The Facts of Life was a spin-off of Diff’rent Strokes that aired for nine seasons from 1979 to 1988. Although it wasn’t a hit with viewers during its first season on air, after a major revamp during season two, the show immediately saw an increase in ratings and, by its third season, it was NBC’s highest rated comedy series. Since the show is one of the definitive sitcoms of the ‘80s, check out these 10 things you didn’t know about The Facts of Life:
10. Inspiration
The pilot for The Facts of Life aired as the last episode of Diff’rent Strokes’ first season, but it had a different name then – “The Girls’ School (aka Garrett’s Girls).” The Show Welcome Back, Kotter was said to be the inspiration. Initially, the setting of the school was going to be the school where Kimberly Drummond (Dana Plato) from Diff’rent Strokes attended, but producers decided to keep Plato on Diff’rent Strokes and there was never any mention of Kimberly being a student at Eastland again.
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