it was okay to bring in more cast members now and then because there was always that focus on 4 or 5 main characters.

[@RisingTidesAC]

Geri Jewell is an inspiration!

[@nassauguy48]

She is, but her character was unfortunately too one dimensional. Every episode featuring her seemed to center on her cerebral palsy. When the producers absolutely decided against hiring Geri full time, her agent told her to walk, and she did.

[@darreylhenderson702]

30:36 It was actually Zsa Zsa Gabor who appeared on the facts of life, NOT Eva. Lolz They even use the picture of Eva.

[@maggiesanford8324]

I liked it when there were more girls - so that every girl watching could find one to relate to.

[@janicewilson6146]

It would be nice if networks created a show like this for todays girls and boys. Bring our kids back to basics with peer support and loving guidence. Also without cursing. Networks should cut out cursing and vulgarity on tv for kids to have a chance to enjoy nice shows again.

[@rosemarywoodhouse4832]

Yes, they need to bring back the after school specials, too.

[@shorty7363]

I would much prefer no cursing or vulgarity on shows made for adults too!

[@otisroseboro5613]

One of my all time favorite shows love it classic

[@kelsey1467]

I have a question do you think it was smart to get rid of nancy cindy molly and sueann

[@NMMC4ever]

Yep, too many characters for a half hour show. Although it appeared heartless. Worked out great for Molly though.

[@kelsey1467]

@@NMMC4ever does modern family apply as too many characters

[@NMMC4ever]

@@kelsey1467 No clue.

[@Diostillrocks]

Many 0.5 hour comedies had many characters, The Brady Bunch, Gilligan's Island, Step by Step, Saved by the Bell.

[@elizabethharrison7306]

The Facts of Life Kim Fields Nancy Mindy Lisa Love my favorite one fan BIG 💖💖💖💖💖💖⭐️🎶

[@wpontius4355]

Grew up watching this show, recently bought the series on DVD and it is still very enjoyable. Love Natalie and Jo, still have a crush on Nancy Mckeon.

[@thomasjefferson6326]

We all miss the 80’s.Life was much better. Collectors call is great with Lisa. If Hollywood would stop producing Crap TV and bring Lisa back, whatever she does, would be so much better!! I’ll be watching for Lisa.

[@edwardbliss8931]

Who else just spent 15 minutes scrolling through the A&E Biography search results until deciding to watch this one?

[@hollykilberger5989]

I specifically looked for this!

[@cameroncampbell6635]

@@hollykilberger5989 same

[@briteness]

Many of my favorite TV shows growing up, including Facts of Life, were from Norman Lear, but in retrospect I do not consider him to have been a good influence on the culture or on me. I sometimes watch things like this, or some of the shows themselves, to try to figure out what happened. Lear was a stepping stone, perhaps as responsible as any one man could be said to be for the poisoned America we live in today.

[@chelsea789]

I loved Jo. I identified with her.

[@johnnychipello919]

Me too!

[@williamjamesayers7719]

Norman Lear is still a powerful force.

[@DLFfitness1]

I loved the theme song.

[@aaronjameslockwood2437]

It would be nice If the people at Sony Pictures Home Entertainment UK would release The Facts of Life the complete series on DVD, along with the films and the reunion film.

[@calscottoh]

I had a crush on Lisa then, and I still do. We are the same age. I wrote to her a few years back. She wrote back to me, but I didn't mention having a crush on her.

[@bradjames891]

Janet from Three's Company: a pretty gal!

[@lillianmcgrew217]

This is good ❤❤

[@chillone260]

To this day still attracted to Lisa Whelchel

[@juliemcarthur3004]

Good show

[@DavidBayliff]

I watch it as teenage boy i had a crush on all 4 of the girls i really liked jo the best

[@v.a.993]

Actually, Eric Monty and Mike Evans were the geniuses behind Good Times, NOT Norman Lear.

[@jasonroberts9264]

Jo really seems to have distanced herself from the facts of life? Anytime there’s a reunion or award show, she’s nowhere to be seen? And A&E biography is a pretty big deal. I wonder what her reasoning is.

[@calebwayte7122]

Lisa Whelchel, what a babe she was in the 80’s

[@meggrotte4760]

I grew up in the late 80s.And early nineties. Oh I think a lot of issues I watched as reruns maybe

[@MikeP-sq6be]

When they say the Rough Housing episode was a "very comforting message to those who were just on the verge of figuring out what their orientation was..." Actually, not so much... The message of that show was, "It's ok to be a tomboy, as long as you're not gay". Not "It's ok to be gay". I mean, I give Norman Lear and Company credit for at least addressing the issue...Lord knows concurrently airing kids programming shows like "Family Ties"; "The Hogan Family"; "The Cosby Show"; and "Different Strokes"; or even youth appeal movies if that era like The Breakfast Club; wouldn't even touch that issue with a ten foot pole. (What? Admit some of the characters are gay? Never! Let's practice erasure and pretend the entire planet is straight. That was the law of the land back then). So I give Norman Lear props for addressing a tough issue. It's too bad they didn't go a little further though in terms of spreading tolerance, acceptance and understanding. It would have been cooler if Cindy learned it was ok to be queer; not just that it's ok to be a tomboy for awhile; so long as you give that stuff up eventually and become a girly girl and start chasing boys...

