“Our supply will probably NEVER run out!”
051 - S3E22 "The Academy" with Cameron Matthews
Lauren Bacall For High Point Coffee!
Peter Frechette vs. Josh Charles!
Peter Frechette, featured in this episode, is a 2-time Tony-Award-nominated actor, with many stage credits. People of a certain age may best remember him in one of my favorite awful movies, “Grease 2:”
Here he is with his husband, stage and TV director David Warren (they have been together since 1988):
Mr. Frechette is NOT TO BE CONFUSED with actor Josh Charles, known for “Dead Poets Society,” “Sports Night,” and “The Good Wife.” (OK, maybe I’m the only one who made this mistake. Whatever.)
[ EXTRAS ] Classic Tootsie Pop Commercial!
[Extras] Candice Bergen!
In this clip, she surprises Burt Reynolds with a song in “Starting Over,” the 1979 debut film of writer-director James L. Brooks. This song was written by “They’re Playing Our Song” writers Marvin Hamlisch and Carole Bayer Sager. Bergen was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for the film, but lost to a young newcomer named Meryl Streep for her performance in “Kramer vs. Kramer. “
And in response to Cameron’s question about what she did before “Murphy Brown,” here is a perfect and short re-cap of her career as of 1989 for a Barbara Walters interview. (Among her ‘forgettable’ film roles in the 1970s were memorable appearances on “Saturday Night Live”… where she cut her comedic teeth before “Starting Over.”)
She most recently starred in the 2018 film “Book Club” with Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, and Mary Steenburgen.
[ EXTRAS ] “Empty Nest” Failed Backdoor Pilot
This episode of The Golden Girls (Season 2, Episode 26) was an attempt to create a vehicle for Rita Moreno and Paul Dooley as new empty-nesters. (Read a very funny detailed review of it here.) It didn’t work, so the whole thing was re-tooled as a Richard Mulligan vehicle, and all that remained was the set and David Leisure as the sleazy womanizing neighbor. (Interesting Fact: the corrected “Empty Nest” ran almost as long as “The Golden Girls!” 170 EN episodes were made, while GG had 180 (not including “Golden Palace” which is often included in syndication packages). You can watch the episode for free with a Hulu subscription here. Ms. Moreno talks about the experience here:
[ EXTRAS ] Denny Terio hosting “Dance Fever!”
With Lyle Waggoner and the late great Rip Taylor!
[ EXTRAS ] Folger’s Coffee!
(And all the MANY verses that precede the well-known chorus:)
050 - S3E21 "Mind Your Own Business" with Cameron Francis
More Cameron Francis Magic!
049 - S3E20 "Kids Can Be Cruel" with Paul Padilla
Harvey’s Bristol Cream!
Riunite!
Here is a whole collection of popular Riunite commercials!
Dink!
![[ There is a website with ALL of these called Bart’s Blackboard ]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b64c7b055b02c1f94d911fa/1569635240727-07YT321LF5LG18WQ4YEZ/The-Simpsons-s22e13-I-will-not-make-fun-of-Cupids-dink.jpg)
[ There is a website with ALL of these called Bart’s Blackboard ]
I did some research to see if my childhood use of the word “dink” to mean “penis” was something other people did, or if it was just regional to my state/city/school/self. Here is some of what I found:
“A contemptuous term used to refer to a Southeast Asian, especially a Vietnamese.” (dictionary.com)
“A New England term referring to someone being an asshole or an idiot.” (urbandictionary.com)
“Penis” (Yay! only it’s WAY down the list at onlineslangdictionary.com… and just about everything else above it refers back to being a dork, dumbass, loser, fool, idiot, jerk, or any combination thereof.
Even Wikipedia, thankfully, does have “a term for the penis” included in its many meanings. But it, like many other online sources, wants to mainly refer to the acronym DINK, coined in the 1980s, which was a term for the growing financial demographic of childless couples: “Double Income, No Kids.”
And here is a blog post from 2012 at The Art Of Doing Stuff where author Karen is in the EXACT same situation where she thought, like me, it was a term that everybody used… and learned that it was in fact not. I feel seen.
So back to the original question: “Am I right that dink is another word for penis?” The answer is, “Well, technically, yes, but not so that anybody would really notice.” Fine by me. I have been educated, as now have all of you.
You’re welcome.
The Happy TV Family of 1981!
