The Facts of Life | Brian and Sylvia | Season 2 Episode 16 Full Episode | The Norman Lear Effect

Tootie and Natalie (Kim Fields and Mandy Cohn) head to Buffalo to visit Tootie's uncle.
The Facts of Life From Season 2, Episode 16 'Brian and Sylvia' - Tootie's uncle Brian and aunt Sylvia are a mixed couple -- he's white and she's black. When Tootie and Natalie visit them in Buffalo, Sylvia receives a job offer in New York City.
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About The Facts of Life: At the Eastland School in Peekskill, New York, Edna Garrett (Charlotte Rae) oversees the day-to-day lives of students who come from all walks of life. Under the care of this slightly nutty but always caring housemother is the beautiful, rich and spoiled Blair Warner (Lisa Whelchel); the witty, plump and impressionable Natalie Green (Mindy Cohn); Dorothy “Tootie” Ramsey (Kim Fields), the young and persistent campus gossip; and Joanna “Jo” Polniaczek (Nancy McKeon), a Bronx-born and bred streetwise kid whose tough exterior masks the brains and compassion she's hiding underneath. Whether it's the challenges posed by Eastland's academic and social scenes, the rise, fall and rebirth of the businesses they start and run together, or the comings and goings of new faces in school and town, including Edna's replacement (and sister) Beverly Ann Stickle (Cloris Leachman), the girls are always ready for a new challenge, and perceptive enough to learn from each new situation.
#TheFactsofLife #TootieRamsay #BestMoments #FullEpisode #BlackHistoryMonth
The Facts of Life | Brian and Sylvia | Season 2 Episode 16 Full Episode | The Norman Lear Effect
bit.ly/NormanLearEffect

[@thenormanleareffect]

If you want to see more iconic scenes from The Facts of Life, SUBSCRIBE to our channel! 💛

[@JohnnyKennedy-sf4sf]

Congratulations Mrs.Sarah Kennedy from Brooklyn new York 🇺🇸

[@susanachavez9422]

Yes please, more episodes! Thanks very much for sharing all this!

[@lindaalvarez8855]

That episode was awesome. It only shows that true Love in marriage is about compromise for eachother!

[@Tonyvideoguy]

I could tell this was a pilot for a possible series, since they spent so much time dealing with the secondary characters.

[@QouteTheRavenNevermore]

This wasn't the pilot. The show came on in like 81 or 82 if I remember correctly. It was until the early 90's I think.

[@Tonyvideoguy]

@@QouteTheRavenNevermore No, I meant the story about Tootie’s aunt and uncle. It was a pilot for a possible series, but never materialized.

[@Asukenick]

​@@TonyvideoguyThey did a couple of them.

[@Bernie3000]

The back door pilot.

[@scootergurl48]

Did the actor playing Brian also play Tom and Helen Willis's son in The Jeffersons?

[@ritagreenlaw8923]

Richard Dean Anderson is on this episode of Fact of Life.

[@tzm777]

I came to the comments to see if anyone else recognized the young ‘MacGyver’…!🤣

[@verlinden80]

Thanks for sharing that cuz all this time I was like I've seen him somewhere lol

[@millenniumman75]

It was a spinoff attempt that did not pan out.

[@annettelanham9897]

@@tzm777 Richard Dean Anderson will be in my dreams tonight.....

[@heidibower2538]

@@annettelanham9897 He's a cutie.

[@jazzyqueue]

“It’s Tootie!” “and Friend!” 😂

[@wardarcade7452]

Ethel could pop in to zing her son-in-law but she couldn't hang for another minute to say hello to her visiting granddaughter Tootie?

[@nassauguy48]

Ja'Net DuBois had been hoping for a role in another series after Good Times was canceled.

[@wardarcade7452]

@@nassauguy48 I get that. However, would it have killed them to have had Miss DuBois's character to take a moment to interact with her own granddaughter?

[@EastSide-qc5oy]

Yeah it made no sense. Was it even acknowledged that Tootie was on her way during the mother’s visit? Not realistic.

[@mferguson5215]

​@@nassauguy48Did you know her?So, how would you know?

