027 - S2E14 "Pretty Babies" with Philip Nolen

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Extras Available Exclusively At FaceTheFactsPod.com!

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D’Oh! A Correction:

On the show, I erroneously reported that the original air date for “Pretty Babies” was March 4, 1981… it was actually March 11, 1981.

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Camera Stuff!

Philip and I discuss Tootie’s camera, and other related equipment on the show. Here is Tootie’s camera, a 110-style with the flash tower (you got 5 flashes, then flipped it over for another 5… and you couldn’t touch it right after snapping cuz that mother got HOT):

Here is its predecessor, the 126-style camera which took square pictures and slides. Note the flash cube!:

A fun hybrid - the lighthouse, so you could use flash cubes with the 110 camera:

One of Michael Landon’s many Kodak commercials:

Also mentioned in passing were the James Garner-Mariette Hartley Polaroid camera commercials which ran around the same time. From Mariette Hartley’s Wikipedia page: “During the late 1970s and into the early 1980s, Hartley appeared with James Garner in a popular series of television commercials advertising Polaroid cameras. The two actors had such amazing on-screen chemistry that many viewers erroneously believed that they were married in real life. Hartley's biography indicates that she began to wear a T-shirt printed with the phrase "I am not Mrs. James Garner."[9] (Hartley went as far to have a shirt made for her infant son, reading "I am not James Garner's Child" and even one for her then-husband: "I am not James Garner!" James Garner's actual wife then jokingly had a T-shirt printed with "I am Mrs. James Garner.") Hartley guest-starred in a memorable episode of Garner's television series The Rockford Files around this time. The script required the two to kiss at one point and unknown to them, a paparazzo was photographing the scene from a distance. The photos were run in a tabloid trying to provoke a scandal, causing a good deal of attention. An article that ran in TV Guide was titled: "That woman is not James Garner’s wife!” Here is one example of many that can be found on YouTube:

And discussed in the Audio Extras… The Disc Camera!

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John Mark Robinson!

We think John Mark Robinson, who plays Fashion Photographer Jonathan Dutton in this episode, looks like the love child of…

…actor/singer Rick Springfield…

…and The Cars’ front man Ric Ocasek. (Pronouced oh-CASS-ik, not as I incorrectly pronounced it on the show).

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Michelle Downey!

The actress who plays underage model Rena also appeared on several episodes of “Little House On The Prairie” as Susan 'Sue' Goodspeed… who I think may have been one of the students at Mary & Adam’s School For The Blind.

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Benji!

The original film, released in 1974, clearly didn’t suffer from low self-esteem…!

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Solarcaine!

A family of products still widely available (visit their web site), this is what Philip & I grew up with…

And this is what it looks like today.

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Toy Commercials!

Philip mentioned some G. I. Joe commercials. Here are a couple of them….

… and a collection of more that feel slightly before our time … probably early 1970s.

I mentioned an SNL commercial that hilariously spoofed many of the toy commercial tropes. The toy was called “BIG RED.” You can watch the whole video here at SNL.com.

The Empire Strikes Back action figure commercial that we discuss… WITH SPOILERS!!

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The “On The Nose” Disco Dressing Room Door

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Also discussed in the Audio Extras: Melissa McCarthy’s outtakes from “This Is 40” (shown during the end credits):

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The gorgeous Bo Derek in “10” …

Lisa Whelchel On Not Appearing In The Natalie-Loses-Her-Virginity Episode

“…For one thing, I really felt a big responsibility of knowing that there were young girls watching this show and that you can’t deal with that topic in 20 minutes with a couple of commercials. I really didn’t want to be responsible for that…”

(To me, that sounds an awful lot like, “I didn’t trust the writers to do it well.” Just say’n.)

 Read the full article here.

026 - S2E13 "Bought And Sold" with James Brendlinger

No this image is not the same one from the show we did earlier this year. It’s a different snap of the same pose. Whatever. Shut up.

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Extras Available Only At FaceTheFactsPod.com!

From The Digital Cutting Room Floor:

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D’Oh! A Correction:

On the show, I erroneously reported that the original air date for “Bought and Sold” was February 25, 1981… it was actually March 4, 1981.

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Todd Bridges!

One of my favorite career-moments from Todd Bridges… with Vanilla Ice in “That’s My Boy” (2012) - Todd appears around 1:45, and he is HILARIOUS!

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Zsa Zsa Gabor !

