List of The Facts of Life episodes

The following is a list of episodes for The Facts of Life, which ran for nine seasons from 1979 to 1988 on NBC. There were 201 regular episodes and three television movies (Paris, Down Under, Reunion). Two of the movies, Paris and Down Under, were originally broadcast as TV movies, but in syndication, they were split into four 30-minute episodes, bringing the total number of syndicated episodes to 209.

Series overview

Seasons of The Facts of Life

Season		Episodes	Originally aired
			First aired	Last aired
	1	13	August 24, 1979	June 11, 1980
	2	16	November 19, 1980	June 3, 1981
	3	24	October 28, 1981	May 5, 1982
	4	24+movie	September 25, 1982	May 4, 1983
	5	26	September 21, 1983	May 9, 1984
	6	26	September 26, 1984	May 15, 1985
	7	24	September 14, 1985	May 10, 1986
	8	24+movie	September 27, 1986	May 9, 1987
	9	24	September 26, 1987	May 7, 1988
	TVM		November 18, 2001

Episodes

Season 1 (1979–80)

The first season begins with ten main characters: housemother Edna Garrett (Charlotte Rae), headmaster Steven Bradley (John Lawlor), teacher Emily Mahoney (Jenny O'Hara), and seven students: Blair Warner (Lisa Whelchel), Cindy Webster (Julie Anne Haddock), Molly Parker (Molly Ringwald), Nancy Olsen (Felice Schachter), Natalie Green (Mindy Cohn), Sue Ann Weaver (Julie Piekarski), and Tootie Ramsey (Kim Fields). O'Hara's character was dropped after the fourth episode.

Though counted as a single season, the show aired in discrete blocks of episodes. The show aired four weekly episodes on Wednesday nights in August and September, technically before the 1979/80 TV season actually began. Then the show was off the air for six months, returning in March through early May for a run of seven episodes. (The initial episode was a special presentation on Wednesday right after Diff'rent Strokes; the show then moved to Fridays.) After a month off, the series moved back to Wednesday nights for the season's two final episodes in June.

The Facts of Life, season 1 episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Prod. code
1	1	"Rough Housing"	Nick Havinga	Story by : Brad Rider and Glenn Padnick Teleplay by : Brad Rider	August 24, 1979	101
The Drummonds visit Mrs. Garrett (Charlotte Rae) at Eastland School and during the Harvest Queen competition, Blair (Lisa Whelchel) makes a comment about tomboyish competitor Cindy not being feminine enough and even tries to insinuate that she's a lesbian. Cindy (Julie Anne Haddock) decides not to attend the Harvest Ball, until Mrs. Garrett helps her with her self-image. Note: This was the show's first episode, but is not the pilot. The cast of Diff'rent Strokes guest star only for this episode. The actual pilot episode, used to sell the show to NBC, was the Diff'rent Strokes first season finale, "The Girls' School (aka) Garrett's Girls".
2	2	"Like Mother, Like Daughter"	Jim Drake	Jerry Mayer	August 31, 1979	102
Blair is upset that she might get a reputation for being easy when her multiple-divorcée mother visits for Parents Night and flirts with the headmaster, Steven Bradley (John Lawlor). Notes: This episode features the second verse of the season's theme. Pam Huntington played Monica Warner (Blair's mother) in this episode only. In 1981, as the show airs its third season, Marj Dusay replaces Huntington in a recurring role as Monica.
3	3	"The Return of Mr. Garrett"	Jim Drake	Martin A. Ragaway	September 7, 1979	103
Mrs. Garrett accepts her ex-husband's (Robert Alda) proposal of remarriage, but changes her mind when she discovers he has been teaching the girls how to gamble.
4	4	"I.Q."	Jim Drake	Jane Gould & Shelly Landau	September 14, 1979	104
Mr. Bradley administers I.Q. tests; Nancy (Felice Schachter) and Sue Ann (Julie Piekarski) are not happy with the results.[note 1] Note: Jenny O'Hara makes her final appearance on the show and as a main cast regular. After this episode, the show was put on a six-month hiatus.
5	5	"Overachieving"	Lee Lochhead	Jerry Mayer	March 12, 1980	105
Tootie's father (Robert Hooks) thinks Mrs. Garrett's influence over his daughter is holding her back as Tootie (Kim Fields) has aspired to open a beauty salon. Note: After a six-month absence, the series was essentially relaunched. To help the show gain an audience, this episode was immediately preceded by an episode of Diff'rent Strokes (""The Slumber Party") that featured several of the student characters who would be featured on The Facts of Life. This episode features the third and final verse of the season's theme song.
6	6	"Emily Dickinson"	Lee Lochhead	Jerry Mayer	March 14, 1980	106
Blair plagiarizes an Emily Dickinson poem about beauty, but must come clean when Mr. Bradley submits the poem to a competition and it wins third prize.
7	7	"Dieting"	John Bowab	Martin A. Ragaway	March 21, 1980	108
Sue Ann goes on a crash diet after hearing Blair imply that a boy won't like her because of her weight.
8	8	"The Facts of Love"	John Bowab	Rowland Barber and Jerry Mayer	April 4, 1980	111
To the chagrin of Mr. Bradley, Mrs. Garrett holds a sex education class and Blair gets into a compromising situation with a boy and has to make a tough decision.
9	9	"Flash Flood"	John Bowab	Jerry Mayer	April 11, 1980	112
Blair and Tootie rush to the stables to protect the animals when a flood hits Peekskill. When Mr. Bradley rescues the girls, Blair develops a crush on him.
10	10	"Adoption"	John Bowab	Migdia Chinea Varela	April 25, 1980	109
The girls get an assignment to make a family tree, but Natalie (Mindy Cohn) doesn't want to do it as she is adopted. Blair then noses into Natalie's business when she arranges for her to talk to her birth mother by phone.
11	11	"Running"	John Bowab	Warren Murray	May 2, 1980	110
Mr. Bradley pits Cindy and Sue Ann against each other in a track competition. Unfortunately, it's causing a lot of conflicts for the rest of the girls, including Blair receiving a black eye. Note: This is the final episode to air on a Friday night. NBC moved the series to Wednesday nights for the final two episodes of the season and during the retooling for the second season.
12	12	"Molly's Holiday"	Gary Shimokawa	Story by : Albert Lewin and Skip Usen Teleplay by : Albert Lewin	June 4, 1980	107
Molly (Molly Ringwald) finds out her parents are getting divorced. She and the girls devise a scheme to bring them back together, but Molly's father visits, bringing his new girlfriend with him.
13	13	"Dope"	John Bowab	Jerry Mayer	June 11, 1980	113
Blair gets Sue Ann into a clique known as "The Group", whose members are marijuana smokers. Although Blair insists she doesn't smoke, Sue Ann is pressured into trying.[note 2] Helen Hunt appears in this episode.

Season 2 (1980–81)

The main cast is reduced to five main characters: Mrs. Edna Garrett (Charlotte Rae), Blair Warner (Lisa Whelchel), Natalie Green (Mindy Cohn), Tootie Ramsey (Kim Fields), and new girl Jo Polniaczek (Nancy McKeon). Mr. Parker (Roger Perry) is a recurring character as the school's new headmaster. The casting will stay the same through season 4.

