“Let’s Face The Facts” has completed its analysis every episode (and all 3 TV movies) from “The Facts Of Life!” We are no longer producing new episodes.
My name is David Almeida, and I love the 1980s sitcom “The Facts Of Life.” From 2018 to 2023, I watched and analyzed every episode (and all 3 TV movies!) of this incredible series, joined by my friend/co-host Matthew Arter. All 229 episodes are available here and on all major podcast apps/platforms.
Still want more? From 2023 to 2024 we did 50 episodes of "TV Talkaholics," a Facts-Of-Life-adjacent podcast in which we re-watched and analyzed TV series, specials, and movies featuring cast members from the show. (More info at tvtalkaholics.com.)
Thank you to all of our devoted listeners over the years! And remember: The Facts Of Life Are All About YOU.
^ recent photo. REALLY recent. Yeah. That’s the ticket. ^
^ (old picture) ^
It was one the first marketing graphics I did back in October 2018. That seems so long ago! And Season 6 & Andy seemed SO FAR AWAY! Yet, here we are. Time flies.
Watch The Facts of Life S6 E15 - Star Gazer on Dailymotion
Little Matthew and Little David are decked out and ready for Christmas!
Transcript of This Week’s Episode: SubsLikeScript.com
See the most recent updates and a list of shows at thetommywestphall.wordpress.com
Here comes Andy! And who better to join me than the young budding gay boy in Texas who had a huge crush on him at the time: Paul Padilla!
Transcript of This Week’s Episode: SubsLikeScript.com
Here is an interview from October 2020 on the 3 Geeks Podcast:
^ on the left, with Jane Russell, Marilyn Monroe, and Tommy Noonan in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (1953)
^ not to be confused with the character of Elliot Reid on “Scrubs,” played by Sarah Chalke from 2001 to 2010.
Matthew Arter will be joining me for this one!
A sad day. Our dear sweet Beverly Ann is now reunited with her sister, Edna.
Cloris Leachman. What a career. What a legend. And by all accounts, what a force of nature.
Many articles are now online about her life & career, but I would like to share this tribute from my ‘close personal friend’ Diana Eden, costumer for “The Facts Of Life” during the 2 seasons that Ms. Leachman was a regular cast member:
(reprinted with permission, photo below from Diana’s personal collection)
^ “Cloris Leachman filming on location at Venice Beach, surrounded by fans” ^
(this pic can also be found in Diana’s awesome memoir, Stars In Their Underwear)
Transcript of the episode available at SubsLikeScripts.com
To clarify, Charlie Chaplin wrote the tune for the film “Modern Times.” The lyric and the title, by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons, was added in 1954. This version, by Nat King Cole, was the first recording with these lyrics.
as Brian in 1984
as the only guy who didn’t end up famous in “Young Guns” (1988) That’s him center in the back, surrounded counter-clockwise by Lou Diamond Phillips, Kiefer Sutherland, Emilio Estevez, Charlie Sheen, and Dermot Mulroney.
as apprentice to thief Burt Reynolds in “Breaking In” (1989)
Here is the first of 10 appearances of the Two A-Holes on SNL, played by Jason Sudeikis and Kristen Wiig. This was the first of eight appearances between 2005-2008.
Check out their transcripts of many TV shows… including this weeks FOL episode here.
as Mr. Parker in 10 episodes of “The Facts Of Life,” seasons 2-5
Lucille Ball with her Desilu Studios contract players. Read more about this photo at https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedailymirror/2010/05/movie-star-mystery-photo-1.html
with William Shatner on The Original “Star Trek” (https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/star-trek-actor-roger-perry-the-air-force-pilot-who-beamed-aboard-the-enterprise-passes)
He was married to “Laugh-In” star Jo Anne Worley from 1975 to 2000.
He was married to actress Joyce Bulifant from 2002 until his death in 2018. (BTW, he died less than a month before our beloved Charlotte Rae)
Roger Perry was also a composer/lyricist! ^ This song was one of his. ^
The Laughing Greek was also on “Friends” (among many other TV appearances)
(Ken may look a little familiar…)
Click the image below for the article in The Orlando Sentinel. (Podcast Friend & Fambily Member Paul Padilla is quoted!)
Join me and my very special (returning!) guest, Jodi Chase!