Zsa Zsa Gabor is the middle child of the famous Gabor Sisters, two years younger than Magda, two years older than Eva. Their lives are fascinating, I encourage you to Google them and learn more. They were sort-of the Kardashians of their time.

Magda, Zsa Zsa, and Eva. Probably before they had any work done. Probably.

Here is a GREAT pictorial of Zsa Zsa’s glamour days from InStyle.com:

(“courtesy Everett Collection” from InStyle.com article)

Poking fun at herself in the Naked Gun 2-1/2:

And here is her obituary at The Hollywood Reporter, which also mentions her makeup line.

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Regarding The Fuller Brush Company, they do still exist today. According to their Wikipedia page, “The Fuller Brush Company sells branded and private label products for personal care as well as commercial and household cleaning. It was founded in 1906 by Alfred Fuller. Consolidated Foods, now Sara Lee Corporation, acquired Fuller Brush in 1968. In 1991 the company was placed in private ownership but, in 1994, it became a subsidiary of CPAC Inc.,[2] which from 2007 – 2012 was owned by the private equity group Buckingham Capital Partners.[1] From December 2012 thru Dec 2017, the Fuller Brush Company was owned and operated by David Sabin and Victory Park Capital. From January 2018 the Fuller Brush is owned and operated by Galaxy Brush LLC, located in Lakewood, New Jersey.”

(Zzzzzzzz…)

(snort—) Huh? What? Oh. Well, if that paragraph hasn’t bored you enough, then how about a video? It shows EVERYTHING you (n)EVER wanted to know about Fuller Brushes…

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Blair’s New Yorker Poster

Here are 2 stills from S7 E1 right after Edna’s Edibles burned down. Note the pennant on the left side of the screen. The New Yorker poster is to the far left of this. James is absolutely correct that this poster has followed Blair for a good chunk of the series.

“Do I need more mousse?”

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Prompted Applause For Guest Stars?

The episode of Roseanne I mention where Patsy & Edina pop in. Their entrance happens @ 6:28… What do you think? Did the audience know they were going to appear? Or was it a surprise?

025 - S2E12 "The Secret" with Heather Delmotte

Heather and I even play darts dramatically.

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Extras Available Exclusively at FaceTheFactsPod.com!

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Betty Shambles!

Here is Heather’s very good friend Betty Shambles, often found performing on the streets of Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

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Virginia Slims Cigarettes!

A typical Virginia Slims magazine ad from the 1970s:

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The Coffee Condundrum Continues!

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The Sombrero Saga:

OK, I finally got around to doing some research. When we first find ourselves in the girls’ room in S2E2 “The New Girl, Part 2,” there is really not much of anything in the room, and the window area looks clear.

But to my great horror, the sombrero actually appears in the VERY NEXT episode.

Once again, I had to wonder if the sombrero is there for the entire time the girls live in this room. Turns out that it is thankfully NOT. It remains only until the end of Season 3.

When we start Season 4, the tiger is still there, but the sombrero is gone.

And it doesn’t seem that it ever returns right up until the girls are packing up and moving out.

Whew. I think we all feel better now. After Season 1 where multiple girls’ dorm rooms were inexplicably decorated with multiple sombreros, I suppose this tiny little homage isn’t the worst bit of useless set decoration. Nonetheless, adios sombreros. You never made any sense. Ever.

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Alex Rocco

Alex Rocco, who plays Jo’s father Charlie Polniaczek was in fact in “The Godfather…”

…and more importantly, he was in “The Cannonball Run 2.”

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Jo’s Origins Retconned?

To clarify my confusion: S2E12 “The Secret” definitively states that Jo’s Dad left when she was 12, and she is now 16. I was thinking we had been told her father’s departure was more recent. Research shows that in S2E1, when we are learning Jo’s back story, Mrs Garrett says it was “a couple of years ago.” I suppose that *could* be loosely translated into 4 years. Ish. So… I guess this is OK. I guess.

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Heather’s favorite commercial!

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Heather’s Favorite Cookies!

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David’s Favorite Toy: Maskatron!

While Maskatron was solely an action figure and never an actual character on “The Six Million Dollar Man,” I always thought his face-mask resembled Captain Radl, a Nazi bad guy from an episode of “Wonder Woman” (played by actor John Saxon.)

