What’s your favorite spinoff of all time? What do you think is the best way a creator has taken their work and expanded it?
▬Contents of this video▬
00:00 - Intro
00:50 - Happy Reunions
01:41 - The Reboot That Never Was
03:53 - Where Are They Now?
04:06 - George Clooney
04:35 - Molly Ringwald
04:52 - Charlotte Rae
05:20 - Lisa Whelchel
06:05 - Kim Fields
06:46 - Mindy Cohen
07:16 - Nancy McKeon
07:44 - Mackenzie Astin
08:11 - Cloris Leachman
08:39 - Outro
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The Facts of Life was a successful spinoff of Diff’rent Strokes. It moved the setting into an all-girls boarding school. The main cast included Kim Fields, Mindy Cohn, Lisa Whelchel, and Nancy McKeon.
Their characters were different but somehow managed to become a found family of friends. It presented a true and relatable picture of what female friendships were like.
Many Norman Lear sitcoms, such as All in the Family, had successful reboots or live shows before his death. The world was clamoring for more of his successful shows. He was surprised how much they wanted more Facts of Life.
The cast talked to him about the possibility of a revival. They’d never considered it but thought it had a chance. That was until one cast member who they called a “greedy b*tch” spoiled it all. Mindy Cohen said she went behind their back for a more lucrative deal with a show focused more on her.
No one knows who this co-star is. All Mindy said was to look on her Instagram for clues.
Theories about what she meant are all around. Was it Kim? She hasn’t been seen online with Mindy recently. Was it Lisa? Surely someone who played a mean character could be capable of ruining a revival.
Whatever the truth is, it seems that someone in this found family isn’t playing fair. It won’t ruin the great times everyone had on set and watching on their TV. Still, Mindy insists revival plans are “totally dead.”
Like and subscribe to FactsVerse for more on the best classic spinoffs. Watch our video as The Facts of Life cast reveals the co-star who everyone HATED.
The Facts of Life Cast Reveals the Co-Star Who Everyone HATED
▬Contents of this video▬
00:00 - Intro
00:50 - Happy Reunions
01:41 - The Reboot That Never Was
03:53 - Where Are They Now?
04:06 - George Clooney
04:35 - Molly Ringwald
04:52 - Charlotte Rae
05:20 - Lisa Whelchel
06:05 - Kim Fields
06:46 - Mindy Cohen
07:16 - Nancy McKeon
07:44 - Mackenzie Astin
08:11 - Cloris Leachman
08:39 - Outro
Like this content? Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/factsverse?sub_confirmation=1
Or, watch more videos here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkXAntdjbcSJlJnpP4FgdU0swKbnkNgJj
Become a Facts Verse member and get access to all videos that contain mature content. Use the link below to get access to even more videos, ad-free.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXZpQgX1897wYDLtvzmgyIA/join\
The Facts of Life was a successful spinoff of Diff’rent Strokes. It moved the setting into an all-girls boarding school. The main cast included Kim Fields, Mindy Cohn, Lisa Whelchel, and Nancy McKeon.
Their characters were different but somehow managed to become a found family of friends. It presented a true and relatable picture of what female friendships were like.
Many Norman Lear sitcoms, such as All in the Family, had successful reboots or live shows before his death. The world was clamoring for more of his successful shows. He was surprised how much they wanted more Facts of Life.
The cast talked to him about the possibility of a revival. They’d never considered it but thought it had a chance. That was until one cast member who they called a “greedy b*tch” spoiled it all. Mindy Cohen said she went behind their back for a more lucrative deal with a show focused more on her.
No one knows who this co-star is. All Mindy said was to look on her Instagram for clues.
Theories about what she meant are all around. Was it Kim? She hasn’t been seen online with Mindy recently. Was it Lisa? Surely someone who played a mean character could be capable of ruining a revival.
Whatever the truth is, it seems that someone in this found family isn’t playing fair. It won’t ruin the great times everyone had on set and watching on their TV. Still, Mindy insists revival plans are “totally dead.”
Like and subscribe to FactsVerse for more on the best classic spinoffs. Watch our video as The Facts of Life cast reveals the co-star who everyone HATED.
The Facts of Life Cast Reveals the Co-Star Who Everyone HATED
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NewsTranscript
00:00The Facts of Life was a spin-off of the popular sitcom Different Strokes.
00:28It used its main characters to show the struggles real young women go through.
00:32The show was almost canceled after its first season, but then it hit its stride when it
00:36got a fully fleshed-out cast.
