Among the many valuable lessons taught by The Facts of Life, one of the most gay-loved TV series in history, is one in the lyrics to it’s irresistible theme song: “you take the good, you take the bad.” Here’s some good you can take: The long-running sitcom about a motley group of girlfriends at a prestigious Peakskill, NY boarding school as they navigate the curvy road to adulthood under the watchful eye of their housemother maintains its appeal 35 years after its premiere. Now you can relive all those moments with Blair, Tootie, Natalie and Jo with the release of The Facts of Life: The Complete Series on DVD. The 26-disc set also includes a 2014 cast reunion at The Paley Center, the two made-for-television films that had the gals visiting Australia and Paris, as well as numerous other bonus features. The lavish boxed set will be officially released January 13, 2015 but eager holiday shoppers can order it here and it will ship December 16. The popular series, which helped launch the careers of several future superstars, such as George Clooney, Helen Hunt, Juliette Lewis and Molly Ringwald, was also a pioneering one with its depiction of a teen lesbian and was the first to feature a recurring character with cerebral palsy (comic Geri Jewell, who came out as lesbian in 2011).
Scroll down for an update on the actresses who played these iconic TV characters.
Mindy Cohn (Natalie Green)
Cohn starred as the full-figured and forever upbeat Natalie for all eight seasons. The actress has appeared on numerous other television series, including 21 Jump Street and Suddenly Susan and earned a Daytime Emmy nomination for voicing Velma in What’s New, Scooby Doo? She further endeared herself to gay audiences with her role as the ultimate “fag hag” in the 2010 feature comedy Violet Tendencies and recently appeared on Hot in Cleveland and Bones.
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Kim Fields (“Tootie” Ramsey)
Before playing rollerskating Tootie, Fields was already a TV veteran, having appeared on numerous series including a turn as Janet Jackson’s pal on Good Times. The actress had another long-running, female-driven hit in Fox’s Living Single and briefly performed rap music with a group called Impromp2. Today, she occasionally directs TV sitcoms and is the married mother of two children.
Nancy McKeon as Jo Polniaczek
McKeon joined the series as tough-talking tomboyish Jo during the second season and was an immediate hit with fans. McKeon starred in several made-for-TV movies throughout the 1980s and 1990s and was nearly cast as Monica on Friends. She headlined Lifetime’s police drama The Division from 2001-2004 and now lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and two daughters.
Lisa Whelchel as Blair Warner
The actress began her career as a Mouseketeer on The New Mickey Mouse Club before being perfectly cast as preppy, sometimes snooty rich girl Blair. Whelchel was nominated for a Grammy for her 1984 Christian pop album and made it to the finale of Survivor: Philippines in 2012. Today, she’s the divorced mother of three, still acts from time to time and is in demand as a motivational speaker.
Charlotte Rae (Edna Garrett)
The veteran actress began her career in the 1950s and had appeared on countless TV series and films such as Hair before playing the daffy housemother Edna Garrett. After she left the series in 1986 (Oscar-winner Cloris Leachman took over as Edna’s sister Beverly on the series) Rae continued to stay busy on TV and in film, including playing an older woman who has a fling with Adam Sandler’s character in the comedy You Don’t Mess With the Zohan. In 2013, Rae made headlines when she revealed that her 25 marriage had ended in divorce after her husband told her he was gay.
I'm Black, and HIV-Positive.
I remember that show fondly. What about that really tough blonde girl they had before Joe? And I can still remember getting the chills from that one Halloween special they had that one year where Natalie swore she woke up out of bed one night to seeing that Mrs. Garret was at her bed side, sharpening a knife, and murmuring creepy phrases.
Cam
I saw an interview with Mindy Coehn about the episode where she lost her virginity. She said apparently it was supposed to be Lisa Welchel’s character but she acted very Kirk Cameron-ish, made a big deal, refused to do it. So Cohn agreed to do it, and Welchel wouldn’t even agree to appear in that episode, talking about morals and the Bible, and now she’s divorced. Guess she and her minister ex-husband didn’t read the entire Bible.
