“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.
In celebration of the podcast’s 3rd birthday, journey back to the simpler time that was 2018 when David and Matthew were first embarking on creating this podcast. (AUDIO REMASTERED with new bumper & theme songs added)
Revisit the original post with all the supplemental stuff HERE!
^ Dan’s 80s-tastic High School Mullet ^
Shortly after the opening of Islands of Adventure, Universal tried to re-brand itself as a ‘resort’ vs. a ‘park:’
(This is the one that DOESN’T feature Dan Johnson as Tammy’s childhood preacher)
Here is the FULL MOVIE (Thanks, YouTube!) starring (the wonderful!) Bernadette Peters and Kevin Spacey:
Watch the full-length version for free at Pluto TV.
(eliminating “Ease On Down The Road” from The Wiz)
Me & Jenn as “Big Penny” and “Little Penny” in Falling Pines at Sleuths Mystery Dinner Theatre! (I wrote this one)
(Yes, that is previous pod guest J.W. Moore on the right!)
Once again, my memory failed me… I looked it up and my senior musical performances were the week AFTER the season finale of TFOL (May 16-18, 1986). Please enjoy: our program/poster design (by 17-year-old ME), and my big number “Sit Down Your Rockin’ The Boat” as Nicely-Nicely Johnson in Guys And Dolls.
^ never not smokin hot, eh? ^
A photography student took this pic from *just* the right height where the top of the set happened to match the tops of everybody’s hands. A happy accident. Still one of the coolest pics I have of me performing.
Since I graduated high school the same year as Tootie Ramsey, I thought I’d share this blast from the past (LOTS of 80s-tastic hair styles!): My Graduation!
(1) The BHS Concert Choir sang the National Anthem. (I am at the far right.)
(2) A larger group of us singing “Corner Of The Sky” from Pippin. (I am second from the right - again, the tall one.)
(3) Me “walking” and receiving my diploma! ADULTHOOD ACHIEVED!!
^ This kitty who used to live with me was named Georgie, BTW ^
Or watch the full-length (non-syndicated) version for free at Pluto TV.
(click the pic to read the article we discuss on the show)
https://news.yahoo.com/oprah-winfrey-maria-shriver-friendship-221637148.html
Read about Olivia Newton-John’s clothing boutique here. Interesting Fact: KOALA stands for “A Korner Of Australia in Los Angeles.”
(thanks again to listener Chuck E for bringing this to my attention!)
I don’t know why I said I’d HELD a koala. In fact, I’ve only touched one. His name was Noah, and it was in Sydney in 2018 when BFF Steve and I went to Australia & New Zealand for my 50th birthday.
You can also see the full-length version for free on Pluto TV.
“Til There Was You” from The Music Man (music & lyrics by Meredith Willson)
Performed by Shirley Jones a/k/a Ryan “Kevin Metcalf” Cassidy’s mother:
“Cabaret” from Cabaret (music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb)
Performed by Liza Minnelli
“Happy Days Are Here Again” (music by Milton Ager, lyrics by Jack Yellen)
Performed by Ben Selvin and the Crooners
I went back and checked. There are only TWO wide establishing shots with Stanley (Christopher Carroll) and Francine (Cristy Dawson) sharing the screen with The Girls: Blair opens the door, and we see Stan, but we don’t see Francine until they enter in the closer-up shot.
This shot/angle will be the only way we ever see them during their conversation with The Girls:
When they turn to leave, it is still in this two-fer shot, and then we get the only other wide shot, where her face isn’t visible:
Maybe was it a tall actress whom they fired and replaced, and this actress had to be standing on an apple crate to match the wider shots of the original performer?
I haven’t found any of the ones we see in this episode of FOL, but I did stumble upon this when I Googled “Bob Mackie Alice In Wonderland.” You get this 1966 TV Adaptation, featuring his INCREDIBLE costumes, which won him his first Emmy Award. And LOOK at that cast!
You can also watch the full-length episode on Pluto TV.
From 1979, so 18 years old. So. Bloody. Handsome! You can find more pics at Classmates.com, or just make a Google!
OK, so let’s review the age problem here (because I haven’t discussed it enough on the show):
It is VERY UNCOMMON for adult actors to play older than their actual age.
