List of The Facts of Life episodes
The following is a list of episodes for The Facts of Life, which ran for nine seasons from 1979 to 1988 on NBC. There were 201 regular episodes and three television movies (Paris, Down Under, Reunion). Two of the movies (Paris, Down Under) were originally broadcast as TV movies, but in syndication, they were split into four 30-minute episodes, bringing the total number of syndicated episodes to 209.
Series overview
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | |||
| 1 | 13 | August 24, 1979 | June 11, 1980 | |
| 2 | 16 | October 10, 1980 | June 3, 1981 | |
| 3 | 24 | October 28, 1981 | May 5, 1982 | |
| 4 | 24+movie | September 25, 1982 | May 4, 1983 | |
| 5 | 26 | September 21, 1983 | May 9, 1984 | |
| 6 | 26 | September 26, 1984 | May 15, 1985 | |
| 7 | 24 | September 14, 1985 | May 10, 1986 | |
| 8 | 24+movie | September 27, 1986 | May 9, 1987 | |
| 9 | 24 | September 26, 1987 | May 7, 1988 | |
Episodes
Season 1: 1979–1980
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Rough Housing" | Nick Havinga | Teleplay: Brad Rider Story: Brad Rider and Glenn Padnick | August 24, 1979 | 101 |
|
The Drummonds visit Mrs. Garrett (Charlotte Rae) at Eastland High and during the Harvest Queen competition, Blair (Lisa Whelchel) makes a comment about tomboyish competitor Cindy not being feminine enough and even tries to insinuate that she's a lesbian. Cindy (Julie Anne Haddock) decides not to attend the Harvest Ball, until Mrs. Garrett helps her with her self-image. Note: This was the show's original pilot episode. The cast of Diff'rent Strokes guest star only for this episode. This episode is not to be confused with the Diff'rent Strokes first season finale, "The Girls' School (aka) Garrett's Girls". | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Like Mother, Like Daughter" | Jim Drake | Jerry Mayer | August 31, 1979 | 102 |
|
Blair is upset that she might get a reputation for being easy when her multiple-divorcée mother visits for Parents Night and flirts with the headmaster, Steven Bradley (John Lawlor). Notes: This episode features the second verse of the season's theme. Pam Huntington played Monica Warner (Blair's mother) in this episode only. In 1981, as the show airs its third season, (Marj Dusay) replaces Huntington in a recurring role as Monica. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "The Return of Mr. Garrett" | Jim Drake | Martin A. Ragaway | September 7, 1979 | 103 |
| Mrs. Garrett accepts her ex-husband's (Robert Alda) proposal of remarriage, but changes her mind when she discovers he has been teaching the girls how to gamble. | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "I.Q." | Jim Drake | Jane Gould & Shelly Landau | September 14, 1979 | 104 |
|
Mr.Bradley administrates I.Q. tests; Nancy (Felice Schachter) and Sue Ann (Julie Piekarski) are not happy with the results.[note 1] Note: Jenny O'Hara marks her final appearance on the show and as main cast regular. After this episode, the show was put on a three-month hiatus. In March 1980, O'Hara was no longer appearing and the show continued to attempt to increase ratings, but eventually the season ended after its thirteenth episode in June 1980 with low ratings. | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Emily Dickinson" | Lee Lochhead | Jerry Mayer | March 14, 1980 | 106 |
| Blair plagiarizes an Emily Dickinson poem about beauty, but must come clean when Mr.Bradley submits the poem to a competition and it wins third prize. | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Dieting" | John Bowab | Martin A. Ragaway | March 21, 1980 | 108 |
| Sue Ann goes on a crash diet after hearing Blair imply that a boy won't like her because of her weight. | ||||||
| 7 | 7 | "The Facts of Love" | John Bowab | Rowland Barber and Jerry Mayer | April 4, 1980 | 111 |
| To the chagrin of Mr.Bradley, Mrs. Garrett holds a sex education class and Blair gets into a compromising situation with a boy and has to make a tough decision. | ||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Flash Flood" | John Bowab | Jerry Mayer | April 11, 1980 | 112 |
| Blair and Tootie rush to the stables to protect the animals when a flood hits Peekskill. When Mr. Bradley rescues the girls, Blair develops a crush on him. | ||||||
| 9 | 9 | "Adoption" | John Bowab | Migdia Chinea Varela | April 25, 1980 | 109 |
| The girls get an assignment to make a family tree, but Natalie doesn't want to do it as she is adopted. Blair then noses into Natalie's business when she arranges for her to talk to her birth mother by phone. | ||||||
| 10 | 10 | "Running" | John Bowab | Warren Murray | May 2, 1980 | 110 |
|
Mr. Bradley pits Cindy and Sue Ann against each other in a track competition. Note: This is the final episode airing on a Friday night. NBC moves the series on Wednesday nights for the final two episodes of the season and during the retooling for the second season. | ||||||
| 11 | 11 | "Molly's Holiday" | Gary Shimokawa | Teleplay: Albert Lewin Story: Albert Lewin and Skip Usen | June 4, 1980 | 107 |
| Molly finds out her parents are getting divorced so she and the girls devise a scheme to bring them back together, but Molly's father brings his new girlfriend. | ||||||
| 12 | 12 | "Dope" | John Bowab | Jerry Mayer | June 11, 1980 | 113 |
| Blair gets Sue Ann into a clique known as "The Group", whose members are marijuana smokers. Although Blair insists she doesn't smoke, Sue Ann is pressured into trying.[note 2] Helen Hunt appears in this episode. | ||||||
Season 2: 1980–1981
The main cast is reduced to four starring girls: Blair, Natalie, Tootie, and new girl Jo.
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 1 | "Overachieving" | Lee Lochhead | Jerry Mayer | October 10, 1980 | 105 |
|
Tootie's father thinks Mrs. Garrett's influence over his daughter is holding her back as Tootie has aspired to open a beauty salon. Note: Jenny O'Hara is dismissed from the show. This episode features the third and final verse of the season's theme song. It was the fifth produced for the first season. | ||||||
| 14 | 2 | "The New Girl: Part 1" | Bob Claver | Jerry Mayer | November 19, 1980 | 201 |
|
A new student, Jo Polniaczek (Nancy McKeon), arrives at Eastland and Mrs. Garrett has the streetwise Jo try to make friends with the snobbish Blair. Jo wants to do something rebellious, daring the girls to come along so she hotwires a van and takes them to a bar, but then they run into trouble when a good looking guy there reveals himself to be an undercover cop. Gary Coleman appears in this episode. Notes: Nancy McKeon becomes a main cast member as Jo Polniaczek in the series. John Lawlor, Felice Schachter, Julie Anne Haddock, Julie Piekarski, and Molly Ringwald are no longer series regulars. Schachter, Haddock and Piekarski become recurring characters in seasons 2, 3 and 8. Ringwald makes a recurring character appearance in the next episode, which became her fourteenth and final episode. Eastland is the backdrop of the 1st scene of the opening titles from the 2nd season premiere to the 3rd episode of season 5. | ||||||
| 15 | 3 | "The New Girl: Part 2" | Bob Claver | Jack Elinson | November 26, 1980 | 202 |
| After wrecking the school van and being thrown in jail, the girls are put on probation. They must work in the cafeteria to pay off their damages, in lieu of expulsion from Eastland.[note 3] | ||||||
| 16 | 4 | "Double Standard" | Asaad Kelada | Linda Marsh & Margie Peters | December 10, 1980 | 204 |
| Blair is upset when her childhood friend Harrison Andrews asks Jo to the country club cotillion instead of her and later discovers his true intentions. | ||||||
| 17 | 5 | "Who Am I?" | Lee Lochhead | Linda Marsh & Margie Peters | December 17, 1980 | 205 |
| Tootie falls for an African American boy, but becomes conflicted when he comments that she only hangs out with white girls. | ||||||