This was discovered and shared by FOL Fan Ryan C on the “Facts Of Life Fans” FB page. I had never seen this. And my brain is exploding. (And not just from Ed Asner being the male voice to kick things off.) The FOL gang appears at 3:38 — LITERALLY the last show featured — but more curiously, the cast of The Jeffersons appears at 3:23 … very animatedly singing IN THE EASTLAND CAFETERIA!! WTFFFFF??? (Actually it is easily explained: Even though they’re on competing networks, they’re both Norman Lear shows and taped at the same studios.) Other fun/weird stuff:
No Erik Estrada in the CHiPs segment @ 1:05, but instead we get Caitlyn Jenner, on the far left, during her 6-episode stint as ‘Officer Steve McLeish.’ Watch for young Jason Bateman @ 2:55, on the upper right, with the cast of Little House On The Prairie.
048 - S3E19 "New York, New York" with Logan Benedict
[ Extras ] That’s Dancing! Intro
I incorrectly remembered this as being from That’s Entertainment III. Sadly, this clip ends JUST BEFORE we get to Gene Kelly on the streets of New York with the breakdancers. If you have an AppleTV, search out the film in the TV App, and the trailer is the part JUST AFTER what I was discussing - he’s on the street, and you can see the breakdancers. Or just pay to rent the film. It’s pretty great.
Imperial Margarine!
I am completely OBSESSED with elocutionary speech habits that were required of all actors up until the 1970s. Note how they pronounce “MAW-jur-in” … LMAO!!
Australian Toaster Biscuits!
(Not Thomas’ English Muffins as we had speculated)
Yo Mamma!
In our discussion about “Yo Mamma So Fat” jokes, I later thought of these 2 SNL sketches with Richard Pryor, from December 1975. (If you can imagine, this was the SEVENTH episode of SNL. EVER.) Both contain “Yo Mamma” jokes, though not necessarily in the structure that Damon Wayans would later re-popularize in the 1990s.
And the “In Living Color” Sketch mentioned by one of the online histories of term. (accuracy=???) Shout out to Clearwater, Florida!
047 - S3E18 "Runaway" with Jamie-Lyn Markos
As Billie Dawn in “Born Yesterday” at Mad Cow Theatre
Fun On The Streets Of Disney’s Hollywood Studios!
with Holden Hollywood…
and Officer Friskem…
( ^^ did you notice Robb Zeiser’s good friend Ben Appetit on the drums? ^^ )
and even for the hot minute that I was friends with Director Alfie Hitchkick!
Sophisticated Ladies!
Available on YouTube below, and you can also find it on BroadwayHD.
You’ve Got The Look! (Jordache Jeans Commercial)
The adult predecessor to the above:
Many people don’t realize that this Gilda Radner SNL classic was a spoof of these commercials:
[ Extras ] Read Me!
This is Jamie-Lyn’s movie! Also starring Tim Williams with appearances by Trenell Mooring and Jodi Chase! Trailer below; full movie on Amazon Prime Video here.
[ Extras ] Sydney White!
Another great travelogue of Orlando (well, Rollins College in Winter Park): Sydney White (2007) starring Amanda Bynes and John Schneider. My friend Tait Moline appears in drag around 1 hour 27 minutes. Available through Amazon for FREE! (with ads) Click Here!.
[ Extras ] General Foods International Coffee!
A typical commercial featuring a young Lea Thompson:
And that waiter … JEAN-LUC!!
[ Extras ] Madge The Manicurist!
Follow-Up From Last Week!
Regarding my wish to have Rachel on “Friends” and Natalie from “The Facts Of Life” be cousins… (Thanks to listener Jennifer!)
And remember how I was surprised to discover that both Natalie and Rachel spelled their last names the same? And how I had thought Rachel’s surname had an E at the end? I was NOT WRONG! Jennifer pointed out that in fact, according to this article, Rachel’s name had several instances where it was spelled both ways!
046 - S3E17 "The Affair" with Angie Sardiña
While watching this episode, Angie realized that her friend Bev at the Super Shindig Dance Party at Hollywood Studios has the same hair as Mrs. Garrett … !! 😄😂🤣
Blair’s Changing Hair At The Restaurant!
And speaking of hair… Here it is, flip-flopping back and forth between NOT brushed out…
And clearly brushed out. ???!!!???
Happy Birthday To Me!
I recently celebrated a birthday, and friend-of-the-podcast Wesley Slade gave me a really… um… interesting gift. I have no idea where he found this; that’s probably for the better. But if there was ever the perfect gift for me, it’s a coffee cup with a naked Charlotte Rae in hair rollers. Wesley is BFFs with Justin, whom you’ll recall gave me the Tootie doll last Christmas. “I mean, when you’ve got friends like mine…!”