The Facts of Life, season 2 episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Prod. code
14	1	"The New Girl: Part 1"	Bob Claver	Jerry Mayer	November 19, 1980	201
A new student, Jo Polniaczek (Nancy McKeon), arrives at Eastland and Mrs. Garrett has the streetwise Jo try to make friends with the snobbish Blair. Jo wants to do something rebellious, daring the girls to come along so she hotwires a van and takes them to a bar, but then they run into trouble when a good looking guy there reveals himself to be an undercover cop. Meanwhile, Mrs. Garrett gets a visit from Arnold Drummond (Gary Coleman). Notes: Nancy McKeon becomes a main cast member as Jo Polniaczek in the series. John Lawlor, Felice Schachter, Julie Anne Haddock, Julie Piekarski, and Molly Ringwald are no longer series regulars. Schachter, Haddock and Piekarski become recurring characters in seasons 2 and 3. Ringwald makes a recurring character appearance in the next episode, which became her fourteenth and final episode. Eastland is the backdrop of the first scene of the opening titles from the second season premiere to the third episode of season five.
15	2	"The New Girl: Part 2"	Bob Claver	Jack Elinson	November 26, 1980	202
After wrecking the school van and being thrown in jail, the girls are put on probation. They must work in the cafeteria to pay off their damages, in lieu of expulsion from Eastland.[note 3]
16	3	"Double Standard"	Asaad Kelada	Linda Marsh & Margie Peters	December 10, 1980	204
Blair is upset when her childhood friend Harrison Andrews asks Jo to the country club cotillion instead of her, but she later discovers his true intentions.
17	4	"Who Am I?"	Lee Lochhead	Linda Marsh & Margie Peters	December 17, 1980	205
Tootie falls for an African-American boy, but becomes conflicted when he comments that she only hangs out with white girls.
18	5	"Cousin Geri"	Asaad Kelada	Ann Gibbs & Joel Kimmel	December 24, 1980	206
Blair's cousin Geri (Geri Jewell), a comedian who has cerebral palsy, visits. This episode marks Jewell's first appearance in the series.
19	6	"Shoplifting"	Lee Lochhead	Sally Sussman	December 31, 1980	203
For Mrs. Garrett's upcoming birthday, the girls want to buy her a shirt. After they miss the sale, Jo decides to steal the shirt. When Mrs. Garrett returns the shirt, she finds it was stolen.
20	7	"Teenage Marriage: Part 1"	John Bowab	Jerry Mayer	January 7, 1981	207
Jo receives an unexpected visit from her boyfriend Eddie (Clark Brandon), who has gone AWOL from the Navy, and surprises her with a marriage proposal.
21	8	"Teenage Marriage: Part 2"	John Bowab	Jerry Mayer	January 14, 1981	208
Mrs. Garrett and the girls try to stall Jo from getting married, so they can contact Jo's mother and organize a last minute bridal shower.
22	9	"Gossip"	Lee Lochhead	Paul L. Friedman & Gayle MacDonald	January 21, 1981	209
Tootie's gossiping causes a rift between Blair, Jo, and Nancy, that almost costs Mrs. Garrett her job.[note 4]
23	10	"Breaking Point"	John Bowab	Linda Marsh & Margie Peters	January 28, 1981	210
Blair gets heavily involved in a campaign for student council president, but loses and becomes vice president. Things take a serious turn when her former opponent Cynthia (Denise Halma) commits suicide because her parents are getting a divorce as well as her long struggle with depression. Jo comments on how her friend Gloria committed suicide at her old school. To honor Cynthia's memory Blair and the girls decide to set up a suicide hotline to help kids who are considering taking their own lives.
24	11	"Sex Symbol"	John Bowab	Story by : Sally Sussman Teleplay by : Linda Marsh & Margie Peters and Ann Gibbs & Joel Kimmel and Sally Sussman	February 4, 1981	211
Natalie has a study session with a boy she meets at a school dance. When rumors spread throughout the school that they do more than just study, she receives a barrage of requests from other boys, while her friends question her newfound popularity, which she starts encouraging.[note 4]
25	12	"The Secret"	John Bowab	Story by : Jerry Mayer and Robyn Knapton Teleplay by : Jerry Mayer	February 25, 1981	212
Jo has won an award, but when her recently paroled father (Alex Rocco) wants to attend, Jo tries to hide that fact from her friends.
26	13	"Bought and Sold"	John Bowab	Story by : Linda Marsh & Margie Peters and Susan Haven & Philip Ross Teleplay by : Linda Marsh & Margie Peters	March 4, 1981	213
Blair is selling Countess Calvet cosmetics and uses Natalie as a walking billboard. Todd Bridges and Zsa Zsa Gabor guest star.
27	14	"Pretty Babies"	Bob Claver	Ann Gibbs & Joel Kimmel	March 11, 1981	214
A top fashion photographer is coming to Eastland to find the new face of the '80s, and Blair is positive she is it but the photographer surprises everyone by choosing Tootie. When she, Blair and Mrs. Garrett go to New York for the photo shoot, Tootie discovers that it proves costly.[note 5]
28	15	"Free Spirit"	Bob Claver	Ann Gibbs & Joel Kimmel	March 18, 1981	215
Mrs. Garrett's son, Alex, visits Eastland. He brags about his life as a musician socializing with famous people such as Carly Simon, Donna Summer, and Neil Diamond, which attracts Natalie's affections, but Blair is suspicious.
29	16	"Brian and Sylvia"	John Bowab	Jack Elinson	March 25, 1981	216
Tootie and Natalie go to Buffalo to visit Tootie's uncle Brian (Richard Dean Anderson) and aunt Sylvia (Rosanne Katon), who are an interracial couple. Sylvia has received a job offer in New York City, but Brian does not want to move.

Season 3 (1981–82)

Linda Marsh and Margie Peters join Jerry Mayer as producers. Jack Elison and Jerry Mayer were the executive producers.