| 18 | 6 | "Cousin Geri" | Asaad Kelada | Ann Gibbs & Joel Kimmel | December 24, 1980 | 206 |
| Blair's cousin Geri (Geri Jewell), a comedian who has cerebral palsy, visits. | ||||||
| 19 | 7 | "Shoplifting" | Lee Lochhead | Sally Sussman | December 31, 1980 | 203 |
| For Mrs. Garrett's upcoming birthday, the girls want to buy her a shirt, but miss the sale so Jo decides to steal the shirt. When Mrs. Garrett returns the shirt, she finds it was stolen. | ||||||
| 20 | 8 | "Teenage Marriage: Part 1" | John Bowab | Jerry Mayer | January 7, 1981 | 207 |
| Jo receives an unexpected visit from her boyfriend Eddie, who has gone AWOL from the Navy, and surprises her with a marriage proposal. | ||||||
| 21 | 9 | "Teenage Marriage: Part 2" | John Bowab | Jerry Mayer | January 14, 1981 | 208 |
| Mrs. Garrett and the girls try to stall Jo from getting married, so they can contact Jo's mother. | ||||||
| 22 | 10 | "Breaking Point" | John Bowab | Linda Marsh & Margie Peters | January 28, 1981 | 210 |
| Blair gets heavily involved in a campaign for student council president, but loses and becomes vice president. Things take a serious turn when her former opponent Cynthia commits suicide because her parents are getting a divorce and Jo comments on how her friend Gloria committed suicide at her old school. To honor Cynthia's memory Blair and the girls decide to set up a suicide hotline to help kids who want to kill themselves. | ||||||
| 23 | 11 | "Sex Symbol" | John Bowab | Teleplay: Linda Marsh & Margie Peters and Ann Gibbs & Joel Kimmel and Sally Sussman Story: Sally Sussman | February 4, 1981 | 211 |
| Natalie has a study session with a boy she meets at a school dance. When rumors spread throughout the school that they do more than just study, she receives a barrage of requests from other boys, while her friends question her newfound popularity and she starts encouraging more.[note 4] | ||||||
| 24 | 12 | "The Secret" | John Bowab | Teleplay: Jerry Mayer Story: Jerry Mayer and Robyn Knapton | February 25, 1981 | 212 |
| Jo has won an award, but when her recently paroled father (Alex Rocco) wants to attend, Jo tries to hide that fact from her friends. | ||||||
| 25 | 13 | "Bought and Sold" | John Bowab | Teleplay: Linda Marsh & Margie Peters Story: Linda Marsh & Margie Peters and Susan Haven & Philip Ross | March 4, 1981 | 213 |
| Blair is selling Countess Calvet cosmetics and uses Natalie as a walking billboard. Todd Bridges and Zsa Zsa Gabor guest star. | ||||||
| 27 | 14 | "Pretty Babies" | Bob Claver | Ann Gibbs & Joel Kimmel | March 11, 1981 | 214 |
| A top fashion photographer is coming to Eastland to find the new face of the '80s, and Blair is positive she is it but the photographer surprises everyone by choosing Tootie. When she goes to New York for her photo shoot, she discovers that it proves costly.[note 5] | ||||||
| 27 | 15 | "Free Spirit" | Bob Claver | Ann Gibbs & Joel Kimmel | March 18, 1981 | 215 |
| Mrs. Garrett's son, Alex, visits Eastland. He brags about his life as a musician socializing with famous people such as Carly Simon, Donna Summer, and Neil Diamond, which attracts Natalie's affections, but Blair is suspicious. | ||||||
| 28 | 16 | "Brian and Sylvia" | John Bowab | Jack Elinson | March 25, 1981 | 216 |
| Tootie and Natalie go to Buffalo to visit Tootie's Uncle Brian and Aunt Sylvia, who are an interracial couple. Sylvia has received a job offer in New York City, but Brian does not want to move. | ||||||
| 29 | 17 | "Gossip" | Lee Lochhead | Paul L. Friedman & Gayle MacDonald | June 3, 1981 | 209 |
| Tootie's gossiping causes a rift between Blair, Jo, and Nancy, that almost costs Mrs. Garrett her job.[note 4] | ||||||
Season 3: 1981–1982
Linda Marsh and Margie Peters join Jerry Mayer as producers. Jack Elison and Jerry Mayer were the executive producers.
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 1 | "Growing Pains" | Asaad Kelada | Linda Marsh & Margie Peters | October 28, 1981 | 302 |
|
After feeling excluded by the other girls for being the youngest, Tootie experiments with alcohol.[note 6] Note: Starting this season, Kim Fields began wearing braces. | ||||||
| 31 | 2 | "Fear Strikes Back" | Asaad Kelada | Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert | November 4, 1981 | 306 |
| Natalie is assaulted on the way back from a costume party, and is afraid to go out any more. | ||||||
| 32 | 3 | "A Baby in the House" | Asaad Kelada | Teleplay: Stuart Wolpert & Deidre Fay and Jerry Winnick Story: Jerry Winnick | November 11, 1981 | 308 |
| Former Eastland student Alison visits Blair and friends. She was a model student with a "perfect" life but is now a teenage mother. When she leaves, she forgets her baby Emily, and the girls have to take care of the infant. | ||||||
| 33 | 4 | "A Friend in Deed" | Asaad Kelada | Linda Marsh & Margie Peters | November 18, 1981 | 307 |
|
Blair's mother visits and tells her she is getting plastic surgery, but Blair discovers she has a more dire condition: breast cancer. Note: This is Marj Dusay's first episode playing Monica Warner. | ||||||
| 34 | 5 | "Front Page" | Asaad Kelada | Mike Mayer & Larry Swimer | November 25, 1981 | 309 |
| After her essay gets trashed by her journalism teacher, Jo writes an article that places the teacher at a drug bust and Natalie, the editor-in-chief, must make a hard decision as to whether to publish the article.[note 7] | ||||||
| 35 | 6 | "Give and Take" | Asaad Kelada | Linda Marsh & Margie Peters | December 2, 1981 | 303 |
| After losing her pension, Mrs. Garrett takes a second job at a Howard Johnson's. This takes a toll on her mood and her Eastland work, so she must choose between the two. | ||||||
| 36 | 7 | "Sweet Sorrow" | Asaad Kelada | Linda Marsh & Margie Peters | December 9, 1981 | 310 |
| Blair and Jo participate in a class study in which they each pair up with a boy in a pretend marriage. Jo becomes attracted to her assigned partner, but feels conflicted because of her loyalty to her boyfriend Eddie. | ||||||
| 37 | 8 | "From Russia with Love" | Asaad Kelada | Teleplay: Jerry Mayer Story: Jerry Mayer & Emily Mayer | December 16, 1981 | 301 |
| Natalie's weekend plans are threatened when her overbearing grandmother visits. | ||||||
| 38 | 9 | "Dear Me" | Asaad Kelada | Lloyd Turner & Howard Liebling | December 23, 1981 | 311 |
| The girls are going camping with some boys from Bates Academy, but Tootie makes an excuse not to go by presenting a phony love letter.[note 8] | ||||||
| 39 | 10 | "Cousin Geri Returns" | Asaad Kelada | Ann Gibbs & Joel Kimmel | December 30, 1981 | 305 |
| Blair fears that her cousin Geri is being set up for a fall when Geri begins dating Eastland's attractive French teacher. | ||||||
| 40 | 11 | "Legacy" | Judi Elterman | Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert | January 6, 1982 | 312 |
| Blair learns that her late grandfather, whom she idolized, was a supporter and benefactor of the Ku Klux Klan. | ||||||
| 41 | 12 | "Green-Eyed Monster" | Asaad Kelada | Teleplay: Linda Marsh & Margie Peters Story: Bill Shinkai | January 13, 1982 | 313 |
| Natalie wants the lead role in a school play, and she is not about to let anything or anyone stand in the way, including her best friend, Tootie.[note 9] | ||||||
| 42 | 13 | "The Americanization of Miko" | Asaad Kelada | Stephen W. Spears & Bill Shinkai | January 20, 1982 | 314 |
| A Japanese student's father objects to his daughter's adoption of Western cultural values. | ||||||
| 43 | 14 | "The Marriage Brokers" | Alejandro Rey | Mitch Markowitz | January 27, 1982 | 315 |
| To the girls' delight, Mrs. Garrett's handsome visitor is more than a friend and Blair investigates how serious their relationship is. | ||||||
| 44 | 15 | "Starstruck" | Asaad Kelada | Teleplay: Marvin Braverman and Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert Story: Marvin Braverman | February 3, 1982 | 316 |
|
