Zap 2 It- ABC Presents "THE FACTS OF LIFE REUNION" (11/18/01)
Fri, Nov 2, 2001 12:22 PM PDT.
One of the most beloved family comedies of the '80s, "The Facts of Life," returns in a two-hour original movie that reunites Tootie, Blair, Natalie and Mrs. Garrett at the prestigious private girls' school, Eastland Academy. "The Facts of Life Reunion" will air as a presentation of "The Wonderful World of Disney," SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18 (7:00- 9:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.
For nine years "The Facts of Life" chronicled the friendship and growing pains of Blair Warner (Lisa Whelchel), the spoiled and well-bred rich girl who's used to getting her way, Natalie Green, (Mindy Cohn), the witty, outspoken go-getter and class clown, and Dorothy "Tootie" Ramsey (Kim Fields), aspiring actress and Natalie's best friend.
A year after the show's premiere, Jo Polniaczek (Nancy McKeon), a streetwise tomboy from the Bronx, New York, enrolled and became the school's resident troublemaker and Blair's greatest nemesis. Blair and Jo's love/hate friendship was put to the test even further when, after getting in trouble with the dean, the four girls were forced to become roommates and sent to work and live above the school kitchen for the rest of their school term.
Overseeing the rambunctious circle of friends was house mother Edna Garrett (Charlotte Rae) who became the four girls' surrogate mother and confidante. From prep school through college and into adulthood, the girls came to depend on Mrs. Garrett -- and on one other -- for navigating the rough and often bittersweet waters of life.
Thirteen years later Mrs. Garrett's "girls" have all grown into successful, independent women. After a stint in the Peace Corps with her husband, a widowed Mrs. Garrett is heading back to America, ready for a new life and new romance, and also looking forward to seeing the girls again. Blair is wealthier than ever, after building a hotel empire with her husband, Tad.
But she suspects he is having an affair. "Tootie," now preferring to be called by her real name, Dorothy, has forsaken her acting hopes to host her own talk show. Natalie is a dedicated TV news producer, juggling an active love life with a frenetic work schedule that takes her all over the world. Jo, ever the free spirit, is a devoted cop, wife and mother.
It's been years since Natalie has had a Thanksgiving back in America, so she's talked all the girls and Mrs. Garrett into spending the holiday together back in Peekskill, NY. When Jo is unable to attend the reunion, her teenage daughter, Jamie, and husband, Rick, come instead. They're all in for a surprise when Natalie's not one but two boyfriends unexpectedly show up at the reunion.
Trouble soon starts, as both men compete for Natalie's attention and exclusivity, so it's up to the girls to help solve Natalie's predicament. Over the course of the holiday, the girls reveal to one another the personal troubles they face in their adult years and discover that, despite the time that has passed, they need each other's friendship more than ever.
"The Facts of Life Reunion" stars Mindy Cohn as Natalie Green, Kim Fields as Dorothy "Tootie" Ramsey, Lisa Whelchel as Blair Warner and Charlotte Rae as Edna Garrett.
Also starring are Mark Lutz as Harper, Barclay Hope as Robert, Joel Brooks as Raymond, Carl Marotte as Rick, Alexandra Johnson as Tisha, Mallory Margel as Jamie, Kevin Jubinville as Tad Warner, Joe Dinicol as Sam, Francois Klanfer as chef, Sam Moses as the cab driver, Adam Reid as Donald, Ken Smith as the patron, John Bayliss as Davis, Jennifer Foster as Maggie Rhodes, Barry Stilwell as Officer Kendall, Karen Glave as the reviewer and Evan Caravela as Benjy.
"The Facts of Life Reunion" was directed by Charles Herman-Wurmfeld ("Kissing Jessica Stein" ) from a teleplay written by Max Enscoe & Annie deYoung and story by Max Enscoe & Annie deYoung and Deborah Dean Davis. Ilene Amy Berg ("Kiss My Act," "Sophie and the Moonhanger" ) is executive producer. The telefilm is from Berger Queen Productions in association with Laurence Mark Productions, Columbia/Tristar and Touchstone Television.