Well, guess what? I did some research and the doll WAS modeled after John Saxon! There was an episode of T6MDM called “Day Of The Robot” in which Saxon plays a scientist who is kidnapped and replaced with a robot. This episode is unrelated to the official “Fembot” episodes/event I talk about on the podcast (officially titled “Kill Oscar"). In fact, Saxon’s episode pre-dates the Fembots by 2-1/2 years. WHO KNEW!?! Thanks, Internet!! (Saxon did make a second appearance on T6MDM, but as a different character.)

Here a GREAT blog with photos and other info.

I don’t know whatever happened to MY Maskatron doll, but I found the Steve Austin face tucked away somewhere many years later. So I made it into a Christmas ornament, and now 40+ years later, I hang it on my tree every year. :-)

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Favorite Toy Honorable Mention: Hugo, Man Of A Thousand Faces

A friend posted this to FB 2 years ago and my brain EXPLODED. I had forgotten all about this! Apparently, you can’t find the commercial for Hugo anywhere on the interwebs, but he was a creepy bald, hairless doll that could be dressed up and disguised using various provided wigs, glasses, and prosthetics. (Do we see a pattern evolving here for the future actor with Maskatron and his changeable faces and now this…?!)

Logo/NewNowNext Ranks The 20 Hottest Men On Facts of Life

From 2015: Logo posted on their web site a list ranking the 20 Hottest Men On Facts Of Life. Sadly, the article’s photos seem to be lost somewhere in cyberspace, but if you want a deep dive and have some time to kill, Google these guys (if you don’t already have them etched in your memory). And then take the time to find their unclothed work, which the article has so generously provided. :-)

024 S2E11 "Sex Symbol" with Angie Sardiña

Me and Angie at a place where we work!

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Extras Available Exclusively At FaceTheFactsPod.com!

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FOLLOW UP: I speculated that Tony Orlando was Italian… he was, in fact, born Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis on April 3, 1944, the son of a Greek father and a Puerto Rican mother. So, not Italian, but still a hairy guy. LOL

in his heyday in the 1970s

on the “Tony Orlando And Dawn” variety show

more recently

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What do we think? If Blair’s older-than-I’m-comfortable-with escort at the Eastland Mixer isn’t Tony Orlando…

…could it be Ron Jeremy?

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I realized I was confused over the abbreviations of various theatre education programs, so for my own clarification, and maybe some others:

Angie attended AADA, the American Academy of Dramatic Arts…

Not to be confused with AMDA, which is The American Musical and Dramatic Academy.

The more you know … *star whoosh*

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While I was researching and hunting down Angie’s favorite Chef Boyardee commercials, I was reminded that there WAS a slogan/jingle in the 1980s: “Thank Goodness For Chef Boyardee.”

This is the specific commercial Angie was remembering with the actor’s face dissolving to the image on the label:

And here is how you can feed a family of 4 for three bucks:

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Holly Gagnier!

as “Home Run” Helen on The Facts Of Life (1981)…

…and as bitchy Natalie in “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” (1985). Thanks to my friend Todd-Michael, who alerted me of this fact. And who then ended our friendship when I said I had actually never seen this film.

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Miss Angie / Miss Vanjie

If you don’t understand why I kept saying “Miss Angie…” it is a reference to Vanessa Vanjie Mateo, who was eliminated on the first episode of Season 10 of RuPaul’s Drag Race in March of 2018. Her exit went viral on the Internet as she oddly called out her own name while making her exit. I like this version of the clip which includes Michelle Visage trying to crack up RuPaul, and RuPaul telling her to stop because he was about to pop his facelift tapes off. LOL

Big Gay Sketch Show "Facts Of Life" Spoof #2!

This time Paul Vogt makes a special guest appearance as Mrs. Garrett.

023 - S2E10 "Breaking Point" with Matthew Arter

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Matthew hates the pictures we take together. So I’ll just use this candid one, where we both clearly appear much more attractive.

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Extras Available Only At FaceTheFactsPod.com!

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Matthew arrived at my house and contrary to his comments on the show, he was met with a delicious homemade lunch… my mother’s Taco Salad.

(Disney Fans: can you spot the Hidden Mickey?!)

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This is TAM.

These are TAM-TAM, crab flavored snacks. (?!?!?)

This is Tab.

Any questions?

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Read up on The Misadventures Of Sheriff Lobo!

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And it’s origin series, B.J. And The Bear.