Garrett
Gosh, I had no idea FoL was one of the most gay loved series in history. Hopefully, I didn’t miss any important moments in cultural history.
@Cam:
Isn’t that always the way those things work out? I mean, look at Limbaugh and Gingrich. They love getting married so much they keep doing it over and over and over!
lykeitiz
A couple more fun facts about the show:
It was a spinoff of Diff’rent Strokes. Mrs. Garrett (same actress, same character) was the Housekeeper/Child Care for the family.
The first season of Facts of Life had many more characters before the cast was pared down to the main girls that everyone knows. One girl to get cut after season one was a pre-fame Molly Ringwald.
Geri Jewell, who played Blair’s cousin Geri, became the first person with a disability (cerebral palsy) to ever be cast in a regular recurring role in a prime time series. More than 15 years later, she became a regular on HBO’s “Deadwood”.
lykeitiz
@Garrett: Then you’ve obviously never heard of the play “Facts Of Life, The Lost Episode” done entirely in drag.
Garrett
@lykeitiz: that’s true. I’ve never heard of it. Where do I turn in my gay card?
lykeitiz
@Garrett: The committee decided since you’re related to Mrs. Garrett that you can keep it…..for now.
Stache99
Yeah, I used to love that show. I’ve seen it since here and there on Nick at night and/or TV land but alas it hasn’t stood the test of time. Canned laughter at awkward non funny parts.
Of coarse so many of them weren’t in the 80s. Family ties, who’s the boss, etc. Still has a special place in my heart though.
Charlie in Charge
Adore this show – I think it may be responsible for my hope that every group of friends I ever have stays together forever. Will have to pick up the set.
jwtraveler
I had no idea anybody cared about this. I truly am shocked.
Stache99
@jwtraveler: It’s from my childhood which I care deeply about;)
Sweet Boy
I have seen reruns and Jo gives a lezzie vibe….
Ladbrook
I recall watching it, but I honestly don’t remember identifying with it. Blair’s hair scared me – pageant hair usually does. I’ve certainly never thought of it as a “gay” show. Those honors are reserved for shows like “Are You Being Served,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “AbFab,” and Mary Tyler Moore.
I do have a special place in my heart for Gilligan’s Island, but that’s because I had a big crush on the professor. I never could understand why he didn’t bang Mary Ann into a complete coma. She definitely missed out on some really good sex.
Michael Cotten-Ward
35 years?? Ugh. I’m old.
Scott Gatz
Michael Cotten-Ward No comment.
Alan down in Florida
@Ladbrook: Mary Tyler Moore as a gay show? Explain please.
Cam
@Alan down in Florida:
Three words…..Dick, Van, Dyke
onthemark
@Alan down in Florida: For one thing, Phyllis (Cloris Leachman) had a gay brother in a very early episode of the MTM Show. This may have been the first gay character on TV? – around 1971 or ’72.
Ladbrook
@Alan down in Florida: Gladly.
MTM was a sharp, witty, well-written comedy with an independent female character (alone in the big city) in the central role. Gay men have always identified with strong females in film and television – perhaps because some of us see them as metaphors for our own search for freedom and identity. In addition, Rhoda, Phyllis, and Suzanne were fantastic, fully-formed supporting players – each with her own charm and biting wit – not unlike the cast of crazy sidekicks in our own lives. Collectively, they stood up for themselves, fought back, and slept around at a time when women on television didn’t do that very often. They wanted men, but they didn’t actually NEED them – practically unheard of for female characters. And as for the men in the cast (particularly Murray): they came off as fag-hags and playthings for the female leads. Again, very unique for a television show at that time in history. The men were making the jokes – they were the jokes. They just never saw it that way.
I found the whole thing incredibly refreshing, unique, and provocative.
Ladbrook
@Cam: LOL. True… but the wrong MTM show. *grin*
Ladbrook
@Ladbrook: I said “Suzanne.” I meant Sue Ann, the Betty White character.
dhmonarch89
you forgot Oscar winner Cloris Leachman was on the show for 2 seasons, Mrs. G’s sister, Beverly Anne
Saint Law
I’ve never heard of these upstarts. The Most Gay Loved Show is surely ‘Maude’.