The Facts of Life, season 3 episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Prod. code
30	1	"Growing Pains"	Asaad Kelada	Linda Marsh & Margie Peters	October 28, 1981	302
After feeling excluded by the other girls for being the youngest, Tootie experiments with alcohol.[note 6] Note: Starting this season, Kim Fields began wearing braces.
31	2	"Fear Strikes Back"	Asaad Kelada	Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert	November 4, 1981	306
Natalie is assaulted on the way back from a Halloween costume party, and is afraid to go outside following the experience.
32	3	"A Baby in the House"	Asaad Kelada	Story by : Jerry Winnick Teleplay by : Stuart Wolpert & Deidre Fay and Jerry Winnick	November 11, 1981	308
Former Eastland student Alison visits Blair and friends. She was a model student with a "perfect" life but is now a teenage mother. When she leaves, she forgets her baby Emily, and the girls have to take care of the infant in Alison's absence.
33	4	"A Friend in Deed"	Asaad Kelada	Linda Marsh & Margie Peters	November 18, 1981	307
Blair's mother visits and tells her she is getting plastic surgery, but Blair discovers she has a more serious condition: breast cancer. Note: This is Marj Dusay's first episode playing Monica Warner.
34	5	"Front Page"	Asaad Kelada	Mike Mayer & Larry Swimer	November 25, 1981	309
After her essay gets trashed by her journalism teacher, Jo writes an article that places the teacher at a drug bust and Natalie, the editor-in-chief, must make a hard decision as to whether to publish the article or not.[note 7]
35	6	"Give and Take"	Asaad Kelada	Linda Marsh & Margie Peters	December 2, 1981	303
After losing her pension, Mrs. Garrett takes a second job at a Howard Johnson's. This takes a toll on her mood and her Eastland work, so she must choose between the two.
36	7	"Sweet Sorrow"	Asaad Kelada	Linda Marsh & Margie Peters	December 9, 1981	310
Blair and Jo participate in a class study in which they each pair up with a boy in a pretend marriage. Jo becomes attracted to her assigned partner, but feels conflicted because of her loyalty to her boyfriend Eddie.
37	8	"From Russia with Love"	Asaad Kelada	Story by : Jerry Mayer & Emily Mayer Teleplay by : Jerry Mayer	December 16, 1981	301
Natalie's weekend plans are threatened when her overbearing Ukrainian grandmother Mona (Molly Picon) visits.
38	9	"Dear Me"	Asaad Kelada	Lloyd Turner & Howard Liebling	December 23, 1981	311
The girls are going camping with some boys from Bates Academy, but Tootie makes an excuse not to go by presenting a phony love letter.[note 8]
39	10	"Cousin Geri Returns"	Asaad Kelada	Ann Gibbs & Joel Kimmel	December 30, 1981	305
Blair fears that her cousin Geri is being set up for a fall when Geri begins dating Eastland's attractive French teacher.
40	11	"Legacy"	Judi Elterman	Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert	January 6, 1982	312
Blair learns that her late grandfather, whom she idolized, was a supporter and benefactor of the Ku Klux Klan.
41	12	"Green-Eyed Monster"	Asaad Kelada	Story by : Bill Shinkai Teleplay by : Linda Marsh & Margie Peters	January 13, 1982	313
Natalie wants the lead role in a school play, and she is not about to let anything or anyone stand in the way, including her best friend, Tootie.[note 9]
42	13	"The Americanization of Miko"	Asaad Kelada	Stephen W. Spears & Bill Shinkai	January 20, 1982	314
Miko (Lauren Tom), a Japanese student, begins adopting Western cultural values; her father (Mako) objects to this, wanting her to return to Japan.
43	14	"The Marriage Brokers"	Alejandro Rey	Mitch Markowitz	January 27, 1982	315
To the girls' delight, Mrs. Garrett's handsome visitor (Norman Alden) is more than a friend and Blair investigates how serious their relationship is.
44	15	"Starstruck"	Asaad Kelada	Story by : Marvin Braverman Teleplay by : Marvin Braverman and Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert	February 3, 1982	316
Tootie gets the thrill of her life when pop-star idol Jermaine Jackson invites her to his concert and tearfully begs Mrs. Garrett to take her to the show, but she ends up heartbroken in Jackson's dressing room. Note: Jermaine Jackson appears as himself in this episode.
45	16	"The Four Musketeers"	Asaad Kelada	Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert	February 10, 1982	304
The girls must decide what their living arrangements should be when the end of their probationary period gives them an opportunity to go their separate ways.
46	17	"The Affair"	Asaad Kelada	Migdia Chinea-Varela	February 17, 1982	318
Natalie is devastated when she sees her father (Norman Burton) kissing another woman in a New York City restaurant.
47	18	"Runaway"	Asaad Kelada	Bernard Burnell Mack	February 24, 1982	317
Determined to prove her maturity, Tootie goes to New York City unaccompanied to meet with friends at a theater. A teenage prostitute (Tammy Lauren) teaches her a harsh reality when she tries to get Tootie to return to her apartment with her.
48	19	"New York, New York"	Asaad Kelada	Peter Noah	March 3, 1982	319
Blair and Jo each visit old friends in New York City, where they find that things have changed considerably.
49	20	"Kids Can Be Cruel"	Asaad Kelada	Jerry Mayer	March 17, 1982	320
A vengeful Natalie is determined to get even with insensitive Blair, but she unwittingly entangles an innocent victim in her scheme.
50	21	"Mind Your Own Business"	Selig Frank	Jerry Jacobius & Steven Gore	March 24, 1982	321
Natalie institutes nine rules of privacy after she learns that Blair peeked in her diary.
51	22	"The Academy"	Asaad Kelada	Jerry Mayer	March 31, 1982	322
Jo coerces Blair into a date with a military cadet, but Blair is in for a shock when she learns that the boy is a juvenile delinquent from New York City.
52	23	"Jo's Cousin"	Asaad Kelada	Linda Marsh & Margie Peters	April 14, 1982	324
Jo visits her relatives in New Jersey, where she helps her 14-year-old tomboy cousin Terry (Megan Follows) transform from a little girl to a young lady.
53	24	"Read No Evil"	Dolores Ferraro	Story by : Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert and Hendrik Van Leuven Teleplay by : Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert	May 5, 1982	323
Natalie loses her job as the newspaper's editor when she decries the school's new book-censorship policy.

Season 4 (1982–83)

The Facts of Life, season 4 episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Prod. code
54	1	"Ain't Miss Beholden"	Asaad Kelada	Stephen Neigher	September 29, 1982	403
Jo's future at Eastland is in jeopardy when she learns her scholarship funds are drying up due in part to budget cuts related to the early 1980s recession, and that Blair may be her only chance to stay.
55	2	"The Source"	Asaad Kelada	Peter Noah	October 6, 1982	404
Natalie is under pressure to reveal her source for a controversial article on a schoolmate's secret abortion she has written for the school newspaper.
56	3	"The Sound of Silence"	Asaad Kelada	Kimberly Hill	October 27, 1982	401
Tootie's sudden personality change and slipping grades are the result of a hearing problem she is reluctant to address. Blair's cousin Geri visits to comfort Tootie.
57	4	"The Oldest Living Graduate"	Asaad Kelada	John Markus	November 3, 1982	407
Eastland's oldest living graduate, Marie Thornwell (Amzie Strickland), a wealthy eccentric, decides to leave her money to Eastland, until Jo inadvertently changes her mind.
58	5	"Different Drummer"	Asaad Kelada	Dianne Messina & Lou Messina	November 10, 1982	408
Blair thinks she is doing a good deed by tutoring a mentally disabled young man, but the student misinterprets her good intentions after Blair pushes him too far.
59	6	"Dearest Mommie"	Asaad Kelada	Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert	November 17, 1982	409
Natalie gets an opportunity to write a column for a newspaper in New York and gets into an argument with her mother (Mitzi Hoag) over how it could affect her schoolwork. Her mother eventually reveals the name of Natalie's biological mother.
60	7	"A Woman's Place"	Asaad Kelada	Story by : David Chambers and Ruth Bennett Teleplay by : David Chambers	November 24, 1982	410
Jo lands a new job as a mechanic with her boyfriend as a colleague, but a problem develops when she gets promoted to supervise him.
61	8	"Daddy's Girl"	Asaad Kelada	Howard Meyers & Paul Haggis	December 1, 1982	402
Blair's close relationship with her father (Nicolas Coster) is tested when a tax audit uncovers her father's questionable accounting practices.
62	9	"The Big Fight"	Asaad Kelada	Jerry Mayer	December 8, 1982	406
A friend invites Natalie to watch his match at Stone Military Academy. He originally did the match to oblige his father, but learns that his father will not even show up.
63	10	"For the Asking"	Asaad Kelada	Nick Gore & Jerry Jacobius	December 15, 1982	411
Natalie boycotts the Sadie Hawkins dance claiming it's wrong for a girl to ask a boy out.
64	11	"September Song"	Asaad Kelada	Bob Peete	December 22, 1982	405
Mrs. Garrett receives a marriage proposal from her elderly boyfriend Henry (Murray Matheson), who later hurts his back. The girls help take care of him and find him to be insensitive.
65	12	"A Royal Pain"	Asaad Kelada	Jerry Mayer	January 5, 1983	413
Excitement reigns when royalty enrolls at Eastland, until Tootie accidentally discovers that the new student, a young princess, is a runaway who is getting ready to skip out again. Guest-starring Heather McAdam as Princess Alexandra 'Alex' Lambarti
66	13	"Magnificent Obsession"	Asaad Kelada	Linda Marsh & Margie Peters	January 12, 1983	412
Jo is concerned by Blair's infatuation with a boy who asks Blair to a dance, but leaves with another girl.
67	14	"Under Pressure"	Asaad Kelada	Sandra Kay Siegel	January 19, 1983	414
When Mrs. Garrett is diagnosed with high blood pressure, the girls do anything to shield her from stress. But their good intentions lead to a lie, a cover-up and big trouble.
68	15	"Teacher's Pet"	Asaad Kelada	Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert	January 26, 1983	415
Jo learns that her favorite teacher (Deborah Harmon) is terminally ill.
69	16	"Let's Party"	Asaad Kelada	Jerry Mayer	February 9, 1983	417
The girls learn a frightening lesson about drinking and driving when they join Tootie's college-age brother (Kevin Rodney Sullivan) and his roommate for a night on the town.
70	17	"Best Sister: Part 1"	Asaad Kelada	Linda Marsh & Margie Peters	February 16, 1983	418
Blair's stepsister Meg (Eve Plumb), a nun, visits Eastland, and inspires Jo.
71	18	"Best Sister: Part 2"	Asaad Kelada	Linda Marsh & Margie Peters	February 23, 1983	419
When Jo decides that she wants to become a nun along with Meg, Blair sees herself as the only one who can talk them out of it. However, Blair's true feelings toward Meg come to the surface when Blair gets into another argument with Meg and Jo that ends with a violent outburst by Jo against Blair.
72	19	"Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?"	Asaad Kelada	Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert	March 9, 1983	416
Mrs. Garrett's cooking instructor from Paris visits Eastland. Meanwhile, the girls try to deal with a squirrel that enters their bedroom.
73	20	"Who's on First"	Asaad Kelada	Kimberly Hill	March 30, 1983	420
Natalie devotes all her time to her new beau, prompting a slighted Tootie into a deceitful course of action to regain her attention.
74	21	"Help from Home"	Asaad Kelada	Jerry Mayer	April 6, 1983	421
Jo has been accepted at Langley College along with Blair, but does not tell anyone because she does not plan to attend due to her family's financial situation. However, when she takes a trip home for the weekend, she learns that her entire family knows about her acceptance, and are counting on her to do well.
75	22	"Take My Finals, Please"	Asaad Kelada	Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert	April 27, 1983	422
In spite of Mrs. Garrett's opposition, the girls settle in for an all-night study session. As the hours slip away, every imaginable distraction impedes their preparation for final exams.
76 77	23 24	"Graduation"	Asaad Kelada	Kimberly Hill and Linda Marsh & Margie Peters	May 4, 1983	423 424
Blair and Jo finally achieve a common bond when their graduation from Eastland causes a flood of preparations and overreactions from their parents and friends. Mrs. Garrett, Natalie and Tootie are reassuring and calm during the hectic last-minute graduation preparations and Blair and Jo see how much more they learned at Eastland than just academics.