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One of Matthew’s favorite Dairy Queen commercials:

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Joan Blondell magically turns out the lights in “Grease” with her elbow FAR from the actual light switch:

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I couldn’t wait to share it…! YES, people, in two episodes, "The Secret,” to my horror, I discovered that they DID sneak a sombrero into the girls’ bedroom in this season! WTFFFF???

Check back in 2 weeks for a full (and very IMPORTANT) analysis!

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The nightmare-fuel treats from Carvel: Fudgey The Whale and Cookie Puss.

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in loving memory of

Stacy Fulford (1988-2017)

See more photos, tributes, and love for Stacy on her Facebook Memorial Page.

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National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

1-800-273-TALK (8255)

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022 - S2E9 "Gossip" with James Bondy

Bondy. James Bondy.

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Extras Available Only At FaceTheFactsPod.com!

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Speaking of significant height differences… ( ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ )
James wondered about Howard’s height, as he towers over Mrs. Garrett. Actor Hugh Gillin, who played Howard the chef, was 6’ 6” tall, according to his IMdB page. 

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David hasn’t “been friends with” Holden Hollywood since 2013. But Holden’s suit has been inherited by other “friends” … including James Bondy’s current “friend” Ace Victory.

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In case there is any question about Kenneth Mars having a toupee, this is him in the show (with his telephone shoulder rest), and a pic of him in his later years (he passed away in 2011). This shows the farthest extent to which he lost his hair. He was definitely not bald in his younger years.

And while we’re on the subject, here is a similar, more modern version of the telephone shoulder rest. (available at Amazon)

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Putting this here for James to add to his spank bank: (also, EWW.)

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Brooke Shields

Her famous Calvin Klein commercials from the late 1970s/early 1980s. And we wonder why The Facts Of Life season 1 was so comfortable sexualizing teenaged girls. Here is FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD Brooke:

Brooke Shields was born on May 31, 1965, so she is 53 years old. She is not “pushing 60” as we speculate in the show. She does still have her “Timeless” clothing line at QVC.

Brooke Shields doesn’t have a furniture LINE at La-Z-Boy, it seems that she started being their spokesperson and appearing in commercials for them in 2010. This seems to have lasted 3 or 4 years?

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As James pointed out, the weird missing “N” on the Monopoly Box… huh?

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Here is a highly informative (and highly unexciting) video about Comprehensive Dilated Eye Exams, and why we should all be getting them.

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I researched the “Drunk Song” and found this on Wikipedia: While often referred to as “How Dry I Am,” those are actually lyrics to the song “The Near Future” by Irving Berlin. It seems to be from the turn-of-the-century, with some information saying it pre-dates Prohibition. (Though the lyrics one finds on the internet don’t necessarily support this.) I couldn’t find anything definitive, nor could I find a recording or video of the original song. At this point, I had spent more than 5 minutes on it and I’m officially over it. Please feel free to email me with any information you may have. And, come on, let’s face it, Warner Brothers’ cartoons is the place where just about all of us learned it:

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James mentioned handcuffs… referring to the time Ace Victory was arrested by Officer Friskem. (That will teach him not to go into the 10-item-line with 11 items.)

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Family Guy weighs in on the Andrea Age Gap on “Beverly Hills, 90210:” They are referring to the fact that actress Gabrielle Carteris was 29 years old playing a high school student when the show premiered in 1990.

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Suzy Chaffee “Suzy Chapstick” commerical. (David would like to start a rumor that the two little boys in this commercial are actually him and James.)

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Videos of James Bondy!

VERY young James on Deke Wilson’s Mini Mysteries… appearing around 14 minutes in. His character is faking that he is Mexican.

As Robert on Ribert And Robert’s Wonderworld:

And, of course, his Wikipedia page. Which, again, he has no idea who created it… and it is eerily accurate.

The Big Gay Sketch Show takes on "Facts Of Life"

featuring a pre-SNL Kate McKinnon as Blair!

021 - S2E8 "Teenage Marriage, Part 2" with Paul Padilla

Extras exclusively at FaceTheFactsPod.Com!

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I looked up how to spell “peignoir.” (Pronounced ‘pay-NWAH.’) According to Wikipedia, it is “a long outer garment for women which is frequently sheer and made of chiffon or another translucent fabric.” The More You Know... *star whoosh* Here’s a super sexy fancy one I found on the interwebs:

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Apparently, Sak’s, the department store, is still a thing in NYC and across the country. Sadly, there isn’t a store located anywhere in Central Florida. The closest one to Orlando is about 100 miles away in Sarasota, Florida. 🙁

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And guess what!? The lowest Pay Grade in the U.S. Navy for 1981 was… $501.30!! They actually got that right! (Source: Navy Cyber Space)

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And OMG Nancy McKeon JUST made a post on Instagram about this very episode on March 7th!

