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The Facts of Life

  • TV Series
  • 1979–1988
  • TV-PG
  • 30m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
9.2K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,148
560
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
SitcomComedyFamily

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

  • Creators
    • Dick Clair
    • Howard Leeds
    • Jerry Mayer
  • Stars
    • Lisa Whelchel
    • Kim Fields
    • Mindy Cohn
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    9.2K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,148
    560
    • Creators
      • Dick Clair
      • Howard Leeds
      • Jerry Mayer
    • Stars
      • Lisa Whelchel
      • Kim Fields
      • Mindy Cohn
    • 51User reviews
    • 23Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys
      • 6 wins & 18 nominations total

    Episodes201

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    Videos2

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

    Photos226

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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Lisa Whelchel
    Lisa Whelchel
    • Blair Warner…
    • 1979–1988
    Kim Fields
    Kim Fields
    • Dorothy 'Tootie' Ramsey…
    • 1979–1988
    Mindy Cohn
    Mindy Cohn
    • Natalie Green…
    • 1979–1988
    Nancy McKeon
    Nancy McKeon
    • Jo Polniaczek…
    • 1980–1988
    Charlotte Rae
    Charlotte Rae
    • Edna Garrett
    • 1979–1986
    Mackenzie Astin
    Mackenzie Astin
    • Andy Moffett…
    • 1985–1988
    Cloris Leachman
    Cloris Leachman
    • Beverly Ann Stickle…
    • 1986–1988
    Felice Schachter
    Felice Schachter
    • Nancy Olson
    • 1979–1986
    Julie Piekarski
    Julie Piekarski
    • Sue Ann Weaver
    • 1979–1986
    Julie Anne Haddock
    Julie Anne Haddock
    • Cindy Webster
    • 1979–1986
    George Clooney
    George Clooney
    • George Burnett
    • 1985–1987
    Sherrié Austin
    Sherrié Austin
    • Pippa McKenna…
    • 1987–1988
    Molly Ringwald
    Molly Ringwald
    • Molly Parker
    • 1979–1980
    John Lawlor
    John Lawlor
    • Steven Bradley
    • 1979–1984
    Pamela Adlon
    Pamela Adlon
    • Kelly Affinado
    • 1983–1984
    Geri Jewell
    Geri Jewell
    • Geri Tyler
    • 1980–1984
    Alex Rocco
    Alex Rocco
    • Charlie Polniaczek
    • 1981–1988
    Kimberly Craig
    • Linda…
    • 1981–1983
    • Creators
      • Dick Clair
      • Howard Leeds
      • Jerry Mayer
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews51

    6.99.2K
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    Featured reviews

    pennylane114

    Love it!

    I didn't see this show until recently when they started re-running it on Nick-At-Nite. I fell in love with it immediately. While the plots are a bit corny at times, I still love to watch it and get to know the characters. While the later ones aren't as good as the earlier ones when they're in boarding school, I still love this show. And I hope other people will check it out. :o)
    Danielle-28

    WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!

    I LOVE THE FACTS OF LIFE!!!!!!! It is my favorite show in the whole world! My favorite characters are Blair (Lisa Whelchel) and Jo (Nancy McKeon). I have almost every single episode taped, so that shows you how much I like it! If you are ever having problems, you can watch one of these episodes, and I always feel better right away, because the show covers real life problems that real teenagers would have.
    astro_92

    I greatly enjoy this classic, durable series.

    The Facts of Life ran on network TV during my early years but I have seen it in syndication and I really, really like what I have seen. The series is intensely entertaining to say the least. My favorite character is none other than Jo Polniaczek, portrayed by the ever-gorgeous Nancy McKeon. From the way I look at it, the series' best episodes are those that revolve around the Jo character. The other cast members are also terrific but McKeon will always be my top favorite from the classic NBC show.

    I really hope that entire Facts of Life series gets released on DVD eventually. Hopefully, when this finally happens, retail stores will be able to keep the boxed sets in stock. Also, I really hope that the first two seasons get released as one set, as those two were only half-seasons. I am very anxious to view this incredible show again!
    9view_and_review

    What a great show

    "You take the good, you take the bad,

    You take them both and there you have

    The facts of life. The facts of life."

    At the risk of sounding chauvinistic, I'm a guy and I loved "The Facts of Life." I had nothing in common with any of the girls or Mrs. Garrett (Charlotte Rae), but it was a blast. Sure, the rich girl Blair (Lisa Whelchel) got on my nerves at times, and Jo (Nancy McKeon) seemed to be angry a lot, but who didn't like Tootie (Kim Fields) and Natalie (Mindy Cohn)? And the theme song was unforgettable.
    BlackJack_B

    PURE 80's

    If you want to see another example of why the 80's were the greatest decade of the 20th century, here's a prime example. Although I was a male, me and my brothers loved this show. I don't why, I guess it was a "what were we thinking" kind of deal. I guess as fans of "Diff'rent Strokes", we would watch the spin-offs. Granted, no one in the cast of females would cause the S Club 7 girls to lose sleep in the beauty department (sorry Lisa), but the character development was superb. Natalie Green, Jo Polnochek, Tootie Ramsey, Blair Warner, and the young girls that would come and go were all so appealing. You cared about them all. Charlotte Rae's Mrs. Garrett was the kind of women we all wish we could have known and befriended. Heck, I even miss Pippa, she was a cute, headstrong kind of girl. The acting was always good, it felt like it was real life instead of an act. I would like to check this show out again, just to see why I watched it. Oh, and Mrs. Garrett, Oingo Boingo's music is still very cool.

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    Related interests

    Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, and Matthew Perry in Friends (1994)
    Sitcom
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
    Family

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Actor Mindy Cohn did not audition for the show. However, the producers visited a girls' school to see how they 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

      Tootie Ramsey: There's going to be trouble...

    • 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

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    FAQ21

    • How many seasons does The Facts of Life have?Powered by Alexa
    • 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
      • Columbia/Sunset Gower Studios - 1438 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA(Studio, 1985-1988)
    • Production companies
      • Embassy Communications
      • Embassy Television
      • TAT Communications Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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

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