The Facts of Life

Its Parents Night at Eastland and Blairs sophisticated mother arrives bringing with her, her flirtatious tendancies which prompt rumors when she becomes ""friendly"" with a married man.

Tootie accidentally comes across a paper which lists the I.Q. scores of each one of the girls. Nancy received the highest score and Sue Ann scored the lowest, this puts extra pressure on each one of them just prior to midterm exams.

Blair is so caught up with her latest boyfriend that she forgets about an English assignment in which she has to write a poem. So, at the last minute she plagiarizes a poem by Emily Dickinson and turns it in as her own. Things get worse when shes the only one who gets an A and Mr. Bradley enters her poem in a contest.

Mrs. Garrett begins teaching a sex-education class at Eastland and her tactics are against the more prudish suggestions of Mr. Bradley. Meanwhile, Blair takes the ideas from class and expirements with her latest boyfriend, Steve.

Mr. Bradley gives the girls an assignment having to do with their family trees. However, Natalie is reluctant to show hers in class do to the fact that the family that raised her is her adopted family. This prompts Blair to help Natalie find the name of her real mother by using her mothers clout to cut through some red tape and sealed records.

Molly is down in the dumps due to her parents getting a divorce. So she gets some help from the girls who plan to reunite her parents. Things hit the fan, when her father arrives with a new girlfriend.

Streetsmart Bronx native, Jo Polniaczeck arrives at Eastland.

Blair is sure that an old friend of hers, Harrison Andrews is going to invite her to a cotillion, however she is thrown for a loop when he invites Jo.

When Blairs cousin, Geri, arrives for a visit, Mrs. Garrett, based on Blairs behavior, thinks shes embarrassed of Geri since she has cerebral palsy. However later Mrs. Garrett realizes shes really jealous of her since Geri is also a successful comedienne.

Jos boyfriend, Eddie, surprises her by making a sudden visit to Peekskill, but she gets even more of a surprise when he proposes marriage.

When Tootie overhears a secret that Blair tells Jo about Nancys beau, she lets the secret slip and Nancy and Blair get into a fight which leads Blair to give Jo the silent treatment. Things get worse, when Tootie mistakes Mrs. Garrett for being drunk, when really her eyes had been dilated by her eye doctor prompting her to be a little topsy turvy. The rumor of Mrs. Garretts drunken sprawl could cost her her job.

Natalie hits it off with Neil, a boy she meets at a dance and they later begin studying together. However, rumors are spread that Natalie and Neil did more than just study which brings on calls from a number of boys who want to study with Natalie. Natalie encourages these rumors when she goes out with the boys due to the fact that Blair, Jo and Tootie laughed at the notion that Natalie could be a sex symbol.

Tootie is lured into doing a photo shoot for a fashion photographer.

Mrs. Garretts musician son, Alex stops by Eastland for a visit, with tales about how he rubs elbows with other musicians like Neil Diamond and Carly Simon. However, Blair smells a rat when she contradicts one of his stories and when she learns that Mrs. Garrett is still supporting him.

When Blair, Natalie and Jo tease Tootie for being the youngest, she feels left out. This leads her to experiment with alcohol by downing an entire bottle of wine.

An ex-Eastlander, Alison makes a visit to Eastland to see old friends, Blair, Natalie and Tootie. Coming back brings back memories of when life was a lot simpler, since now she is married and has a baby daughter, Emily. When Alison leaves, however, she forgets to take along one important thing, Emily.

Burned by her journalism teachers scathing criticism, Jo turns out a front-page story linking him to a drug bust.

When her ex-fiancee, Eddie, arrives in town for a visit, Jo learns that shes growing apart from him when she finds herself attracted to the man whos playing her husband in a simulated marriage project for a class.

The girls are all excited about a big camp-out due to the fact that it will give them a chance to be with their beaus. However, Tootie is anything but happy and tries to wriggle her way out of going, by writing love letters from an imaginary boyfriend, in order to avoid the boy Blair is trying to fix her up with.