020 - S2E7 "Teenage Marriage, Part 1" with Paul Padilla

Extras found exclusively at FaceTheFactsPod.Com!

Extra Content Found Exclusively at FaceTheFactsPod.com!

Re: PERSON-TO-PERSON CALLS: According to Wikipedia, “A person-to-person call is an operator-assisted call in which the calling party requests to speak to a specific party and not simply to anyone who answers. The caller is not charged for the call unless the requested party can be reached.” So that’s the difference. You don’t get charged if you don’t reach the person. THE MORE YOU KNOW… * whoosh *

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White Mountain Puzzles was a rare hidden discovery of mine a couple of years ago, and recently I found them at Bed Bath & Beyond. I have two of these puzzles hanging in my office. This is the one Paul & I discuss is called “Tasty Treats” …

Ooh! And while I was re-visiting their website, I discovered they have a 1980s ‘nostalgia’ puzzle!

… and notice what is in the lower left corner!

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Annette Funicello Skippy Peanut Butter Commercials:

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Hungry Hungry Hippos!

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I couldn’t identify the video game that Mrs. Garrett was playing, but Bob in Anaheim nailed it on the first try… Electronic Quarterback! (When Mrs. G asks, “Who’s In There?” that is the slogan of the product.)

The electronic video game I was referencing was called “Microvision.”

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Regarding joining the Navy with/without a high school diploma: According to this article, “Every branch of the military will accept applications from someone who doesn't have a high school diploma. You must, however, have a GED certificate. The military only enlists a small amount of GED candidates each year based on a percentage of the total number of people enlisting. Military research has shown that high school dropouts are more likely to have behavioral issues and be discharged from the service early.” Final Word: FACTS OF LIFE FAIL.

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Just gonna leave this here…

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The controversy continues … this was posted to the Facebook page after the episode dropped:

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But then… common ground was discovered and old wounds began to heal…

The Rerun Show featuring The Facts Of Life "Shoplifting"

019 - S2E6 "Shoplifting" with Dr. Steve Summers

Me & Dr. Steve! (Yes, that is a picture of us in the background. And my HS diploma and Bachelor’s Degree. Those are always there. I didn’t drag those out to impress him. Also note my TOOTIE DOLL!)
In addition to being a Doctor of Chemistry, Steve is the Associate Vice President of the School of Arts and Sciences at Seminole State College. (which includes the theatre department!)

Extra Content Exclusively Available At FaceTheFactsPod.Com!

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Two things I meant to mention and forgot: (1) I don’t believe we EVER hear of Jo working at Harrison’s Department Store on the weekend in a future epsiode, and (2) “Shoplifting” is the episode they used when “The Rerun Show” did their spoof/re-enactment of it. Find it on YouTube, or watch for it here; I’ll be posting it on Sunday.

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The wonderful voice of Hazel Shermet on “The New Zoo Revue.” Here is the theme song, and 2 of Hazel’s characters: Henrietta Hippo and Freida Frog:

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Dr. Steve’s first concert with The Orlando Gay Chorus. Featuring this gem and a super talented and beautiful special guest soloist (later named Anastasia Von Trapp):

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DOLLAR COIN STUFF!

The Susan B. Anthony dollar, first issued in 1979

Charles Bronson in 1966… Nope, I don’t really see the resemblance.

Charles Bronson in “Death Wish” (1974)

actual photo of Susan B. Anthony from 1860

Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906)

You Go, Girl!

YAAAAS, KWEEN!!

D’Oh!

OK, that’s a little better… ? Sort of… ?

One of the problems with the coin was how close it was in size to the quarter.

From my own (blurry) collection: Eisenhower dollar coin (first issued 1971), The Sacagawea dollar coin (first issued 2002), the SAME-SIZE Susan B. Anthony dollar, and quarter to show relative size.

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THEY STILL COMMENT ON EACH OTHER’S INSTAGRAMS!!! AAAAHHHHHH! (note whose account this is… Paul Padilla’s, of course)

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The funny ladies of “Soap:” CATHRYN DAMON (1930-1987) and just-recently-deceased KATHERINE HELMOND (1929-2019)

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Madge The Manicurist, portrayed by actress Jan Miner from 1966 until 1992 (!).

