9/10/2023 0 Comments Facts of life reboot![]() I often tell my students who take my TV diversity class at Ohio State’s Lima campus that the '80s were the golden era of television for my generation. We had great storylines that were both humorous and serious, and there still seemed to be somewhat of an innocence within family situations depicted on TV during this decade. Siblings fought over privacy on the telephone, yes back when landlines were a thing, and parents had to juggle a work-life balance. I thought the “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” recreation of “The Facts of Life” episode "Kids Can Be Cruel” was especially appropriate for friendship conflicts teens still experience, even 39 years later. “The Facts of Life” was a unique show in that social and racial dynamics were evident, but were not examined in a contentious manner. The girls attend a New York boarding school under the care of a compassionate housemother named Edna Garrett. Tootie immediately stands out because she is the only Black girl at the school, and Jo comes from a working-class background and clashes with the immaturity and pettiness of Blair, who is from a wealthy family. More: The movie 'King Richard' shows what can happen when you don't give up on your vision I suppose this may be the reason why Gen X actors were chosen to portray these iconic child and teenage roles with “The Facts of Life” cast featuring Jennifer Aniston, Gabrielle Union and Kathryn Hahn playing the beloved characters of Blair, Tootie and Jo. Allison Tolman starred as Natalie, Tootie’s witty and perceptive friend. ![]() At the end of the episode, when Blair befriends Stewart’s nerdy character, Aniston said, “I’ll be there for you,” a shoutout to the “Friends” theme song.The latest ABC “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” special featuring episodes from '80s sitcom classics “The Facts of Life” and “Diff'rent Strokes” brought back lots of childhood memories for Gen Xers who grew up on these shows. The night also featured a reference to another beloved sitcom. “I’m glad they didn’t have to put Gabrielle on some skates and the braces were a nice touch, though,” she said. That’s where it really hit me.”įields was also impressed with Union, even if she didn’t have to wear roller skates, like Tootie was known to do. “It was a million times waiting backstage at the top of the stairs at the kitchen and walking in. “It wasn’t even being on the set,” she said. Whelchel said returning to the show made her emotional. “I think Charlotte is toasting Ann Dowd right this very moment,” Cohn told “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” host and executive producer Jimmy Kimmel. The original stars were thrilled with the final product. The reenactment of the season three episode “Kids Can Be Cruel,” went off mostly without a hitch, although Stewart did have to fight the giggles at one point in a scene with Arnett. “The Facts of Life” episode also featured Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Jon Stewart in guest roles. Garrett again in the evening’s other reenactment of an episode of “Diff’rent Strokes.” ![]() Dowd did double duty, as she portrayed Mrs. Garrett, originally played by the late Charlotte Rae. ![]() Kathryn Hahn portrayed Jo and Ann Dowd starred as Mrs. Jennifer Aniston played Whelchel’s Blair, while Allison Tolman starred as Cohn’s Natalie and Gabrielle Union appeared as Fields’ Tootie. Nancy McKeon, who played Jo on the show, did not participate.įor the actual episode reenactment, ABC tapped a few other stars to participate. Lisa Whelchel, Mindy Cohn and Kim Fields all showed up, with Whelchel, decked out in an Eastland School uniform, singing the classic theme song at the beginning of the episode. TV viewers got a heavy dose of nostalgia Tuesday night when a trio of stars from “The Facts of Life” turned out for ABC’s “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” reenactment of a 1982 episode of the sitcom. ![]()
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