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Home » Blogs » the linster's blog » "The Facts of Life:" non-lesbian lesbian fun in any language

"The Facts of Life:" non-lesbian lesbian fun in any language

by
the linster

Post-holiday work weeks are tough, so here's a bit of silliness to help get you to Friday, featuring one of my favorite '80s TV shows.

Something Old, Nothing New recently posted some Italian-dubbed theme songs, including this Facts of Life opening.



Now, if you're like me, your first question is, "Where's Jo?" Well, The Facts of Life started without Jo, something I can't even imagine, much less remember.

In the spirit of fair play (in other words, to give our Italian readers something to laugh at), here's the U.S. version.



That leads to my second question, "Molly Ringwald was in The Facts of Life?" Just the first season. Second season, the show changed its focus from a large boarding house to a smaller group, including Jo. On behalf of all of the girls who got an undefined but undeniable tingle whenever Jo swaggered on-screen, I say, "Thank you, producers."

Here's the Italian version of the later theme song.



And just in case you have forgotten the antics of one of the best non-lesbian lesbian couples ever on television, here's a clip from the episode with Jo and Blair's paint fight. (The entire clip is almost five minutes long, but worth it.)



Remember the last season of The Facts of Life, when Jo got married? Who were they trying to fool? This is a couple in love.

For more Facts of Life memories, visit the photo galleries at this great Facts of Life site. And rejoice with me that the Mullet is gone. Well, mostly.

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    • Submitted by
    the linster
    on November 29, 2007 - 2:30pm.
    TAGS :: 
    rotezora's picture

    Bring back

    Submitted by
    rotezora (250 posts)
    on November 29, 2007 - 6:19pm.

    the mullet!  In fact, I insist!  I'm growing mine out and it should be fully whorehouse cut-worthy any day now.

    Thanks so much for the links which will really brighten my day.

    Ciao! 

    Pirategrrrl's picture

    What we really need ...

    Submitted by
    Pirategrrrl (1994 posts)
    on November 30, 2007 - 5:30pm.

    Is more Mrs. Edna Ann Garrett.  

     

    And thus the whirligig of time brings in his revenges....

    venus sans furs's picture

    You take the good (Nancy Mckeon), you take the bad (mullets)...

    Submitted by
    venus sans furs (83 posts)
    on November 29, 2007 - 8:06pm.

    Jo-less season one is so irrelevant. Also Molly Ringwald was in an episode or two in the second season also, just to clarify.

    I squee like a fangirl every time FoL is blogged about.

    Jo Polniaczek definitly sexual confused me nick at nite style for years. The confusion is long gone but my love for the bad girl from the bronx lives on.

    You can find just about every episode on Youtube, so all the nonconverted should check out that 80s lesbian goodness as soon as possible.

     

    PrideandJoy's picture

    Oh that Jo!

    Submitted by
    PrideandJoy (79 posts)
    on November 29, 2007 - 10:20pm.

    i remember being in sixth grade and every time Jo came on the screen a shudder ran up my spine (i shoulda known then!LOL) and when for some reason she wasn't in a certain episode i was angry and probably didn't watch it. My God that girl lit my lezzy fire!and i agree with venus sans fur; if i could find a bad girl from the bronx, a Jo clone, i'd die happy.

    P.S. who were they trying to fool with marrying Jo off? i think i remember being upset about that. 

    angel winters's picture

    jo

    Submitted by
    angel winters (228 posts)
    on November 30, 2007 - 12:55am.
    was my first t.v. lesbian crush....swoons....
    Mary's picture

    The Facts of Life - 2007 Update!

    Submitted by
    Mary (45 posts)
    on November 30, 2007 - 6:59am.
    If the show was on TV today, Jo would definitely be a dyke and Blair would be would be working tirelessly to send her to an ex-gay camp. :-)
    hm4her's picture

    Gayest Episode Ever

    Submitted by
    hm4her (4 posts)
    on November 30, 2007 - 7:34am.
    The first episode of the first season, Rough Housing, is one of the gayest things that's ever been on tv. Cindy, the tomboy blond in the football jersey and hat, ends up running against blair for harvest queen. Blair calls her strange, says she touches all the girls too much, and Cindy ends up crying because she doesn't understand why she doesn't like guys...In the end, it turns out she's just a late bloomer, but seriously...it's super gay. I watched it with my gf and her 2 siblings last christmas and we were all in shock throughout the entire episode.
    venus sans furs's picture

    Shock is how I would put it.