An early commercial from the late 1960s:

A later one from the 1980s:

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An E. F. Hutton commercial from the 1970s:

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An early drag character of mine that we discuss on the show: Rhonda Talonsky. This is Rhonda and her BFF Eilleen Dover ready to hit the town around Christmas-time in 1996. (Eilleen is the creation of André Provencher). This outfit may be what I was trying to pull together when I first met Dr. Steve. (A character similar to Rhonda can be seen at Sleuths Mystery Dinner Theater; her name is Dolly in the show called “WKZY.”)

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Regarding our discussion of Hawaiian shirts… THIS is what I think of when I hear “Hawaiian Shirt:”

Not really this… :-/

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And for those who have never seen a Two-Dollar Bill… (discussed in the Extras) :

018 - S2E5 "Cousin Geri" with Jeff Jones

Extra content available exclusively at facethefactspod.com!

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From the Digital Cutting Room Floor:

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Jeff Jones Stand-Up!

Jeff as Barf from “Spaceballs” at my Halloween Party in 2010

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A great 2016 interview with Geri Jewell talking about doing “The Facts Of Life.”

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For Jeff Jones: Some classic Little Caesar’s commercials from the 1980s.

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THE COFFEE CONUNDRUM:

Jeff pointed out that there was an overabundance of coffee at Eastland School. In addition to the coffee VENDING MACHINE in the parlor / rec room…

… Jeff noticed this MASSIVE coffee maker/percolator in the background of the set.

This coffee maker first appeared in S2 E3 “Double Standard” … and it would remain there through the end of season 4 for the entire time the series takes place in the Eastland cafeteria.

SO WHY DOES MRS. GARRETT NEED TO GO INTO THE KITCHEN TO GET GERI A CUP OF COFFEE?!?

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Geri Jewell doing some of her stand-up in 1982 for a special called “I Love Liberty” … a Norman-Lear-produced salute to patriotism for Washington’s Birthday. Check out the INSANE list of celebrities who appeared on this show at IMdB!

From 2014: Some of Geri Jewell’s more recent stand-up. Here she even jokes about how she got her role on HBO’s “Deadwood.”

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SPEAKING OF WHICH! We never did get to mention her work on HBO’s “Deadwood” (23 episodes from 2004-2006)… BTW, her character’s name was ‘Jewel.’

017 - S2E4 "Who Am I?" with Robb Zeiser

Mr. Robb and Ms. David

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Extras found exclusively at facethefactspod.com!

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Robb’s appearance on The Tonight Show!

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Robb’s alter-ego on the streets of Hollywood Studios: Ben Appetit (photo by Jamie-Lyn Markos)

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The Amazing Silent Comedy of “Mr. Robb" :

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Robb loves when I do my impression of Peter Griffin sing-saying “Guil-tyyyyyyy!” If you’ve never seen it, here is a 10-minute extended version. (And if you’re so inclined, there is also a 10-hour super cut on YouTube.)

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The video below ends before the punchline of the scene (Mr. Grant busts out laughing and thanks Mary for the “joke” because he really needed a laugh) but here is a homemade clip of the only time (I believe) Mary Tyler Moore sang on her eponymous show:

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Click the photo below to watch the AWESOME documentary about Rose Marie (free to Amazon Prime Video subscribers):

=> UPDATE: It isn’t free anymore, it costs money now. Try here <=

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If you are not familiar with the Punchy Players on YouTube, PLEASE watch some of their videos. (Sadly it’s been 4 years since they’ve posted anything new. Waaaah) The vocal impressions that "Jeff” does are spot-on, including his Mrs. Garrett found here around 1:05.

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And checking up on Glenn Scarpelli… He just had a movie come out on Amazon Prime last September. It’s called Sacred Journeys, and he stars in it with Mackenzie Phillips, his former co-star on “One Day At A Time!” Click here to read an interview and watch the trailer. Click the photo below to go directly to the movie (free to Amazon Prime subscribers). WHO KNEW?!

016 - S2E3 "Double Standard" with Jodi Chase

They-ah we ahhhh! They-ah we aaaaaaah!! (This is Bostonian speak for “there we are”)

Extras found exclusively at facethefactspod.com!