Blair is thrilled that her name is going to be part of Eastland, since a large amount of money from her grandfathers estate is being donated for the building of a new library. However, while doing a story on him for the newspaper, Natalie uncovers a shocking truth, Blairs grandfather was a member of the Ku Klux Klan.

The new Japanese student, Miko, is excited about being the newest student at Eastland as well as being in America. However, her strict father doesnt think Eastland is a good influence especially since she snuck out to see a rock concert and borrowed Jos bike causing $400 in damage.

Tootie is the president of the Jermaine Jackson fan club and her duties as president interfere with a promise to Jo. Later, she wins free tickets to one of his concerts and is determind to go, even if she has to hitchhike.

Mrs. Garrett and the girls visit New York and have lunch in a Italian restaurant where Natalie discovers something she never expected, her father romancing someone other than her mother. This prompts Natalie to debate whether or not to confront her father, out of fear of a divorce between her parents.

Both Blair and Jo head to New York to meet two old friends. Blair discovers her old friend, Dina, is the same old snob shes always been and Jo discovers her friend, Jesse, is the same old prejudiced bully shes always been. Blair and Jo soon realize their friendship is much more meaningful.

Wanting to give Natalie a gift for helping her with her chemistry, Blair takes a peek in Natalies diary to see if she could get an idea on what to get. However, gifts are the last thing on Blairs mind when she discovers that Natalie thinks shes an egotistical witch.

Jos cousin, a 14 year old tomboy, who is lovesick, calls for her help.

Jo discovers that her scholarship funds are being cut. However, the one thing that could keep her at Eastland, she refuses to do. That is to apply for a scholarship through Warner Industries, which is Blairs fathers company.

Natalie discovers that Tootie has a hearing problem. Tootie forces Natalie to keep quiet and refuses to get some help for her problem.

Blair makes a new friend in Leo, a young man whom she tries to mold despite the fact that hes mentally retarded. His mental retardation throws Blair for a loop and she has a hard time accepting his handicap.

Jos got a great part time job as a mechanic working along side her boyfriend, Doug. However, when her talent of fixing motorcycles causes her to get a promotion to weekend service manager, Doug gives her the cold shoulder since she is now his supervisor.

Yet another episode that revolves around the boys at a military academy. One of the young cadets, Alfred, invites Natalie to see him box in a tournament. However the only reason he gets into this situation is do the fact that his father suggested it. Later, Alfred learns that his father isnt even going to attend and is now faced with the possiblity of backing out on a fight against an opponent who intimidates him.

The latest man in Mrs. Garretts life is Henry, her jogging buddy. However, their relationship could turn into a marriage when he proposes. Later, Henry hurts his back and the girls become nursemaids this gives Mrs. Garrett a quick taste of what living with Henry would be like.

Blairs latest boyfriend, Chad, means everything to her and she goes all out trying to please him. However, one evening when he takes her out to a dance, he leaves with another woman. This leads Blair to contemplate breaking off this ""controlling"" relationship with a man she claims to ""love"".

Jo has become close friends with her English teacher, Gail, even inspiring Jo to think about becoming a teacher herself. However, Jo is disappointed to learn that Gail is leaving Eastland presumably for a job that pays more but the real reason shes leaving is nothing Jo ever expected.

Jo goes away for her first ""college weekend"" with her latest boyfriend Jason at Yale. Just after Mrs. Garrett leaves to take Jo there, Blairs sister, Meg, arrives for a surprise visit. Meg showing up unexpected is not the only surprise she has in store, she wants to become a nun. That fact is something Blair has a hard time dealing with. Meanwhile, Jo arrives back early after the car breaks down. She later has a spiritual experience and decides she too wants to become a nun.

Mrs. Garrett is expecting a visit from a French chef whom she once was an understudy for. However, when he arrives with some of his relatives and then quickly departs leaving his family at Eastland, Mrs. Garrett and the girls are forced to entertain the visitors who speak no English.

