This opening was by far the best. Late seasons the music/opening was HORRIBLE.

John Lawlor was rather bland but kinda good looking too.

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by Anonymousreply 18July 20, 2024 3:42 AM

The very [bold]best[/bold] of prime-time television!

by Anonymousreply 1July 19, 2024 10:35 PM

That gay panic story doesn’t hold up well, although Mrs. Garrett’s handling of it is almost lovely.

by Anonymousreply 2July 19, 2024 10:40 PM

Fun fact- O Hara from the first season of the Facts Of Life- in real life her mother lived to 103 years old.

by Anonymousreply 3July 19, 2024 10:41 PM

R2- No. They don't even say the word LESBIAN and there's no positive affirmation about being a lesbian just reassurance that Cindy is NOT a lesbian.

by Anonymousreply 4July 19, 2024 10:43 PM

NBC Standards & Practices vetoed the term "bull dagger."

by Anonymousreply 5July 19, 2024 10:44 PM

Watching that made me feel sad for Todd Bridges. He said it was really hard for him to be the only one left from the Diff’rent Strokes cast. Charlotte Rae used to go visit him in jail, and Kim Fields had to call him to tell him when she died. Gary Coleman and Dana Plato looked so cute and young in the opening scene. Life can really be cruel. MARY!

I liked hearing Charlotte Rae singing the theme song. I agree that this early version had an unpolished charm lacking in the later punchier versions.

by Anonymousreply 6July 19, 2024 10:45 PM

Charlotte Rae died while Todd Bridges was in Jail?

What was he in for?

by Anonymousreply 7July 19, 2024 10:54 PM

No, r7, he was out by then. I worded that awkwardly.

He’s had his shit together for a long time now. He appeared to help introduce or close (I can’t recall) the (FANTASTIC!) Facts of Life live broadcast re-creation a few years ago. He seemed very sweet-natured and humble. That is where he said it was hard to be the only one left.

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by Anonymousreply 8July 19, 2024 11:11 PM

FUN FACT WITH A SPOILER:

Jenny O’Hara played the title character in the elevator horror film Devil.

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by Anonymousreply 9July 19, 2024 11:23 PM

Jenny O’Hara delighted in scenes with Liz Hubbard on As the World Turns.

by Anonymousreply 10July 19, 2024 11:36 PM

Didn't Jenny replace Jill in Promises, Promises?

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by Anonymousreply 11July 19, 2024 11:40 PM

This was actually the second pilot. Helen Lawson played Mrs. Garrett in the first pilot that was never aired. The film was actually burned.

by Anonymousreply 12July 20, 2024 12:22 AM

That was a busy title sequence.

by Anonymousreply 13July 20, 2024 1:29 AM

R8 I knew sweetie.

I was just making fun of what you wrote after you gave me a chuckle there.

by Anonymousreply 14July 20, 2024 3:19 AM

Lisa looked what I’d consider her best in the 1979-80 season.

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by Anonymousreply 15July 20, 2024 3:29 AM

R15- My brother would have referred to her look of 1979/80 as a PIECE OF ASS.

By the fall of 1980 when the familiar smaller cast was cast she was already a bit chunky and no longer rather stunning the way she looked back in 1979.

by Anonymousreply 16July 20, 2024 3:36 AM

Oh, if only Cindy and Jo shared notes on being "strange" ...

by Anonymousreply 17July 20, 2024 3:40 AM

She looks like the love child of the Joker & Penguin at R15.

by Anonymousreply 18July 20, 2024 3:42 AM

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