[@MichelleZapata-ju1jn]

New subscriber here. Thank you for bringing back my childhood memories❤

[@aussieburn777]

Macgyver that was a nice surprise love seeing these actors before they were stars so young and acting so differently ......

[@LauRa-re9un]

Yeah, he actually was much better in Mac Giver than here.

[@aussieburn777]

Yeh he shoe horned right into that role and now iconic also liked him in Star Gate with silver hair woohoo!!

[@AndrewMacLaine]

A lot of it comes down to direction. 80's sitcoms were acted out like stage plays in front of a live audience: big gestures, projecting the voice, cheating out/facing forward. MacGyver and SG called for more natural acting, which RDA was much more adept at doing.

[@annegreenwood3624]

richard dean Anderson such a great actor love this show when tv was really good

[@DiffuserDudeAromatherapy]

If this episode was a back door pilot to a potential new series, I would have watched this new show. I liked it, and I dislike back door pilot episodes because the main cast takes a back seat. Lol. I see that WAS Richard Dean Anderson. Fun seeing actors “back when”.

[@Asukenick]

Very few back door pilots are successful. Of course Facts of Life was a back door pilot of Different Strokes.

[@hatednyc]

@@Asukenick Absolutely right.

[@nassauguy48]

This was the first of many attempted (but failed) FOL spinoffs.

[@Asukenick]

​@@nassauguy48Plenty of 80s shows had them like Gimmie a Break and Who's the Boss.

[@thomash.schwed3662]

​​@@nassauguy48If memory serves me correctly, the final attempt was actually the series finale, when Blair Warner returned to Eastland, by that time cash-strapped, to take over and introduce a new revenue stream by merging with Langley, thereby making Eastland co-ed. I, for one, would have been interested to see how that storyline would have turned out. And, frankly, I think that storyline made much more sense than what they ended up writing into the reunion film.

[@flowerforsyte5671]

👍Thanks for these. Man! I miss the 80s.

[@ritagreenlaw8923]

Willona is on this episode of Fact of Life.

[@kerrycavanaugh4268]

I thought it was Winona.

[@professordavid2008]

This one surprised me! 😂

[@millenniumman75]

7:15 - Ja'net Dubois wrote the lyrics to theme of The Jeffersons.

[@shawnfitzgerald818]

and also MacGyver

[@mikep5335]

It's a Good Times Reunion; since Kim Fields was on one episode of Good Times; and J'anet was ofcourse Willona Woods, one of the stars

[@maxgordon6701]

This looks like the same set they used for the apartment on One Day At A Time.

[@thomash.schwed3662]

Indeed, it was. During this time (the late '70's and early '80's), Norman Lear's programs were videotaped at the same studios at Metromedia Square.

[@maxgordon6701]

@@thomash.schwed3662 Thanks for the confirmation!

[@EphemeralProductions]

when mrs garrett says "come ONNNNNN!" hahaha~!

[@shadow1674]

Please do more❤❤❤❤

[@divalicious4888]

7:16" You're moving on up, girl." Said the woman who sang the jeffersons theme song.

[@jamessatter7418]

An episode in Season 5 reveals that Sylvia and Brian got divorced.

[@alaricabercrombie2692]

Yeah, I remember that episode. Interestingly enough, it involved Natalie being in an interracial relationship with Tootie's cousin, herself. I remember Tootie saying that her family were relieved that Sylvia & Brian divorced without having any children; meaning, they weren't really, truly accepting of Sylvia being married to a white man.

[@pennyroe3717]

That's the one day at a time. Apartment

[@Kanuck1818]

Wilona Woods!! 😊❤

[@nassauguy48]

In a much later episode, Tootie mentioned that they had gotten divorced. Given the theme of this episode, I do not think it was because of the difference in race. Rather, it was the difference in their career paths.