045 - S3E16 "The Four Musketeers" with Matthew Arter
(because Matthew won’t let me take his picture anymore, I am using the above horrible, blurry, red-eyed cropped photo from 4 years ago.)
Here is the original… which I just realized my fives of listeners should all recognize… Pictured: Me, Matthew, Selena (a/k/a Mrs. Rolando Ramos), Philip Nolen, and James Bondy. Beloved members of the LFTF Family, each and every one! ❤️
Matthew’s Close Personal Friend Lisa Whelchel:
MY Close Personal Friend Nancy McKeon:
[ Extras ]
[ Extras ] Matthew sings the BluBlockers jingle as “Blair’s Blue Blazer.” I honestly had never seen or heard of this before… I have learned something new this week. :-)
[ Extras ] Matthew and I go off on a little ‘novelty tune’ tangent, and thought it would be fun to share these classic gems:
Ray Stevens!
“Ahab The Arab” from 1962… not the most PC by today’s standards…
“Gitarzan” from 1962…
In the 1980s, to capitalize on the MTV craze, he re-recorded the songs and made these accompanying videos:
Steve Martin’s “King Tut” from 1978:
The live version he did on “Saturday Night Live,” May 22, 1978:
“The Facts Of My Life” by Charlotte Rae (and her son Larry Strauss)!
044 - S3E15 "Starstruck" with Rolando Ramos
Speaking of obsession-fandom, Rolando stalks me and dresses like me:
And he even auditioned for roles at theme parks that I had previously played.
Longest. Extras. Ever.
Rolando’s Favorite Commercial: MILK!
The Boy Version:
The Girl Version:
The ??? Version:
Jermaine Jackson!
Jermaine Jackson’s “Let’s Get Serious,” released 3/17/80, Co-written by Stevie Wonder (!).
At 0:44, doesn’t that melodic line make you think of “Eye Of The Tiger?”
EOTT didn’t come out until 1982. So, Jermaine is the victim of plagiarism maybe? Just say’n.
[EXTRAS] The Jackson 5 on The Carol Burnett Show!
The sketch where the earthquake happened and they just kept going! (Watch for it at 3:12)
The dance sketch with Vicki Lawrence talking jive, and everybody dancing less competently than Michael (in particular, Tito in the yellow).
And for the record, Jermaine is not in either of the above sketches. LOL
Rolando Ramos as The Joker!
Rolando’s “Joker Room”
And this is just a fraction of his collection…!
[EXTRAS] Bow Wow Caught Lying On Social Media
Here is the article from 2017 that I discuss where rapper Bow Wow got called out for a little creative Instagramming.
[EXTRAS] Pink’s “So Raise Your Glass”
Butchered lovingly by yours truly.
Orson Welles!
One his many Paul Masson commercials:
And the infamous drunken outtakes from a different shoot:
Kim Fields' "Dear Michael"
“Dear Michael: Do You Think 14 Is Too Young To Get Married?” - actual song lyric
In honor of this week’s episode where Tootie is so crazy for Michael… ’s brother Jermaine… Enjoy this flashback to 1984.
And here she is lip-synching the record on “Soul Train” …
043 - S3E14 "The Marriage Brokers" with Michael Colavolpe
Extras Available Exclusively at FaceTheFactsPod.com!
Posters For Both Straight AND Gay Teenaged Boys!
This hung proudly in my room for many years; It was my favorite.
This is the Farrah Fawcett one I also had:
This was the most popular one… because nipples.
This is the one I believe Michael mentions he had on his wall:
Scott Strader!
Sadly, we never find out what happened to Barnett Thornwood and whether he and Blair ever saw each other again. But examining the career of Scott Strader…
He appeared in one episode of “CHiPs” in the same year he did FOL. The episode takes place on the beach and features a LOT of shirtless Erik Estrada:
Mr. Strader had a starring role in the 1986 feature film “Jocks,” in which he was cast opposite a very young Mariska Hargitay. However, skimming the movie, I can’t find ANYTHING with shirtless guys, or even a locker room scene. Who needs this garbage?
According to her imdb page, this was Mariska’s third film.
I found a blog called Poseidon’s Underworld which, in 2014, made an entry honoring many impressive Hollywood bulges. Mr. Strader’s sweatpant-silhouette in “Jocks” is given mention.
Oh! Calcutta!