00:37It also introduced the world of future megastars like George Clooney and Molly Ringwald.
00:42They didn't always get along like a found family, though, behind the scenes.
00:46Keep watching as The Facts of Life cast reveals the co-star who everyone hated.
00:50Happy Reunions The Facts of Life cast reunited online.
00:54Lisa Welchel and Jerry Jewell posted photos of the on-screen cousins together wearing
00:59red shirts and heart-shaped necklaces.
01:01She captioned them,
01:02Quote,
01:03We aren't technically family, but since we played one on TV, and we've known each
01:07other for almost half a century, it sure feels like it.
01:09So good to catch up with the funny and wise and deep and talented Jerry Jewell.
01:14Nancy McKeon and Mindy Kohn also dropped in to surprise mega-fan Drew Barrymore on her
01:19talk show.
01:20She described the show's influence on her.
01:21The individual characters were also influential to her.
01:24Nancy was proud to hear that her work as Jo was a major inspiration for Drew's character
01:29in Charlie's Angels.
01:30She showed the world that girls could be strong and tough.
01:33Lisa's character of Blair helped her be more empathetic and less intimidated by the
01:37world.
01:38Natalie was a major moral compass and the voice of reason that she didn't have growing
01:42up.
01:43The Reboot That Never Was Norman Lear had great luck not only with
01:47his sitcoms but with their revivals and live remakes.
01:51He was surprised by the reception when they tried this for Facts of Life.
01:55Mindy said,
01:56He called all of us and said, I knew you guys were still popular, but holy hell.
02:01He contacted her and her former co-stars Lisa, Kim, and Nancy to do a full reboot before
02:06his death in December 2023.
02:09She said,
02:10So when he did, he said, are you guys interested?
02:11And we had all never really talked about it.
02:15But we all started to consider it a little bit and we got into talks and we started,
02:19we hired a writer and the four of us got together on Zooms.
02:22This was during COVID and we had meetings with Norman about it.
02:26The dreams were dashed because of on-site drama.
02:29In an interview, Michael Hitchcock said,
02:31Quote, there's always a greedy bitch.
02:33And she agreed.
02:34This other cast member was apparently trying to make a separate spinoff deal behind the
02:38other cast members' backs.
02:40It was devastating to them and made them feel that they weren't as united as they thought
02:44they were.
02:45She said,
02:46They are so desperate for either money or fame that it causes them to do things that
02:53to me, I guess I'm still not that jaded.
02:57It shocks me.
02:58It always just kind of shocks me.
02:59You're going to do that over money or that over becoming famous.
03:02Like it always just kind of freaks me out that people will do that.
03:05We've talked about friendships of deep, true friendships under the bus for a dollar.
03:11Mindy wouldn't name names but said that her Instagram gave clues as to which actress she
03:16was referring to.
03:17She told fans to look out for who she hangs out with the most.
03:21The only one she follows is Lisa.
03:23They appeared on The Drew Barrymore Show together this year and were at Norman Lear's 100th
03:27birthday party in 2022.
03:29None of the other castmates have commented on her claims.
03:32Mindy says that not only is the reboot dead, but they don't want to work together again.
03:37It's up to the public to speculate and try to solve the mystery.
03:40Some believe that the offending cast member has to be Kim.
03:43She's the only one missing from Mindy's Instagram recently.
03:46Others think that it has to be Lisa, with her character on the show affecting their
03:49opinion.
03:50They assume that the mean girl on the show had to be the quote, greedy bitch.
03:54Where Are They Now?
03:55The beauty of a reunion is that it gives fans the chance to check in on their favorite cast
03:59members.
04:00The Facts of Life cast went on to have wonderful careers.
04:03Not all are still with us, but their impact will be felt forever.
04:06George Clooney This two-time Oscar winner has to be the
04:09biggest breakout star from The Facts of Life.
04:12He was an unknown when he came along in Season 7 as handyman George Burnett.
04:16That role led to guest spots on The Golden Girls and a supporting role on Roseanne.
04:21He then found a breakout role in the medical drama ER as Dr. Doug Ross from 1994 to 1999.
04:27He eventually became a movie star with hit films such as his Oscar-winning stints for
04:312005's Siriana and 2012's Argo.
04:35Molly Ringwald Molly had a temporary role as Molly Parker
04:39on The Facts of Life.
04:40She was written out quickly, but it wasn't the end of her career.
04:42She starred in hit John Hughes films of the 1980s like Sixteen Candles and Pretty in Pink.