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From The Digital Cutting Room Floor:

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No-Pest Strips do still exist! Turns out they are now owned by Hot Shot. But in 1980 they were talking about this older version:

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An early Parkay Margarine commercial (with a pre-”Alice” Vic Tayback!)

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Thanks to my friend Bob for finding these next 2 videos… (1) CHILD WORLD!

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(2) LECHMERE!

My Interview With Michael Wanzie

This article was featured in the December 13, 2018 issue of Michael Wanzie’s weekly WANZeGRAM. It is an email newsletter about Central Florida arts, entertainment, and events. If you wish to receive it, send Michael a message through Facebook requesting to be added to the email list. You can also visit his web site, wanzie.com (currently under construction).

Let's Face The Facts: "The Facts of Life" was a Shit Show with which podcaster David Almeida is Obsessed

Into the crowded fray of podcasts of every description and level of quality or lack thereof comes a fairly recent entry by Orlando Actor/Writer David Almeida which is just quirky enough to rate being featured here in your WANZeGRAM.

For each episode of his “Let’s Face The Facts” podcast David Almeida invites one Central Florida so-and-so of some degree of notoriety into his Audubon Park home to watch an episode of the 1980s TV sitcom “The Facts of Life.” Once the episode concludes David turns on the recording device and coaches his guest to join him in “overanalyzing” said episode.

This concept seemed just weird enough to Wanzie that when asked by David to be a guest on the podcast he couldn’t say no. Especially since, as Wanzie explained to David, “I’m not sure I have ever seen an entire episode of ‘The Facts of Life’ from beginning to end because even back then I thought the show to be atrocious and most of the acting so bad I couldn’t bring myself to sit through an entire half hour of that tripe.” David saw this as a positive in keeping things interesting and so Wanzie did indeed avail himself to be a guest in this venture and thus, for perhaps the first time in his life, Wanzie watched an entire episode of a series which he refers to as “One of the most appalling, badly-written, poorly-produced TV sitcoms to have ever survived beyond its first season.”

The whole concept seemed so off the wall to Wanzie that he insisted we here at WANZeGRAM (WG) World Headquarters - nested in the heart of the lovely College Park neighborhood of Orlando Florida - conduct an interview with podcaster, David Almeida (DA) and so we have:

WG: What made you decide to enter the very crowded podcast arena?

DA: I love listening to podcasts, and some of my favorites are TV-nostalgia oriented. (My favorites: “TV Guidance Counselor,” “Go Bayside.”) I was like, “I can do that! I watched too much TV when I was a kid, too!” And crowded as it is, podcasting is easy, inexpensive, and allows anybody an international platform where their work can be found.

WG: Why this subject matter for your podcast?

DA: Other podcasts have used a similar format to talk about other shows, but nobody had done “The Facts Of Life,” which was one of my favorite shows when I was a kid. I had considered others, but I thought this particular show was the best choice because it had a long run (9 years!), it dealt with the issues of its day, it took on many different formats, and it clearly has a lasting place in our culture.

WG: Would you briefly explain your podcast formula for our Subscriber Friends?

DA: I invite an artist friend to my house. We watch an episode of the show. Then I hit record and we synopsize the show. Along the way, we analyze it, critique it, and use it as a springboard to talk about other related subjects. I also do a brief interview of the guest so they can talk about their own art and projects.

WG: Who have you had as guests thus far? 

DA: I have had Matthew Arter (a/k/a Carol Lee), Kevin Kriegel (a/k/a Mitzi Morris), Mike Marinaccio (of the Orlando Fringe Festival), Mark Baratelli (of The Daily City), actor friends Philip Nolen, Alex Mrazek, Paul Padilla, Brett Waldon, Martin Kunz, and a little up-and-coming spitfire named Michael Wanzie. I think he’s going to do well in this town. (I apologize that this list doesn’t contain more females! It was just a scheduling thing; I am already working to correct this!)

WG: How would rate or to compare your podcast which featured Wanzie with others you have done?

DA: Michael is one of my guests who had never seen the show before. I love the insight and observations that those people bring, and Wanzie’s spin didn’t disappoint. It didn’t help that we were in Season 1 when the show hadn’t yet found itself. Michael also gave me loads of crap for the extensive notes I took while watching. He then expanded on that to shame me for how clean and organized my home is. I think I am still traumatized.

WG: Do you intend for this to be a commercial/for-profit venture or is it just for the hell of it or what?