Just because we mention it in passing… I found the original 1972 cast (including a pre-”Maude” Bill Macy) on YouTube. (!!!) Better watch it while you can; not sure why it hasn’t been removed.
Electra Woman And Dyna Girl!
The originals from 1976 (yes, that’s future soap star Diedre Hall):
With Norman Alden as ‘Frank:’
Here was the first reboot attempt by the WB Network in 2001 with Markie Post: (not picked up by the network)
Click here for the 2016 Grace Helbig reboot that did get made.
Photo Contest
This picture was posted on one of The Facts Of Life Fan Page on Facebook, and everybody seemed equally puzzled over the location where this picture was taken. Clearly it is from Season 2… We have Jo (with no bangs), and Tootie without her braces. But this set is not from any scene in Season 2 that I can recall. Anybody have any knowledge/thoughts/ideas?
(See theories & corresponding debunking thereof below.)
David Davis, who runs the fan page, is no slouch when it comes to knowing his trivia about the show. He recently posted the pic assuming it was taken on the set of S3E16, “Brian and Sylvia.” I had to be the Debbie Downer who pointed out that the sets don’t match:
I ended up visually skimming most of Season 2 (because this stuff is IMPORTANT!! And apparently my time is not. LOL) to see if I could find costume matches, and the most identifying item, Natalie's sweater, is worn in S2E4 "Who Am I" ... but nothing worn by the others matches up. THE PLOT THICKENS!!
David D also said that he had wondered if it was taken in Cynthia’s room in S2E10 “Breaking Point” (a/k/a the suicide episode). But research once again proved that the locations were not a match (because wallpaper).
WHERE AND WHEN WAS THIS PICTURE TAKEN!?
If you can figure it out, you will win a valuable prize: A shout-out on my show. :-D
042 - S3E13 "The Americanization Of Miko" with Tim Williams
Extras Available Exclusively at FaceTheFactsPod.com!
Our alter-egos Holden Hollywood and Stone Granite having fun on the streets of Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
A short profile of actor Mako, focusing on his voice-over/animation work.
Mako in the original 1976 Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s “Pacific Overtures:”
Moxie!
As we discovered, the term, “You’ve got moxie!” was derived from the New-England-based Moxie cola. It was recently purchased by the Coca-Cola company, according to this article at Today.com:
…not to be confused with matzos or matzo ball soup. Or mahtzee, which does not exist outside the imagination of Tim Williams.
The Members Only Jacket
Everybody who was anybody in the 1980s had this jacket, or some other similar style of another brand:
I Love New York!
This New York tourism marketing campaign, always played up Broadway shows, including “A Chorus Line,” “La Cage Aux Folles,” and “Cats…”
…and in this version, “Evita,” “Sweeney Todd,” “They’re Playing Our Song,” “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” and “Peter Pan.” (what is with the weird choreography that Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou are doing?)
The Stray Cats!
Here are two of their hits, and they are decidedly NOT New Wave. (New Wave = Eurhythmics, A-ha, Blondie)
Please Don’t Squeeze The Charmin!
This wildly popular campaign from the mid-1960s through the mid-1980s (with a return in 1999!) is written about in-depth in this article at GroovyHistory.com. Mr. Whipple was played by character actor Dick Wilson.
Mr. Wilson frequently played a drunk guy on “Bewitched.”
Here is one of his first commercials in the 1960s. WHO IS THIS ACTRESS?! I think she looks like Estelle Parsons, but I don’t think it sounds like her. Any ideas? Please email me!
Here was Mr. Whipple’s return in 1999… clearly playing up the retirement and ‘old folks’ angle. Do you recognize Marvin Kaplan in the red shirt and yellow bowtie? He was a regular on “Alice” in the role of Henry.
And look what I found while I was researching this! A 1970s Charmin commercial featuring Charlotte Rae! (And her boss is played by Sorrell Booke, best known as Boss Hogg on “The Dukes Of Hazzard.”)
Yellow Face!
Show business has a long, rich, and inappropriate history of non-Asian actors playing Asians.
Such as, Marlon Brando (Caucasian) playing Japanese in “Teahouse Of The August Moon”…
Mickey Rooney (Caucasian) playing Japanese in “Breakfast At Tiffany’s”…
Juanita Hall (African-American) playing Polynesian in “South Pacific” (and won a Tony Award for it)…
And Ms. Hall also played Chinese in “Flower Drum Song”…
Alec Guinness (Caucasian) playing Japanese in “A Majority Of One”…
Linda Hunt (Caucasian, female) playing a Chinese-Australian male in “The Year Of Living Dangerously” (for which she won an Academy Award)…
And… well, me. *awkward pause* Yup. (discussed in the extras) This is Me (obviously Caucasian), playing Japanese (and 80 years old no less) in “Teahouse Of The August Moon” my senior year in high school. Hey, as Oprah says, “When You Know Better, You Do Better.”