[@theresa42213]

HUGE respect for Lisa for choosing to not do that show! She stuck by her convictions which is what real Christians do!! See you in Heaven where our Lord Jesus is! :D

[@nassauguy48]

Apparently, though they were not as adamant about it, Kim Fields and Nancy McKeon refused to have their characters lose their virginity when the producers approached them. They agreed to appear in the episode, but no more.

[@theresa42213]

@@nassauguy48 ~ Yea, its too bad shows have to always go that way. Hollywood just cant wait to corrupt new flesh.

[@juneberry1982]

@@nassauguy48 Interesting, I never knew that.

[@theresa42213]

@@americanmanhood ~ What? Like Jesus never called out of homosexuality, and sexual debauchery? ...Oh ...thats right! Andy Stanley calls calls those verses ''Clobber passages'' l guess saying murder is a sin ...is a ''clobber passage'' for those who say ''My body my choice '' also.

[@lisafridland]

Lol… no.

[@ninademci1500]

Mindy Cohn’s parents may have been “overprotective” of her, but she didn’t grow up to become a prude. I love how ‘Jo’ put ‘Blaire’, on numerous occasions, in her place. There was a subliminal “‘fat joke’”; it was when ‘Jo’ said would ‘Blaire’ mind if she took in her pants. I watched the entire series.

[@rockandrollwithjackplum]

Blair is the best looking one on the show

[@monicalifornia_]

“Who in their right mind lets their child in the house on roller skates?” Don’t know one who doesn’t

[@deealone5191]

It was Joan Rivers that called them, "The FATS of Life," and then on her show she stated, "Face it, you couldn't accuse those girls of being anorexic." I remember that actually because singer Stacey Q was on her show after appearing on TFOL and she mentioned how much they ate. Joan said, "Well they look it!". Joan Rivers did have a way about her, though...

[@hendrixmonroe8333]

Man, I absolutely love the facts of life! I’m 28 now and I’ve always said I’m a gen x stuck in a millennials body lol.

[@fwdthinker]

Funny thing is, I watched this show growing up and NEVER saw any of the girls as being "fat". Maybe because to me they looked like girls I went to school with. I didn't go to school with any bony supermodels. LOL!

[@nassauguy48]

Well, Mindy was. And both Kim and Lisa had weight issues at one point.

[@juliemcarthur3004]

First season was the best

[@kendalllaster5473]

Personally, they could’ve kept Molly but it helped her in the long run.

[@nassauguy48]

Molly and Nancy were the two weakest characters. Not to criticize Molly R., as she is a great actress.

[@MystiksViSioN]

❤❤

[@sharonanderson540]

LOVE Lisa whelchel.ànd.nancy.mckeon

[@farrellmcnulty909]

1:30 - "Norman...didn't like fluff" What the hell do you think Diff'rent strokes was? Facts of Life was slightly less sugar-cringe, but whoever directed the episodes must've taught the actresses to screech normal, non-angry dialogue because it seemed they were all jockeying for position by seeing who's the loudest. Now, that's not to say I don't like hearing yelling in a sitcom, as long as it's shouting during an argument, the way All in the Family and Maude constantly did.

[@Chapin-pc2kz]

All those Norman Lear sitcoms -- _All in the Family,_ _Maude,_ _Sanford and Son,_ _One Day at a Time,_ _The Jeffersons_ -- were very shouty and preachy. I did not care for them.

[@bttrflygal]

Perhaps since different strokes was geared toward a younger audience it was different

[@rosemarywoodhouse4832]

Different strokes became a little fluffy later one but in the beginning there were a lot of life lesson episodes and it was a lot more emotional.

[@arielg7000]

so funny man

[@anthonylogiudice9215]

I gotta say I was a fan of the show and I stopped watching when Charlotte Rae left. She was the glue of the show.

[@RisingTidesAC]

Talked about drugs, these were the Reagan years? What? Talk about drugs, these are the Biden years? What? Drugs are here and have always been. Presidents aside.

[@kandykaye9981]

Right!?! Nancy Reagan was the one who started “Just say no”. The eighties were a happy time.

[@Amberszone]

Ummm it was zsa zsa Gabor on Facts of Life NOT Eva right? I bet ZSA ZSA was PISSED! They always got confused! 😝 😂 😆 Xxo

[@giadontlaugh]

20:18 they playing that SpongeBob music 😂

[@travisjames3517]

The last episode was SO BAD. It was an insult.

[@redwingfan9393]

Facts of Life didn't save NBC. It was a middling show for the most part. Cosby, Family Ties and Cheers saved NBC.

[@bradjames891]

Kim Fields was hot!

[@avaranabraham8507]

Jo is the gender bend of Fonzie

[@TNewsh]

Molly Ringwald was lucky she was axed. That left the space wide open for a huge career.

[@4nlover635]

I loved the original cast members. I am not a fan of Nancy Mckeon.

[@jenclaire1172]

I'm not trying to sound rude, but yeah ..a chubby girl, a black girl and a beautiful girl..it had to start here

[@judymyers9867]

I have to admit I loved show from get but that’s said I did like later when they dropped them cause was able to get to know the girls

[@judymyers9867]

It’s too bad people didn’t learn from these behavior my daughter has a disability but the children t that true her bad or disrespectful it’s the older adults