Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy "Jo", "Blair", and "Natalie" were on The Today Show this morning...you can check out the 6-minute clip here: <a href="http://msnbc.wmod.llnwd.net/a275/e1/...dvd_060509.asf" target="_blank">http://msnbc.wmod.llnwd.net/a2 75/e1/...dvd_060509.asf</a>
Originally Posted By FiveBearRugs Yes, I do remember The New MMC... sort of... I think I first heard of it when I saw jigsaw puzzles for it at my elementary school daycare when I was in the 5th grade. Years later, there was this history of Disney book that featured ALL the films (this was made in the mid-80s), and I believe it featured television as well. One of the shots for the new MMC was when Annette and Tim Considine guest-starred, leaving me to believe that they actually hosted the show. It wasn't until I started watching the reruns on Vault Disney when I was intrigued... ooooo, disco version of the theme song, opening credits in color, and the Mouse-Ka-Movie (one of them being highlights of Sleeping Beauty). Then I remember when the 80s version started on Disney Channel, and with now every Disney Channel kid star just happening to be a singer and dancer, I don't know why they don't set up another version... you know, MMC 4.0. As for Facts of Life, I remember the 2nd season and forward episodes and used to watch it on Saturday night along with 227, Amen and the Golden Girls (and later Empty Nest)... wow, sitcoms on Saturday, those were the days. I think the rock version of the theme song stands out in my head as I remember most of those episodes the most, like Mrs. Garrett's shop burning down, and the Tootie's Nightmare episode when she sees Friday the 13th with the girls and then the entire cast is killed while a Rod Serlingesque host narrates the episode and just can't get enough of saying "Tootie". When Nick-at-Nite started rushing through the 80s, I watched a few of the final episodes, like when Blair bought Eastland (and a semi-nice touch of continuity of the first season, the Eastland scenes were in the commons room). If memory serves me right, the next season was supposed to take place at Eastland with Blair being somewhat the new Mrs. Garrett. And what was up with that new theme song over the end credits in its later years?
Originally Posted By Shooba Good to know that Nancy McKeon appeared, as EW's DVD review implied she dissed the 2001 reunion movie (I recall she simply wasn't available). <a href="http://www.ew.com/ew/article/review/dvd/0" target="_blank">http://www.ew.com/ew/article/r eview/dvd/0</a>,6115,1190961_2_0_,00.html "We hope they're saving some additional, more revealing time with Whelchel, Cohn, and Fields for future seasons' DVDs. And while we knew not to hold our breath for a McKeon appearance (she dissed the 2001 reunion show, which, come to think of it, would make a nice extra too), we would've settled for a good three-way commentary track."
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy Well, I didn't think she "dissed" it, I'd just heard she was trying to distance herself from the show so she wouldn't be typecast and she could be taken seriously for other roles. She doesn't have bad feelings about the show (except for the '80s BIG HAIR, LOL), she just didn't wanna be known as "Jo" forever...which she will anyway, and now especially with DVDs! Lol
Originally Posted By BlueDevilSF >>YES! Julie was from Buena Park, if I remember correctly. My parents, in some remote way, knew her parents.<< Not sure where she was actually from, but she was living in Florissant, MO (a suburb of St. Louis) at the time she was cast.
Originally Posted By DlandDug While I never saw "The Facts of Life," I certainly do remember the new Mickey Mouse Club in the mid-seventies. Corey Feldman's little sister was one of those mice. Here's a link to "The Blair Warner Project," for those who enjoy pop culture collisions: <a href="http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/71159?htv=12" target="_blank">http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdeta il/71159?htv=12</a>
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy I watched all of disc 1 last night after work. OMG...the quality is fan-freakin'-*tastic!* It was videotaped so it has that "All in the Family" or "Three's Company" or "The Muppet Show" feel...it looked like I could just reach right out and actually touch Mrs. Garrett and the girls, or step into that common room of the dorm and their rooms. And the sound is crystal clear, too...every line, laugh, sound---perfectly audible. On disc 1 there's a 20-minute "Remembering 'The Facts of Life'" retrospect featuring: Eve Brandstein (casting executive) Felice Schacter (Nancy, season 1) Julie Anne Haddock-Becker (Cindy, season 1) Lisa Whelchel (Blair) Mindy Cohn (Natalie) Kim Fields (Tootie) That was so cool to see, especially since Cindy and Blair are my favorites. I learned a few things about the early days of the show I didn't know, which was really cool. I admit there were some embarrassing moments in the shows I watched, but it was also interesting to see how the series was taking shape and which characters came to the forefront and which faded to the back. Blair, Natalie, and Tootie clearly emerge as the laugh-getters, But Charlotte Rae really shines as comedic, chubby Mrs. Garrett in this first season. Tonight, finish Season 1! :-D
Originally Posted By Labuda I picked this up yesterday - and tonight we watched episodes 1-3 - good stuff, and btw, WOW - they hit on some heavy stuff in the first couple of episodes - homosexuality and adultery and gambling addictions - wow!
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy I know, when I first saw "Rough Housing" as an adult (I don't remember it from childhood) I was like "OMG, lesbian issues in the *pilot*??" lol They sure did hit on some heavy stuff... *SPOILER of a season 2 episode's main plot* * * * * In fact, season 2 has an episode where someone committs suicide, and Nancy McKeon (Jo) said a girl wrote her a letter to her saying that watching that episode stopped her from killing herself. I usually love this show for the childhood memories and characters I grew up with, but the heavy stuff is a real learning tool---and that's so powerful that an episode saved one person's life.
Originally Posted By FiveBearRugs ^^^^Oh yeah? Well *I* learned that when I go into the pizza-making business, I must try to control it when demand gets too high.
Originally Posted By Labuda TDG - have you noticed that the suicide episode isn't on this set? Color me bummed that they left it out.
Originally Posted By Labuda Oh, wait - someone had something wrong on IMDB - turns out the episode IS on the set.
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy Yeah, lol...saw it last night, and finished the "Facts-a-thon" tonight. Bring on season 3!!
Originally Posted By MomofPrincess Okay, back to the New Mickey Mouse Club. It was *ALLISON* who was from Buena Park! Sorry about that. Check out this link. Sad to see that two of them have already passed away! This was such a HUGE part of my childhood. It makes me happy just seeing their picture again! *sigh* <a href="http://dm_one.tripod.com/" target="_blank">http://dm_one.tripod.com/</a>
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy And here I thought when I saw you were the latest poster here you were gonna rave about my theme song. LOL! ;-P
Originally Posted By MomofPrincess BTW, it's killing me you can't read your e-mail right now. KILLING ME. LOL
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy LOL! Sorry! I could have a voice like Frank Sinatra and I bet you 2oony would still delete my voice mails if I "dared" to sing "Facts" music on his machine, LOL!