Jo has been accepted at Langley College along with Blair but doesnt tell anyone that she has since she doesnt plan on going due to her and her parents financial situation. However, when she takes a trip home for the weekend, she learns that her entire family found out the truth and are now counting on her to do well.

Graduation has everyone rushing around and Natalie and Tootie are worried that their isnt going to be enough time for Jo and Blair to say goodbye, especially since Blair and Jo are at each others throats, as usual.

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Ms Garret decides to re-open an abandoned department store and turn it into her own.

Jos been dating, Bill, a plain guy who attends the same college as she does, but when she learns that hes a rich kid, Jo becomes resentful and angry that he didnt tell her the whole truth about himself.

A strange man tells the girls that years ago a murder occurred in the shop. Later, when the girls see Mrs. Garret with a knife they assume that shes possessed by the murderers spirit and is out to get them.

For a birthday surprise, the girls take Mrs. Garrett to a club featuring male exotic dancers, but the one whos in for the real surprise is Blair.

Mrs. Garrett is slowly losing business to a competitor, Pete Dawson. However, Natalie, with the help of her computer, breaks into his computer and alters his recipes.

The holidays bring joy to the girls when they all plan on going home for Christmas but when Jos mother temporarily moves to Miami, Jo is stuck in Peekskill.

A young boy enters Ednas Edibles and Tootie befriends him and learns that he lives next door. She also learns that his mother works all day and leaves him home alone and tells him never to leave their apartment and when a gas leak is detected on the block the young boy wont budge.

Newly elected board member Jo tackles the regents of Langley when they vote to cut academic scholarships in favor of a scoreboard nobody wants.

Blair is distraught when she discovers that Jo has taken her place in popularity on campus. This leads to an argument between the two that ends with Jo refusing Blairs help for planning a party.

A marriage proposal from Blairs boyfriend prompts her to begin dreaming about the future for herself and her friends.

Geri is in charge of organizing a charity auction but makes her first mistake by making Blair her assistant. Blair quickly takes over and begins doing things without consulting Geri. Geri in turn fires her and makes her second mistake, not accepting any help from from anyone.

Mrs. Garretts son, Raymond stops by Ednas Edibles for a visit and brings along his wife, Doris, whom he has been having marital problems with. This gets Mrs. Garrett and the girls worried about the future of the shop especially since Raymond and Doris have been talking about a divorce.

Flashbacks and memories of the past continue as the girls finish getting ready for their summer vacations. However, saying goodbye to one another appears to be easy for all them especially since fights are brewing between Blair and Jo and Natalie and Tootie.

Jo begins a pizza business with her moms secret pizza recipe that has everyones mouths watering, including a fraternity house that buys pizzas in bulk. However, the business begins running Jo and her workers, Natalie and Tootie ragged which leads Jo to make a business decision on how to make pizzas faster and cheaper.

Tooties first date with Jeff since he started college leaves her feeling she must sleep with him to keep him.

Rumors spead about Jos involvement with her professor and indeed, they just may be true when a romance develops between the two.

Mrs. Garrett enrolls in a Shakespeare class, but worries that she might neglect her business and have trouble fitting in with the college crowd.

While working at the campus radio station, Jo finds herself needing to fill 5 hours of air time. Things start off on a bad note, when she cant find a key to the record cabinet, which leads, Natalie, Tootie, Blair and Mrs. Garrett to come to her rescue.

Jo borrows one of Blairs watches and later breaks it. Jos lack of remorse is what sends Blair to some serious action, she hauls Jo into small claims court. Meanwhile, Mrs. Garrett is having a hard time studying for her algebra class.

A no-win situation: Tootie asks Natalie for an honest opinion of her dreadful one-woman play about Eleanor Roosevelt.

The death of a famous jazz singer brings back fond memories to Tootie and Natalie, who got to know him at a resort hotel where he worked as a waiter.

Blair is devastated when she learns that her boyfriend is into cocaine. Lisa Whelchel. Jo: Nancy McKeon. Kevin: Ryan Cassidy. Father Donovan: John Ingle.