DA: This is 100% for my own fun and diversion. I think so many of us in the arts can relate to having many, many people we call friends, and yet we rarely see or spend time with them. This is a great excuse to create time to do something fun with those friends, and then send it out into the world to show how many amazingly talented and entertaining people we have here in Central Florida. If down the road the show became very popular and I could find sponsorship and/or monetize it, I would certainly consider it. Just to defray the relatively small costs of web hosting, etc. But this was not started with for-profit intentions.

WG: What has proved to be your greatest challenge thus far?

DA: The marketing side of things. I’m still figuring out the best ways to reach people and get the word out about the show. I’m learning that social media marketing is very complex, and while I want this show to be heard by lots of people, I don’t want the business end to swallow up the joy I get from creating the show itself.

WG: How many episodes do you have in the can?

DA: I had banked about 8 shows before I premiered it this past Halloween. I have enough right now to get me into the new year. In January I’ll be back to recording every week.

WG: Tell us anything more you want WANZeGRAM Subscriber Friends to know about the podcast.

DA: I am part of the generation that grew up in front of the television, and I’ve learned there are so many others like me. If you love to talk about the shows you grew up with, then I think you’ll enjoy the podcast. I realize not everybody is tech-savvy, but the good news is if you aren’t connected to a podcast app on your phone, just go to www.facethefactspod.com and you can listen to the show directly from the web site.

To go directly to the episode in which Wanzie is the guest just point your browser to: https://www.facethefactspod.com/podblog/2018/11/28/005-s1e5-overachieving-with-michael-wanzie

EDITORS NOTE: David Almeida is originally from Massachusetts and has lived in Orlando since 1992. He is a full-time performer at Walt Disney World and can also be seen at Universal Studios. He has appeared with many local theatre companies including Mad Cow Theatre, Garden Theatre, Winter Park Playhouse, Sea World, Beth Marshall Presents, Orlando Philharmonic, Bay Street Players, and Jester Theater. He has also produced / written / performed in many Orlando Fringe Festivals. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Cinema from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. As a writer, he was film critic for Watermark for 5 years. He recently penned a new murder mystery for Sleuths Mystery Dinner Theatre, where he also performs. Other playwriting collaborations with co-author Stephen J. Miller have been featured by Playwrights’ Round Table, Theatre Downtown, and off-off-Broadway with Emerging Artists’ Theatre. David wishes WANZeGRAM subscriber friends to know that he is a Leo. He is single. His favorite food is pizza. His FICO score is 807. He owns his own home and he doesn’t have any pets, unless you count his roommate Austin. Potential suiters may wish to visit www.davidalmeida.com.

015 - S2E2 "The New Girl, Part 2" with Matthew Arter

…Then it got awkward.

EXTRAS for you to enjoy exclusively here at facethefactspod.com!

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Matthew asked, and I delivered: This is a home-recording of “ON LAST WEEK’S SHOW” taken from the DVD box set:

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Before you listen to the audio extras, just FYI the nonsensical bit we do in the middle is from this video by the hilarious Punchy Players:

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The egregious theme to the egregious 1990 attempt to reboot “The Brady Bunch” into “The Bradys:” We love Florence Henderson … this was not the best material match for her voice.

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Helen Hunt famously jumping out of a window on angel dust in the after-school special “Desperate Lives”

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014 - S2E1 "The New Girl, Part 1" with Matthew Arter

We have SUCH FUN…!

Here are some extras, found exclusively here at facethefactspod.com!

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As discussed, the Nielson Top 30 for the 1979-1980 season (where Facts Of Life Season 1 came in 74th out of 79 shows): Poor NBC! Still lagging so far behind, even though “Real People” was an unexpected hit that year.

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Nancy McKeon’s Hallmark Commercial where the producers first noticed her. The label says 1981, but it had to pre-date her first appearance on Facts Of Life which was 1980.

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“Little Darlings” - trailer (fan-created, not original)

“Little Darlings” - entire movie (!!)

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OK, so it’s not a cigarette machine… it’s a PASTRIES machine…? Like future Edna’s Edibles Pastries? To the left is the old-fashioned one-cup-of-coffee-at-a-time coffee machine.

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And finally, let’s hear it for the coke-bottle-glasses-wearing bartender. Matthew and I dismiss him as unattractive, but he’s actually not bad looking at all. (Probably better without the glasses…) He is uncredited in the episode… Anybody recognize him? Write to me!