"The Facts of Life" (1979) TV series 1979-1988

Creators:

Dick Clair
Jenna McMahon
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | unknown

Release Date:

24 August 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have the facts of life...

Plot:

A group of girls attending a boarding school experience the joys and the trials of adolescence under the guiding hand of housemother Edna Garrett...

Plot Keywords:

School | Housemother | Boarding School | Rich Girl | Problem Solving

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 6 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Lisa Whelchel	...	Blair Warner (201 episodes, 1979-1988)
Kim Fields	...	Dorothy 'Tootie' Ramsey (201 episodes, 1979-1988)
Mindy Cohn	...	Natalie Green (201 episodes, 1979-1988)
Nancy McKeon	...	Jo Polniaczek (189 episodes, 1980-1988)
Charlotte Rae	...	Edna Garrett (146 episodes, 1979-1986)

Series Directed by
John Bowab		(91 episodes, 1980-1988)
Asaad Kelada		(77 episodes, 1980-1985)
Valentine Mayer		(6 episodes, 1986-1988)
Bob Claver		(4 episodes, 1980-1981)
Lee Lochhead		(4 episodes, 1980-1981)
Jim Drake		(3 episodes, 1979)
Judi Elterman		(3 episodes, 1982-1985)
Marian Deaton		(3 episodes, 1986-1988)

Series Writing credits
Howard Leeds		(201 episodes, 1979-1988)
Jerry Mayer		(201 episodes, 1979-1988)
Ben Starr		(201 episodes, 1979-1988)
Linda Marsh		(24 episodes, 1980-1985)
Margie Peters		(24 episodes, 1980-1985)
Stuart Wolpert		(18 episodes, 1981-1985)
Deidre Fay		(16 episodes, 1981-1985)
Paul Haggis		(13 episodes, 1982-1986)
Bob Myer		(10 episodes, 1983-1986)
Bob Young		(10 episodes, 1983-1986)
Martha Williamson		(8 episodes, 1986-1988)
Dick Clair		(7 episodes, 1979-1985)
Jenna McMahon		(7 episodes, 1979-1985)
Kimberly Hill		(7 episodes, 1982-1985)
Ross Brown		(7 episodes, 1986-1988)
Ann Gibbs		(5 episodes, 1980-1981)
Joel Kimmel		(5 episodes, 1980-1981)
Andy Borowitz		(5 episodes, 1983-1984)
Michael Maurer		(5 episodes, 1985-1987)
Michael Poryes		(5 episodes, 1986-1988)
Douglas Arango		(4 episodes, 1986-1988)
Phil Doran		(4 episodes, 1986-1988)
Austin Kalish		(4 episodes, 1987-1988)
Irma Kalish		(4 episodes, 1987-1988)
Jack Elinson		(3 episodes, 1980-1986)
Katherine Green		(3 episodes, 1986-1987)
Richard Gurman		(3 episodes, 1986-1987)
Jane Anderson		(3 episodes, 1986)
John Boni		(3 episodes, 1987-1988)
Mark Tuttle		(3 episodes, 1987-1988)
Glenn Padnick		(2 episodes, 1979-1984)
Martin Ragaway		(2 episodes, 1979-1980)
Migdia Chinea		(2 episodes, 1980-1982)
Sally Sussman Morina		(2 episodes, 1980-1981)
Lou Messina		(2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Howard Meyers		(2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Diane Messina Stanley		(2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Jerry Jacobius		(2 episodes, 1982)
Peter Noah		(2 episodes, 1982)
Bill Shinkai		(2 episodes, 1982)
Bill Steinkellner		(2 episodes, 1984-1985)
Cherie Steinkellner		(2 episodes, 1984-1985)
Gail Honigberg		(2 episodes, 1984)
Patrick Cleary		(2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Bob Bendetson		(2 episodes, 1985)
Howard Bendetson		(2 episodes, 1985)
Bruce Ferber		(2 episodes, 1985)
David Lerner		(2 episodes, 1985)
Racelle Friedman		(2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Bob Colleary		(2 episodes, 1987-1988)
Matt Geller		(2 episodes, 1987)
Lawrence H. Levy		(2 episodes, 1987)

