80s TV Ladies

The Facts of Life with the 90s TV Babies!


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“This show makes me feel like I have a blanket around me and I’m eating mac & cheese.” -- Megan Ruble, 90s TV Baby, about The Facts of Life.

Susan and Sharon welcome back the notorious “90s TV Babies” to find out what they think about The Facts of Life, which ran August 24, 1979 to May 7, 1988.  Did they “take the good” and “take the bad”?  Did the “World Live Up To Their Dreams”? We’re gonna find out!

Megan Ruble and Serita Fontanesi were asked to watch these FOL listener-suggested episodes:

The Facts of Life Assignment
S1; EP13: “Dope”
S2; EP1: “The New Girl”
S3; EP15: “Starstruck”
S4; EP22: “Take My Finals, Please”
S5; EP6: “The Halloween Show”
S7; EP1: “Out of the Fire”

Plus, Bonus episodes: 
S1; EP1: “Rough Housing (The Pilot)”
S2; EP2: “The New Girl: Part 2”
S2; EP5: “Cousin Geri”
S3; EP18: “Runaway”
S5; EP10: “Store Games”
S5; EP17: “A Death in the Family”
S5; EP18: “Big Fish, Little Fish”
S7; EP2: “Into the Frying Pan”
S7; EP8: “Come Back To The Truck Stop, Natalie Green, Natalie Green”
S7; EP14: “Tootie Drives”
S9; EP16: “The First Time”

THE CONVERSATION
  • SUMMER UPDATE: Serita’s having a baby!  Little Theodore Fontanesi arrives the first week of August!
  • SUMMER UPDATE: Megan is producing a show for the Hollywood Fringe Festival and acting in “Shakespeare by the Sea”!
  • SIT LONG AND PROSPER: What does it feel like to be put in Vulcan make-up? Megan will tell you!
  • BUFFY ALERT! -- Serita is concerned: Is Megan an “Angel Girl” or a “Spike Girl”?
  • SPOILER ALERT! -- Both Serita and Megan LOVED Facts of Life!
  • “Starstruck (S3; EP15)” -- Megan calls out how rare it is to see a show about “out of control fandom” and Serita calls out how para-social relationships are not a “new thing”.
  • Serita’s favorite characters: Tootie and Jo. Megan’s favorite characters: Edna and Natalie.
  • Why was Tootie always on roller skates?  To make her taller for the camera!
  • S5; EP 17 “A Death in the Family”:  On February 1, 1984, The Facts of Life breaks ground featuring the first ever television portrayal of a “Shiva”.
  • Is The Facts of Life “progressive” and “feminist”? Listen to 90s TV Babies to find out!
So join Susan and Sharon -- and Serita and Megan -- as they talk C-sections, fan conventions, The Golden Girls, deep-dish pizza, making babies laugh at your jokes -- and how “Edna’s Edibles” could be its own strain!

AUDIO-OGRAPHY
Learn more about The Facts of Life at https://www.facebook.com/thefactsoflifesite/ 
Watch Season 2 & 3 of Facts of Life for FREE on Tubi.com.
Look for more episodes on Daily Motion or YouTube.

Listen in on Serita’s podcast at NotUglyPod.com.
Send Serita diaper money for Little Baby Theo at Venmo.com/seritafonta

Check out Megan’s Hollywood Fringe production “The Visitor” at DayforKnightproductions.com.
Get tickets at HollywoodFringe.org.
FREE Shakespear in the parks + Megan! See and Go see and support ShakespearebytheSea.org.
Arts Funding is under attack in this country. Find out how to support Los Angeles arts at ArtsforLA.org.

SHOUTOUT
Happy Pride Month! Visit LAPride.org for things to do in Los Angeles.

THANK YOU 80s LADIES LISTENERS
Especially those in sent in suggestions including:
  • Christian Keys
  • Tee Ell
  • Jason Broux
  • Lisa Flory Mendenhall
  • Christopher Stroker
  • @murphybrownpod
  • @Treasure_Chamber
  • Tracy
  • Molya Mothman
VITAL DEMOCRACY READING
Check out Democracy Docket here.
Learn more about the ACLU here.
Let your voice be heard! Call your reps. .Make 5 Calls makes it easy.

CONNECT
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Support us and get ad-free episodes on PATREON. 
Join the Facebook page discussion at Facebook.com/80sTVLadies

PLUS -- “80’s TV LADIES” MERCH is available at Fourthwall.com.
Or get FREE merch, cool video interviews, ad-free episodes AND support our podcast at Patreon.com/80sTVLadies 

This year is the 45th anniversary of President Carter's Crisis of Confidence speech. Get Susan’s new play about it: Confidence (and the Speech) at Broadway Licensing.



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80s TV LadiesBy 134 West | Susan Lambert Hatem & Sharon Johnson

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