Tootie gets the thrill of her life when pop-star idol Jermaine Jackson invites her to his concert and begs Mrs. Garrett to take her to the show, but she ends up heartbroken in Jackson's dressing room. Note: Jermaine Jackson appears as himself in this episode. | ||||||
| 45 | 16 | "The Four Musketeers" | Asaad Kelada | Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert | February 10, 1982 | 304 |
| The girls must decide what their living arrangements should be when the end of their probationary period gives them an opportunity to go their separate ways. | ||||||
| 46 | 17 | "The Affair" | Asaad Kelada | Migdia Chinea-Varela | February 17, 1982 | 318 |
| Natalie is devastated when she sees her father kissing another woman in a New York City restaurant. | ||||||
| 47 | 18 | "Runaway" | Asaad Kelada | Bernard Burnell Mack | February 24, 1982 | 317 |
| Determined to prove her maturity, Tootie goes to New York City unaccompanied to meet with friends at a theater. A teenage prostitute teaches her a harsh reality. | ||||||
| 48 | 19 | "New York, New York" | Asaad Kelada | Peter Noah | March 3, 1982 | 319 |
| Blair and Jo visit old friends in New York City, where they find that things have changed considerably. | ||||||
| 49 | 20 | "Kids Can Be Cruel" | Asaad Kelada | Jerry Mayer | March 17, 1982 | 320 |
| A vengeful Natalie is determined to get even with insensitive Blair, but she unwittingly entangles an innocent victim in her scheme. | ||||||
| 50 | 21 | "Mind Your Own Business" | Selig Frank | Jerry Jacobius & Steven Gore | March 24, 1982 | 321 |
| Natalie institutes nine rules of privacy after she learns that Blair peeked in her diary. | ||||||
| 51 | 22 | "The Academy" | Asaad Kelada | Jerry Mayer | March 31, 1982 | 322 |
| Jo coerces Blair into a date with a military cadet, but Blair is in for a shock when she learns that the boy is a juvenile delinquent from New York City. | ||||||
| 52 | 23 | "Jo's Cousin" | Asaad Kelada | Linda Marsh & Margie Peters | April 14, 1982 | 324 |
| Jo visits her relatives in New Jersey, where she helps her 14-year-old tomboy cousin Terry transform from a little girl to a young lady. | ||||||
| 53 | 24 | "Read No Evil" | Dolores Ferraro | Teleplay: Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert Story: Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert and Hendrik Van Leuven | May 5, 1982 | 323 |
| Natalie loses her job as the newspaper's editor when she decries the school's new book-censorship policy. | ||||||
Season 4: 1982–1983
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54 | 1 | "Ain't Miss Beholden" | Asaad Kelada | Stephen Neigher | September 29, 1982 | 403 |
| Jo's future at Eastland is in jeopardy when she learns her scholarship funds are drying up due in part to budget cuts related to the early 1980s recession, and that Blair may be her only chance to stay. | ||||||
| 55 | 2 | "The Source" | Asaad Kelad | Peter Noah | October 6, 1982 | 404 |
| Natalie is under pressure to reveal her source for a controversial article on a schoolmate's secret abortion she has written for the school newspaper. | ||||||
| 56 | 3 | "The Sound of Silence" | Asaad Kelada | Kimberly Hill | October 27, 1982 | 401 |
| Tootie's sudden personality change and slipping grades are the result of a hearing problem. | ||||||
| 57 | 4 | "The Oldest Living Graduate" | Asaad Kelada | John Markus | November 3, 1982 | 407 |
| Eastland's oldest living graduate, a wealthy eccentric, decides to leave her money to Eastland, until Jo inadvertently changes her mind. | ||||||
| 58 | 5 | "Different Drummer" | Asaad Kelada | Dianne Messina & Lou Messina | November 10, 1982 | 408 |
| Blair thinks she is doing a good deed by tutoring a mentally retarded young man, but the naive student misinterprets her good intentions. | ||||||
| 59 | 6 | "Dearest Mommie" | Asaad Kelada | Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert | November 17, 1982 | 409 |
| Natalie gets an opportunity to write a column for a newspaper in New York and gets into an argument with her mother over how it could affect her schoolwork. Her mother eventually reveals the name of Natalie's biological mother. | ||||||
| 60 | 7 | "A Woman's Place" | Asaad Kelada | Teleplay: David Chambers Story: David Chambers and Ruth Bennett | November 24, 1982 | 410 |
| Jo lands a new job as a mechanic with her boyfriend as a colleague, but a problem develops when she gets promoted to supervise him. | ||||||
| 61 | 8 | "Daddy's Girl" | Asaad Kelada | Howard Meyers & Paul Haggis | December 1, 1982 | 402 |
| Blair's close relationship with her father is tested when a tax audit uncovers her father's questionable accounting. | ||||||
| 62 | 9 | "The Big Fight" | Asaad Kelada | Jerry Mayer | December 8, 1982 | 406 |
| A friend invites Natalie to watch his match at Stone Military Academy. He originally did the match to oblige his father, but learns that his father will not even show up. | ||||||
| 63 | 10 | "For the Asking" | Asaad Kelada | Nick Gore & Jerry Jacobius | December 15, 1982 | 411 |
| Natalie boycotts the Sadie Hawkins dance claiming it's wrong for a girl to ask a boy out but decides to go in the end. | ||||||
| 64 | 11 | "September Song" | Asaad Kelada | Bob Peete | December 22, 1982 | 405 |
| Mrs. Garrett receives a marriage proposal from her elderly boyfriend Henry, who later hurts his back. The girls help take care of him. | ||||||
| 65 | 12 | "A Royal Pain" | Asaad Kelada | Jerry Mayer | January 5, 1983 | 413 |
| Excitement reigns when royalty enrolls at Eastland, until Tootie accidentally discovers that the new student, a young princess, is a runaway who is getting ready to skip out again. | ||||||
| 66 | 13 | "Magnificent Obsession" | Asaad Kelada | Linda Marsh & Margie Peters | January 12, 1983 | 412 |
| Jo is concerned by Blair's infatuation with a boy who asks Blair to a dance, but leaves with another girl. | ||||||
| 67 | 14 | "Under Pressure" | Asaad Kelada | Sandra Kay Siegel | January 19, 1983 | 414 |
| When Mrs. Garrett is diagnosed with high blood pressure, the girls will do anything to shield her from stress. But their good intentions lead to a lie, a cover-up and big trouble. | ||||||
| 68 | 15 | "Teacher's Pet" | Asaad Kelada | Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert | January 26, 1983 | 415 |
| Jo learns that her favorite teacher (Deborah Harmon) is terminally ill. | ||||||
| 69 | 16 | "Let's Party" | Asaad Kelada | Jerry Mayer | February 9, 1983 | 417 |
| The girls learn a frightening lesson about drinking and driving when they join Tootie's college-age brother and his roommate for a night on the town. | ||||||
| 70 | 17 | "Best Sister: Part 1" | Asaad Kelada | Linda Marsh & Margie Peters | February 16, 1983 | 418 |
| Blair's stepsister Meg (Eve Plumb), a nun, inspires Jo. | ||||||
| 71 | 18 | "Best Sister: Part 2" | Asaad Kelada | Linda Marsh & Margie Peters | February 23, 1983 | 419 |
| When Jo decides that she wants to become a nun along with Meg, Blair sees herself as the only one who can talk them out of it. However, Blair's true feelings toward Meg come to the surface when Blair gets into another argument with Meg and Jo that ends with Jo punching Blair. | ||||||
| 72 | 19 | "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" | Asaad Kelada | Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert | March 9, 1983 | 416 |
| Mrs. Garrett's cooking instructor from Paris visits Eastland and the girls try to deal with a squirrel that enters their bedroom. | ||||||
| 73 | 20 | "Who's on First" | Asaad Kelada | Kimberly Hill | March 30, 1983 | 420 |
| Natalie devotes all her time to her new beau, prompting a slighted Tootie into a deceitful course of action to regain her attention. | ||||||
| 74 | 21 | "Help from Home" | Asaad Kelada | Jerry Mayer | April 6, 1983 | 421 |