Series Produced by
Rita Dillon	....	producer / associate producer / ... (94 episodes, 1980-1988)
Linda Marsh	....	producer / executive producer (54 episodes, 1981-1985)
Margie Peters	....	producer / executive producer (54 episodes, 1981-1985)
Jerry Mayer	....	producer / executive producer (52 episodes, 1979-1985)
Douglas Arango	....	supervising producer / producer (46 episodes, 1986-1988)
Phil Doran	....	supervising producer / producer (46 episodes, 1986-1988)
Irma Kalish	....	executive producer (46 episodes, 1986-1988)
Jack Elinson	....	executive producer (32 episodes, 1980-1986)
Deidre Fay	....	executive producer (25 episodes, 1984-1985)
Stuart Wolpert	....	executive producer (25 episodes, 1984-1985)
Kimberly Hill	....	producer (24 episodes, 1984-1985)
Paul Haggis	....	producer / executive producer (24 episodes, 1985-1986)
Ross Brown	....	producer (24 episodes, 1987-1988)
Bruce Ferber	....	producer (22 episodes, 1985-1986)
David Lerner	....	producer (22 episodes, 1985-1986)
Bob Myer	....	producer (22 episodes, 1985-1986)
Bob Young	....	producer (22 episodes, 1985-1986)
John Maxwell Anderson	....	associate producer (5 episodes, 1979-1980)
Sue Nevens	....	associate producer (5 episodes, 1980)
Richard J. Clayman	....	associate producer (4 episodes, 1980)
Ron Bloomberg	....	producer (2 episodes, 1986)
Katherine Green	....	supervising producer (2 episodes, 1986)
Richard Gurman	....	executive producer (2 episodes, 1986)

Series Original Music by
Ray Colcord		(72 episodes, 1985-1988)

Series Cinematography by
Mark J. Levin		(9 episodes, 1988)
Craig Greene		(6 episodes, 1982-1983)
John C. Zak		(5 episodes, 1983-1985)
Richard Hissong		(5 episodes, 1984-1985)
Donald A. Morgan		(2 episodes, 1983)

Series Film Editing by
Ken Denisoff		(51 episodes, 1985-1988)
Barry Cohen		(27 episodes, 1981-1985)
John Doutt		(9 episodes, 1980-1981)
Gregory Bennett		(4 episodes, 1980)
Kelly Sandefur		(3 episodes, 1979-1982)
Bill Petty		(3 episodes, 1979)
Tom Klemesrud		(3 episodes, 1980)

Series Casting by
Eve Brandstein		(77 episodes, 1979-1983)
Meg Liberman		(52 episodes, 1985-1988)
Marc Hirschfeld		(28 episodes, 1983-1988)
Robin Stoltz		(6 episodes, 1983-1985)
Irene Cagen		(5 episodes, 1987-1988)
Debra Rubinstein		(4 episodes, 1984-1985)

Series Production Design by
Chuck Murawski		(11 episodes, 1984-1986)

Series Art Direction by
Scott Heineman		(55 episodes, 1984-1988)
Chuck Murawski		(49 episodes, 1979-1984)
Dahl Delu		(5 episodes, 1981-1985)

Series Set Decoration by
Scott Heineman		(16 episodes, 1982-1985)
Tom Cost		(3 episodes, 1984-1985)

Series Costume Design by
Diana Eden		(52 episodes, 1985-1988)
Lee Smith		(16 episodes, 1980-1981)
Gina Huntington		(14 episodes, 1982-1983)
Margery Epstein		(12 episodes, 1979-1980)
Gina Trikonis		(11 episodes, 1983-1985)
Lynette Bernay		(2 episodes, 1981-1982)

Series Makeup Department
JoAnn Stafford-Chaney	....	hair stylist (132 episodes, 1979-1988)
Chris Brice	....	makeup artist (27 episodes, 1980-1984)
Lorraine Polak	....	makeup artist (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Stephanie Cozart Burton	....	makeup artist (21 episodes, 1983-1987)
Hakudo Isoda	....	hair stylist (10 episodes, 1984-1986)
Jennifer Danzig	....	makeup artist (4 episodes, 1980)
Rene Williams	....	makeup artist (4 episodes, 1980)
Jennifer Kaplan	....	makeup artist (3 episodes, 1979)
Jim Ruffino	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1980-1982)
Ariel Bagdadi	....	hair stylist (2 episodes, 1986)