Season 5 (1983–84)

Blair and Jo start college, and Mrs. Garrett quits Eastland and opens her own gourmet food shop and catering business. Blair, Jo, Tootie, and Natalie all move in with her. Pamela Segall joins the cast this season, beginning with the episode "Just My Bill". Her final appearance is in the episode "Seems Like Old Times", and her character is dropped following that episode.

The Facts of Life, season 5 episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Prod. code
78 79	1 2	"Brave New World"	Asaad Kelada	Linda Marsh & Margie Peters	September 21, 1983	501 502
Blair and Jo start at Langley College while Mrs. Garrett leaves Eastland to open her own gourmet shop called Edna's Edibles, with help from her son Raymond (Joel Brooks). The girls wonder what their housing situation will be. Note: This is the final episode to feature Eastland Academy as the main setting of the show.
80	3	"Gamma Gamma or Bust"	Asaad Kelada	Story by : George Tricker & Neil Rosen Teleplay by : George Tricker & Neil Rosen and Andy Borowitz	September 28, 1983	503
Blair is nominated to pledge the Gamma Gamma sorority at Langley. Jami Gertz makes the first of four appearances as Blair's sorority sister Boots St. Clair.[note 10] Note: This was the last episode of the Eastland backdrop in the opening credits. This was also the last episode showing Mindy Cohn and Nancy McKeon's scenes from the two previous seasons.
81	4	"Just My Bill"	Asaad Kelada	Dianne Messina & Lou Messina	October 12, 1983	505
Jo's in love, but resentment develops when her guy turns out to be wealthy. Note: Edna's Edibles was marked the season's new backdrop at the beginning of the opening credits until the 3rd episode of the show's 7th season. Mindy Cohn and Nancy McKeon were marked new original scenes in the opening credits of this episode. Starting this episode, Pamela Segall joins the on-and-off regular blockage as Kelly Affinado.
82	5	"What Price Glory?"	Asaad Kelada	Alan Spencer	October 19, 1983	506
Tootie discovers that her boyfriend Jeff, a school athlete, has problems reading. Note: Geri Jewell guest stars as Blair's cousin, comedian 'Geri Tyler'.
83	6	"The Halloween Show"	Asaad Kelada	Jerry Mayer	October 26, 1983	507
The girls have a Halloween party, but Mrs. Garrett appears to be possessed, and a customer disappears without explanation.
84	7	"Advance Placement"	Asaad Kelada	Bob Myer & Bob Young	November 2, 1983	510
Although Natalie is still a junior in high school, she gets an opportunity to enroll in a course at Langley and develops an ego that puts a strain on her friendship with the other girls.[note 11]
85	8	"I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can"	Asaad Kelada	Jim Geoghan	November 9, 1983	509
Blair and Jo take Mrs. Garrett to a male strip club for her birthday, where they discover Blair's boyfriend Cliff (Woody Brown) on stage.
86	9	"Small But Dangerous"	Asaad Kelada	Andy Borowitz	November 16, 1983	508
Mrs. Garrett and the girls deal with a sudden outbreak of vandalism of the store and discover a young girl named Kelly Affinado may be responsible. They are surprised at the reasons for her actions.
87	10	"Store Games"	Asaad Kelada	Story by : Andy Borowitz and Howard Meyers Teleplay by : Andy Borowitz	November 30, 1983	512
A competing store run by Pete Dawson (William Windom) takes a big bite out of Mrs. Garrett's business so the girls investigate and discover the store has been copying Mrs. Garrett's recipes after being tipped off by Kelly. They try some tactics to fix that.
88	11	"The Second Time Around"	Asaad Kelada	Linda Marsh & Margie Peters	December 14, 1983	511
Jo gets excited when it looks as though her parents (Alex Rocco and Claire Malis) might be reconciling and getting back together.
89	12	"The Christmas Show"	Asaad Kelada	Jerry Mayer	December 21, 1983	515
The girls prepare to go their separate ways for Christmas vacation.
90	13	"The Chain Letter"	Asaad Kelada	Bob Myer & Bob Young	December 28, 1983	504
Mrs. Garrett's shop is threatened with closure by the health department because of constant neglect by the girls. After she decides to fire them, they rally together to try to prove to her they will not disappoint her again.
91	14	"Next Door"	Linda Day	Milt Rosen & Glenn Padnick	January 4, 1984	513
Mrs. Garrett and the girls befriend a little boy (Taliesin Jaffe) whose single mother (Jean Smart) does not have time to take care of him. When a gas leak occurs in the neighborhood, Tootie must help Mrs. Garrett persuade the boy to leave the apartment in order to get him out of harm's way.
92	15	"Crossing the Line"	Mark W. Travis	Andy Borowitz	January 11, 1984	516
Tootie is at odds with Natalie over the latter's desire to date Tootie's cousin and confronts her own views on race and wonders if she is racist herself.
93	16	"All or Nothing"	Asaad Kelada	Bob Myer & Bob Young	January 18, 1984	518
Jo is elected to the Langley board of regents and learns quickly about the politics of the financial decisions they make and who could be hurt by them.
94	17	"A Death in the Family"	Asaad Kelada	Linda Marsh & Margie Peters	February 1, 1984	519
Natalie's father dies from a sudden heart attack; she has difficulty coming to grips with his death.
95	18	"Big Fish/Little Fish"	Asaad Kelada	Linda Marsh & Margie Peters	February 8, 1984	520
Mrs. Garrett and the other girls help Natalie who is still reeling from her father's death. Meanwhile, Blair is realizing she is not the "big fish" she used to be.
96	19	"Star at Langley"	Asaad Kelada	Andy Borowitz	February 15, 1984	521
When a famous movie star enrolls at Langley, Blair becomes jealous of the attention she lavishes on Cliff.
97	20	"Dream Marriage"	Asaad Kelada	Jerry Mayer	February 22, 1984	522
Blair receives a marriage proposal and she dreams of what her life might be like in the future, in the year 2000.
98	21	"Mother and Daughter"	Norman Cohen	Jerry Mayer	February 29, 1984	517
Tootie and her visiting mother (Chip Fields, Kim Fields' real-life mother) discover how big the gap is in their relationship.
99	22	"All by Herself"	Judi Elterman	Story by : Bob Myer & Bob Young and Cheri Eichen & Bill Steinkellner Teleplay by : Bob Myer & Bob Young	March 14, 1984	514
Geri (Geri Jewell) gets a chip on her shoulder about her abilities when she asks Blair to assist her in a fundraising for a school for disabled children. Note: This episode marks Geri Jewell's final appearance.
100	23	"Seems Like Old Times"	Asaad Kelada	Linda Marsh & Margie Peters	March 21, 1984	524
Eddie, Jo's former boyfriend, returns to rekindle their relationship but harbors a devastating secret. Note: This is Pamela Segall's final appearance in the series.
101	24	"Joint Custody"	Asaad Kelada	Bob Myer & Bob Young	May 2, 1984	523
Mrs. Garrett's son, Raymond, who also owns the building where the shop is located, visits with his wife, Doris (Kim Darby). It becomes apparent that the couple is headed towards divorce unless Edna and the girls can save their marriage.
102 103	25 26	"The Way We Were"	Asaad Kelada	Jerry Mayer	May 9, 1984	525 526
As the girls prepare for their summer vacations, they look back on the past, as seen in clips from previous episodes. Blair and Jo ultimately get into a major argument, so Natalie and Tootie try to patch things up between the two.

