THE FACTS OF LIFE: Season 8 (1986-87) Clip (The Return Of The Lost Girls)

This is a clip from "The Little Chill", the 6th episode (and 159th overall) of the eighth season of the long-running 1979-88 NBC sitcom "The Facts Of Life", which was a spin-off of the 1978-86 NBC/ABC comedy "Diff'rent Strokes". This episode originally aired Saturday, November 8, 1986.
The plot of this episode is a reunion. Blair (Lisa Whelchel), Tootie (Kim Fields) and Natalie (Mindy Cohn) are reunited with three of their former schoolmates: Nancy Olson (Felice Schachter), Cindy Webster (Julie Anne Haddock) and Sue Ann Weaver (Julie Piekarski). Jo (Nancy McKeon) feels left out as she did not know the other girls as well as Blair, Tootie and Natalie did.
This was a reunion episode to give closure to the characters of Nancy, CIndy and Sue Ann, who were all original characters from "The Facts Of Life"'s first season (1979-80). The show's ratings in the first year were very dreadful. So, NBC executives decided to trim the very huge cast of the show. Executives retained only Lisa Whelchel, Kim Fields and Mindy Cohn. Felice Schachter, Julie Piekarski and Julie Anne Haddock were all dropped from the cast as regulars, though they did make occasional appearances until the end of the show's third season (1981-82). They would be referred to as "The Lost Girls"
Additionally there was a fourth Lost Girl, Molly Parker, played by Molly Ringwald. She, too, was dropped after the first season. She returned for one final appearance during the the second part of the premiere episode of the second season "The New Girl: Part 2" (OAD: November 26, 1980), the episode that introduced Nancy McKeon to the cast. Ringwald has went on record during interviews that that particular episode was the worst acting job she ever had, having to go back to "the show that replaced me with Nancy McKeon". By this time, Molly Ringwald had become an 80s teen icon with her turns in "The Breakfast Club" and "Pretty In Pink". It's safe to say she got the last laugh.

[@TyG2k9]

I was always confused by this episode. Jo, Nancy, Sue Ann, Cindy all seemed to not know each other. But they clearly knew each other in Season 2.

[@nassauguy48]

True, FOL frequently got their story lines mixed up. And in Season 2, these so called "lost girls" from Season 1 were often bitchy and mean spirited, as if Season 1 never existed and they had never lived together in the same dormitory as close friends. Now, in Season 8, they are all once again "buddy buddy"?

[@JhomasE]

BRUTALLY HONEST Savage yep. She did.

[@zt1053]

Joe interacted with Nancy Sue Ann and Cindy but was never really friends with them. I’m running to guys I went to high school with who I don’t remember it first and

[@heidifedor]

I was thinking the same thing.

[@ruddM]

Remember at 1:19 Tootie said " you guys remember Jo". In seasons 2 & 3 they knew Jo but not that well since the " lost girls" grew apart

[@Nikkipicky]

Rest in peace Cloris Leachman ❤

[@TheRetroGuy2000]

I loved seeing Sue Ann, Cindy and Nancy again. I just wish they had been able to get Molly, too, for a complete reunion.

[@Asukenick]

She was too busy.

[@nassauguy48]

@@Asukenick And pissed off.

[@markb742]

RJ Guy - That episode would have been fantastic if Molly had shown up a little later downstairs with Jo just hanging around brooding. They could have struck up a greeting and conversation, and they both could have gone up together, as new friends, to join everyone else. It could have been a healing, not only for Jo, but also for real-life actors Molly and Nancy.

[@nassauguy48]

FOL would have LOVED to gotten Molly Ringwald for this episode, as she at this time was a big screen star as a member of the "Brat Pack". She definitely would have been a major draw but, understandably, she bowed out.

[@Diostillrocks]

From what I read on the internet was that of all the people who approached Molly and/or her reps to appear in this episode was the guy who told her years earlier that she would never make it in show business and to find another career.

[@Asukenick]

I love that Cindy still has pigtails.