If we have to choose a 5-year or 10-year reunion, this would have to be 5-year, as a 10-year reunion would make George Burnett 28 yo.
if this is a 5-year reunion, then George Burnett would have graduated HS in 1981. Making George Burnett 22 yo. Um… OK…? De-Aging a 24-year-old by 2 years? What does that buy them?
But let’s not forget about CRUSHER. Who said that he had “crushed some quarterbacks back in ‘75.” So let’s expand this. The YOUNGEST George could be would have him as a freshman in the ‘74-‘75 school year when Crusher was a senior, Class of ‘75. That would make George Class of ‘78: So 1986 would be an 8-Year-Reunion? Nope. Maybe Crusher is talking about the first half of his senior year, which would be ‘75-’76, making this very possibly a 10-Year-Reunion for Crusher, Class of ‘76. So, is George the same age as Crusher — they are pick-him-up-at-a-reunion level friends. OK, Fine. Then we’re back to George being 28 years old if he is Class of ‘76. So Clooney is playing 4 years older than his actual age. Again, what does that buy them? Other than the ability to just do a reunion show without giving ANY THOUGHT to the very, very important SHOW BIBLE THINGS like this!!
You can also watch the show on Pluto TV.
Watch it for yourself on Hulu!
The original Yuban Coffee commercial…
And the spoof in “Airplane!” (1980) — NOTE THAT IT’S THE SAME ACTRESS!!!
A different Yuban commercial (not the same actress):
Watch it for free at DailyMotion.com or on Pluto TV!
Recognize the Santa in the middle? Yup! LOL (And yes, Logan did borrow a Santa hat from me to wear to the audition, so I am responsible for this and deserve all the credit.)
See this and MANY others in a hilarious blast from the past on my Tumblr Blog.
You can also watch the full-length version on The Roku Channel (sign-up is free!).
DANCING!
BAKING!
Here she is in a Disney holiday show… and… the voice of Stitch may sound familiar…. ;-)
You can also watch the episode on The Roku Channel.
with her husband (and frequent co-star), character actor Eli Wallach
Apparently, “We Get Letters” is a segment that Perry Como used to do on his TV variety show in the 1950s - basically allowing fans and the general public to make musical requests,
This became the name of an album he released also. According to Wikipedia, “We Get Letters is a 1957 album by Perry Como, his second RCA Victor 12" long-play album. The LP's concept is an album of requests from Como's television show”
(full-length version available on The Roku Channel)
There is a whole variety of them available on Etsy.
Thanks to Devoted Listener / Tootie Fruity Michelle B for sharing this with me!
Transcript of this week’s episode at Subtitles Like Scripts
^ Summer and her puppy Poppy on our Zoom call ^. LMAO!!
I’ve shared this video before… this show, written by pod guests Sarah French and Kevin Kriegel, also featured Summer as the Mom! FUN TIMES!
In this 2018 indie-comedy (and I reiterate that MACK IS 45 YEARS OLD here!), “A men’s support group descends into chaos when longstanding conflicts threaten the trust between the men.” Somehow it culminates in a scene where they all strip down. I have not seen it. (I’ve been trying to find it somewhere for free to no avail. Sadly.) It is available to rent at Amazon.com.
Click the pic below to Google the uncensored version of this image & others. (NFSW!!)
This wonderful YouTube creator James Hodge edited together ALL of the MLP commercials. Watch the entire saga!
You can also watch the full-length version on The Roku Channel.
Allegedly born in 1951… according to what she convinced a judge to legally change it to… Charo may have been born as early as 1941. Submitted for your analysis:
Sorry, she does not look 14 years old here. Unless the broadcast date is wrong, I call shenanigans.
If she were born in 1951, she would be 22 years old here. Possibly…?
Whatever age she is here in 2013, check out her incredible talent on the guitar!
Thanks again to Diana Eden for her insight/memories into this episode (and hopefully future episodes).
Read about her time as Costume Designer for season 7-8-9 of “The Facts Of Life" in her memoir (click the book cover to purchase at Amazon.com):
You can also watch the full-length version on The Roku Channel.
