Scandals From The Set Of 'The Facts Of Life' That Producers Tried To Keep Under Control

Of all the sitcoms that defined the '80s, The Facts of Life is easily the most wholesome. The series often addressed serious subjects, but each episode ended with a moral lesson and a positive spin. As it turns out, however, it wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies behind the scenes. From serious feuds among the cast to highly inappropriate requests by production, The Facts of Life had some real turmoil raging below the surface.

A Large Ensemble

Mrs. Garrett and her gang of over half a dozen young girls proved to be quite a large ensemble for the debut of The Facts of Life. While some fans loved it, TV execs weren't so pleased.

Get Rid of Them

Former network executive Warren Littlefield remembered NBC’s harsh demand: "Pick four. Forget everyone else. Get rid of them." Their idea was that a smaller cast would allow a deeper dive into each character’s development to hook the viewer.

The Rebellious Tomboy

At the start of season 2, writers introduced Jo, played by Nancy McKeon. The rebellious tomboy would complete the main foursome with Blair, Natalie, and Tootie. But soon the network decided to shrink the cast after all.

Young Molly Ringwald

One of the girls who didn't make the cut was a young Molly Ringwald. Years before her breakout role in the John Hughes film Sixteen Candles, Ringwald found her first role as one of the girls living in Mrs. Garrett’s boarding school.