| Jo has been accepted at Langley College along with Blair, but does not tell anyone because she does not plan to attend because of her family's financial situation. However, when she takes a trip home for the weekend, she learns that her entire family knows about her acceptance, and are counting on her to do well. | ||||||
| 75 | 22 | "Take My Finals, Please" | Asaad Kelada | Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert | April 27, 1983 | 422 |
| In spite of Mrs. Garrett's opposition, the girls settle in for an all-night study session. As the hours slip away, every imaginable distraction impedes their preparation for final exams. | ||||||
| 76 77 | 23 24 | "Graduation" | Asaad Kelada | Kimberly Hill and Linda Marsh & Margie Peters | May 4, 1983 | 423 424 |
| Blair and Jo finally achieve a common bond when their graduation from Eastland causes a flood of preparations and overreactions from their parents and friends. Mrs. Garrett, Natalie and Tootie are reassuring and calm during the hectic last-minute graduation preparations and Blair and Jo see how much more they learned at Eastland than just academics. | ||||||
Season 5: 1983–1984
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78 79 | 1 2 | "Brave New World" | Asaad Kelada | Linda Marsh & Margie Peters | September 21, 1983 | 501 502 |
|
Blair and Jo start at Langley College and Mrs. Garrett leaves Eastland to open her own gourmet shop called Edna's Edibles. The girls wonder what their housing situation will be. Note: This is the final episode to feature Eastland Academy as the main setting of the show. | ||||||
| 80 | 3 | "Gamma Gamma or Bust" | Asaad Kelada | Teleplay: George Tricker & Neil Rosen and Andy Borowitz Story: George Tricker & Neil Rosen | September 28, 1983 | 503 |
|
Blair is nominated to pledge the Gamma Gamma sorority at Langley. [note 10] Note: This was the last episode of the Eastland backdrop in the opening credits. This was also the last episode showing Mindy Cohn and Nancy McKeon's scenes from the two previous seasons. | ||||||
| 81 | 4 | "Just My Bill" | Asaad Kelada | Dianne Messina & Lou Messina | October 12, 1983 | 505 |
|
Jo's in love, but resentment develops when her guy turns out to be wealthy. Note: Edna's Edibles was marked the season's new backdrop at the beginning of the opening credits until the 3rd episode of the show's 7th season. Mindy Cohn and Nancy McKeon were marked new original scenes in the opening credits of this episode. Starting this episode, Pamela Segall joins the on-and-off regular blockage as Kelly Affinado. | ||||||
| 82 | 5 | "What Price Glory?" | Asaad Kelada | Alan Spencer | October 19, 1983 | 506 |
|
Tootie discovers that her boyfriend Jeff, a school athlete, has problems reading. Note: Geri Jewell guest stars as Blair's cousin, comedian 'Geri Tyler'. | ||||||
| 83 | 6 | "The Halloween Show" | Asaad Kelada | Jerry Mayer | October 26, 1983 | 507 |
| The girls have a Halloween party, but Mrs. Garrett appears to be possessed, and a customer disappears without explanation. | ||||||
| 84 | 7 | "Advance Placement" | Asaad Kelada | Bob Myer & Bob Young | November 2, 1983 | 510 |
| Although Natalie is still a junior in high school, she gets an opportunity to enroll in a course at Langley and develops an ego that puts a strain on her friendship with the other girls.[note 11] | ||||||
| 85 | 8 | "I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can" | Asaad Kelada | Jim Geoghan | November 9, 1983 | 509 |
| Blair and Jo take Mrs. Garrett to a male strip club for her birthday, where they discover Blair's boyfriend Cliff (Woody Brown) on stage. | ||||||
| 86 | 9 | "Small But Dangerous" | Asaad Kelada | Andy Borowitz | November 16, 1983 | 508 |
| Mrs. Garrett and the girls deal with a sudden outbreak of vandalism of the store and discover a young girl may be responsible. They are surprised at the reasons for her actions. | ||||||
| 87 | 10 | "Store Games" | Asaad Kelada | Teleplay: Andy Borowitz Story: Andy Borowitz and Howard Meyers | November 30, 1983 | 512 |
| A competing store takes a big bite out of Mrs. Garrett's business so the girls investigate and discover the store has been copying Mrs. Garrett's recipes, and they try some tactics to fix that. | ||||||
| 88 | 11 | "The Second Time Around" | Asaad Kelada | Linda Marsh & Margie Peters | December 14, 1983 | 511 |
| Jo gets excited when it looks as though her parents might be reconciling and getting back together. | ||||||
| 89 | 12 | "The Christmas Show" | Asaad Kelada | Jerry Mayer | December 21, 1983 | 515 |
|
The girls prepare to go their separate ways for Christmas vacation. Note: Even though Pamela Segall is an on-and-off regular in this season, this is her first absence in the series. | ||||||
| 90 | 13 | "The Chain Letter" | Asaad Kelada | Bob Myer & Bob Young | December 28, 1983 | 504 |
| Mrs. Garrett's shop is threatened with closure by the health department because of constant neglect by the girls. After she decides to fire them, they rally together to try to prove to her they will not disappoint her again. | ||||||
| 91 | 14 | "Next Door" | Linda Day | Milt Rosen & Glenn Padnick | January 4, 1984 | 513 |
| Mrs. Garrett and the girls befriend a little boy whose single mother (Jean Smart) does not have time to take care of him. | ||||||
| 92 | 15 | "Crossing the Line" | Mark W. Travis | Andy Borowitz | January 11, 1984 | 516 |
|
Tootie is at odds with Natalie over the latter's desire to date Tootie's cousin and confronts her own views on race and wonders if she is racist herself. Note: This is Pamela Segall's second absence in the show. | ||||||
| 93 | 16 | "All or Nothing" | Asaad Kelada | Bob Myer & Bob Young | January 18, 1984 | 518 |
|
Jo is elected to the Langley board of regents and learns quickly about the politics of the financial decisions they make and who could be hurt by them. Note: This is Pamela Segall's third and final absence in the season. | ||||||
| 94 | 17 | "A Death in the Family" | Asaad Kelada | Linda Marsh & Margie Peters | February 1, 1984 | 519 |
| Natalie's father dies from a sudden heart attack. | ||||||
| 95 | 18 | "Big Fish/Little Fish" | Asaad Kelada | Linda Marsh & Margie Peters | February 8, 1984 | 520 |
| Mrs. Garrett and the other girls help Natalie who is still reeling from her father's death. Meanwhile, Blair is realizing she is not the "big fish" she used to be. | ||||||
| 96 | 19 | "Star at Langley" | Asaad Kelada | Andy Borowitz | February 15, 1984 | 521 |
| When a famous movie star enrolls at Langley, Blair becomes jealous of the attention she lavishes on Cliff. | ||||||
| 97 | 20 | "Dream Marriage" | Asaad Kelada | Jerry Mayer | February 22, 1984 | 522 |
| Blair receives a marriage proposal and she dreams of what her life might be like in the future, in the year 2000. | ||||||
| 98 | 21 | "Mother and Daughter" | Norman Cohen | Jerry Mayer | February 29, 1984 | 517 |
| Tootie and her visiting mother discover how big the gap is in their relationship. | ||||||
| 99 | 22 | "All by Herself" | Judi Elterman | Teleplay: Bob Myer & Bob Young Story: Bob Myer & Bob Young and Cheri Eichen & Bill Steinkellner | March 14, 1984 | 514 |
|
Geri (Geri Jewell) gets a chip on her shoulder about her abilities when she asks Blair to assist her in a fundraising for a school for disabled children. Note: This episode marks Geri Jewell's final appearance. | ||||||
| 100 | 23 | "Seems Like Old Times" | Asaad Kelada | Linda Marsh & Margie Peters | March 21, 1984 | 524 |
|
Eddie, Jo's former boyfriend, returns to rekindle their relationship but harbors a devastating secret. Note: This is the 100th episode of the series. This is Pamela Segall's final appearance in the show. She will be dismissed after this episode. | ||||||
| 101 | 24 | "Joint Custody" | Asaad Kelada | Bob Myer & Bob Young | May 2, 1984 | 523 |
| Mrs. Garrett's son, Raymond, who also owns the building where the shop is located, visits with his wife, Doris. It becomes apparent that the couple is headed towards divorce unless Edna and the girls can help. | ||||||