Season 6 (1984–85)

Mrs. Garrett (Charlotte Rae) was absent from several episodes in season 6 per Rae's request for reduced appearances.

The Facts of Life, season 6 episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Prod. code
104	1	"The Summer of '84"	Asaad Kelada	Linda Marsh & Margie Peters	September 26, 1984	605
Mrs. Garrett and the girls return home to tell each other about their respective summer vacations. John Astin (Mackenzie Astin's real life father) appears in this episode as Mrs. Garrett's summer love.
105	2	"A Slice of Life" "Slices of Life"	Asaad Kelada	Jerry Mayer	October 3, 1984	604
Jo decides to take her mother's incredible pizza recipe and create a business from it. The business succeeds but at a price.
106	3	"Love at First Byte"	Asaad Kelada	Bob Myer & Bob Young	October 17, 1984	606
In order to complete an experiment for school, Natalie tricks Jo and Blair into joining a computer dating service.
107	4	"My Boyfriend's Back"	Asaad Kelada	Bob Myer & Bob Young	October 24, 1984	601
Tootie is dismayed when Jeff returns from college and seems to have outgrown her. Note: Nancy McKeon does not appear in this episode. This is her first absence in the season. This is also the first taped episode of this season.
108	5	"Cruisin'"	John Bowab	Paul Haggis	October 31, 1984	609
The girls take Blair's father's car and go cruising in downtown Peekskill. Notes: This is the first episode to feature Kim Fields without her braces since season three. Nancy McKeon returns after her first absence from the previous episode. This is also the first and only episode that premiered without a laugh track and live audience. Due to that reason, this episode was filmed in single-camera format for the only time.
109 110	6 7	"Taking a Chance on Love"	Asaad Kelada	Gail Honigberg	November 7, 1984	607 608
Jo falls in love with her photography instructor Sam Hall (Kristoffer Tabori).
111	8	"E.G.O.C. (Edna Garrett on Campus)"	John Bowab	Janis Hirsch	November 14, 1984	610
Mrs. Garrett feels out of place when she decides to go back to college and joins Jo and Blair in one of their classes.
112	9	"Dear Apple"	John Bowab	Story by : Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert Teleplay by : Paul Haggis	November 21, 1984	611
Jo thinks about her friendship with Blair with the aid of a talking computer.
113	10	"Talk, Talk, Talk"	John Bowab	Bob Myer & Bob Young	November 28, 1984	614
Mrs. Garrett and the other girls assist Jo when she must fill a midnight to six a.m. shift at the Langley College radio station.
114	11	"Smile"	Asaad Kelada	Story by : Mark Miller Teleplay by : Linda Marsh & Margie Peters	December 5, 1984	602
Natalie's odd behavior after losing a coveted newspaper position confuses her new boyfriend. Note: This is Nancy McKeon's second and final absence in the series. This is the second episode filmed for the season.
115	12	"The Rich Aren't Different"	John Bowab	J.P. Duffy	December 12, 1984	613
Blair takes Jo to small claims court over a broken wristwatch.
116	13	"Christmas in the Big House"	John Bowab	Jerry Mayer	December 19, 1984	615
As a result of a mix-up, the girls perform a Christmas show in a prison instead of a home for boys like they planned.
117	14	"Me and Eleanor"	John Bowab	Paul Haggis	January 2, 1985	616
Tootie writes and performs a play about Eleanor Roosevelt. Note: Mackenzie Astin marks his first appearance as Andy Moffett in this episode. He is credited as a guest star in four other episodes (16, 18, 21, 24) in the season and departs after the twenty-fourth episode. Starting in the seventh season, he is added as a on-and-off regular and becomes a main cast member in the eighth and ninth seasons.
118	15	"Working it Out"	Asaad Kelada	Linda Marsh & Margie Peters	January 9, 1985	603
Blair's rebellious behavior after breaking up with Cliff has everyone questioning her, especially Mrs. Garrett.
119	16	"Jazzbeau"	Ellen Chaset Falcon	Rick Lombardo & Patrick Cleary	January 16, 1985	617
Natalie and Tootie reminisce about a former jazz legend they met while working at a resort in the Poconos after learning he recently died.
120	17	"Two Guys from Appleton"	John Bowab	Paul Haggis	January 23, 1985	618
An old boyfriend of Mrs. Garrett's arrives in Peekskill with his college-age son, Kevin. Note: Ryan Cassidy marks his first appearance as Kevin Metcalf in this episode. He is the guest star in episodes 18–, 21, 24 in the season and departs the series after the twenty-fourth episode.
121	18	"With a Little Help from My Friends"	John Bowab	Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert	January 30, 1985	619
Blair is torn between her friends' concern and her new boyfriend who has let his addiction to cocaine affect him. Note: This is the first episode that marks Mackenzie Astin as a guest star. He is the guest star in episodes 21 and 24 along with Ryan Cassidy.
122	19	"Gone with the Wind: Part 1"	John Bowab	Kimberly Hill	February 13, 1985	621
The girls spend Spring Break in Florida when a hurricane hits. Note: Charlotte Rae was absent in this episode. This is her first absence in the season. She was absent in the five following episodes. Michael Damian makes his first appearance as Flyman.
123	20	"Gone with the Wind: Part 2"	John Bowab	Kimberly Hill	February 20, 1985	622
While staying at Natalie's grandmother's in Florida, the girls each find new relationships. Note: This is Charlotte Rae's second absence in the series.
124	21	"Man in the Attic"	John Bowab	Paul Haggis	February 27, 1985	623
Kevin moves into the attic and quickly becomes a nuisance to the girls. Note: This is Charlotte Rae's third absence in the series.
125	22	"The Last Drive-In"	John Bowab	Paul Haggis, Kimberly Hill and Stuart Wolpert	March 13, 1985	624
The girls pile into Mrs. Garrett's car and spend the evening at the local drive-in, which is about to close for the last time. Note: This is Charlotte Rae's fourth absence in the series.
126	23	"Sisters"	John Bowab	Bob Myer & Bob Young	March 20, 1985	625
Jo and Blair become concerned when Jo's father and Blair's mother appear to be getting very close. Note: This is Charlotte Rae's fifth absence in the series.
127	24	"It's Lonely at the Top"	John Bowab	Jerry Mayer	March 27, 1985	626
Blair learns the hard way when she tries to take over and run Edna's Edibles "her" way. Note: This is Charlotte Rae's sixth absence in the series. This is also Ryan Cassidy's final appearance on the show. After this episode, he was quietly dismissed. Mackenzie Astin also marks his final guest star appearance in this episode before returning in season seven. This is the final episode taped for the sixth season.
128	25	"Bus Stop"	Judi Elterman	Story by : Brian Pollack & Rick Shaw Teleplay by : Kimberly Hill	May 8, 1985	620
When Natalie graduates from Eastland, she shocks her mother and her friends by deciding not to go to college. Note: Charlotte Rae returns in this episode after her six-episode absence.
129	26	"The Interview Show"	John Bowab and Stuart Wolpert	Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert	May 15, 1985	612
A former student who is planning on writing a book on Eastland interviews Mrs. Garrett and the girls.