[@j.campbell8491]

RIP to the late beautiful Cloris Leachman

[@charlesingleton1213]

Poor story continuity as Jo DID know the other girls as they were recurring characters for seasons 2 and 3. Yes, they could claim she didn't know them as well as the others as she didn't live in the dorm with them, but to have Tootie introduce Jo to them made no sense.

[@TheBob1901]

I agree. If you watch the Season 2 episode 'Gossip', Jo & Cindy are chatting away to one another, sitting together at a table where Sue Ann & Nancy are also seated. Jo obviously knew those girls.

[@needles1987]

Tootie said to them "You guys remember Jo?"

[@terrellserrano6319]

Totally agree with you both Charles and Bob

[@hadihatab3126]

They all knew Jo but she was not as close with them or knew them as long as the other girls.

[@dannigro8794]

They knew Jo but Blair tootie and Natalie lived with them. Jo was just an acquaintance

[@tjames9698]

They make it sound as Jo never met any of them. She had numerous scenes with them from Season 02 onwards.....

[@zt1053]

She just never had a chance to become friends with them at Eastland because of the living set up Blair tootie jo and Natalie were in

[@TheBob1901]

I never understood why Jo didn't seem to know those three Season 1 girls in this episode. In earlier episodes, you see Jo occasionally interacting with them, so it's not as if they didn't know one another before this particular episode.

[@needles1987]

Tootie did say to them "You remember Jo?" so Jo knowing them was acknowledged in this. Jo just didn't know them as well as the other girls did.

[@dannigro8794]

They knew each of each other but didn’t really know each other

[@gerawallstar3487]

@@dannigro8794 Plus Jo wasnt on the show in season 1 so it's understandable why she hardly knows them.

[@dannigro8794]

@@gerawallstar3487 Yeah on the one hand they all did interact in season two but Jo wasn’t really friendly with them she just knew of them Natalie Blair and tootie actually lived with them in the first season

[@Royelsworth]

it was with mostly molly was in the one episode with Joe but didn't see the others much.

[@MsTexas73]

This never made any sense to me. the other girls still went to Eastland even though they were no longer roommates with Blair, Tootie, and Natalie. And they all knew Jo, as some of them even had classes with her and Blair (and even Natalie) in Seasons 2 & 3. Continuity is important; and so is history.

[@dontwearboatshoes4259]

I would have love to have seen episodes where Cindy bonded with Jo,because Cindy was the blonde Jo.

[@seanpowell1661]

Exactly! Jo did interact with Sue Ann and Nancy in Season 2 and 3 when the other girls were reduced to guest starring roles.

[@zt1053]

@@seanpowell1661 But they weren’t friends

[@Diostillrocks]

@@zt1053 how do you know that they were not friends?

[@stebaer]

Yes Jo did know Molly,Nancy,Cindy,and Sue Ann as we see starting in the 2 part 1980 episode first Molly in the Cafeteria then Nancy,Cindy,and Sue Ann in the episode in which Tootie not being paid attention to gets carried away with spreading infos around the school of which get back at her. Later episodes show like when Cindy while sitting at the same table as Nancy and Sue Ann does ask Jo how she gets great stories and she said "I got my sources."Yes meaning Jo has more to do with these girls than even the episode admits.

[@zt1053]

In this episode they talk about things mainly from the first season which Joe wasn’t around for

[@stebaer]

@@zt1053 That's Jo.That also is so.

[@Diostillrocks]

Molly never said a single word to Jo. They just exchanged awkward stares.

[@stebaer]

@@Diostillrocks Well they still did technically meet in that scene in the Cafeteria and when Blair gave that snotty girl the pie in the face of which she'd asked for after trying to keep Jo from approaching her in anger and when she did Mrs.Garret upon entering started to laugh knowing that that girl asked for it but still realizing that she still as a Housemother had to quickly control herself. It was also because of Jo's pride that she didn't want to admit to Blair later on how she really did deserve a pat on the back for throwing that pie in the girl's face.