041 - S3E12 "Green Eyed Monster" with Laura Hodos
Audio Extras Available Exclusively at FaceTheFactsPod.com!
Laura and I happen to have done 2 different productions of “Sweeney Todd” together.
First, at Mad Cow Theatre in 2006 (she as Mrs. Lovett, me as Pirelli)
Then in 2009, Mad Cow Theatre joined forces with the Orlando Philharmonic to do a concert version of the show… Laura was the Beggar Woman this time, and I got to do Pirelli AGAIN! (The stars of the show: Davis Gaines as Sweeney and Faith Prince as Mrs. Lovett! OMG!)
Laura Loves My House!
Laura covets my double-oven and backsplash. :-D
Diversity At Eastland!
Mrs. Garrett’s Hair!
(Discussed in the extras) These stills are from “The Facts Of Life Goes To Paris” which happens later in 1982, just before the premiere of Season 4. Charlotte Rae’s hair, I don’t believe, is ever in a bun for the entire movie.
Laura’s Favorite Commercials!
Evita and Song Keys
(discussed in the Extras) Here is a comparison of all the Evitas and how they sing their “money notes” … note how Madonna’s E5s are keyed down to B4s … that’s a fourth lower.
Some Wicked Key Changes!
(Discussed in the extras) Here you can compare Norbert Leo Butz’s performance as Fiyero in the original cast of “Wicked” with Taye Diggs’ (Idina Menzel’s “Rent” co-star… and husband at the time). In both cases, the song changes key for the male part of the duet, but notice that Taye’s key change brings us a step-and-a-half lower than Norbert’s.
Edumacate Yourself! (Down Syndrome Edition)
Here is the link to the National Down Syndrome Society where you can find resources and information, including verification that “Down’s Syndrome” is out there, but the preferred terminology is “Down Syndrome.”
040 - S3E11 "Legacy" with Trenell Mooring
Trenell and Klannie at the Orange County Regional History Center
Audio Extras!
Blair’s Blue Blazer (which is the title of my upcoming children’s book)
Australian Indigenous Peoples
Discussed in the outtro… Edumacate yourself about proper terminology at Common Ground’s website.
The Snoopy Sno-Cone Maker!
039 - S3E10 "Cousin Geri Returns" with Joy Andersen
At our friend Marc’s 1980s Head-Banging-Hair-Band Birthday Party in 2014:
Me & Joy IRL
Marc is a professional photographer and had a professional photo shoot set up for the party guests. It’s hard to believe Joy and I barely knew each other!
Extras Available Exclusively At FaceTheFactsPod.com!
The Bechdel Test
Click on the pic below to see the full “Dykes To Watch Out For” comic from 1985 that lays out “The Rule:”
The movie has to have at least two women in it,
who talk to each other,
about something besides a man.
Joy’s Favorite Kool-Aid Commercials!
In the 1970s before his mouth could move:
In the 1980s when he figured it out:
Joy’s appearance in the 2012 Orlando Fringe Festival hit “Theme Park Diva:” (written by John deHaas)
Joy’s 2014 Fringe Show “Tappin’ and Yappin’” (written by John deHaas)
Hi! I Think You’re Nice!
Click the pic below to listen to Joy on our mutual friend Sarah Hanchar’s podcast “Hi! I Think You’re Nice!”
Jam Magazine Article - Summer 1982
Thanks to listener Helen M who shared this on our Facebook page!
038 - S3E9 "Dear Me" with Lisa Wolfe-Penkal
One of our Holiday Baking Parties (enjoying the “fire” with friends, including Jodi Chase and Heather Delmotte)
Audio Extras Available Exclusively at FaceTheFactsPod.com!
Commercials We Discussed!
Todd Hollowell
Sometimes credited as Todd Hallowell, his IMDb page shows he has no credits after his FOL appearances. (And apparently there are two spellings of his name out there.) And basic Google searches are coming up with nothing. Many fan sites also have “Does anybody know what happened to him?” (The fact that they mention Jeff passed away in the 2001 Reunion Movie makes me worry that something may have happened to Todd… I certainly hope not!)
