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The Facts of Life

  • TV-PG
  • 1979–1988
  • 9 seasons
  • Drama, Comedy
  • 7.1

You take the good, you take the bad...

Mrs. Edna Garrett, housemother and dietitian at the Eastland School, teaches a group of girls in her charge how to solve those problems that every teenager has to face.

Episodes

24 episodes
  1. 1Out of the Fire...

    Sep 14, 1985

    After returning from their summer vacation, the girls discover that Edna's Edibles has burned down. This leads the girls to discuss rebuilding and opening up a new business.

  2. 2Into the Frying Pan

    Sep 21, 1985

    The girls try to hire a contractor to rebuild Edna's Edibles into their new business. After interviewing a string, they hire George Burnett, who's inexpensive, but he soon proves to be easily sidetracked from his work.

  3. 3Grand Opening

    Sep 28, 1985

    The girls finally open their new shop, which is called, Over Our Heads, which sells a mixture of trendy, nostalgic memorabilia. However, the opening day may be the closing day, when they don't get quite the reception they were hoping for.

  4. 4Teacher, Teacher

    Oct 5, 1985

    Jo is offered a job at a major company which is tempting but this causes her to reevaluate her dream of becoming a teacher.

  5. 5Men for All Seasons

    30 minOct 19, 1985

    Natalie's boyfriend appears in a popular beefcake calendar of the Langley swim team, a calendar that is frowned upon by the college board of regents.

  6. 6A New Life

    30 minOct 26, 1985

    Needing advice on her love life, Blair asks her mother to visit, only to learn that mom needs advice even more than Blair does.

  7. 7Doo-Wah

    Nov 2, 1985

    Andy enters the girls in a contest through a teen magazine that if they win, they could sing backup to El DeBarge. First, however, they must produce a demo tape of their singing talent.

  8. 8Come Back to the Truck Stop, Natalie Green, Natalie Green

    Nov 9, 1985

    While waiting for a bus, Natalie thinks she could get some inspiration on something to write about in a diner. Failing to find anything of interest, she begins writing a wild story, that takes place in the diner involving, Blair, Jo, Tootie, Mrs. Garrett and George.

  9. 9Born Too Late

    Nov 16, 1985

    Tootie tutors seventh grader Andy for a role in "West Side Story," which turns him on to her more than to acting.

  10. 103, 2, 1

    Nov 23, 1985

    Blair and Jo argue over stories and editorials that are to be presented as a news report which is also going to include a behind the scenes look at the girls' shop, Over Our Heads.

  11. 11We Get Letters

    Nov 30, 1985

    Mrs. Garrett's old friend, Gwen comes to town for a visit with her old gossip buddy, but she also comes to town to confront Edna about the affair Gwen thinks she had with her late husband.

  12. 12Ballroom Dance

    Dec 7, 1985

    Jo takes up ballroom dance lessons and becomes determined to do a good job at an upcoming recital despite chaotic lessons and a clutzy dance partner.

  13. 13Christmas Baby

    Dec 14, 1985

    A very pregnant Monica comes to the house on Christmas Eve, where she ends up in labor and gives birth to Bailey, her third child, on Christmas morning.

  14. 14Tootie Drives

    Dec 21, 1985

    Tootie's learning to drive and she's driving everyone bananas.

  15. 15Stake-Out Blues

    30 minJan 11, 1986

    The police want to stake out the shop to nab a few crooks but the girls, not wanting to worry Mrs. Garrett, insist she not be told about the operation.

  16. 16The Agent

    Jan 18, 1986

    Tootie and Blair give an aspiring comic a career boost by staging a performance attended by Jim McCawley, talent coordinator of ""The Tonight Show.""

  17. 17The Reunion

    30 minFeb 1, 1986

    George gets Blair to pose as his fiancee at his high school reunion in order to make an ex-classmate jealous that she never gave him the light of day. However, the unexpected prompts Jo to go in Blair's place.

  18. 18Concentration

    Feb 8, 1986

    On the day Blair is to accept an award, she encounters two burdens. First, she's stuck babysitting her baby brother and second she becomes trapped in an elevator, where she learns an important lesson from a concentration camp survivor.

  19. 19Atlantic City

    30 minFeb 15, 1986

    The girls are in Atlantic City for a long weekend, where Blair gets gambling fever and Jo hopes to be reunited with Flyman, the rock star she met on spring break in Fort Lauderdale.

  20. 20The Lady Who Came to Dinner

    Feb 22, 1986

    The girls surprise Blair on her birthday with a party featuring singer and dancer Betty Kean who, like ""The Man Who Came to Dinner,"" stays on and on and on.

  21. 21The Candidate

    Mar 1, 1986

    Natalie is furious with the mayor during an election when she learns he plans to build an amusement park. This prompts Natalie to consider running for mayor herself.

  22. 22Big Time Charlie

    30 minMar 29, 1986

    Jo's father shows up to announce that he's won a publisher's giveaway, and is determined to give Jo everything he could never give her before.

  23. 23The Graduate

    30 minMay 3, 1986

    Tootie plans to join a road show after graduation despite her parents' objections, while Natalie plans to find an apartment where she can write in peace.

  24. 24The Apartment

    30 minMay 10, 1986

    Natalie and Tootie find that privacy is at a premium in their one-room apartment, which doubles as a roach resort.

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Series cast

Lisa WhelchelBlair Warner201 episodes
Kim FieldsTootie Ramsey201 episodes
Mindy CohnNatalie Green201 episodes
Nancy McKeonJoanne Jo Polniaczek188 episodes
Charlotte RaeEdna Garrett153 episodes
Mackenzie AstinAndy Moffett72 episodes
Cloris LeachmanBeverly Ann Stickle48 episodes
Pamela AdlonKelly Affinado26 episodes
Sherrié AustinPippa McKenna24 episodes
George ClooneyGeorge Burnett24 episodes
Felice SchachterNancy Olson19 episodes
Julie PiekarskiSue Ann Weaver17 episodes
Julie Anne HaddockCindy Webster17 episodes
Molly RingwaldMolly Parker14 episodes
Jenny O'HaraMiss Emily Mahoney13 episodes
John LawlorSteven Bradley13 episodes
Geri JewellGeri Tyler12 episodes
Alex RoccoCharlie Polniaczek11 episodes

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