    Submitted by
    venus sans furs (83 posts)
    on December 1, 2007 - 1:17pm.
    That episode is completely gay (aware and friendly). I was so surpirsed when re-watching it that a fledgingly spin-off show, in its first season- first episode!, in 1979, would tackle such an issue. They were very "every episode has a moral" in season one. I particularly like the drug episode (and why was Helen Hunt always playing a stoner/junkie in her early career?).
    Lunakiss's picture

    Yep,I remember that episode too

    Submitted by
    Lunakiss (2043 posts)
    on November 30, 2007 - 11:08pm.

    I used to watch FOL ...one of my fav 80s show .  Tootie was my favorite character  next to Jo but I didn't the word gay or lesbian back then.  Hm4Her,I do recall that episode as well and it didn't sit right with me. I felt kinda of bothered. I now know why. 

    Anybody remember Punky Brewester? Was there any Lesbian moments? I think there was a gay episode but it was about a guy,I think? Let me know if anyone recall?

    Marah's picture

    Tootie and the roller skates!

    Submitted by
    Marah (22 posts)
    on December 1, 2007 - 4:24am.

    Alright, I will admit it: I got the first two seasons on DVD for Christmas last year and watched all of it in a weekend.

    And I was a Tootie and Natalie fan from day one. I used to write down Natalie's wisecracks and try to play them off as mine. Never worked very well.

     

     

    trent bowie's picture

    Jo & Blair

    Submitted by
    trent bowie (41 posts)
    on December 2, 2007 - 12:08am.

    Every time those two fought they sounded like an old married couple. Still there were moments when you could really tell they cared about each other, even if they never said it out loud.

    And I loved that Jo had a motorcycle and you just know that Blair would ride along when no one was looking.

    Robin's picture

    Jo blair together forever

    Submitted by
    Robin (48 posts)
    on December 24, 2007 - 5:33pm.
    I had no idea why I loved Jo & Blair's cat-fighting or why friends thought I was very Jo-like. LOL. Now I know. 
     
    And as much as I hate to admit it, but I do wonder about Nancy Mckeon. Straight girl acting dyky at such a young age.  A little too dead on. I mean when she wears a dress she looks out of sorts.  God, just like me. I'm told I walk like a linebacker. 
     
    I only wonder if they were shooting FOL in the 90s or 00s, that Jo & Blair would have been testing the waters backstage and not think it were anything more than another fact of life.  What a show that would have been!
     
    And small part of me wishes Lisa would lose her Christian hubby and run off with Nancy, who likewise would see the light of their truly unshakeable, undeniable love to raise their kids and take the occasional Olivia cruise together.  

     :D sigh. 

     They were a beautiful non-couple.  

     

    I watched some shows on YouTube yesterday and MY GOD, what impeccable comic timing and heartfelt delivery!  I'm mean jeez, how can you be that young and that FN good?  The show may not have been a hit with critics, but damn, it was on the air for 10 years! 

     

    I'm a Sagittarius -- part ass, part dude with a loaded weapon, what's not to love?

    Lourdes's picture

    Facts of Life

    Submitted by
    Lourdes (79 posts)
    on February 22, 2008 - 11:14pm.

    This show is amazing! I recently saw an episode for the first time...and I loved it. Now I need to get ahold of some DVDs, haha. I particularly wanna see that episode hm4her was talking about. That would be cool! Oh and Jo....wow! :-)

    -Quiero verte, tenerte, y besarte, y entregarte todo mi corazon!-

    Lezpunkgrrl's picture

    Marry Me Jo

    Submitted by
    Lezpunkgrrl (41 posts)
    on February 23, 2008 - 12:05am.

    JOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

     

    Sorry, had to get that outta my system. Had that one built up for years! Lol.

     

    The heart has its reasons, for which reason knows nothing. - Pascal


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