Season 7 (1985–86)

Mrs. Garrett (Charlotte Rae) was again absent from several episodes per Rae's request for reduced appearances. Starting this season, Mackenzie Astin, who plays Andy Moffett, and George Clooney, who plays George Burnett, receive billing in the opening credits.

The Facts of Life, season 7 episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Prod. code
130	1	"Out of the Fire..."	John Bowab	Paul Haggis	September 14, 1985	701
The girls come back from summer vacation to find Edna's Edibles and their home gutted by fire. Note: Starting this season, Mackenzie Astin as Andy Moffett becomes a recurring character. The Edna's Edibles backdrop is used only for the first three episodes in this season. Also, starting with this episode, the writing and directing credits are moved to the beginning.
131	2	"Into the Frying Pan"	John Bowab	Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert	September 21, 1985	702
After deciding to rebuild the shop with a new business, Mrs. Garrett and the girls must find a contractor they can afford. Note: George Clooney as George Burnett starts his recurring character run in this episode.
132	3	"Grand Opening"	John Bowab	Bob Bendetson & Howard Bendetson	September 28, 1985	703
Mrs. Garrett and the girls find that the grand opening of their new business, Over Our Heads, isn't quite so "grand". Note: This is the last episode of the Edna's Edibles backdrop in the opening credits. In the next episode, Over Our Heads become the series' new backdrop.
133	4	"Teacher, Teacher"	John Bowab	Story by : Cheri Eichen & Bill Steinkellner Teleplay by : Bruce Ferber & David Lerner	October 5, 1985	705
After doing a stint of student teaching, Jo becomes torn between becoming a teacher or working at a corporation developing educational software. Irene Tedrow and Joyce Bulifant guest star as Jo's coworkers at the elementary school. Note: Over Our Heads is marked the season's new backdrop at the first scene of the opening credits in this episode until the show's series finale.
134	5	"Men for All Seasons"	John Bowab	Fredi Towbin & Larry Strauss	October 19, 1985	704
A controversial calendar of the Langley men's swim team puts Mrs. Garrett and the girls in hot water when they refuse to stop selling it.
135	6	"A New Life"	John Bowab	Linda Elstad	October 26, 1985	706
Blair learns that her mother is pregnant and wants to have an abortion, but Blair insists she keep the baby.
136	7	"Doo-Wah"	John Bowab	Bob Bendetson & Howard Bendetson	November 2, 1985	709
Andy gets the girls involved in a singing/songwriting contest where the winners get to sing back-up on pop-star, El Debarge's new single. El Debarge and Siedah Garrett guest-star.
137	8	"Come Back to the Truck Stop, Natalie Green, Natalie Green"	John Bowab	Michael Maurer	November 9, 1985	708
Natalie, trying to get writing ideas by travelling around the country, comes up with a wild one while waiting for a bus at a small diner. Charo appears in this episode.
138	9	"Born Too Late"	John Bowab	Bob Brush	November 16, 1985	710
Tootie must deal with Andy when she learns he has a crush on her.
139	10	"3, 2, 1"	John Bowab	Paul Haggis	November 23, 1985	711
Jo and Blair are assigned to work at the campus TV station, but they end up arguing over the content of news stories and editorials.
140	11	"We Get Letters"	John Bowab	Story by : Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert Teleplay by : Susan Beavers	November 30, 1985	707
Mrs. Garrett's old friend (Anne Jackson) visits and reveals a secret about Edna and the friend's late husband.
141	12	"Ballroom Dance"	John Bowab	Story by : Carlo Allen Teleplay by : Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert	December 7, 1985	712
Jo decides she wants to learn how to ballroom dance.
142	13	"Christmas Baby"	John Bowab	David Lerner & Bruce Ferber	December 14, 1985	715
Blair's mother goes into labor on Christmas Eve – six weeks before she's due.
143	14	"Tootie Drives"	John Bowab	Story by : Paul Haggis and Stuart Wolpert Teleplay by : Paul Haggis	December 21, 1985	713
Tootie drives everybody crazy when she gets her driving permit and wants help learning how to drive.
144	15	"Stake-Out Blues"	John Bowab	Jake Weinberger & Michael Weinberger	January 11, 1986	716
The girls don't want Mrs. Garrett to worry when the police plan a stakeout at the shop to catch criminals selling counterfeit bus passes.
145	16	"The Agent"	John Bowab	Jack Elinson	January 18, 1986	717
In order to boost the career of an aspiring comic, Tootie stages a performance where Jim McCawley, the talent coordinator for The Tonight Show, shall be in attendance.
146	17	"The Reunion"	John Bowab	Racelle Friedman	February 1, 1986	719
George takes Jo to his high school reunion where he passes her off as a duchess to impress a girl he once admired.
147	18	"Concentration"	John Bowab	Martha Williamson	February 8, 1986	718
Blair learns a valuable lesson when she becomes trapped in an elevator with her baby sister Bailey and a concentration camp survivor (played by Nehemiah Persoff.)
148	19	"Atlantic City"	John Bowab	Paul Haggis	February 15, 1986	721
The girls travel to Atlantic City to see Flyman, Jo's fling from spring break. Michael Damian makes his third and final appearance as Flyman.
149	20	"The Lady Who Came to Dinner"	John Bowab	Story by : Patrick Cleary Teleplay by : Bart Lindsay & Robert Billson	February 22, 1986	722
After a misunderstanding about Blair's birthday wishes, the party performer herself (vaudevillian Betty Kean) ends up staying with the girls. Note: Mindy Cohn is absent for the first and only time. This is Charlotte Rae's fourth absence in the season and overall her tenth absence in the series. This is also George Clooney's last episode in the season. He made four guest star appearances in Season 8, and did not appear in Season 9.
150	21	"The Candidate"	Valentine Mayer	Michael Maurer	March 1, 1986	723
Blair and Natalie go head-to-head when Natalie learns a big political secret about the current mayor.
151	22	"Big Time Charlie"	Steven Robman	Bob Myer & Bob Young	March 29, 1986	720
Jo's father goes on an extravagant shopping spree after winning $300,000. in a magazine contest. Also, Natalie returns from Florida with the wrong suitcase, losing Tootie's new camera in the process.
152	23	"The Graduate"	John Bowab	Barry Vigon	May 3, 1986	724
In part one of the season seven finale, Mrs. Garrett returns for Tootie's graduation in time to learn what she and Natalie plan to do about their own futures. Note: This is Mackenzie Astin's final episode as a recurring character. Starting in the eighth season, he becomes a series regular.
153	24	"The Apartment"	John Bowab	Jane Anderson	May 10, 1986	725
In the conclusion of the season seven finale, Natalie and Tootie move into a new apartment and quickly learn that living on their own is not all it's cracked up to be. Note: This is Charlotte Rae's last episode as a main cast member. Rae made her final appearances in the eighth season two-part premiere "Out of Peekskill Part 1" and "Out of Peekskill Part 2".

Season 8 (1986–87)

Mrs. Garrett (Charlotte Rae) remarries and leaves the series after the two part season premiere. Her sister, Beverly Ann Stickle (Cloris Leachman), moves in to care for the house and business. George Burnett, played by George Clooney, becomes a recurring character.