Series Production Management
Ken Stump	....	in charge of production (124 episodes, 1983-1988)
Fran McConnell	....	production supervisor (48 episodes, 1986-1988)
Douglas Wellman	....	unit manager (37 episodes, 1980-1982)
Alan Horn	....	production supervisor (29 episodes, 1979-1981)
Ed Rossi	....	unit manager (24 episodes, 1987-1988)
Al Burton	....	production supervisor (12 episodes, 1981-1983)
Glenn Padnick	....	production supervisor (12 episodes, 1984-1986)
Myra Kumagae	....	unit manager (9 episodes, 1980-1981)
Jim Terry	....	unit manager / production manager (7 episodes, 1980-1981)
John McElveney	....	unit manager (6 episodes, 1986-1987)
Tyna Huebner	....	unit manager (3 episodes, 1979)
Richard J. Clayman	....	post-production supervisor (2 episodes, 1980)
Karen Wolpin	....	unit manager (2 episodes, 1985)
Bob Piatak	....	unit manager (2 episodes, 1986)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Marian Deaton	....	associate director (93 episodes, 1984-1988)
Judi Elterman	....	associate director / assistant director (33 episodes, 1980-1985)
Gary Shimokawa	....	associate director (3 episodes, 1979-1980)
Drew Handley	....	associate director (2 episodes, 1979)
Selig Frank	....	associate director (2 episodes, 1982)

Series Art Department
Robert Devicariis	....	property master (148 episodes, 1982-1988)
Artie Contreras	....	scenic artist (36 episodes, 1986-1988)
George Sayeg	....	property master (9 episodes, 1981-1982)
Phil Krim	....	property master (8 episodes, 1980-1981)
Robert Bovill	....	assistant art director (5 episodes, 1982)
Dahl Delu	....	assistant art director (2 episodes, 1981)
Scott Heineman	....	assistant art director (2 episodes, 1982)

Series Sound Department
Vic Ortiz	....	boom operator (184 episodes, 1980-1988)
Tamara Johnson	....	sound re-recording mixer / re-recording (119 episodes, 1981-1987)
Robert Houston	....	sound mixer / audio (60 episodes, 1980-1982)
Rick Himot	....	re-recording (50 episodes, 1986-1988)
Joyce Grossman	....	audio (45 episodes, 1986-1988)
Marti D. Humphrey	....	sound re-recording mixer / re-recording (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Rick Wachter	....	audio (9 episodes, 1983-1985)
Norm Schwartz	....	audio (8 episodes, 1982-1983)
Ron Worrell	....	audio (4 episodes, 1979-1980)
Chris Chigaridas	....	audio (4 episodes, 1980)
Art Morgenstern	....	audio (3 episodes, 1985-1986)
Russ Gary	....	audio (2 episodes, 1983)
Nick Kleissas	....	audio (2 episodes, 1986-1987)
Jon Hoag	....	audio (2 episodes, 1987-1988)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Dale Carlson	....	camera operator (76 episodes, 1984-1988)
Donald A. Morgan	....	lighting director / lighting consultant (23 episodes, 1981-1987)
Ritch Kenney	....	camera operator (22 episodes, 1983-1984)
Thomas W. Markle	....	lighting consultant (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Rocky Parkhurst	....	lighting consultant (21 episodes, 1987-1988)
Chris Roberts	....	lighting director (6 episodes, 1980)
Ken Schamp	....	lighting director (4 episodes, 1979)
Dan Johnson	....	lighting director (4 episodes, 1980)
Mike Freedman	....	lighting director (4 episodes, 1987)
Mark Buxbaum	....	lighting director (2 episodes, 1985)
Deborah Baird	....	lighting consultant (2 episodes, 1988)

Series Casting Department
Jane Murray	....	casting executive (37 episodes, 1979-1982)
Tim Flack	....	executive in charge of casting (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Stephen Kolzak	....	executive in charge of casting / principal casting executive (18 episodes, 1984-1987)
Eve Brandstein	....	casting executive (4 episodes, 1983-1984)
Dennis Cornell	....	casting executive (2 episodes, 1988)

Series Music Department
Al Burton	....	composer: theme music (201 episodes, 1979-1988)
Gloria Loring	....	composer: theme music (201 episodes, 1979-1988)
Alan Thicke	....	composer: theme music (201 episodes, 1979-1988)