04:47She also appeared in other projects such as The Secret Life of the American Teenager and
04:52Riverdale.
04:53Charlotte Ray Charlotte was a favorite of the fan base
04:55and Norman Lear.
04:56It's not an exaggeration to say that the series may have never happened without her.
05:00She proposed the idea for the spinoff and played housekeeper Mrs. Edna Garrett through
05:04the first season.
05:06She then starred in the first seven seasons of The Facts of Life and its special two-part
05:10season eight episode.
05:12Her work earned her a Primetime Emmy nomination.
05:14She also co-starred in Ricky and the Flash.
05:16She died of bone cancer at the age of 92 on August 5, 2018.
05:21Lisa Welchel Lisa started her career early.
05:23She was a mouseketeer on the New Mickey Mouse Club.
05:26She stayed there from 1977 to 1978.
05:29She started playing Blair Warner the next year in all nine seasons of The Facts of Life.
05:34She even reappeared for a TV movie in 2001.
05:37She joined her castmates in the Lifetime movie Light Up My Christmas in 2019.
05:41That didn't stop her from showing off her other talents.
05:44She is a best-selling but controversial author and speaker.
05:47She released a Christian pop album during the show's run and was nominated for a Grammy.
05:52Lisa was a contestant on Survivor Philippines.
05:55She returned for a life in front of a studio audience version of her breakout role.
05:59She also hosts the series Collector's Call on MeTV and even offers life coaching services.
06:05Kim Fields Kim was familiar with the world of good
06:08times having played Kim on that show.
06:10She had also already played Tootie on Diff'rent Strokes, so she was a natural fit for the
06:14spinoff.
06:15The audience loved hearing her catchphrase, We are in trouble.
06:18Her mother, Chip Fields, even played her on-screen mother.
06:21Kim's work led to a prosperous career.
06:23She appeared in other sitcoms in the 1990s like Mork & Mindy, Martin, and The Fresh Prince
06:27of Bel-Air.
06:28Leaving single gave her another chance to star in a show with an all-female cast.
06:32Kim lent her directing talents to shows like Kenan & Kel and Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns.
06:37She got a main role in The Upshaws as well.
06:40She appeared on The Real Housewives of Atlanta from 2015 to 2016 and was a fan favorite on
06:44Dancing with the Stars.
06:46Mindy Cohen The producer of Facts of Life toured Mindy's
06:49school as research for the show.
06:51When they met, Charlotte Rae insisted that the part of Natalie Greene be written for
06:55her because she reminded her of her childhood best friend.
06:59Mindy went on to appear in other shows like Charles in Charge, 21 Jump Street, Hot in
07:03Cleveland, and The Middle.
07:04One of her most popular roles was providing the voice of Scooby-Doo's Velma Dinkley from
07:092002 to 2015.
07:11She had a private battle with breast cancer in 2012 but is now cancer-free.
07:16Nancy McKeon Nancy originally began acting in soap operas
07:19like Another World and The Secret Storm.
07:22She then played the tomboy character Joe in the second season of Facts of Life.
07:26Her role was the final missing piece in the show's core group.
07:30She went on to star in over a dozen TV movies after the show.
07:34She was also part of series like Can't Hurry Love and Style & Substance.
07:38She joined Dancing with the Stars in 2018, and she was featured in the 2021 Prime Video
07:43series Panic.
07:44Mackenzie Astin Mackenzie is the half-brother of Sean Astin
07:48and his parents are Patty Duke and John Astin.
07:51He began appearing on Facts of Life at the end of season 7.
07:54He was a top teen idol at the time who was meant to attract attention to the show.
07:59After it ended, he went on to find plenty of roles.
08:02He starred in the movie Iron Will and got recurring roles in shows like The Magicians,
08:06The Blacklist, Scandal, Homeland, You, and Winning Time, The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.
08:12Cloris Leachman Cloris was a recognized name by the time she
08:15joined the show.
08:16She had experience with spin-offs, having been on the Mary Tyler Moore show's spin-off
08:20Phyllis from 1986 to 1988.
08:23Her career continued to grow after that.
08:25She starred in Raising Hope from 2010 to 2014.
08:28She also took on supporting roles in American Gods.
08:31Her pleasant voice became a go-to for old women animated characters in later life.
08:36She died at the age of 94 on January 27, 2021.
08:40Now it's time to hear from you.
08:41Who was your favorite character from Facts of Life?
08:43Let us know in the comments section below.