| 102 103 | 25 26 | "The Way We Were" | Asaad Kelada | Jerry Mayer | May 9, 1984 | 525 526 |
| As the girls prepare for their summer vacations, they look back on the past, as seen in clips from previous episodes. Blair and Jo ultimately get into a major argument, so Natalie and Tootie try to patch things up with Blair and Jo. | ||||||
Season 6: 1984–1985
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 104 | 1 | "The Summer of '84" | Asaad Kelada | Linda Marsh & Margie Peters | September 26, 1984 | 605 |
| Mrs. Garrett and the girls return home to tell each other about their respective summer vacations. John Astin (Mackenzie Astin's real life father) appears in this episode. | ||||||
| 105 | 2 | "A Slice of Life" "Slices of Life" | Asaad Kelada | Jerry Mayer | October 3, 1984 | 604 |
| Jo decides to take her mother's incredible pizza recipe and create a business from it. The business succeeds but at a price. | ||||||
| 106 | 3 | "Love at First Byte" | Asaad Kelada | Bob Myer & Bob Young | October 17, 1984 | 606 |
| In order to complete an experiment for school, Natalie tricks Jo and Blair into joining a computer dating service. | ||||||
| 107 | 4 | "My Boyfriend's Back" | Asaad Kelada | Bob Myer & Bob Young | October 24, 1984 | 601 |
|
Tootie is dismayed when Jeff returns from college and seems to have outgrown her. Note: Nancy McKeon does not appear in this episode. This is her first absence in the season. This is also the first taping episode of this season. | ||||||
| 108 | 5 | "Cruisin'" | John Bowab | Paul Haggis | October 31, 1984 | 609 |
|
The girls take Blair's father's car and go cruising in downtown Peekskill. Notes: Kim Fields removed her braces in this episode. Nancy McKeon returns after her first absence from the previous episode. This is also the first and only episode that premiered without a laugh track and live audience. Due to that reason, this episode was filmed in single-camera format for the only time. | ||||||
| 109 110 | 6 7 | "Taking a Chance on Love" | Asaad Kelada | Gail Honigberg | November 7, 1984 | 607 608 |
| Jo falls in love with her photography instructor. | ||||||
| 111 | 8 | "E.G.O.C. (Edna Garrett on Campus)" | John Bowab | Janis Hirsch | November 14, 1984 | 610 |
| Mrs. Garrett feels out of place when she decides to go back to college and joins Jo and Blair in one of their classes. | ||||||
| 112 | 9 | "Dear Apple" | John Bowab | Teleplay: Paul Haggis Story: Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert | November 21, 1984 | 611 |
| Jo thinks about her friendship with Blair with the aid of a talking computer. | ||||||
| 113 | 10 | "Talk, Talk, Talk" | John Bowab | Bob Myer & Bob Young | November 28, 1984 | 614 |
| Mrs. Garrett and the other girls assist Jo when she must fill a midnight to six a.m. shift at the Langley College radio station. | ||||||
| 114 | 11 | "Smile" | Asaad Kelada | Teleplay: Linda Marsh & Margie Peters Story: Mark Miller | December 5, 1984 | 602 |
|
Natalie's odd behavior after losing a coveted newspaper position confuses her new boyfriend. Note: This is Nancy McKeon's second and final absence in the series. This is the second episode filmed for the season. | ||||||
| 115 | 12 | "The Rich Aren't Different" | John Bowab | J.P. Duffy | December 12, 1984 | 613 |
| Blair takes Jo to small claims court over a broken wristwatch. | ||||||
| 116 | 13 | "Christmas in the Big House" | John Bowab | Jerry Mayer | December 19, 1984 | 615 |
| As a result of a mix-up, the girls present a Christmas show in a prison instead of a home for boys like they planned. | ||||||
| 117 | 14 | "Me and Eleanor" | John Bowab | Paul Haggis | January 2, 1985 | 616 |
|
Tootie writes and performs in a play about Eleanor Roosevelt. Note: Mackenzie Astin marks his first appearance as Andy Moffett in this episode. He is credited as a guest star in four other episodes (16, 18, 21, 24) in the season and departs after the twenty-fourth episode. Starting in the seventh season, he is added as a on-and-off regular and becomes a main cast member in the eighth and ninth seasons. | ||||||
| 118 | 15 | "Working it Out" | Asaad Kelada | Linda Marsh & Margie Peters | January 9, 1985 | 603 |
| Blair's rebellious behavior after breaking up with Cliff has everyone questioning her, especially Mrs. Garrett. | ||||||
| 119 | 16 | "Jazzbeau" | Ellen Chaset Falcon | Rick Lombardo & Patrick Cleary | January 16, 1985 | 617 |
| Natalie and Tootie reminisce about a former jazz legend they met while working at a resort in the Poconos after learning he recently died. | ||||||
| 120 | 17 | "Two Guys from Appleton" | John Bowab | Paul Haggis | January 23, 1985 | 618 |
|
An old boyfriend of Mrs. Garrett's arrives in Peekskill with his college-age son, Kevin. Note: Ryan Cassidy marks his first appearance as Kevin Metcalf in this episode. He is the guest star in episodes 18–19, 21, 24 in the season and departs the series after the twenty-fourth episode. | ||||||
| 121 | 18 | "With a Little Help from My Friends" | John Bowab | Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert | January 30, 1985 | 619 |
|
Blair is torn between her friends' concern and her new boyfriend who has let his addiction affect him. Note: This is the first episode that marks Mackenzie Astin as a guest star. He is the guest star in episodes 21 and 24 along with Ryan Cassidy. | ||||||
| 122 | 19 | "Gone with the Wind: Part 1" | John Bowab | Kimberly Hill | February 13, 1985 | 621 |
|
The girls spend Spring Break in Florida when a hurricane hits. Note: Charlotte Rae was absent in this episode. This is her first absence in the season. She will be absent in the five following episodes. | ||||||
| 123 | 20 | "Gone with the Wind: Part 2" | John Bowab | Kimberly Hill | February 20, 1985 | 622 |
|
While staying at Natalie's grandmother's in Florida, the girls each find new relationships. Note: This is Charlotte Rae's second absence in the series. | ||||||
| 124 | 21 | "Man in the Attic" | John Bowab | Paul Haggis | February 27, 1985 | 623 |
|
Kevin moves into the attic and quickly becomes a nuisance to the girls. Note: This is Charlotte Rae's third absence in the series. | ||||||
| 125 | 22 | "The Last Drive-In" | John Bowab | Paul Haggis, Kimberly Hill and Stuart Wolpert | March 13, 1985 | 624 |
|
The girls pile into Mrs. Garrett's car and spend the evening at the local drive-in, which is about to close for the last time. Note: This is Charlotte Rae's fourth absence in the series. | ||||||
| 126 | 23 | "Sisters" | John Bowab | Bob Myer & Bob Young | March 20, 1985 | 625 |
|
Jo and Blair become concerned when Jo's father and Blair's mother appear to be getting very close. Note: This is Charlotte Rae's fifth absence in the series. | ||||||
| 127 | 24 | "It's Lonely at the Top" | John Bowab | Jerry Mayer | March 27, 1985 | 626 |
|
Blair learns the hard way when she tries to take over and run Edna's Edibles "her" way. Note: This is Charlotte Rae's sixth absence in the series. This is also Ryan Cassidy's final appearance on the show. After this episode, he was quietly dismissed. Mackenzie Astin also marks his final guest star appearance in this episode before returning in season seven. This is the final episode taped for the sixth season. | ||||||
| 128 | 25 | "Bus Stop" | Judi Elterman | Teleplay: Kimberly Hill Story: Brian Pollack & Rick Shaw | May 8, 1985 | 620 |
|
When Natalie graduates from Eastland, she shocks her mother and her friends by deciding not to go to college. Note: Charlotte Rae returns in this episode after her six-episode absence. | ||||||
| 129 | 26 | "The Interview Show" | John Bowab and Stuart Wolpert | Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert | May 15, 1985 | 612 |
| A former student who is planning on writing a book on Eastland interviews Mrs. Garrett and the girls. | ||||||
Season 7: 1985–1986
Mackenzie Astin, who plays Andy Moffett, and George Clooney, who play George Burnett, receive star billing in the opening credits.