Series Other crew
C.J. Rapp Pittman	....	stage manager (148 episodes, 1982-1988)
Fran McConnell	....	production supervisor / production consultant (106 episodes, 1981-1987)
Christina Gunderson	....	production associate / script supervisor (67 episodes, 1984-1988)
Martha Williamson	....	story editor / program consultant (50 episodes, 1986-1988)
Deborah Curtan	....	production consultant (48 episodes, 1986-1988)
Chris Klausen	....	stage manager (47 episodes, 1986-1988)
Michael Maurer	....	story editor (46 episodes, 1985-1987)
Michael Poryes	....	story editor (46 episodes, 1986-1988)
Gene Abravaya	....	stage manager (36 episodes, 1980-1984)
Marian Deaton	....	production associate / script supervisor (35 episodes, 1980-1985)
Al Burton	....	production consultant (28 episodes, 1979-1981)
Mark Tuttle	....	executive script consultant (27 episodes, 1987-1988)
Jeanie Bradley	....	production consultant (24 episodes, 1987-1988)
Michelle Burrage	....	production services coordinator (24 episodes, 1987-1988)
Barbara Brace	....	production coordinator (23 episodes, 1987-1988)
Bob Colleary	....	executive story editor (23 episodes, 1987-1988)
Kathy Lette	....	program consultant (23 episodes, 1987-1988)
Horace Scott	....	technical manager (23 episodes, 1987-1988)
Glenn Padnick	....	production consultant (21 episodes, 1981-1984)
Deidre Fay	....	story editor / executive script consultant / ... (20 episodes, 1981-1986)
Stuart Wolpert	....	story editor / executive script consultant / ... (20 episodes, 1981-1986)
Gerry Bucci	....	technical director (19 episodes, 1987-1988)
Chris Donovan	....	technical director (17 episodes, 1982-1985)
Jon Spector	....	production coordinator (17 episodes, 1983-1986)
Noel Newman	....	technical director (16 episodes, 1985-1988)
Robert A. Bowen	....	technical director (15 episodes, 1981-1982)
Linda Marsh	....	story editor / executive script consultant / ... (12 episodes, 1980-1985)
Margie Peters	....	story editor / executive script consultant / ... (12 episodes, 1980-1985)
Richard Draney	....	stage manager (12 episodes, 1980-1982)
Martin Ragaway	....	executive story consultant / executive story editor (10 episodes, 1979-1980)
Bob Myer	....	story editor / program consultant / ... (9 episodes, 1983-1985)
Bob Young	....	story editor / program consultant / ... (9 episodes, 1983-1985)
Ellen Endo-Dizon	....	production consultant (9 episodes, 1984-1986)
A. Chisholm Halle	....	stage manager (8 episodes, 1979-1980)
Mike Weinberger	....	creative consultant / story editor (8 episodes, 1979-1980)
Ann Gibbs	....	executive script consultant / executive story consultant (8 episodes, 1980-1981)
Joel Kimmel	....	executive script consultant / executive story consultant (8 episodes, 1980-1981)
Lisa Benscheidt	....	stage manager (8 episodes, 1981-1982)
Brooke Buhrman	....	production consultant (8 episodes, 1982-1983)
Kimberly Hill	....	story editor (8 episodes, 1982-1983)
Ross Brown	....	story editor (7 episodes, 1986-1987)
Donna Newberry	....	production services coordinator (7 episodes, 1986-1987)
Stan Dreben	....	executive script consultant / story editor (6 episodes, 1979-1980)
Gloria Vinson	....	production associate (6 episodes, 1979-1980)
Paul Haggis	....	executive script consultant (6 episodes, 1984-1985)
Scot Hunter	....	technical manager (6 episodes, 1985-1986)
Racelle Friedman	....	program consultant (5 episodes, 1987)
Matt Geller	....	program consultant (5 episodes, 1987)
John Westbrook	....	technical director (4 episodes, 1979-1980)
Dick Woodka	....	technical director (4 episodes, 1979-1980)
Danny Simon	....	executive script consultant (4 episodes, 1979)
Rowland Barber	....	story editor (4 episodes, 1980)
Andy Borowitz	....	executive story editor (4 episodes, 1983-1984)
Jonathan Weiss	....	stage manager (4 episodes, 1984-1985)
Bob Agrella	....	production services coordinator (4 episodes, 1985-1986)
Jane Anderson	....	program consultant (4 episodes, 1986)
Stu Goldman	....	stage manager (3 episodes, 1979)
Buddy Bowen	....	technical director (3 episodes, 1980)
Steve Burgess	....	stage manager (3 episodes, 1984-1985)
Gail Honigberg	....	executive story consultant (3 episodes, 1984-1985)
Asaad Kelada	....	creative consultant (3 episodes, 1984-1985)
Jackie Henken	....	stage manager (2 episodes, 1979)
Warren S. Murray	....	executive script consultant (2 episodes, 1980)
Jack Elinson	....	creative consultant (2 episodes, 1983)
Constance Kaplan	....	production consultant (2 episodes, 1984-1985)
Jerry Adler	....	stage manager (2 episodes, 1985)
Bob Bendetson	....	executive story editor (2 episodes, 1985)
Howard Bendetson	....	executive story editor (2 episodes, 1985)
Janine King	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1986-1988)
Sara V. Finney	....	program consultant (2 episodes, 1986)
Vida Spears	....	program consultant (2 episodes, 1986)
Barry Vigon	....	executive script consultant (2 episodes, 1986)
Rey Vincenty	....	stage manager (2 episodes, 1986)
John Boni	....	executive script consultant (2 episodes, 1987)
Tug Rencher	....	technical manager (2 episodes, 1987)