For Christmas, my friends bought me a Cameo video message from KIM FIELDS! OMG!
And she gives a shout-out to the podcast! OMGOMG!
Here is the video and my reaction in real-time. It gets cut off at the end, but what I say is, "So, she said she's going to be a guest...? Is that what happened...?" (Hee Hee)
Thanks to my awesome and thoughtful friends (and past pod guests) Wesley Slade, Steve Miller, Justin Schneyer, and Austin Paz.
Visit Louie’s web site here.
Purchase at Amazon
This video shows the differences between the original 1980 release and the later “facelift” George Lucas gave the films … including replacing Revill with Ian MacDiarmid.
David’s version from the 1980s (narrated by Vincent Price no less! OMG!)
Justin’s version from the 1990s:
Join me and my special guest: actor/singer/improvisor/keynote speaker/author Louie Gravance!
This song is considered a ‘standard.’ It is from the 1940 Broadway musical Cabin in the Sky. It was introduced by Ethel Waters playing the role of Petunia Jackson both on Broadway and later in the 1943 MGM film version. The song was composed by Vernon Duke with lyrics by John La Touche and Ted Fetter.
When I am “yelling” at Justin that “he should know these things” … this is what we are referencing. Still LMAO at this!
In this recently discovered photo, Matthew and David we reminded how much they enjoyed the time they got to spend with their friends Film Critic Wink Wright and Officer Pat Friskem at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
This model is from 1989.
Here is a David-worthy in-depth super-detailed synopsis of this episode at the blog Cousin Geri.
The controversial drama by William Friedkin about a policeman (Al Pacino) who goes undercover as a gay dude to infiltrate the NYC gay leather bar scene to catch a serial killer who is targeting homosexual men.
Filmmakers James Franco and Travis Mathews re-imagine the lost 40 minutes from “Cruising” as a starting point to a broader exploration of sexual and creative freedom.
with returning special guest Justin Schneyer!
This is the picture shown of Tootie’s daughter Teesha and “her father” in The Facts Of Life Reunion (2001) … obviously the dad has to be Jeff... but clearly not the visage of Todd Hollowell.
a/k/a ‘Customer’ in S5 E22 “All By Herself”
Andrea’s Podcast THE RISE!
Joseph Brutsman as “Doug,” Christopher Durham as “Rex,” and Leif Green as “Chip”
This is before our time… but I had to share. A 1960s Pillsbury commercial with future-Marcia-Brady Maureen McCormick! (& How weird is it to see a commercial that is a FULL MINUTE LONG!?)
This features our friend Louie Gravance (hopefully a future podcast guest!):
And here is Louie’s husband John Graham:
Starburst - BEFORE the re-recorded the song to include cherry…
…and after.
Click the pic to find & follow him on Instagram:
See His Current Work at STEPHEN SCHUBERT STUDIOS
So ↑ THIS ↑ is named after ↓ THIS ↓ …?
Watch it on The Roku Channel (full-length version) or at DailyMotion.com (edited for syndication)!
Composer-Lyricist Morris Albert sings the original version 1974:
Lindsay Wagner sings it on “The Bionic Woman” in 1976:
Carol Burnett yodels it as Eunice on “The Carol Burnett Show” in 1977:
Carol reprises the joke in “Julie & Carol: Together Again” in 1989:
It’s a commercial for Menopause Meds, Not adult diapers… Our bad…
…and the follow up… “Where’s My Job?” (Wendy’s let her go after she did this…)
RUFKM!?
Syndicated/Edited Version below, or watch the Full-Length Version on The Roku Channel!
Join me and my Very Special Guest MATTHEW ARTER!
Does anybody know where “Three’s Company” is available to stream? (FOR FREE of course) I can’t find any episodes anywhere, but (as JW & I discuss on the show) Joel Brooks was featured as therapist ‘Dr. Prescott’ in two episodes:
S4 E05 “Jack The Ripper” (10/9/79) Jack goes to see Dr. Prescott to learn to be more assertive. He engages in bark-therapy, only to discover later in the episode that Mr. Furley is also a patient. The barking battle that ensues is comedy gold.
S4 E22 “The Root Of All Evil” (3/4/80) Chrissy wins money at the race track and the trio get into a fight over how to use the winnings. You guessed it, they end up making a trip to Dr. Prescott’s office to save the friendship that the money is tearing apart.