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 130 | 1 | "Out of the Fire..." | John Bowab | Paul Haggis | September 14, 1985 | 701 |
|
The girls come back from summer vacation to find Edna's Edibles and their home suffered a major fire. Note: Starting this season, Mackenzie Astin as Andy Moffett becomes an on-and-off regular in this season. The girls are now grown women. Edna's Edibles backdrop is used for the three beginning episodes in this season. | ||||||
| 131 | 2 | "Into the Frying Pan" | John Bowab | Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert | September 21, 1985 | 702 |
|
After deciding to rebuild the shop with a new business, Mrs. Garrett and the girls must find a contractor they can afford. Note: George Clooney becomes the season's on-and-off regular as George Burnett in this episode. | ||||||
| 132 | 3 | "Grand Opening" | John Bowab | Bob Bendetson & Howard Bendetson | September 28, 1985 | 703 |
|
Mrs. Garrett and the girls find that the grand opening of their new business, Over Our Heads, isn't quite so "grand". Note: This is the last episode of the Edna's Edibles backdrop in the opening credits. In the next episode, Over Our Heads become the series' new backdrop. | ||||||
| 133 | 4 | "Teacher, Teacher" | John Bowab | Teleplay: Bruce Ferber & David Lerner Story: Cheri Eichen & Bill Steinkellner | October 5, 1985 | 705 |
|
After doing a stint of student teaching, Jo becomes torn between becoming a teacher or working at a corporation developing educational software. Irene Tedrow and Joyce Bulifant guest star as Jo's coworkers at the elementary school. Note: Over Our Heads is marked the season's new backdrop at the first scene of the opening credits in this episode until the show's series finale. | ||||||
| 134 | 5 | "Men for All Seasons" | John Bowab | Fredi Towbin & Larry Strauss | October 19, 1985 | 704 |
| A controversial calendar of the Langley men's swim team puts Mrs. Garrett and the girls in the hot seat when they refuse to stop selling it. | ||||||
| 135 | 6 | "A New Life" | John Bowab | Linda Elstad | October 26, 1985 | 706 |
| Blair learns that her mother is pregnant but decides to have an abortion. | ||||||
| 136 | 7 | "Doo-Wah" | John Bowab | Bob Bendetson & Howard Bendetson | November 2, 1985 | 709 |
| Andy gets the girls involved in a singing/songwriting contest where the winners get to sing back-up on pop-star, El Debarge's new single. El Debarge and Siedah Garrett guest-star. | ||||||
| 137 | 8 | "Come Back to the Truck Stop, Natalie Green, Natalie Green" | John Bowab | Michael Maurer | November 9, 1985 | 708 |
| Natalie, trying to get writing ideas by travelling around the country, comes up with a wild one while waiting for a bus at a small diner. | ||||||
| 138 | 9 | "Born Too Late" | John Bowab | Bob Brush | November 16, 1985 | 710 |
| Tootie must deal with Andy when she learns he has a crush on her. | ||||||
| 139 | 10 | "3, 2, 1" | John Bowab | Paul Haggis | November 23, 1985 | 711 |
| Jo and Blair are assigned to work at the campus TV station, but they end up arguing over the content of news stories and editorials. | ||||||
| 140 | 11 | "We Get Letters" | John Bowab | Teleplay: Susan Beavers Story: Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert | November 30, 1985 | 707 |
| Mrs. Garrett's old friend (Anne Jackson) visits and reveals a secret about Edna and the friend's late husband. | ||||||
| 141 | 12 | "Ballroom Dance" | John Bowab | Teleplay: Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert Story: Carlo Allen | December 7, 1985 | 712 |
| Jo decides she wants to learn how to ballroom dance. | ||||||
| 142 | 13 | "Christmas Baby" | John Bowab | David Lerner & Bruce Ferber | December 14, 1985 | 715 |
| Blair's mother goes into labor on Christmas Eve – six weeks before she's due. | ||||||
| 143 | 14 | "Tootie Drives" | John Bowab | Teleplay: Paul Haggis Story: Paul Haggis and Stuart Wolpert | December 21, 1985 | 713 |
| Tootie drives everybody crazy when she gets her driving permit and wants help learning to drive. | ||||||
| 144 | 15 | "Stake-Out Blues" | John Bowab | Jake Weinberger & Michael Weinberger | January 11, 1986 | 716 |
| The girls don't want Mrs. Garrett to worry when the police plan a stakeout at the shop to catch criminals. | ||||||
| 145 | 16 | "The Agent" | John Bowab | Jack Elinson | January 18, 1986 | 717 |
| In order to boost the career of an aspiring comic, Tootie stages a performance where Jim McCawley, the talent coordinator for The Tonight Show, shall be in attendance. | ||||||
| 146 | 17 | "The Reunion" | John Bowab | Racelle Friedman | February 1, 1986 | 719 |
| George takes Jo to his high school reunion where he passes her off as a duchess to impress a girl he admired. | ||||||
| 147 | 18 | "Concentration" | John Bowab | Martha Williamson | February 8, 1986 | 718 |
| Blair learns a valuable lesson when she becomes trapped in an elevator with Bailey and a concentration camp survivor. | ||||||
| 148 | 19 | "Atlantic City" | John Bowab | Paul Haggis | February 15, 1986 | 721 |
| The girls travel to Atlantic City to see Fly-Man, Jo's fling from spring break. | ||||||
| 149 | 20 | "The Lady Who Came to Dinner" | John Bowab | Teleplay: Bart Lindsay & Robert Billson Story: Patrick Cleary | February 22, 1986 | 722 |
|
After a misunderstanding about Blair's birthday wishes, the party performer herself ends up staying with the girls. Note: Mindy Cohn is absent for the first and only time in this episode. This is Charlotte Rae's fourth absence in the season and overall her tenth absence in this series. This is also George Clooney's last episode as an on-and-off regular. He will make four recurring guest star appearances in the next season. He will be dismissed before airing the ninth season after those guest star episodes in season eight. | ||||||
| 150 | 21 | "The Candidate" | Valentine Mayer | Michael Maurer | March 1, 1986 | 723 |
| Blair and Natalie go head-to-head when Natalie learns a big political secret about the current mayor. | ||||||
| 151 | 22 | "Big Time Charlie" | Steven Robman | Bob Myer & Bob Young | March 29, 1986 | 720 |
| Jo's father tries to come through when he wins big from a stock tip. | ||||||
| 152 | 23 | "The Graduate" | John Bowab | Barry Vigon | May 3, 1986 | 724 |
|
In part one of the season seven finale, Mrs. Garrett returns for Tootie's graduation in time to learn what she and Natalie plan to do about their own futures. Note: This is Mackenzie Astin's final episode as an on-and-off regular. Starting in the eighth season, he is marked the series' regular. | ||||||
| 153 | 24 | "The Apartment" | John Bowab | Jane Anderson | May 10, 1986 | 725 |
|
In the conclusion of the season seven finale, Natalie and Tootie move into a new apartment and learn quickly living on your own is not all its cracked up to be. Note: This is Charlotte Rae's final episode as a series main cast member. Rae would make a guest star appearance in the eighth season two-part opening "Out of Peekskill Part 1" and "Out of Peekskill Part 2". She would depart from the series after the next season's open. Cloris Leachman will play Edna's sister Beverly Ann Stickle and will be marked the series' main cast member in the eighth season. | ||||||
Season 8: 1986–1987
Beverly Ann Stickle, played by Cloris Leachman, becomes a lead character as Edna Garrett, played by Charlotte Rae, leaves the show. George Burnett, played by George Clooney, becomes a recurring character.