On spring break in Fort Lauderdale and to the surprise of everyone, especially herself, Blair falls in love with a mere building manager.

The local drive-in theatre is closing and the girls decide to pay it one last visit on the final night its open. However, chaos reigns when people begin to loot the theatre and Blair gets into a cat fight.

With Mrs. Garrett out of town, Blair wants to be in charge of the shop so a reluctant Jo, Natalie and Tootie step aside and let her. Quickly Blairs handling of a competitor food shop goes awry.

A former Eastland girl, now an author, interviews the girls for her latest book shes writing. In the interviews the girls each open up about their friendships and school life.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Tooties learning to drive and shes driving everyone bananas.

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

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

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.

Jos father shows up to announce that hes won a publishers giveaway, and is determined to give Jo everything he could never give her before.

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

Conclusion. When Mrs. Garrett goes to Africa with her new husband, her sister moves in with the girls. Blair: Lisa Whelchel. Andy: Mackenzie Astin. Jo: Nancy McKeon.

Fed up with having no privacy, Jo considers moving out, until Beverly Ann suggests remodeling the attic into a room. However, the construction costs divided by the four girls cause Jo to make a sacrifice when she cant come up with her share.

Blair, Tootie and Natalie organize a reunion with the girls from Eastland. This brings Nancy, Cindy and Sue Ann back to town each with successful lives. Cindy has become a model, Nancy is engaged and Sue Ann a vice president for a company. However, each also has a distinct downside to their success. Meanwhile, Jo feels left out of the reunion.

Jo offers to marry an illegal alien in order to keep the man from being deported.

A disconsolate Blair locks herself in the bedroom after her father pleads guilty to charges of insider trading.

In this fantasy episode, a cross between ""The Twilight Zone"" and a horror film, the crew finds themselves being murdered, one by one, until only Tootie is left to confront the killer. The episode is narrated by a Rod Serling lookalike.

As a post-Christmas gift, Natalie gets her first credit card, and promptly goes on a spending spree.

The girls are snowed in at a ski cabin with three guys preparing a bachelor party, but the groom is ready to call off the wedding when he gets a look at Blair.

Fabian and Bobby Rydell visit the girls, and together they recall the look and sound of the 1960s.

Beverly Anns ex shows up unexpectedly, hoping for a reconciliation.

Blair discovers that even she cant buy admission to law school if she doesnt pass a four-hour test she hasnt studied for.

Summer offers a variety of options for everyone, especially Jo, whos offered a tempting job in Los Angeles.

Richard Moll returns to the home he left in Jos care to find its been flooded: someone left the water running in the hot tub.

Natalie jumps at the chance to do an inside story on ROTC and then learns shell also have to jump from a plane.

A new girl arrives at Eastland in the wee hours, claiming to be an Australian exchange student.

Blair is dumbfounded when an honor student she invited over ostensibly to study takes a shine to Beverly Ann instead of her.

Its holiday time, and Beverly Ann feels unneeded, until a mysterious Santa shows her what Christmas in Peekskill would be like without her.

Andy latches on to a ""big brother,"" whos living for today because tomorrow may never come.

Blair interns at a law firm thats defending an accused murderer, who seems to be guilty until proven innocent.

Natalie deals firsthand with facts of life as she overnights with her boyfriend Snake, and faces the reactions of her friends and Snake.

One evening, a tired Blair falls asleep at the wheel and has a car accident landing her in the hospital with a gash in her for-head. This leads her to begin worrying about how her once ""perfect"" self will recover from this tragedy.

Tootie recieves a hideous pendant as an engagement present from Jeffs formidable grandmother, and its pulverized at Andy and Pippas wild party just before the woman arrives.

Natalies first bite of the Big Apple is hard to digest: she overnights in a Soho loft with ""the four weirdest people Ive ever met.""

As the new headmistress, Blair starts whipping Eastland students into shape, and shes particularly challenged by one who seems determined to get expelled.

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