The Facts of Life, season 8 episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Prod. code
154 155	1 2	"Out of Peekskill"	John Bowab	Michael Maurer, Richard Gurman and Paul Haggis	September 27, 1986	801 802
Mrs. Garrett becomes reacquainted with Dr. Bruce Gaines (Robert Mandan), a man she met when she was serving in the Peace Corps. He proposes marriage to her, and she accepts. Her sister, Beverly Ann Stickle (Cloris Leachman), comes to the wedding in her Winnebago recreational vehicle. In spite of a scare at Depressed Person's Cliff, Mrs. Garrett and Bruce are married, and they rejoin the Peace Corps, leaving for Africa. Beverly Ann takes over Edna's duties at Over Our Heads in her place. Notes: Starting this season, Cloris Leachman and Mackenzie Astin becomes the series' main cast regulars. Charlotte Rae made a guest star appearance and departs the series after this two-part one hour season opening.
156	3	"Ready or Not"	John Bowab	Jane Anderson	October 4, 1986	803
Beverly Ann and the girls are concerned that Tootie is getting much too serious about her new boyfriend Rudy.
157	4	"Another Room"	John Bowab	Story by : Katherine Green Teleplay by : Michael Maurer & Martha Williamson	October 11, 1986	805
Fed up with having no privacy, Jo considers moving out, until Beverly Ann suggests remodeling the attic into a room, but Jo has concerns about the construction costs.
158	5	"Off-Broadway Baby"	John Bowab	Martha Williamson	November 1, 1986	807
Beverly Ann and the girls head for New York City, when Tootie decides to audition for her first Broadway show. However, when she arrives, she quickly learns that she has plenty of competition working against her.
159	6	"The Little Chill"	Valentine Mayer	Phil Doran & Douglas Arango	November 8, 1986	808
Three of the girls (Cindy, Nancy, and Sue Ann) who used to live in the Eastland dormitory with Blair, Tootie, and Natalie return for a reunion and Jo feels left out because she never knew them very well.[note 12]
160	7	"The Ratings Game"	John Bowab	Ross Brown	November 15, 1986	809
Blair's computerized date-rating system is the focus when she makes a bet with Jo dealing with whether or not the system really works. However, when Beverly Ann accidentally erases a computer disk, Jo tampers with some of the ratings.
161	8	"The Wedding Day"	John Bowab	Story by : Shirley Brown Teleplay by : Ross Brown and Michael Poryes	November 22, 1986	811
Jo offers to marry an immigrant so he can stay in the country. Note: George Clooney's character George Burnett appears in this episode and three others this season. Episode #15 A Star is Torn is his last appearance.
162	9	"Fast Food"	Marian Deaton	Michael Maurer	November 29, 1986	810
Natalie hires Blair as an employee at the Mexican restaurant Señor Sombrero, where she is assistant manager.
163	10	"Where's Poppa?"	John Bowab	Micki Raton and Irma Kalish & Phil Doran & Douglas Arango	December 6, 1986	804
Blair is distraught after her father pleads guilty to charges of insider trading.
164	11	"Write and Wrong"	John Bowab	Jane Anderson & Ross Brown	December 13, 1986	806
A furious Natalie is determined to identify and sue the plagiarist who sold her short story to a magazine. Vaudeville comedienne Billie Bird appears as Andy's grandmother.
165	12	"Seven Little Indians"	John Bowab	John Boni	January 3, 1987	812
On a dark and stormy night, the girls and their friends are stalked by a mysterious killer. Maurice LaMarche appears as "Rod Sperling" in this The Twilight Zone-ish episode.
166	13	"The Greek Connection"	John Bowab	Sara V. Finney & Vida Spears	January 10, 1987	813
Assigned by the newspaper to investigate Pledge Week at Langley College, Natalie crashes the rush party of the sorority Tootie wants to join. Penelope Ann Miller guest stars.
167	14	"Post-Christmas Card"	John Bowab	Matt Gellar	January 17, 1987	815
As a post-Christmas gift, Natalie gets her first credit card and promptly goes on a spending spree.
168	15	"A Star Is Torn"	John Bowab	Martha Williamson	January 31, 1987	816
Cinnamon (Stacey Q), who bested Tootie in the audition for a Broadway rock musical, arrives. She claims that she has been replaced in the show, but it is not the real story. Note: George Clooney marks his final appearance on the show, billed as a special guest star.
169	16	"A Winter's Tale"	John Bowab	Bob Underwood	February 7, 1987	814
The girls go to a ski resort. Doug Savant guest stars as an engaged young man falling in love with Blair.
170	17	"Cupid's Revenge"	John Bowab	John Boni	February 14, 1987	817
Romantic perversity occurs when all the girls' old boyfriends happen to show up just before the Valentine's Day dance.
171	18	"'62 Pick-Up"	John Bowab	Phil Doran & Douglas Arango	February 21, 1987	819
A flashback to the early 1960s, replete with teen idols, beatniks, and girl groups. Bobby Rydell and Fabian guest star.
172	19	"Boy About the House"	John Bowab	Austin and Irma Kalish	February 28, 1987	818
When Andy's foster parents' marriage dissolves, Beverly Ann decides it is time to adopt him. Jay Johnson (ventriloquist) appears in this episode's sub-plot.
173	20	"Ex Marks the Spot"	John Bowab	Story by : Katherine Green & Richard Gurman Teleplay by : Michael Maurer & Michael Poryes	March 7, 1987	820
Beverly Ann's ex-husband, Frank Stickle (Dick Van Patten), comes to visit, and he has a heart attack. Lois Nettleton guest stars.
174	21	"Younger Than Springtime"	John Bowab	Lawrence H. Levy	March 21, 1987	821
Jo is unhappy that Blair is playing matchmaker for Jo's lonely father, but she is really upset with the final results.
175	22	"This Is Only a Test"	Valentine Mayer	Ross Brown & Martha Williamson	April 18, 1987	822
Blair discovers that even she cannot buy admission to law school if she does not pass a four-hour admissions test for which she has not studied.
176	23	"Rites of Passage"	John Bowab	Matt Geller & Racelle Friedman	May 2, 1987	823
After her commencement speech is rejected, Jo refuses to make a speech at all, but then learns that her grandfather (Sheldon Leonard) has come all the way from Poland to hear it.
177	24	"Rights of Passage, Too"	Marian Deaton	Michael Poryes	May 9, 1987	824
Summer offers a variety of options for everyone, especially Jo, who is offered a tempting job far away in Los Angeles.

Season 9 (1987–88)

Pippa McKenna, played by Sherrié Austin, is introduced as a recurring character.