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 154 155 | 1 2 | "Out of Peekskill" | John Bowab | Michael Maurer, Richard Gurman and Paul Haggis | September 27, 1986 | 801 802 |
|
Mrs. Garrett becomes reacquainted with Bruce Gaines (Robert Mandan), a man she met when she was serving in the Peace Corps. He proposes marriage to her, and she accepts. Her sister, Beverly Ann Stickle (Cloris Leachman), comes to the wedding in her Winnebago recreational vehicle. In spite of a scare at Depressed Person's Cliff, Mrs. Garrett and Bruce are married, and they rejoin the Peace Corps. Beverly Ann takes over her duties at Over Our Heads. Notes: Starting this season, Cloris Leachman and Mackenzie Astin becomes the series' main cast regulars. Charlotte Rae made a guest star appearance and departs the series after this 2-parted one hour season opening. | ||||||
| 156 | 3 | "Ready or Not" | John Bowab | Jane Anderson | October 4, 1986 | 803 |
| Beverly Ann and the girls are concerned that Tootie is getting much too serious about her new boyfriend Rudy. | ||||||
| 157 | 4 | "Another Room" | John Bowab | Teleplay: Michael Maurer & Martha Williamson Story: Katherine Green | October 11, 1986 | 805 |
| Fed up with having no privacy, Jo considers moving out, until Beverly Ann suggests remodeling the attic into a room, but Jo has concerns about the construction costs. | ||||||
| 158 | 5 | "Off-Broadway Baby" | John Bowab | Martha Williamson | November 1, 1986 | 807 |
| Beverly Ann and the girls head for New York City, when Tootie decides to audition for her first Broadway show. However, when she arrives, she quickly learns that she has plenty of competition working against her. | ||||||
| 159 | 6 | "The Little Chill" | Valentine Mayer | Phil Doran & Douglas Arango | November 8, 1986 | 808 |
| Three of the girls (Cindy, Nancy, and Sue Ann) who used to live in the Eastland dormitory with Blair, Tootie, and Natalie return for a reunion and Jo feels left out because she never knew them very well.[note 12] | ||||||
| 160 | 7 | "The Ratings Game" | John Bowab | Ross Brown | November 15, 1986 | 809 |
| Blair's computerized date-rating system is the focus when she makes a bet with Jo dealing with whether or not the system really works. However, when Beverly Ann accidentally erases a computer disk, Jo tampers with some of the ratings. | ||||||
| 161 | 8 | "The Wedding Day" | John Bowab | Teleplay: Ross Brown and Michael Poryes Story: Shirley Brown | November 22, 1986 | 811 |
|
Jo offers to marry an illegal alien so he can stay in the country. Note: George Clooney makes a recurring guest star character in this episode. He is a recurring character in this season and appears in three other episodes. After the fifteenth episode A Star is Torn, he is dismissed from the show. | ||||||
| 162 | 9 | "Fast Food" | Marian Deaton | Michael Maurer | November 29, 1986 | 810 |
| Natalie hires Blair as an employee at the Mexican restaurant Señor Sombrero, where she is assistant manager. | ||||||
| 163 | 10 | "Where's Poppa?" | John Bowab | Micki Raton and Irma Kalish & Phil Doran & Douglas Arango | December 6, 1986 | 804 |
| A disconsolate Blair locks herself in the bedroom after her father pleads guilty to charges of insider trading. | ||||||
| 164 | 11 | "Write and Wrong" | John Bowab | Jane Anderson & Ross Brown | December 13, 1986 | 806 |
| A furious Natalie is determined to identify and sue the plagiarist who sold her short story to a magazine. | ||||||
| 165 | 12 | "Seven Little Indians" | John Bowab | John Boni | January 3, 1987 | 812 |
| On a dark and stormy night, the girls and their friends are stalked by a mysterious killer. | ||||||
| 166 | 13 | "The Greek Connection" | John Bowab | Sara V. Finney & Vida Spears | January 10, 1987 | 813 |
| Assigned by the newspaper to investigate Pledge Week at Langley College, Natalie crashes the rush party of the sorority Tootie wants to join. Penelope Ann Miller guest stars. | ||||||
| 167 | 14 | "Post-Christmas Card" | John Bowab | Matt Gellar | January 17, 1987 | 815 |
| As a post-Christmas gift, Natalie gets her first credit card and promptly goes on a spending spree. | ||||||
| 168 | 15 | "A Star Is Torn" | John Bowab | Martha Williamson | January 31, 1987 | 816 |
|
Cinnamon (Stacey Q), who bested Tootie in the audition for a Broadway rock musical, arrives. She claims that she has been replaced in the show, but it is not the real story. Note: George Clooney marks his final appearance on the show. He never returns to the show. | ||||||
| 169 | 16 | "A Winter's Tale" | John Bowab | Bob Underwood | February 7, 1987 | 814 |
| The girls go to a ski resort. Doug Savant guest stars. | ||||||
| 170 | 17 | "Cupid's Revenge" | John Bowab | John Boni | February 14, 1987 | 817 |
| Romantic perversity occurs when all the girls' old boyfriends happen to show up just before the Valentine's Day dance. | ||||||
| 171 | 18 | "'62 Pick-Up" | John Bowab | Phil Doran & Douglas Arango | February 21, 1987 | 819 |
| A flashback to the early 1960s, replete with teen idols, beatniks, and girl groups. Bobby Rydell and Fabian guest star. | ||||||
| 172 | 19 | "Boy About the House" | John Bowab | Austin and Irma Kalish | February 28, 1987 | 818 |
| When Andy's foster parents' marriage dissolves, Beverly Ann decides it is time to adopt him. | ||||||
| 173 | 20 | "Ex Marks the Spot" | John Bowab | Teleplay: Michael Maurer & Michael Poryes Story: Katherine Green & Richard Gurman | March 7, 1987 | 820 |
| Beverly Ann's ex-husband, Frank Stickle (Dick Van Patten), comes to visit, and he has a heart attack. Lois Nettleton guest stars. | ||||||
| 174 | 21 | "Younger Than Springtime" | John Bowab | Lawerence H. Levy | March 21, 1987 | 821 |
| Jo is unhappy that Blair is playing matchmaker for Jo's lonely father, but she is really upset with the final results. | ||||||
| 175 | 22 | "This Is Only a Test" | Valentine Mayer | Ross Brown & Martha Williamson | April 18, 1987 | 822 |
| Blair discovers that even she cannot buy admission to law school if she does not pass a four-hour admissions test for which she has not studied. | ||||||
| 176 | 23 | "Rites of Passage: Part 1" | John Bowab | Matt Geller & Racelle Friedman | May 2, 1987 | 823 |
| After her commencement speech is rejected, Jo refuses to make a speech at all, but then learns that her grandfather has come all the way from Poland to hear it. | ||||||
| 177 | 24 | "Rites of Passage: Part 2" | Marian Deaton | Michael Poryes | May 9, 1987 | 824 |
| Summer offers a variety of options for everyone, especially Jo, who is offered a tempting job far away in Los Angeles. | ||||||
Season 9: 1987–1988
Pippa McKenna, played by Sherrié Austin, is introduced as a recurring character.
