THE FACTS OF LIFE

INTRODUCTION

The season premiere of the sitcom "The Facts of Life" originally aired only four episodes premiering on Friday, August 24, 1979 through September 14, 1979 as a mid-season replacement for the short lived sitcom "Hello Larry". In the first part of the next year, March 14, 1980, still in its first season, it was to the air another nine great episodes. That was just the beginning of another popular show that surprised everyone at NBC. In its nine years of weekly comedy routines, bringing numerous guest stars, comedians, music and television celebrities, each character had their own unique problem or situation to work out. There was always something going on at the Eastland Academy, all girls school. Every character was different in their own way. Something that everyone who watched could relate too.

This durable sitcom, spun off from "Diff'rent Strokes", went through several changes of format during its nine seasons; only three regulars stayed with the series for its entire run. Lisa Whelchel as the wealthy, self infatuated Blair Warner; Mindy Cohn as the chubby Natalie Green; Kim Fields as Dorothy "Tootie" Ramsey, the black kid. Also, it starred Charlotte Rae (1979-1986) as Mrs. Edna Garrett, who left the Drummonds' employ on "Diff'rent Strokes" to become a housemother at the Eastland School, a prestigious girls boarding academy near Peekskill, New York. Also, John Lawlor (1979-1980) as Steven Bradley, the headmaster; Jenny O'Hara (1979) as Miss Mahoney, one of the teachers; Felice Schachter (1979-1980) as Nancy Olson; Julie Piekarski (1979-1980) as Sue Ann Weaver; Julie Anne Haddock (1979-1980) as Cindy Webster; and Molly Ringwald (1979-1980) as Molly Parker.

In the fall of 1980, at the start of the second season, the show begun to air on Wednesdays, which would remain until its last few seasons. This season also marked the shows first major change in format. The second season, the cast was trimmed down to include just Charlotte Rae, three original girls and one new character. This newcomer, Nancy McKeon, was suggested by a NBC chief Fred Silverman after he had seen the coming of age movie "Little Darlings". She was brought in as Jo Polniazek, a street-wise kid attending Eastland School on a scholarship. The other three original girls were Lisa Whelchel, Mindy Cohn, and Kim Fields.

From 1981 to 1984 comedienne Geri Jewell, who had cerebral palsy was occasionally seen as Blair's cousin, Jeri Tyler. She was one of the few disabled persons ever to have a regular role on a Television series.

In the fall of 1986 the show was NBC's oldest prime time series in history. Mrs Garrett remarried and moved to Africa with her new husband. Cloris Leachman came aboard as her sister, Beverly Ann Stickle, who took over the store. By the spring of 1987 all of the four girls were ready to leave the nest. Tootie pursued an acting career. Jo had a job offer in California and later got married. Blair planned to go to law school and eventually bought the Eastland Academy School for girls. And Natalie hoped to become a writer. Over Our Heads closed its doors in the fall of 1987. Joining the cast for the series last and farewell final season were Sherrie Krenn as Pippa McKenna, an Australian exchange student, Paul Provenza as Casey Clark, Robert Romanus as Natalie's boyfriend, "Snake" Robinson, Todd Hollowell as Tootie's fiance, Jeff Williams and Scott Bryce as the musician Rick Bonner who later married Jo.