[@Diostillrocks]

@@stebaer can't say that they met since they never were introduced to one another or even said a word to one another

[@joeb5080]

Wow! That big hair and those big bulky clothes! So 80s!!!!

[@j.campbell8491]

And so early 90s too with shows like Saved By The Bell had this kind of fashion.

[@samsticka]

There were 2 Nancys on "The Facts of Life". Nancy McKeon who played Jo. And Nancy Olson played by Felice Schachter.

[@trekkiejunk]

I was excited to see this clip so I could see how those girls aged after 5 years absent from the show. Now i've seen it, and i still don't have any idea what they look like.

[@amybaum2722]

I hate how Jo gets ignored in this episode. It is rude. Like she didn't matter. And she's the best one in this whole sitcom. Love you Nancy mckeon

[@zt1053]

It shows she is still an outsider

[@4nlover635]

Nancy Mckeon was good, but I honestly thought the original 4 cast members were better.

[@pluto4847]

I got shrugged off sometimes by people I knew years ago. I mean I knew them and they knew me, but we didn't really know each other if you know what I mean. We just remember each other passing through or just saying "Hi" but we never hung out.

[@nassauguy48]

Okay, so in Season 1, everybody was like sisters. In Season 2, the lost girls are making catty and vicious gossip about Natalie (the false reports of her promiscuity) and later about Mrs. Garrett herself ( the false reports of her having a drinking problem). It was like Season 1 never happened. We do not see Nancy or Sue Ann graduating with Blair and Jo. And now, years later, they are all BFFs again?

[@Diostillrocks]

Felice said in a 2012 that she was offered to return for spots in the 4th season, but at the time she was in college on the east coast (Brown) and she wanted to do that full time. Plus the travel back and forth would have been a pain.

[@JhomasE]

Diostillrocks that would have been great had she done that.

[@zt1053]

@@Diostillrocks Wouldn’t have worked people were used to the just the main four girls set up

[@Diostillrocks]

@@zt1053 the Lost Girls wouldn't have been full timers. They would make periodic appearances like they did in Season 2.

[@jonathanwashington6083]

Also the "lost" girls are NOT older than Blair, but yet they act as if they're her senior. 🙄

[@NikkiDeJonge]

This is also my 1st time seeing this clip & I have to agree with some of the comments, regarding..ignoring Jo-How rude!! I was really little when this show 1st was on..& maybe I was still a little too young(11 or 12) by the end of the season. But, it wasn't very nice..😮 I really like Jo. I had to get out of bed to write this..cause it was on my mind..

[@derekclancy6916]

I wish they could have gotten Molly Ringwald back for this episode. They did mention her character in this episode. They should have gotten John Lawlor (Mr. Bradley) back for this episode as well.

[@kdizzle79]

I get that, but Molly Ringwald was let go horribly by the producers and she never forgot that. Especially after she hit with her Brat Pack peek in the mid 80s. She didn't even want to do the first episode of Season 2 that introduced Jo. She resented having to go back to "the show that replaced me with Nancy McKeon"

[@tjames9698]

MR said she’d never return. It was odd dialog when they mentioned Molly. When asked about her, Tootie said she called her mother but her mother “wouldn’t tell her where Molly was”. Huh?

[@pluto4847]

I loved Mr. Bradley. He was much better than Mr. Parker.

[@keonta81]

Molly career had taken off by that time

[@SCL8294]

Delightfully 80s

[@needles1987]

Who would have thought Nancy would marry the same guy she dated when she was 14?

[@nassauguy48]

But this clearly was not Eddie, the guy who went into the Navy. This guy seems too preppie for someone who dated a girl from the streets of The Bronx.

[@needles1987]

@@nassauguy48 Jo was the one who was engaged to Eddie. I'm talking about Nancy being engaged to Roger.

[@Diostillrocks]

It does happen from time to time where people marry the person they dated in their teens.