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 178 | 1 | "Down and Out in Malibu: Part 1" | John Bowab | Martha Williamson | September 26, 1987 | 903 |
| Jo is stranded in Malibu for the summer and gets a job housesitting for Richard Moll. | ||||||
| 179 | 2 | "Down and Out in Malibu: Part 2" | John Bowab | Ross Brown | October 3, 1987 | 904 |
| Richard Moll has the girls put in prison when he sees what has happened to his house. | ||||||
| 180 | 3 | "Rumor Has It" | John Bowab | Michael Poryes | October 17, 1987 | 901 |
| Things get interesting in Blair's law class when a rumor goes around campus about her and the professor. | ||||||
| 181 | 4 | "Before the Fall" | John Bowab | R.J. Colleary | October 24, 1987 | 905 |
| Natalie's been given an assignment to do an article on the ROTC and gets close to a cadet. Later when they get a new drill sergeant, they learn that they're going sky diving which makes Natalie nervous. She has to decide if she wants to stick with it or drop out when the cadet she gets close to will. Dennis Haysbert guest stars. | ||||||
| 182 | 5 | "Sweet Charity" | John Bowab | Phil Doran & Douglas Arango | November 7, 1987 | 907 |
| Jo goes looking for a job only to find one in the least likely place, and it is up to Blair to save the center from going under. | ||||||
| 183 | 6 | "Up from Down Under" | John Bowab | Austin and Irma Kalish | November 14, 1987 | 910 |
|
Pippa McKenna, a teenage girl from Eastland's Australian sister school Colunga Academy, enrolls at Eastland. Notes: Sherrie Krenn marks her first appearance as Pippa McKenna in this episode, she is marked on/off regular in few episodes and then marks the season's main regular in the thirteenth episode. Lisa Whelchel and Mackenzie Astin are marked new original scenes in the opening credits in this episode. | ||||||
| 184 | 7 | "The More the Marrier" | Valentine Mayer | Lawrence H. Levy | November 21, 1987 | 908 |
| It's winter carnival time and Tootie has her hands full when her boyfriend Jeff shows up and we finally get to meet Natalie's boyfriend Snake. | ||||||
| 185 | 8 | "A Rose by Any Other Age" | John Bowab | Mark Tuttle & Barbara Berkowitz | November 28, 1987 | 902 |
| Blair has the hots for her study partner but he is more interested in Beverly Ann and Andy tries to get help with a bully. | ||||||
| 186 | 9 | "Adventures in Baileysitting" | John Bowab | Teleplay: Jeri Barchilon Story: Jeri Barchilon & Michele Gendleman | December 5, 1987 | 912 |
| Blair's baby sister Bailey gets lost while in the girls' care and Tootie gets her engagement ring. | ||||||
| 187 | 10 | "It's a Wonderful Christmas" | Valentine Mayer | Marily Anderson & Renee Orin | December 12, 1987 | 909 |
| Beverly Ann feels unwanted at Christmas and wonders what it would be like if she had never come to Peekskill. | ||||||
| 188 | 11 | "Golden Oldies" | John Bowab | John Boni | January 2, 1988 | 906 |
|
The girls imagine what their lives will be like 50 years in the future. Note: This is the last episode in which Sherrie Krenn doesn't make an appearance. This episode also marks the final showing eighth season scenes of Lisa Whelchel and Mackenzie Astin. | ||||||
| 189 | 12 | "A Thousand Frowns" | John Bowab | Harvey Weitzman and David DiGregorio & Arnie Wess | January 9, 1988 | 911 |
|
Jo meets Rick Bonner, who's upcoming 30th birthday thinks he is going to die. Note: This is Sherrie Krenn's last episode as on-and-off regular. This is also the final episode showing the eighth season cast at the end of the opening credits. | ||||||
| 190 | 13 | "Something in Common" | John Bowab | Michael Poryes | January 16, 1988 | 917 |
|
Jo's dad comes for a visit and finds Rick has more in common with him then he likes. Over Our Heads is closed & converted into living space for Pippa & Andy. Notes: Kim Fields is absent for the first and only time in this episode. Sherrie Krenn continues the season as a main cast member in this episode. The original ninth season cast photo was seen at the end of the opening credits and continues the rest of the season. Over Our Heads is shown for the first time in this episode, even though the store was mainly closed during the season, this episode marks the final scene of the store. The store is closed to make living space for Pippa and Andy. | ||||||
| 191 | 14 | "Peekskill Law" | John Bowab | Mark Tuttle | January 23, 1988 | 918 |
| Blair gets involved in a big law case but the lawyer ends up being her ex professor. | ||||||
| 192 | 15 | "A House Divided" | John Bowab | Mark Tuttle | January 30, 1988 | 913 |
| Natalie and Tootie plan the perfect evening with their boyfriends, only to have the two end up fighting and causing the girls to take sides. | ||||||
| 193 | 16 | "The First Time" | Marian Deaton | Ross Brown | February 6, 1988 | 915 |
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Natalie loses her virginity with her boyfriend, Snake. Note: Lisa Whelchel is absent for the first and only time in this episode. The producers originally wanted Whelchel's character to lose her virginity but Whelchel refused to take part in this episode due to her Christianity. She became a Christian at the age of 10. | ||||||
| 194 | 17 | "Let's Face the Music" | John Bowab | Phil Doran & Douglas Arango | February 13, 1988 | 916 |
| A slip-up at a beauty parlor turns Jo's hair blond and Blair's hair green, causing problems at a banquet. Meanwhile, Pippa's band is scheduled to perform at that same banquet. | ||||||
| 195 | 18 | "Less Than Perfect" | Valentine Mayer | Martha Williamson | February 20, 1988 | 914 |
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In one of the most serious episodes of the season, Blair gets into a serious car accident when she falls asleep at the wheel, and she is devastated when it results in a large cut across her forehead. Note: The ninth season cast photo from the opening credits was taken during the filming of this episode. | ||||||
| 196 | 19 | "Till Marriage Do Us Part" | John Bowab | Ross Brown | February 27, 1988 | 922 |
| Rick proposes to Jo and she accepts, but at the last minute Rick has to leave town. Jo is the first of the girls to get married. | ||||||
| 197 | 20 | "Present Imperfect" | John Bowab | Kathy Lette | March 5, 1988 | 920 |
| When Jeff's grandmother gives Tootie an ugly pendant, Pippa loses it and then it gets damaged. Tootie then has to stand up to Jeff's grandma to get her blessing. | ||||||
| 198 | 21 | "On the Edge" | John Bowab | R.J. Colleary | March 12, 1988 | 919 |
| Jo finds herself in a big spot when the suicide counselor decides she wants to die, and it is up to Jo to talk her out of it. | ||||||
| 199 | 22 | "Big Apple Blues" | John Bowab | Martha Williamson | March 19, 1988 | 921 |
| Natalie and Tootie go off to New York City, but only Natalie decides she wants to stay. Will this be the end of the four musketeers? David Spade and Richard Grieco guest star. | ||||||
| 200 | 23 | "The Beginning of the End" | John Bowab | Austin and Irma Kalish | April 30, 1988 | 923 |
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When Blair discovers that Eastland Academy is in dire financial straits, she decides she has to make a tough decision about her future to buy it and save it from closing. She changes the school to a co-ed dormitory. Note: This is part one of the two-part series finale. It is also the 200th episode of the show and Mackenzie Astin's final appearance on the show. | ||||||
| 201 | 24 | "The Beginning of the Beginning" | John Bowab | Austin and Irma Kalish | May 7, 1988 | 924 |
| Blair has a lot more than she bargained for when she tries to run Eastland as she helps a young teenage girl Terry (Juliette Lewis) who is depressed about her parents getting a divorce. This is the conclusion of the series; the girls end up going their own ways. | ||||||
Movie specials
The Facts of Life Goes to Paris
The Facts of Life Goes to Paris is a two-hour TV movie that aired on September 25, 1982.
The Facts of Life Down Under
The Facts of Life Down Under is a two-hour TV movie that aired on February 15, 1987.
The Facts of Life Reunion
The Facts of Life Reunion is a two-hour TV movie that aired on November 18, 2001. Although Charlotte Rae had left the role of Mrs. Garrett in season eight and was replaced by Cloris Leachman as Mrs. Garrett's sister Beverly Ann, Rae returned as Mrs. Garrett for this production. Nancy McKeon was unable to reprise her role as Jo due to scheduling conflicts with her then-starring role in the Lifetime police drama The Division.
Notes
- ↑ I.Q. is the last episode to feature Jenny O'Hara as Eastland teacher Miss Emily Mahoney.
- ↑ Last episode to feature Mr. Steven Bradley, Molly Parker, Sue Ann Weaver, Cindy Webster and Nancy Olson as main cast regulars.
- ↑ Molly Parker (Molly Ringwald) makes a return appearance in this episode, but it is her last in the series.
- 1 2 Felice Schacter, Julie Piekarski and Julie Ann Haddock make return guest appearances as Nancy, Sue Ann, and Cindy, respectively.
- ↑ Felice Schacter makes a returning guest appearance as Nancy Olson.
- ↑ Roger Perry appears as the new Eastland headmaster, Mr. Charles Parker.
- ↑ Julie Piekarski and Julie Ann Haddock make their final guest appearances as Sue Ann Weaver and Cindy Webster.
- ↑ Felice Schacter guest-stars as Nancy Olson.
- ↑ Final guest appearance by Felice Schachter as Nancy Olson.
- ↑ "Gamma Gamma or Bust" is the first episode to feature Edna's Edibles as the show's new setting.
- ↑ "Advance Placement" marks Roger Perry's final guest appearance as Mr. Parker.
- ↑ Felice Schachter, Julie Ann Haddock, and Julie Piekarski reprise their roles as Nancy Olsen, Cindy Webster, and Sue Ann Weaver.
References
External links
- Fuller, Todd. "The Facts of Life: Episode Guide". Sitcoms Online.
- "The Facts of Life at TV.com".
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