[@BennyB5555]

@nassauguy48 Yes, however, S5 E15 21:20 into that episode Tootie did say that her family was glad that there wasn’t any children. (assuming from mix marriage) It’s just a show but in my opinion their chemistry seems way off. Pretty corny actually. 🥴 Richard Dean Anderson especially. Good thing MacGyver worked out for him. lol

[@elvickRULES]

@@BennyB5555they’re super cheesy and have no chemistry whatsoever

[@sudsysutherland359]

Oh my God it’s “MacGyver” 🤙 lol

[@sistagirllondon]

I didn't know this was a pilot.

[@shorty7363]

I've never seen this episode before... with the original MacGyver, Richard Dean Anderson. Thanks for the upload.💜

[@kwynnmccallumbega4705]

Great show! Aloha from Hawaii 🌺🌴🌈🤙

[@DoctorJoanieTool]

Please air One Day at a time

[@EastSide-qc5oy]

There are channels here that do

[@nomadicolours]

Richard Dean Anderson straight off of General Hospital? TV gods sure loved him. They are soooo BUBBLY jeeze.

[@moniquemorrow4181]

70’s.And.80’s

[@stacystoltz8722]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@pamelagraham890]

is this the same set from One Day at a Time?

[@millenniumman75]

No - this was a unique set. One Day at a Time was in its 6th season of 9 on CBS when this aired in the spring of 1981.

[@Oohmyymiaa]

It looks very similar.....

[@pamelagraham890]

@@millenniumman75 ty

[@bigbubba29]

@@OohmyymiaaIt could be.

[@syebethel]

Love how he's fishing for an excuse to not "go behind" his lady 😏

[@kriseley4974]

❤❤❤❤

[@denizen9998]

Wow, it's MacGyver and Colonel O'Neal .

[@rachellawrence4690]

I didn’t know this was a show, similar to The Facts Of Life?

[@johndean4727]

it is facts of life.

[@pamelagraham890]

Is aunt Sylvia Tootie's mom's sister or her dad's sister? Wouldn't the mom be Tootie's grandma? Why didnt she stay to see Tootie?

[@nassauguy48]

They never really said. But she had to be a much younger sibling!

[@joecab1]

Facts of Life sure had a lot of failed pilots: this one, Jo's family, the show's final episode...

[@alaricabercrombie2692]

There was one more failed plot during the last season. Natalie moved to New York to share an apartment with a group of other young people. It was supposed to be a show similar to what "Friends" will be later.

[@joecab1]

@@alaricabercrombie2692 oh right! glad you remembered that one

[@alaricabercrombie2692]

@@joecab1 Sure, no problem. I almost forgot about that too, lol. 😄😁👍

[@Asukenick]

There was also the military academy ones.

[@alaricabercrombie2692]

@@Asukenick Oh yeah, of course! It was one of those early '80s episodes. I remember that. 😀👍

[@DaddyOfTheSugarVariety]

This must've been a failed pilot.

[@Asukenick]

There was a couple.

[@Oohmyymiaa]

I was thinking the same thing....

[@stacystoltz8722]

🎵 🎶 🎵 🎶 🎵 🎶 ❤🎉😃

[@moniquemorrow4181]

Kim.Fields.Is.My.Favorite

[@Sammytolliver]

Also Richard dean anderson stars on the facts of life

[@ghhtdesfh]

The yaks of life are on again.

[@EphemeralProductions]

ah ! richard dean answerson! a few years before MacGyver :)

[@randomlibra]

Sylvia, every once in awhile, looked a lot like Zoe Saldana and/or Thandiwe Newton.

[@darlenew1981]

It's Mindy Cohn, not Mandy Cohn

[@danielnascimento6300]

Back door pilot, no?

[@kristinazubic9669]

Yep. FoL did several.

[@nassauguy48]

@@kristinazubic9669 And they all fizzled!

[@stacystoltz8722]

🙏🏾🌹🔥🔥🔥🔥😃😎

[@user-th2gn8rl5j]

Mindy cohn

[@DrClawizdead]

IS that Richard Dean Anderson?

[@shorty7363]

Yes

[@johnbrowneyes7534]

This pilot was very bland. No surprise it didn’t take off.

[@michaelglickman1300]

Well, if it did, Anderson couldn't do MacGyver, now, could he?