[@Diostillrocks]

@@nassauguy48 You got your Nancys mixed up.

[@hadihatab3126]

It happens, I mean Jon Bon Jovi married his high school sweetheart and they’ve been together ever since.

[@paullatimer1639]

You can tell it's the 80's, Sue Anne,'s suit is about three sizes too big and the scarf looks like a tablecloth.

[@pluto4847]

Did Sue Anne cut her hair because I remember it being much longer in the 1st series.

[@johnnythekid4601]

They were on also in season 2 for a bit so Jo did have interactions with them

[@zt1053]

She did but they weren’t friends and the girls only talked about season one memories

[@Diostillrocks]

@@zt1053 how do you know that they were not friends?

[@4nlover635]

Where's Molly Ringwald?

[@Diostillrocks]

She refused to take part.

[@4nlover635]

@@Diostillrocks ,Molly Ringwald sounds like a spoiled brat. My opinion only.

[@Diostillrocks]

@@4nlover635 why should Molly take part? They didn't want her to stay in the show. She proved them wrong.

[@4nlover635]

@Diostillrocks you are correct; she did prove them wrong; however, the other girls were able to move past it. The other three went on to succeed in other ways. They did Molly Ringwald a favor.

[@arielg7000]

so coool man

[@arielg7000]

So cool man

[@bfettrules1239]

This all coulda been avoided had the remaining girls just said “Hey I hear Sue Ann, Cindy, Molly, etc went to a school in Europe.” End of problem. Can I please get paid what the writers were paid adjusted for time and inflation?

[@stacystoltz8722]

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@felix121984]

Cindy is the blonde Jo.

[@MrCraigblaze]

Thanks for the Upload !! I don't know why Jo feels left out ?? Jo was not even on the show then ..Not that they loved her any less.. Thanks for the Upload !! XD And don't for get Molly Ringwald was on the show too !! XD

[@Diostillrocks]

Because this episode had new writers who didn't know the history of the show. There were plenty of scenes with her and the Lost Girls. Jo even knew who Roger was (though the viewers never did).

[@MrCraigblaze]

@@Diostillrocks They didn't know the "History" of the show ?? Could they pick up a TV Guide..And flipped on an old Rerun ?? Xd Who was Roger ??

[@Diostillrocks]

@@MrCraigblaze Nancy O's boyfriend.

[@Diostillrocks]

@@MrCraigblaze kzbin.info/www/bejne/iWeUY6iKr5x2pq8

[@zt1053]

Because all what they talked about in this episode was things in the first season before Joe came. When Joe came and the girls had to all live together as punishment they didn't have they much interaction with Nancy, Sue Anne, and Cindy

[@stacystoltz8722]

❤🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@zt1053]

Blair Natalie and tootie act like the last 7 years with Jo never happened

[@samsticka]

I know. Jo felt left out.

[@brightangel6963]

Nancy and Sue and grew up though. Teens will always be teens. Esp girls.

[@tiffanycurtis4794]

THIS SHOW WAS NOT FUNNY AFTER EASTLAND SCHOOL FOR GIRLS GROWING UP I DID NOT REALIZE IT BUT LOOKING AT RERUNS TODAY ITS LIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN CANCELED IN 1984 🤦🏾‍♀️

[@CrociatoAzzurro]

Agreed! This was unwatchable. Cringey. The show went on too long. 1984 sounds about right.

[@pl5624]

Where's the rest...they slept over too...

[@kdizzle79]

P L there was only one other Lost Girl: Molly Parker played by Molly Ringwald. She didn’t come because at the time, she was doing her Brat Pack movies. Also she held resentment towards the producers and the “show that replaced me with Nancy McKeon”

[@pl5624]

@@kdizzle79 I mean there was more footage.

[@kdizzle79]

Ohhhh lol. This was the only clip I could find. I wish I had the whole episode

[@amybaum2722]

Nancy mckeon is way better than molly ringwald any old day!

[@Diostillrocks]

@@amybaum2722 um, no.