Production Companies

• Embassy Pictures Corporation
• TAT Communications Company

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures Television (USA) (syndication)
• Columbia TriStar Domestic Television (2001)
• Columbia TriStar Television
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1979-1988)
• Shout! Factory (2010) (USA) (DVD) (season five)
• Shout! Factory (2010) (USA) (DVD) (season four)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) (first, second, and third seasons)
• Sony Pictures Television (2002-)

Other Companies

• ShowBiz Enterprises  draperies

Also Known As:

Runtime:

30 min (209 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Columbia/Sunset Gower Studios - 1438 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Embassy Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Originally, the premise of the series was that Edna Garrett, the housekeeper on "Diff'rent Strokes" (1978), became the headmistress at the school that Kimberly Drummond (Dana Plato) attended. But after the pilot episode, the producers decided to keep Plato on "Diff'rent Strokes" (1978) and there was never any mention of Kimberly being a student at Eastland again.

Quotes:

Blair:Y-you mean H-harrison asked you out on a d-d-d-d...
Tootie Ramsey:DATE, Blair; we call it a DATE!
Jo Polniaczek:Yeah, to some wing-ding Friday night.
Natalie Green:Could that be YOUR wing-ding, Blair?

Movie Connections:

Featured in Art School Confidential (2006)

Soundtrack:

The Facts of Life

Kudos to Nick at nite for running this beloved sitcom!

Although the begining of this show takes place in the 70's, this show is so 80's it hurts. I love this show! This was and still is one of my favorite sitcoms from the 80's. However,I must say I agree with the other reviews in saying that the show was just wonderful until about 1985, when Edna'a Edibles burns down and they remodel the store. Then they add some corny testosterone in the form of two characters; a whiney, conceided 12 year old boy and not even George Clooney's early talent could make up for his lame character either. The show is still, however watchable and even enjoyable, after all this (including Mrs. G leaving), in just wanting to find out what happens to the other girls, especially Jo and Natalie, who are two of the greatest and most real characters in a sitcom. Natalie and Jo were also my favorite characters. The reason why is because they were not glammed-up susperstars with unreal problems. They were down to earth and I could really identify with them and so did many others my age, we being children of the 80's. It's a shame today that sitcoms have become so obsessed with sex, violence and vanity, that many of the children of today feel they must identify with these ideas instead of the show identifying with them. I actually really liked all of the girls. Blair was fun too, but she needed the balance of Jo's character to tame her down a bit. Tootie was a good friend to Natalie. And they both needed each other. They all fit together and the four make for one of the greatest casts in TV history. However, some of my most favorite episodes, focused on Natalie and Jo. Like the one when Natalie doesn't get a job at the Peekskill Press and she needs to learn to share her feelings with her boyfriend (one of my old faves, Casey Siemaszko made an early appearance here) I also love the episode where Jo runs a late night radio station and all the girls come and help her out. I am forever greatful to Nick at Nite for re-running this charming sitcom.