[@millenniumman75]

@lglickman1300 Eh - possible. MacGyver didn't start until 1985. In a late 1983 episode of Facts (when Natalie date's Tootie's cousin), Tootie revealed that Brian and Sylvia had divorced without having children. The show would likely have ended if they had gone through with the show. In the 1982-1983 season, he was on Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and then 1983-1984, was on yet another show.

[@michaelglickman1300]

@@millenniumman75 Oh, I see.

[@nassauguy48]

First of all, there were only three characters, unless they were planning on adding more. I suppose the theme would have been a dual one: an interracial couple dealing with very different career paths. I suppose something could have been done with that, but the plots would have run out quickly.

[@millenniumman75]

@@nassauguy48 They would have pulled in Brian's father at some point and would have him clash with Ethel (Willona/Miss Ja'net). It would have been like the Willises from the Jeffersons had been put front and center instead of a supporting character couple. That's probably why it didn't take - they would have already had this on the Jeffersons. Ironically, it was Ja'net Dubois who wrote the theme song and sang it!

[@stephenwoehr6500]

Very early role of MacGyver.

[@toadwar9300]

Nummers!!Numbers!!! Lmao soooo cheesy

[@kristinazubic9669]

Did Sylvia’s dad stay in NYC? His ex-wife would be running into him if this had made it to series. Imagine if he and “Grand Dragon Dad” got along.

[@jimmystone2653]

lol this was bland and effortless 🤣🤣 MacGyver get back on MacGyver lol

[@pauldesigncomics2625]

Was this meant to be a possible spinoff?

[@raquelh99]

No!

[@Asukenick]

Yes

[@mikep5335]

Some of the racially themed jokes haven't aged well...

[@nassauguy48]

This was the first of MANY failed FOL spinoff attempts!

[@ericlopez9107]

Yeah.....MacGyver trying to do comedy...."Excuuuuse mee!!!"....no thanks!!

[@pepper1dancer]

Is it the writing or the actors that make this cringy?

[@john-carlosynostroza]

The era....

[@thomash.schwed3662]

​​@@john-carlosynostrozaOkay, millennial. (I'm sorry; I couldn't resist.)

[@AndrewMacLaine]

Lol, it's both. It was normal back then, but re-watching this now makes me want to ask, "Why is everyone YELLING????"

[@randiahonig]

Kinda cringy episode

[@krazydreamer]

The men on this episode are whiny little drama queens!

[@mikep5335]

It's funny...Watching this I can just tell the network thinks it's interesting because it's about a racially mixed couple in their 20s; which was kind of novel in 1981.. Because NOW when you watch this it's like...there's nothing there... It's so banal and boring; theres nothing to it...

[@mikep5335]

I think this is the lowest rated episode of FOL on IMDB

[@pinkfreud62]

Boring episode. 😴

[@mikep5335]

One of the worst episodes of Facts of Life

[@travisjames3517]

The worst FOL episode.

[@Asukenick]

There were at least 3 more bad ones cause they were back door pilots too.

[@travisjames3517]

@@Asukenick There were seven all together.

[@Asukenick]

@@travisjames3517 6

[@bigbubba29]

@@AsukenickNone ever made it to a full series.

[@CJ-dg3bm]

This girl is corny. Whyd they pick her?

[@Lisa-nh6nz]

Horrible acting

[@gylindanelson8724]

Williona on facts of life still acting 🎬 🎬 🎬 🎬 🎬 🎬 🎬 🎬 🎬 🎬 2024 wearing Victoria secrets fragrance like apricot cinnamon sugar strawberry lemonade oranges fragrance cinnamon and sugar perfume big jar of Vaseline 70s make mrs janet look like The Jefferson's go out of business with side oder of peas and rice cheese burgers facet water.

[@aepacker]

The Facts Of Life Subscribers: Ay Caramba

[@AndriaaLeoLove]

“I just don’t think I can live in a city where they Walk when it says Don’t Walk.” 😮 😅. I live in NYC, and Don’t Walk when it says Don’t Walk but sometimes it is safer to Walk when It says Don’t Walk because many drivers are such in a rush and you just better cross fast before the cars with the green light start turning. But It is just not in me being from MI and All. Lol.