The Facts of Life, season 9 episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Prod. code
178	1	"Down and Out in Malibu: Part 1"	John Bowab	Martha Williamson	September 26, 1987	903
Jo is stranded in Malibu for the summer and gets a job housesitting for Richard Moll.
179	2	"Down and Out in Malibu: Part 2"	John Bowab	Ross Brown	October 3, 1987	904
Richard Moll has Beverly Ann, Blair, Tootie and Natalie put in jail when he sees what has happened to his house.
180	3	"Rumor Has It"	John Bowab	Michael Poryes	October 17, 1987	901
Things get interesting in Blair's law class when a rumor goes around campus about her and the professor.
181	4	"Before the Fall"	John Bowab	R.J. Colleary	October 24, 1987	905
Natalie lands a freelance assignment from the local newspaper to do an undercover article on Langley's ROTC, which may lead to more assignments. But she must face her fears when the job entails skydiving from an airplane. Dennis Haysbert has a small role as a drill sergeant.
182	5	"Sweet Charity"	John Bowab	Phil Doran & Douglas Arango	November 7, 1987	907
Jo goes looking for a job only to find one in the least likely place, and it is up to Blair to save the community center from going under.
183	6	"Up from Down Under"	John Bowab	Austin and Irma Kalish	November 14, 1987	910
Pippa McKenna, a teenage girl from Eastland's Australian sister school Colunga Academy, enrolls at Eastland as part of its exchange program. Notes: Sherrie Krenn marks her first appearance as Pippa McKenna in this episode, she is marked on/off regular in few episodes and then becomes a main regular in the thirteenth episode. This episode also features new opening credit sequences for Lisa Whelchel and Mackenzie Astin.
184	7	"The More the Marrier"	Valentine Mayer	Lawrence H. Levy	November 21, 1987	908
It's winter carnival time and Tootie has her hands full when her boyfriend Jeff shows up. Natalie's boyfriend Snake (Robert Romanus) is introduced.
185	8	"A Rose by Any Other Age"	John Bowab	Mark Tuttle & Barbara Berkowitz	November 28, 1987	902
Blair has the hots for her study partner but he is more interested in Beverly Ann. Meanwhile, Andy tries to get help with a bully.
186	9	"Adventures in Baileysitting"	John Bowab	Story by : Jeri Barchilon & Michele Gendleman Teleplay by : Jeri Barchilon	December 5, 1987	912
Blair's baby sister Bailey gets lost while in the girls' care; Tootie gets her engagement ring.
187	10	"It's a Wonderful Christmas"	Valentine Mayer	Marily Anderson & Renee Orin	December 12, 1987	909
Beverly Ann feels unwanted at Christmas and wonders what it would be like if she had never come to Peekskill.
188	11	"Golden Oldies"	John Bowab	John Boni	January 2, 1988	906
The girls imagine what their lives will be like decades in the future. Bill Macy appears as Jo's "ex-husband."
189	12	"A Thousand Frowns"	John Bowab	Harvey Weitzman and David DiGregorio & Arnie Wess	January 9, 1988	911
Jo meets Rick Bonner (Scott Bryce in his first of four appearances) at a community center while trying to find Andy a male role model. Rick is turning 30, and believes he will die soon, as no men in his family have lived longer than his upcoming age. Note: This is Sherrie Krenn's last episode as a recurring character, becoming a main cast member in the next episode and for the rest of the season. This is also the final episode showing the eighth season cast scene at the end of the opening credits.
190	13	"Something in Common"	John Bowab	Michael Poryes	January 16, 1988	917
Jo's dad comes for a visit and finds Rick has more in common with him than he likes. Meanwhile, after consulting with the girls and Mrs. Garrett, plans are made by Beverly Ann to close Over Our Heads and convert the retail space into bedrooms for Pippa and Andy. Notes: Kim Fields is absent for the first and only time in this episode. Sherrie Krenn continues the season as a main cast member in this episode. A new ninth season cast scene set around the piano is seen at the end of the opening credits and continues the rest of the season. This is also the final episode to feature the Over Our Heads store set.
191	14	"Peekskill Law"	John Bowab	Mark Tuttle	January 23, 1988	918
Blair gets involved in a big law case but the lawyer ends up being her ex-professor.
192	15	"A House Divided"	John Bowab	Mark Tuttle	January 30, 1988	913
Natalie and Tootie plan the perfect evening with their boyfriends, only to have the two end up fighting and causing the girls to take sides.
193	16	"The First Time"	Marian Deaton	Ross Brown	February 6, 1988	915
Natalie loses her virginity with her boyfriend, Snake. Note: Lisa Whelchel is absent for the first and only time in this episode, her character was described as being on a shopping trip in Beverly Hills with her Mother. The producers originally wanted Whelchel's character to lose her virginity but she refused to take part in this episode due to her religious beliefs. The storylines were re-written after Mindy Cohn immediately accepted her character, Natalie, having sex with her boyfriend.
194	17	"Let's Face the Music"	John Bowab	Phil Doran & Douglas Arango	February 13, 1988	916
A slip-up at a beauty parlor turns Jo's hair blonde and Blair's hair green, causing problems at a fund raiser. Later, in a fantasy sequence Pippa's band and the girls perform at the event.
195	18	"Less Than Perfect"	Valentine Mayer	Martha Williamson	February 20, 1988	914
Blair gets into a serious car accident when she falls asleep at the wheel, and she is devastated when it results in a large cut across her forehead. Note: The ninth season cast piano scene from the opening credits was taken during the filming of this episode.
196	19	"Till Marriage Do Us Part"	John Bowab	Ross Brown	February 27, 1988	922
Rick proposes to Jo and after some thought and reflection she accepts, becoming the first of the girls to get married.
197	20	"Present Imperfect"	John Bowab	Kathy Lette	March 5, 1988	920
When Jeff's grandmother (Beah Richards) gives Tootie an ugly pendant, Pippa loses it and then it gets damaged. Tootie then has to stand up to Jeff's grandma to get her blessing.
198	21	"On the Edge"	John Bowab	R.J. Colleary	March 12, 1988	919
Jo finds herself in a tough spot when the suicide counselor decides she wants to die, and it is up to Jo to talk her out of it.
199	22	"Big Apple Blues"	John Bowab	Martha Williamson	March 19, 1988	921
Natalie moves to an apartment in SoHo, where she meets some eccentric characters. David Spade and Richard Grieco guest star.
200	23	"The Beginning of the End"	John Bowab	Austin and Irma Kalish	April 30, 1988	923
When Blair discovers that Eastland Academy is in dire financial straits, she decides she has to make a tough decision about her future; she uses her trust fund to buy the school and save it from closing – and Eastland admits male students for the very first time. Juliette Lewis, Mayim Bialik, Seth Green, Meredith Scott Lynn and Kathleen Freeman appear in this two-part finale. Note: This is part one of the two-part series finale, with less focus on the core group and the introduction of many new characters in what seems to be the set up for a spin-off that never happened. It is also the 200th episode of the show and Mackenzie Astin's final appearance.
201	24	"The Beginning of the Beginning"	John Bowab	Austin and Irma Kalish	May 7, 1988	924
Blair faces her first challenge as headmaster of Eastland as she helps a student who is trying to get expelled. Note: This is the conclusion of the series; the girls end up going their own ways: Blair is at Eastland, Tootie is off to acting school in London, Natalie has moved to Soho to pursue her writing career, and Jo's husband Rick returns from his European tour to start their married lives.

TV movies

The Facts of Life TV movies

Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date
The Facts of Life Goes to Paris	Asaad Kelada	Jerry Mayer & Jack Elinson, Linda Marsh & Margie Peters, Deidre Fay & Stuart Wolpert	September 25, 1982
Mrs. Garrett and the girls get more than they bargained for when they spend their summer vacation in Paris: Mrs. Garrett attends a prestigious cooking academy while Blair, Jo, Natalie and Tootie take part in a program at a French boarding school. Note: Originally a two-hour movie, is shown in four half-hour episodes in syndication.
The Facts of Life Down Under	Stuart Margolin	Gordon Cotler	February 15, 1987
A cultural exchange program sends Beverly Ann and the girls (with Andy) to Australia where they find love and intrigue: Blair and Jo dodge a couple of jewel thieves, Natalie gets lost in the outback, Tootie makes friends with a handsome stranger, and Beverly Ann and Andy visit a sheep ranch. Note: Originally a two-hour movie, is shown in four half-hour episodes in syndication.
The Facts of Life Reunion	Charles Herman-Wurmfeld	Max Enscoe & Annie de Young	November 18, 2001
Blair, Natalie and Tootie reunite in Peekskill, New York to spend Thanksgiving with Mrs. Garrett, but trouble soon starts when Natalie receives two different marriage proposals and her two boyfriends unexpectedly show up. Nancy McKeon was unable to reprise her role as Jo due to scheduling conflicts with her then-starring role in the Lifetime series The Division. Note: Originally aired as a presentation of The Wonderful World of Disney.

Notes

1. I.Q. is the last episode to feature Jenny O'Hara as Eastland teacher Miss Emily Mahoney.
2. Last episode to feature Mr. Steven Bradley, Molly Parker, Sue Ann Weaver, Cindy Webster and Nancy Olson as main cast regulars.
3. Molly Parker (Molly Ringwald) makes a return appearance in this episode, but it is her last in the series.
4. Felice Schacter, Julie Piekarski and Julie Ann Haddock make return guest appearances as Nancy, Sue Ann, and Cindy, respectively.
5. Felice Schacter makes a returning guest appearance as Nancy Olson.
6. Roger Perry appears as the new Eastland headmaster, Mr. Charles Parker.
7. Julie Piekarski and Julie Ann Haddock make their final guest appearances (until season 8) as Sue Ann Weaver and Cindy Webster.
8. Felice Schacter guest-stars as Nancy Olson.
9. Final guest appearance (until season 8) by Felice Schachter as Nancy Olson.
10. "Gamma Gamma or Bust" is the first episode to feature Edna's Edibles as the show's new setting.
11. "Advance Placement" marks Roger Perry's final guest appearance as Mr. Parker.
12. Felice Schachter, Julie Ann Haddock, and Julie Piekarski reprise their roles as Nancy Olsen, Cindy Webster, and Sue Ann Weaver.

External links

• Fuller, Todd. "The Facts of Life: Episode Guide". Sitcoms Online.
• "The Facts of Life at TV.com".