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The Facts of Life

  • TV Series
  • 1979–19881979–1988
  • TV-PGTV-PG
  • 30m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
7.5K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
905
232
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Nancy McKeon, Kim Fields, Mindy Cohn, Charlotte Rae, and Lisa Whelchel in The Facts of Life (1979)
Trailer 1
Play trailer1:02
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
  • Family

Mrs. Edna Garrett, housemother and dietitian at the Eastland School, teaches to a group of girls in her charge how to solve those problems that every teenager has to face.Mrs. Edna Garrett, housemother and dietitian at the Eastland School, teaches to a group of girls in her charge how to solve those problems that every teenager has to face.Mrs. Edna Garrett, housemother and dietitian at the Eastland School, teaches to a group of girls in her charge how to solve those problems that every teenager has to face.

IMDb RATING
6.8/10
7.5K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
905
232
  • Creators
    • Dick Clair
    • Howard Leeds
    • Jerry Mayer
  • Stars
    • Lisa Whelchel
    • Kim Fields
    • Mindy Cohn
Top credits
  • Creators
    • Dick Clair
    • Howard Leeds
    • Jerry Mayer
  • Stars
    • Lisa Whelchel
    • Kim Fields
    • Mindy Cohn
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 46User reviews
    • 23Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys
      • 6 wins & 17 nominations total

    Episodes201

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos2

    Funny Women of Television
    Clip 3:41
    Funny Women of Television
    The Facts of Life
    Trailer 1:02
    The Facts of Life

    Photos204

    Nancy McKeon, Kim Fields, Mindy Cohn, Charlotte Rae, and Lisa Whelchel in The Facts of Life (1979)
    Ryan Cassidy and Mindy Cohn in The Facts of Life (1979)
    George Clooney in The Facts of Life (1979)
    George Clooney, Nancy McKeon, and Mike Pniewski in The Facts of Life (1979)
    George Clooney, Nancy McKeon, Kim Fields, Mindy Cohn, Lisa Whelchel, and El DeBarge in The Facts of Life (1979)
    George Clooney, Kim Fields, and Charlotte Rae in The Facts of Life (1979)
    George Clooney in The Facts of Life (1979)
    Lisa Whelchel in The Facts of Life (1979)
    Mindy Cohn in The Facts of Life (1979)
    Nancy McKeon and Lisa Whelchel in The Facts of Life (1979)
    Megan Follows and John Mengatti in The Facts of Life (1979)
    Kim Fields, Charlotte Rae, and Hazel Shermet in The Facts of Life (1979)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Lisa Whelchel
    Lisa Whelchel
    • Blair Warneras Blair Warner…
    201 episodes201 eps • 1979–1988
    Kim Fields
    Kim Fields
    • Dorothy 'Tootie' Ramseyas Dorothy 'Tootie' Ramsey…
    201 episodes201 eps • 1979–1988
    Mindy Cohn
    Mindy Cohn
    • Natalie Greenas Natalie Green…
    201 episodes201 eps • 1979–1988
    Nancy McKeon
    Nancy McKeon
    • Jo Polniaczekas Jo Polniaczek…
    188 episodes188 eps • 1980–1988
    Charlotte Rae
    Charlotte Rae
    • Edna Garrettas Edna Garrett
    155 episodes155 eps • 1979–1986
    Mackenzie Astin
    Mackenzie Astin
    • Andy Moffettas Andy Moffett…
    72 episodes72 eps • 1985–1988
    Cloris Leachman
    Cloris Leachman
    • Beverly Ann Stickleas Beverly Ann Stickle…
    48 episodes48 eps • 1986–1988
    Felice Schachter
    Felice Schachter
    • Nancy Olsonas Nancy Olson
    19 episodes19 eps • 1979–1986
    Julie Piekarski
    Julie Piekarski
    • Sue Ann Weaveras Sue Ann Weaver
    17 episodes17 eps • 1979–1986
    Julie Anne Haddock
    Julie Anne Haddock
    • Cindy Websteras Cindy Webster
    17 episodes17 eps • 1979–1986
    George Clooney
    George Clooney
    • George Burnettas George Burnett
    17 episodes17 eps • 1985–1987
    Sherrié Austin
    Sherrié Austin
    • Pippa McKennaas Pippa McKenna…
    16 episodes16 eps • 1987–1988
    Molly Ringwald
    Molly Ringwald
    • Molly Parkeras Molly Parker
    14 episodes14 eps • 1979–1980
    John Lawlor
    John Lawlor
    • Steven Bradleyas Steven Bradley
    13 episodes13 eps • 1979–1980
    Pamela Adlon
    Pamela Adlon
    • Kelly Affinadoas Kelly Affinado
    12 episodes12 eps • 1983–1984
    Geri Jewell
    Geri Jewell
    • Geri Tyleras Geri Tyler
    12 episodes12 eps • 1980–1984
    Alex Rocco
    Alex Rocco
    • Charlie Polniaczekas Charlie Polniaczek
    11 episodes11 eps • 1981–1988
    Kimberly Craig
    • Lindaas Linda…
    11 episodes11 eps • 1981–1983
    • Creators
      • Dick Clair
      • Howard Leeds
      • Jerry Mayer
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    A group of girls attending a boarding school experience the joys and the trials of adolescence under the guiding hand of housemother Edna Garrett, the Drummonds' maid on Diff'rent Strokes. Later in the series, she is promoted to school dietitian, and four of the girls move into new quarters above the cafeteria. She eventually leaves the school and opens her own business, with help from the girls. —Kevin Ackley <kackley1@aol.com>
    • housemother
    • famous opening theme
    • sitcom comedy
    • timeframe 1980s
    • observational comedy
    • 26 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have the facts of life...
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Family
    • Certificate
      • TV-PG
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Actor Mindy Cohn did not audition for the show. However, the producers visited a girls' school to see how the girls interacted, she was a social magnet just being herself, and they created Natalie based on Cohn. She then tested in the role.
    • Goofs
      Though Nancy McKeon's character was penned as Joanna Marie Polniaczek, some called her by the name Joann, not Joanna as it was in the scripts.
    • Quotes

      Blair Warner: Turn Blue!

    • Alternate versions
      Reruns of the series in the US are cut by two minutes.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 34th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1982)
    • Soundtracks
      The Facts of Life
      (title theme)

      Written by Alan Thicke, Gloria Loring and Al Burton

      Performed by Gloria Loring

    User reviews46

    Review
    Top review
    Stupefying
    I used to like The Facts of Life as a kid. I recently saw it on Nick at Nite during the Revenge of the 80s week and I have to wonder why. As my girlfriend so rightly said, the show's idea of comedy is adding a laughtrack to a totally normal saying. "Hey, how's it going" followed by a laughtrack passes for comedy with Mrs. Garrett and the gang.

    Still, it's hard to hate the show. The cast is amiable enough and unlike, say, Full House, it's not saccharine enough to sap you of your will to live. It's earnest "issue" episodes are screamingly hilarious- unintentionally so, natch- and it did run in the two greatest decades ever (the 70s and 80s). All the same, it feels as if it was written by aliens desperately guessing what humans might find funny based on second hand info and failing miserably. Worth checking out if just for it's totally bizarre nature.
    helpful•6
    5
    • Disco Stu
    • Apr 8, 2001

    FAQ3

    • What happened to Nancy, Sue Ann, Cindy, and Molly from Season 1?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 24, 1979 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Garrett's Girls
    • Filming locations
      • Pomona College - 333 N. College Way, Claremont, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Embassy Communications
      • Embassy Television
      • TAT Communications Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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